Stalwarts rebuild Canada Day running race

The Duntroon to Stayner race was the idea of the former well-loved Stayner Collegiate Institute coach and teacher, Ken Leyshon, back in the centennial year, 1967. It ran, officially, every year until the pandemic.

During the pandemic, seven keen and determined veterans of the race refused to let it die, and met at the Duntroon Public School to sing the National Anthem and run back to Stayner. Instead of dying a slow death, this tradition has actually started to grow again. This year, 22 runners meet at the school, sang the anthem and at 8:30 a.m., set off on the eight-kilometre run to the StaynerCommunity Centre.

To add to the excitement, this is where the Clearview Canada Day Parade started and the participants were treated to a great view of the festivities. It appears that there were at least four walkers also, who headed off earlier as well, since they were noticed by the runners who passed them on their journey. Runners and walkers are all welcome.

Although all who participated were winners, the fastest times in each class were recorded by the following runners: In the school boys class, Blake Shaw recorded the fastest time. In the open men’s class, Jordan Cascagnette was first and in the open women’s class, Karen Creek was the winner. In the over 60 class, the men’s winner was Brian Northan and the women’s was Jessica Northan. Special mention also goes out to Sophie Leyshon, the granddaughter of Ken, who has been a regular runner and ran again this year. Thanks also to Doug Young who reminds those of us who like to run, on his Facebook site, Friends of the Duntroon to Stayner Road Race, that everyone is welcome to join him each year in keeping up this tradition.