FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, theGreater Victoria Sports Hall of Fameannounced the2015 Inductees!

This year's inductees will bring the total number of Victoria's honourees to 205. The six athletes to be honoured are: Lauren Woolstencroft (Skiing), Alexander (Sandy) Peden (Shooting), Rick Say (Swimming), Ike MacKay (Soccer), Bruce Deacon (Marathon), and Steve Sinclair (Baseball); the three builders are Elaine Dagg-Jackson (Curling), Mike Spracklen (Rowing), and Ed Ashmore (Wrestling).

The Inductees will be honoured at a special ceremony and dinner at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa on October 17, 2015.

For further information, please see below.

THE GREATER VICTORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES THE 2015 INDUCTEES!

VICTORIA (BC) June 2, 2015 - The names of the nine new members who will be inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (GVSHOF) later this year were announced today.

"We are proud to be inducting these nine distinguished athletes and builders into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame at our annual induction ceremony and dinner at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa on October 17, 2015," said Robert Hope, President of the GVSHOF. "These inductees are true role models and are most deserving of this prestigious recognition. They have inspired and impacted the lives of so many Canadian athletes and fans."

"There are literally hundreds of deserving athletes and builders in Victoria," said Lois Smith, chair of the Selection Committee. "Our committee members did an outstanding job of sifting through the many candidates. We thank them, and those who took the time to submit nominations."

For the past 21 years the GVSHOF has recognized and celebrated the outstanding performances and contributions of athletes, builders, officials and teams from Greater Victoria who have brought distinction to themselves, their sport, community and country.

This year's inductees will bring the total number of Victoria's honourees to 205. The six athletes to be honoured are: Lauren Woolstencroft(Skiing),Alexander (Sandy) Peden(Shooting),Rick Say(Swimming),Ike MacKay(Soccer)Bruce Deacon(Marathon), andSteve Sinclair(Baseball); the three builders areElaine Dagg-Jackson(Curling),Mike Spracklen(Rowing), andEd Ashmore(Wrestling).

2015 GREATER VICTORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES - SHORT BIOS

Lauren Woolstencroft - Athlete - Para-Alpine Skiing Born missing part of three limbs, Lauren began skiing at age 4 and by 2010, she had accumulated over 50 World Cup medals, 10 Olympic medals, eight world championship titles, and was named the 2006 International Paralympic Committee Athlete of the Year.

Alexander (Sandy) Peden - Athlete - Shooting Sandy began target shooting in 1960 and was a successful top level competitor for over 35 years, competing in target rifle at national competitions 26 times and representing Canada at Bisley, England 20 times as well as at the 1982 and 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Rick Say - Athlete - Swimming Rick is the most-decorated swimmer in Canadian history, setting 24 national records, serving as Captain of the national team from 2002 - 2009 and capturing 27 international medals over three Olympics, six World Championships and three Commonwealth Games.

Ike MacKay - Athlete - Soccer One of the first Canadian soccer players to play in the UK, Ike also played professional soccer with the Vancouver Royals and Portland Timbers as well as having nine World Cup appearances, plus Olympic qualifying and Pan American Games play with the Canadian national team.

Bruce Deacon - Athlete - Marathon Canada's lone marathoner throughout the 90's, Bruce represented Canada at four World Championships, two Olympic Games, won silver at the 2003 Pan American Games, and is currently the only three-time winner of the California International Marathon.

Steve Sinclair - Athlete - Baseball A left-handed pitcher out of Oak Bay High School, Steve was drafted in 1991 at age 19 by the Toronto Blue Jays where he stayed until traded in 1999 to the Seattle Mariners, in whose system he played until he retired from professional baseball in 2003.

Elaine Dagg-Jackson - Builder: Coach - Curling One of Canada's first Certified Professional Coaches, and Canadian national women's curling coach since 2003, Elaine has coached at over 16 World Curling Championships and five Olympic Games and received a bronze medal herself at the 1992 Albertville Olympics as the coach/fifth member of the Julie Sutton rink.

Mike Spracklen - Builder: Coach - Rowing In his first four-year tenure as Head Coach of the National Men's Rowing Program, Mike's rowers earned medals for Canada at four World Championships and two Olympic Games. In 2000, he returned to Elk Lake where he produced a further eight World Champion boats and four Olympic medal winners and was named the International Rowing Federation's "Coach of the Year" in 2002.

Ed Ashmore - Builder: Official/Administrator - Wrestling Ed officiated in the late 60s-early70s at all national championships and represented Canada as a FILA official at the highest level, as well as serving as Wrestling Technical Director for many multi-sport competitions, all of which garnered him the Outstanding Contributor Award from the Wrestling Canada Lutte Hall of Fame.

About the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame

The Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization. It honours achievement in competitive sport. Victoria has produced many great names in sports, including the Patricks of hockey, the Pedens of cycling fame, basketball legend Norm Baker and swimmer Audrey Kieran. Our home is in the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre where you will find our displays and plaques celebrating the achievements of nearly 200 local athletes, teams and builders inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame since 1991.

Media Contacts:

Robert Hope
President, GVSHOF
250-213-2669
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Chris Graham
Member, GVSHOF & Inductee Selection Committee
250-217-2991
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