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    Annual Skate the Lake draws in international skaters

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    The gun goes off! - 56 Skaters from Holland in Portland for Skate The Lake 2018 are on their way in the 100 km event
    Posted on: February 19, 2018

    This 14th annual skating event took place over Family Day weekend on the 1 km oval in front of Hanna Park in Portland, Ont.

    The weather window was just perfect with good ice and conditions for everyone to
    come out and enjoy the 100Km event Saturday where more than 56 Dutch skaters participated from Holland.

    The Netherlands Ambassador to Canada, Henk van der Zwan, was there to open the ceremonies along with John Bongers, Chair of Skate The Lake, assisted by Municipal dignitaries who welcomed all of the Dutch skaters and participants to the two day event.

    Saturday, Feb. 17 consisted of the 100km Invitational Tour while Sunday, Feb. 18 saw the kids
    5 km race, the 10 km, 25 km and 50 km races and the kids relay races. Saturday night’s home baked beans and ham supper was a sell-out at the Portland Community Hall. Separate rinks saw Ice Stocks (Austrian style curling), kids curling with smaller rocks, horse drawn sleigh rides with Lenny from Lombardy, and the highlight fireworks on the lake at sunset Sunday evening.

    With clear skies it is spectacular and with reverberating echoes off the shorelines it sounded like the War of 1812 Overture.

    56 Skaters from Holland in Portland for Skate The Lake 2018

    Rideau Lakes Town Crier, David Boyd and the Dutch Organizer announce Skate The Lake 2018 in Portland, Ontario

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