Owen Pinnell

Last updated

Owen Pinnell
Personal information
Full nameOwen Clifford Pinnell
Born (1947-01-06) 6 January 1947 (age 77)
Auckland, New Zealand
Education Auckland Technical Institute
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
Sport Bobsleigh

Owen Clifford Pinnell (born 6 January 1947) is a Canadian engineer and business executive. He represented his birth country, New Zealand, as a bobsledder at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

Contents

Early life

Born in Auckland on 6 January 1947, [1] Pinnell studied engineering at Auckland Technical Institute and went on to have a career as a petroleum engineer and business executive in North America. [2]

Engineering and business career

After graduating, Pinnell travelled and worked internationally in the mining industry in Africa and France, before settling in Alberta, Canada, in 1978, where he found employment with Dome Petroleum working on the company's ultimately unsuccessful Beaufort Sea development. [2] [3] He left Dome in 1982, and co-founded oil and gas exploration, processing and waste management company, Newalta Corp. [2] The company, of which Pinnell was president, [4] opened its first gas processing plant at Red Willow, Alberta, in 1988 and a second plant the following year, processing around 570,000 cubic metres (20,000,000 cu ft) of natural gas daily. [2] A small player in the Alberta market, it was as a waste management company that Newalta gained attention. [2] By 1989, the company was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and had annual revenues of CA$15.5 million. [5]

Pinnell left Newalta in 1992, and established Anadime Corp, initially as a commercial and industrial waste disposal company based in Victoria, British Columbia, because of a three-year non-competition agreement with Newalta. Once that agreement expired, Pinnell relocated Anadime to Alberta and reinvented the company as an oilfield waste management business. The company achieved a profit for the first time in 1996. [6] In 2000, Pinnell stepped down as president and chief executive officer of Anadime, but retained a role in the company's strategic development. [7] Anadime was acquired by Newalta in 2001. [8]

Pinnell's subsequent business interests include being a director of Zeacom from 2003 to 2012, [9] and chairman and chief executive of Calgary-based Anterra Energy. [10]

Bobsleigh

Described as a "big, rugged-looking bloke who plays rugby and looks like he should be on his native country's national team", [2] Pinnell joined up with other New Zealand expatriates living in the Calgary area in 1987 to form a bobsled team. Pinnell and two others had played rugby union for Calgary Irish, and had only just taken up bobsledding. Pinnell unsuccessfully approached Michael Fay for financial backing for the team, and donated the team uniform. [11] The New Zealanders competed at World Cup bobsleigh events in late 1987, and did well enough for a team of four sledders to be selected to compete at the 1988 Winter Olympics; Pinnell was named as team manager but was not initially included as an athlete. [12] However, after an appeal, Pinnell was added to the team as a reserve driver in the four-man team. [13] [14]

During pre-event training at the Olympic Games, New Zealand was allowed to train a reserve two-man bob team, with Pinnell as driver, to gain experience in case of injury to one of the nominated two-man sled members, and they performed well enough to be included in the main competition. [15] [16] [17] Pinnell and his brakeman, Blair Telford, went on to finish in 31st place out of 41 teams. [18] [19]

Aged 41 when he participated in the 1988 Winter Olympics, Pinnell held the distinction of being the oldest New Zealand competitor at a Winter Olympics, until his record was surpassed in 2006 by three curlers: Lorne De Pape who was 50, Hans Frauenlob (45), and Dan Mustapic (45). [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Winter Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Calgary, Canada

The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Calgary 1988, were a multi-sport event held from February 13 to 28, 1988, with Calgary, Alberta as the main host city. This marks the most recent time that two consecutive Olympic Games were hosted in North America. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to be held for 15 days, like the counterpart Summer Olympic Games. The majority of the events took place in Calgary itself. However, the snow events were shared by Nakiska ski resort in Kananaskis Country at the west of the city and the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park in the town of Canmore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKEM-DT</span> TV station in Edmonton

CKEM-DT is a television station in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, part of the Citytv network. It is owned and operated by Rogers Sports & Media alongside Omni Television station CJEO-DT. The two stations share studios with Rogers's local radio stations on Gateway Boulevard in Edmonton; CKEM-DT's transmitter is located near Yellowhead Highway/Highway 16A. The station also operates a rebroadcast transmitter in Red Deer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKAL-DT</span> Citytv station in Calgary

CKAL-DT is a television station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, part of the Citytv network. It is owned and operated by Rogers Sports & Media alongside Omni Television station CJCO-DT. The two stations share studios at 7 Avenue and 5 Street Southwest in Downtown Calgary; CKAL-DT's transmitter is located near Old Banff Coach Road/Highway 563.

Ekkehard Fasser was a Swiss bobsledder who competed in the 1980s. He won a gold medal in the four-man event with teammates Kurt Meier, Marcel Fässler, and Werner Stocker at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Werner Stocker (bobsledder)</span> Swiss bobsledder (born 1961)

Werner Stocker is a Swiss bobsledder who competed in the late 1980s. He won a gold medal in the four-man event with his teammates Ekkehard Fasser, Kurt Meier and Marcel Fässler at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand at the 1988 Winter Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

New Zealand competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaica at the 1988 Winter Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Jamaica competed in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They competed in one sport, Bobsledding, in both the two-man and four-man events and finished outside the medal places in both competitions. Athletes were recruited from the Jamaica Defence Force, which saw Dudley Stokes, Devon Harris, and Michael White become the first members of the team. Caswell Allen was the fourth man, but was injured prior to the start of the Olympics and was replaced by Chris Stokes, who was only in Canada to support his brother and new teammate Dudley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Samoa at the 1994 Winter Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

American Samoa sent a delegation to compete at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway from February 12–27, 1994. This was the territory's first, and as of the conclusion of the 2018 Winter Olympics, only Winter Olympics they have competed in. The delegation consisted of two athletes, Faauuga Muagututia and Brad Kiltz, who competed in the two-man bobsleigh event where they finished 39th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaica national bobsleigh team</span> Team representing Jamaica in international bobsleighing competitions

The Jamaica national bobsleigh team represents Jamaica in international bobsleighing competitions. The men's team debut in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games four-man bobsleigh in Calgary, Alberta, was received as underdogs in a cold weather sport represented by a nation with a tropical environment. Jamaica returned to the Winter Olympics in the two-man bobsleigh in 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2014, and 2022; a women's team debuted in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-Channel</span> Canadian television system

A-Channel was a Canadian television system initially owned by Craig Media from September 1997 to 2004, then by CHUM Limited from 2004 to 2005 through A-Channel, Inc. It consisted of Craig's television stations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton and was the company's unsuccessful attempt to build a national network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary</span> Largest city in Alberta, Canada

Calgary is the largest city in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is the largest metro area within the three prairie provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,680,000 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1988 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a total of nine sports venues were used. Calgary tried twice to host the Winter Olympics in the 1960s without success before finally winning the 1988 Winter Games in 1981. Stampede Corral was built in 1950 while McMahon Stadium was built in 1960. When the National Hockey League (NHL) Flames franchise was relocated from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States during the summer of 1980, a new arena was needed. The Saddledome construction was underway in late 1981 when Calgary was awarded the 1988 Games. Completed in 1983, the Olympic Saddledome has played host to the Flames ever since, including three Stanley Cup Finals and the NHL All-Star Game in 1985. An innovation for the games was the first indoor long-track speed skating venue which has served as a model for future Olympics. The bobsleigh and luge track was the first combination track in North America and was noted for the Jamaican bobsleigh team crash during the four-man event. Both the Oval and the bobsleigh/luge track continue to host the World Championships in their respective sports since the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Peter John Douglas Henry is a former New Zealand bobsledder and decathlete who competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivo Ferriani</span> Italian sports official and bobsledder

Ivo Ferriani is an Italian sports official and bobsledder. In September 2010, he was elected president of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT), ending the 16-year presidency of Canada's Robert H. Storey. In 2016, Ferriani became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Blair Stuart Telford is a New Zealand former bobsledder, surf lifesaver and police officer. He competed in the two-man and the four-man events at the 1988 Winter Olympics, as part of New Zealand's first bobsled team at a Winter Olympic Games.

Alexander John Peterson was a New Zealand bobsledder. He competed in the two man and the four man events at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Originally from Christchurch but living in Calgary, he was the driving force behind getting a bobsledding team together for the Olympics. After the competition, he took things easy: "I did nothing except eat, get fat and forget about bobsledding."

Rhys Dacre is a New Zealand sportsman. He was a sprinter, winning the New Zealand 100-metre title in 1985, before becoming the first New Zealander to gain an American football scholarship to an American university. He subsequently represented New Zealand in the four-man bobsleigh at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Deborah Muir is a Canadian former synchronized swimmer and coach. She began her career with the Calgary Aquabelles club in 1965 and won silver medals in the synchronized swimming team competitions at both the 1971 Pan American Games and the 1973 World Aquatics Championships. At age 20, Muir retired from competition and began a career in coaching. She coached swimmers of the Calgary Aquabelles to 22 national titles over a decade. She also helped athletes clinch medals in the World Aquatics Championships, the FINA Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games. Muir has won various awards for her coaching career, and is an inductee of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

A number of notable controversies and concerns associated with the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, emerged which were the subject of public debate and media commentary.

Taylor Austin is a Canadian bobsledder who competes in the two-man and four-man events as a driver.

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Owen Pinnell Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dabbs, Frank (10 August 1989). "Diversity key to success in service and supply". National Post . p. 16. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Keyser, Tom (16 August 1987). "Kiwis want crack at the world's top half". Calgary Herald . p. 13. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Waste station faces opposition". Medicine Hat News . 23 August 1988. p. 2. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via NewspaperArchive.
  5. ↑ Schreiner, John (5 November 1990). "Newalta devoting all its energy to hazardous wastes". National Post . p. 19. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Barry (27 August 1996). "Fast growing oilpatch firm thrives on waste". Calgary Herald . p. 23. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Anadime". Calgary Herald . 14 January 2000. p. 62. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "'Scorched earth' campaign". Daily Herald-Tribune . 13 June 2001. p. 24. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Zeacom Group Limited – directors". New Zealand Companies Office. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Healing, Dan (27 September 2008). "Liquidity crunch hits Venture Exchange". Calgary Herald . p. 52. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Fledgling bobsledders sliding for Calgary". The Press . 25 March 1987. p. 52. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  12. ↑ Dunbar, Tim (30 December 1987). "Nine chosen for Calgary". The Press . p. 40. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Bobsleigh manager named as reserve". The Press . 22 January 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "The New Zealand team". The Press . 10 February 1988. p. 45. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "N.Z. skier in 'bad fall'". The Press . 19 February 1988. p. 22. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Hutchinson, Peter (20 February 1988). "Kiwis finish training". The Press . p. 31. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Tough Olympic standards 'preferable'". The Press . 3 March 1988. p. 38. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  18. ↑ Hutchinson, Peter (24 February 1988). "Caribbean Cup to N.Z. pair". The Press . p. 33. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  19. ↑ Dunbar, Tim (1 March 1988). "N.Z. bobsledders in creditable finish". The Press . p. 46. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  20. ↑ Dunbar, Tim (15 December 2005). "DePape to lead curlers". The Press . p. 8.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.