Resolute Bay wins Pangnirtung Inuit games

IQALUIT—There was a surprise winner at the Inuit games in Pangnirtung last weekend.

Resolute Bay’s Jeff Amaraulik lead his five-man team to a 236 point victory, beating out 13 other teams from around Nunavut.

“I don’t think too many people expected us to win because this was only our second time at the games,” said Amauralik. Their game plan was simple, do the best you can and try to win.

Pangnirtung’s recreation co-ordinator, Billy Etooangat, said the Resolute Bay team’s young composition of four junior competitors and one adult gave them an advantage. It allowed Resolute to dominate in the junior categories, where other communities had fewer entrants.

Nevertheless Amaraulik was happy with his performance and that of teammates Stevie Amaraulik, Lucas Allakariallak, Jeffery Kheraj and Joannie Pudluk, the team’s only senior competitor.

Amaraulik and his cousin Stevie will move on to territorial trials in January and try for a spot on Team Nunavut which will compete at the Arctic Winter Games to be held in Whitehorse in 2000.

Pangnirtung came second with 222 points. Etooangat said the event was well attended with a total of 30 athletes. There were 11 events at the games including the one foot high kick, the one hand reach and the sledge jump.