Provincial Legion Track and Field Meet
Five Manitoulin athletes, representing District H, competed in the Royal Canadian Legion track and field provincials this past weekend down in Brampton at Chinguacousy Park. Congratulations go out to Maren Kasunich, Sophie Hietkamp, Ava Assinewai, Keaton Gauthier and Whittier Dwyer-Gauthier who all put their personal bests up against the best of Ontario! Congratulations everyone, although you may have not medaled out this year you made it there and did your best.
Umpires needed!
Softball on Manitoulin, likely even more than hockey, has a serious shortage of officials. Hockey parents sitting on the blue-line may think they are the ultimate referees on off-sides yet our local umps get “Bleacher Creatures” calling from afar, their ‘official’ calls!
It is easy, for those from the benches of course to be perfect. Those however, that have the courage to put themselves out there under the spotlight of the always-right need to have an extra thick hide. With many local kids and former kids enjoying playing various versions of the game it can only happen with these thick-skinned individuals. From weekend adult tournaments offering everything such as fastball, blooper-ball or slow-pitch, and most importantly if we want our kids to keep enjoying elementary schools’ three-pitch version of the game, we need people.
Often, every fall, the annual elementary three-pitch tournaments do not have enough umpires or even teams to fill out the schedule. If we want the game to continue there needs to be an influx of officials. Perennial volunteers like Bruce Wiggins, Delroy and Don Prescott and Greg Lockeyer need those mentees to take over. Any of the aforementioned would gladly guide youngsters through the ranks. Give it a shot.
Mackenzie’s Run and Walk for CHEO
Congratulations to all the participants of last Saturday’s Mackenzie’s Run and Walk for CHEO (Children’s Hospital for Eastern Ontario). Of course, kudos go out especially to Jillian Peltier who has been the driving force for the last six years when she founded the run in memory of her son Mackenzie, who received such great care at the Ottawa hospital during his short life.
On Saturday, the run had 38 runners participate in the five kilometre fun run. The top five finishers featured a still-elementary-aged Brodie Pennie (22:26) in first, seasoned veteran Stephen Odjig (24:29) in second and Rylan Pennie (24:48) completing the podium in third, then Annie Balfe (25:02) and Kristin Farquhar (25:20).
There were also younger ones who ran in the one klometre ‘kids’ event. Congratulations to finishers, Benny Cooper (5:22), Maya Baksh (5:40), Nathan Quackenbush (5:46), Hayden Baksh (5:48), Kolston Odjig (5:58), then Miah Hughson, Jack and Eli Van Volkingburgh, Mila Odjig, Alannah Van Volkingburgh, Rachel Quackenbush, Brady and Morgan Peltier.
This was the sixth and final Mackenzie’s Run & Walk for CHEO. They have raised $4,355 so far this year with donations still rolling in for a total over six years of an admirable $22,659.50! Thanks, Jillian.
Island pickleball athletes excel
Congratulations to the Manitoulin pickleball players at the Canadian National Pickleball Championships held in Kingston, June 28 to 30. Picking up some hardware were: George Ballantyne and Susan Yagi, bronze, mixed doubles, 65+, 3.5; Philip Candelaria and Rick Alden, bronze, men’s doubles, 60+, 3.0; Philip Candelaria and Ellen Melis, bronze, mixed doubles, 12+, 3.0
Pickleball is touted to be the fastest growing sport in North America for both young and old. It is played at the Little Current Recreation Centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 12 pm and Tuesdays and Fridays from 6 pm to 8 pm. For more information please contact Bud Hebner, the pickleball ambassador for Manitoulin: bphebner@gmail.com, 705-805-1257 and look up their website at: ManitoulinPickleball.ca.
The Manitoulin pickleball local association also features club member Garry Wolfe who is vice president of development with Canada Pickleball. He oversees partnerships and marketing, player development, translation and technology!
A good sport is good for sports. chipstoquips@gmail.com
