Corner Brook -
Chalk up another victory for Labrador City's Alfred Parsons.
Parsons finished first in his age group and second overall in the 10-kilometre classic race at the 2010 Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships Thursday at Blow Me Down Trails.
"Today we had a fantastic track a little bit hard and fast, much different than (Wednesday) because (Wednesday) was kind of soft and a lot slower," Parsons said of Thursday's race conditions.
"Normally, skating is a lot faster than classic but today we ended up beating the times from skating."
Competing in a division for racers born between1950-1954, Parsons posted a final time of 32 minutes, 29 seconds. The only man faster than him on Thursday was Jeff Holmes of St. John's with a final clocking of 32 minutes, 5.5 seconds.
Holmes, a member of the Avalon Nordic Ski Club, was four minutes, 16 seconds faster than his only rival in the division for skiers born 1965-1969 -- Corner Brook's Andrew May of Blow Me Down Trails (36:21.9).
Keith Payne of Blow Me Down Trails placed second behind Parsons with a final clocking of 39:05.7 in the 1950-1954 age bracket, while Charles Mitchell of Wabush (42:05.7), Graham Oliver of Kippens (42:27.4) and Leonard Pizzey of Haliburton, Ont. (44:47.2) rounded out the top five in the group.
Parsons has been a dominant force at this year's nationals, claiming top spot in Monday's 20-km classic event as well as first place in Wednesday's 10-km free technique race.
He acknowledged that he spends a lot of time on the nordic trails and hasn't had much trouble winning races in his age group.
"But I am trying to beat the younger fellas too and that's a plus when you can do that," he said.
Jamie Merrigan of Blow Me Down Trails posted a time of 38:51.8 to win top spot in a two-man race for competitors born between 1970-1974, one minute, 23 seconds quicker than Forrest Mills of the Avalon Nordic Ski Club.
Jacqueline LeGrow of Stephenville's Whaleback Nordic Ski Club was a dominant force in Ladies 07 (Born 1945-1949) with an impressive time of 44:31.5, 11 minutes and 25 seconds faster than Labrador City's Theresa Baker. Irene Rice of Labrador posted a time of 57:01.4 to nab third place and Susanne Vanderlugt of Toronto (1:01:38.3) rounded out the field.
Today is a training day for skiers to prepare for Saturday's long distance free technique event, but the groomed trail network at Blow Me Down Trails is open to the membership throughout the day.
For complete results from Thursday's classic race see today's edtion of The Western Star.
