Battle of St. Albert

The 10th anniversary of the Battle of St. Albert between the Bellerose Bulldogs and St. Albert High Skyhawks in metro Edmonton football kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park.

Admission is $5.

Last year’s come-from-behind 13-10 victory over the Skyhawks marked the second year in a row the team of players from Bellerose and Sturgeon high schools defeated the Skyhawks in the senior division. It was also the first time the Skyhawks played Bellerose without Paul Kane players in their line-up.

Two years ago the Bulldogs stunned the Skyhawks 7-0 in front of the largest crowd to watch a football game in St. Albert. It also ended a seven-game losing streak against the Skyhawks, dating back to 1999.

In the Carr conference the Bulldogs are 2-0 and the Skyhawks are 1-1. Last week the Bulldogs beat the Paul Kane Blues 26-6 and the Skyhawks thumped the O’Leary Spartans 57-13.

In the Football Alberta provincial rankings the Skyhawks are listed eighth in Tier III and the Bulldogs are unranked in Tier I.

Alberta Cup playoffs

The Alberta Cup north final between the St. Albert Rugby Football Club and the Clansmen scrums down Saturday at 4 p.m. at Ellerslie Rugby Park.

The winner advances to the Labatt’s Cup provincial final next Saturday at Calgary Rugby Park.

In the premier table the Clan (8-4) finished second and St. Albert’s first 15 (5-7) placed fourth. The Clan defeated their biggest rivals 53-12, 18-16 on a penalty kick to end the game and 40-6. The only win by the firsts was 40-20.

The firsts are coming off an impressive 37-25 decision over the Strathcona Druids in the north semifinal.

The firsts have competed in the last four provincial finals and in 2010 won the championship.

Fall Challenge

The deadline to register online for the 10th annual St. Albert Fall Challenge is Thursday at 11:59 p.m.

Entries are being accepted for Sunday’s 21.1-kilometre half-marathon run/walk (two laps on the trail), 10-km run/walk (one lap) and five km run/walk on the Red Willow trail system.

To sign up, visit www.events.runningroom.com.

Information is also available through the Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club at www.sva-club.com.

The start times at Kingswood Park are 8 a.m. for the half-marathon walk and 9 a.m. for the half-marathon run, 10-km run/walk and five-km run/walk. The .5-km kids’ loop begins at 11:30 a.m. and no pre-registration is required.

Last year’s half-marathon winner was Mark Faas of Hanna in one hour, 24 minutes and 53 seconds.

Wietske Eikelenboom of St. Albert repeated as fastest female at 1:31:16 for seventh place overall.

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