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WHALE COVE
Baker Lake and Whale Cove tied for top spot with 70 points at the Kivalliq Summer Games in Whale earlier this month.

Kenneth John Putulik of Chesterfield Inlet took second place in the junior boys' twofoot high kick earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Stanley Adjuk

Chesterfield Inlet took third, while Arviat finished fourth, Rankin Inlet fifth and Coral Harbour sixth.

Bad weather kept Repulse Bay from attending.

Competition was held in the categories of junior, senior and elders for both male and female athletes.

The highlight of the event saw Arviat's Ralph King, 20, shatter two Games records.

King reached five feet six inches in the one-arm reach, obliterating the old record of five feet one inch.

King also set a new Kivalliq Summer Games mark in the Alaskan high kick, reaching an astounding seven feet six inches and bettering the previous mark by five inches.

The Most Valuable Player awards went to Shirley Nakoolak and Brandon Quyik of Baker Lake in the junior division, Blair Tautu of Chester and Ralph King of Arviat in seniors, and Baker's Rita Oosuaq and Eugene Niviatsiaq in the elder division.

Rec coordinator Chris Jones said these Games ran a lot smoother than when Whale hosted them in 2010.

He said the judges named to the event were exceptional.

"We supplied the judges with what they needed and they, basically, took care of everything else on their own," said Jones.

"I can't say enough about the job Wesley Innukshuk, Mark Kingilik, Veronica Angootingoar, Peter Marmgak and Gerard Maktar did as our judges for these Games.

"They did a spectacular job in keeping everything moving smoothly.

"We were supposed to hold the Games in September, but we had to push them back a month due to some funding issues."

Jones said the crowds were steady during the Games, with the gym packed almost the entire time.

He said the square dances held each night after the Games were also a huge hit in the community.

"We brought in two musicians from Baker and one from Rankin to play with a couple of guys here in Whale.

"Everyone was so excited about the square dancing because the band was really, really good.

"There's more work to running this than a hockey tournament, but it's worth it to keep the Games going."

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