The Kinsmen Speed Skating Club began its latest season with news that Moose Jaw product Graeme Fish will be on the International Skating Union World Cup Circuit thanks to strong performances at the Canadian Single Distance long track championships at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.

Last weekend Fish, a Peacock graduate, competed in the 5K race at the Canadian championship and clocked a winning time of 6:18.60, ahead of Olympian Jordan Belchos and Olympic medalist Ted- Jan Bloemen. Fish followed up that performance with a second-place finish in the 10K race. The stellar performance will give Fish a spot on all four upcoming world cups this fall.

The season's been going well for Fish, who trains out of Calgary, with several personal best times already this year.

“I’ve PB’d three times already,” he said. “I won the 5K last week and I PB’d my 10K so my technique is getting better and it’s going really well.”

Fish, 23, has been training in Calgary for years to get to this level, but this year will be a bit different.

“It’ll be different especially being away from home for five weeks,” he said. “I’m looking forward to race witht he best of the world. I like skating and racing is what we do. It’s going to be fun, for sure.”

Fish is inspired by the great athletes around him.

“Ted-Jan Bloeman won the gold medal in the 10k, he’s really good on giving me pointers on technique and everything. Jordan, he’s usually just as good as Ted is and he has a really good work ethic and I look up to him for that reason. We push each other, but we all support each other. We all want each other to do well.”

The Kinsmen speed skating club also has Marc André Doyon and Gabrielle Sanson training at the Olympic oval this year in hopes of following Fish to the senior national team.

- With Files From John Morris