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These are heady modern days for the ancient martial art of karate, which makes its Olympic debut at Tokyo in 2020. One of the sport’s greatest practitioners is in Victoria for a demonstration this weekend.

After a few relatively cloudy campaigns — at least by their standards — the Sun appears to be shining again in the Okanagan. The Westshore Rebels will meet the Okanagan Sun, with reportedly the best 2018 recruiting class in the sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

In making his case in the dressing room, Victoria Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes presented his players with Exhibit A: Last year’s Western Lacrosse Association playoff semifinal series.

It’s not the sun that has been scorching the Island the past week. It’s been Zach Bauchou. If you win a national open title in golf once, people can call it a fluke. Not if you do it twice consecutively. Then it becomes a pattern.

The Victoria HarbourCats controlled their own destiny. But destiny came crashing down on their heads Wednesday night at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Mackenzie Padington, who grew up in Campbell River inspired by watching Ryan Cochrane of Victoria win two Olympic medals, continues splashing into the spotlight herself.

New sports either being added for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, or returning to the agenda, play to the Island’s strengths.

American and defending champion Zach Bauchou continued his blistering pace on the Island, with a 4-under-par 67 in Wednesday’s third round of the 114th Canadian men’s amateur golf championship, to hold a two-stroke lead at Duncan Meadows.

They’ve beaten the best sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ has to offer, now the Layritz major girls’ softball squad is ready to take on the world. Layritz opens play today at the 2018 Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon.

After 53 games, it will come down to the 54th and final one of the regular season. The Victoria HarbourCats are still alive in the West Coast League North Division playoff hunt.