McLeod part of Central Team heading to Alberta
as reported by The Sault Star, Feb 12, 2001

Sault Ste. Marie's Matthew McLeod has earned a trip to Alberta in March.

The 13-year-old will be part of the Central Region team competing at the National Cadet Biathlon competition in Canmore, Alberta, March 5-10 following his gold medal-winning performance Saturday at the Algoma Rod and Gun Club in the Sault.

McLeod, representing the No. 2910 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, won first place in the junior division race, finishing in 41 minutes, 50 seconds during the Central Region Cadet Biathlon Championships.

The two-day competition included an individual eight-kilometre race, incorporating five-rounds of prone rifle marksmanship in three locations, during Saturday's schedule. Sunday, male and female three-member teams competed in 18 km relay races including two stands of five-to-eight rounds of prone marksmanship.

Biathlon couples the rigorous sport of cross-country skiing with the mental and physical discipline required for small-bore rifle marksmanship. Marksmanship and biathlon are two of the more popular activities for sea, army and air cadets.

Naughton (Sudbury) army cadets Max Merrifield, 14, Corey White, 15, and Tyler Punkkinen, 15, members of the No. 2964 Walden Irish Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps won the male team race in 1:14:12 while the Collingwood army cadets' entry of Danielle Desrouchers, 15, Angie McInstosh, 15 and Chantel Desrouchers, 13, won first place in 1:37:37.

Punkkinen also won the senior individual gold medal in 34:51.

Alana Ranger, 15, of 2964 Corps, Naughton, took the senior female individual gold in 39:05 while Englehart's Jean Keating, 14, of No. 255 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, won the junior female gold in 59:10.