Around 32 New Brunswickers will converge in Moncton on Canada Day weekend as the Canadian Baton Twirling Championship spins its way to the Avenir Centre.
They join more than 140 athletes from across the country to compete for a national title.
Brenda Arsenault LeBlanc, head coach of Club Baton Atlantik, said during a Tuesday interview that the event was supposed to happen in 2020 but got postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Finally, we can go ahead and have the championship here in Moncton,” said Arsenault LeBlanc.
“We are very excited to welcome everybody and for the athletes to be together in person and see what they’ve been working on for almost three years.”
Arsenault LeBlanc said twirlers from Baton Atlantik spent the last week preparing for the tournament. She said athletes are practicing daily to prepare for the physical and mental challenges involved with the championship.
“Since COVID, it’s been a little different training-wise because we don’t have accessibility to gyms,” she said.
“We’ve been in a church for the past two years, so we are lacking on height and spacing, so we’ve been coming to the [Crossman Community Centre] at the Kay Arena, so they have the feel of being in a gym and more space to be prepared.”
Arsenault LeBlanc said the championship begins on July 1, with the opening ceremonies starting at 5:30 p.m. Individual events take place on July 2 and 3 at 8:30 a.m. The final rounds for individual events are set for July 4 at 9 a.m., showing group events and freestyle.
July 5 is the finale for freestyle and pairs competitors before the awards ceremony.
Admission is free throughout the entire competition, but spectators must wear masks, show proof of vaccination or have a negative PCR test.
