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Lombardy cross country runners leave their mark By LAURIE WEIR ljweir@metroland.com
EMC Sports – Twins do a lot of things together. Take Vincent and Adam Menzies – twin brothers who are into sports… speci¿cally running. The dynamic duo has led the Lombardy Public School cross country team to various championships since 2007. They have helped earn many trophies at the school – right from novice through to senior Leeds and Grenville championships. Along with the Menzies brothers there is Colton Drover and Nick Dopson on those early trophies, and later came Austin Wiseman and Austin Dopson. Add Riley Thompson in 2009, and Brett Benoit in 2012, and this cross country team is making strides on the playing ¿eld. The senior boys team this year was led by Vincent Menzies, who placed third at the LGESAA championship last month at Memorial Park in Brockville. Coach Dianne Clarke said their goal was to win the senior boys championship. “To prepare for this 2.9km run, the boys practiced after school at the new commu-
Photo by LAURIE WEIR
The Lombardy Public School boys cross country team has had a banner year highlighted by some big wins this fall. Many of these boys have been running together since Grade 3. They are Adam Menzies, Vincent Menzies, Nick Dopson, Colton Drover, Brett Benoit, Austin Dopson and Austin Wiseman with their coach Dianne Clarke. nity centre in Smiths Falls on the running track,” she said. “They had to incorporate the stairs to better prepare for the large hill at the track meet.
They ran so well the day of the race that four of them placed in the top 10, smoking the competition to realize their goal.”
All seven boys supported one another as a team and together won the LGESAA championship, she said. Adam Menzies placed one
spot behind his brother, earning fourth place while Nick Dopson was sixth, and Colton Dopson was eighth. The team rounded out with Wiseman
taking 15th place, Benoit 35th and Austin Dopson crossed the line in 54th place. To get to LGESAA, the boys were at the Gladys Burt Memorial meet in Elgin. This invitational meet was their ¿rst regional competition held in September. The team ran a 2.3 km race, competing against about 100 other runners. Four of them ¿nished in the top 10 with the other three ¿nishing in the top 50. Vincent and Adam were second and third respectively, with Nick, and Colton in ¿fth and sixth places. Wiseman, Benoit and Dopson were 23rd, 30th and 47th respectively. Coach Clark says that cross country running is not a glory sport. “It takes grit and determination to run a long distance by yourself, often in cold, rain and mud,” she said. “Lombardy Public School has a group of determined athletes, who have over the years shown their strength of character, physical ¿tness and determination.” Throughout their public school years this group of boys has racked up an impressive 10 meet victories. Watch out when they hit high school. They’ll be a force to be watched on all circuits.
DBA calls on hockey enthusiasts for tournament EMC Sports - Are you a hockey player or fan? Interested in getting out and supporting a community event? The Smiths Falls Downtown Business Association is looking for teams to compete in a 4-on-4 Ball Hockey Tournament on Saturday, Dec.8, on Daniel St. in downtown Smiths Falls. The day will kick off at 11
a.m. with an exhibition game between members of council against the Smiths Falls Bears, and will continue with a tournament offering participants the opportunity to compete to win cash and a trophy. Each player/team will need a minimum of four players (including goalie), hockey or ball hockey equipment and a $25 entrance fee. If you aren’t interested in putting in a team,
why not turn out to support your municipal council, or local Junior A team, the Smiths Falls Bears, instead? The ball hockey tournament will kick off the DBA’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in Downtown Smiths Falls event, which will include kids’ activities at the Legion (including an appearance by Santa at 2 p.m.), kids crafts, a Decoratea-Pet Contest at the Pet Valu
parking lot and the Fill-a-Van With Food campaign on Russell Street. Do you have a pet that would make a terri¿c Santa or elf? Bring a pet food donation for the Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) to Pet Valu on Chamber Street on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and participate in the Decorate-a-Pet Contest. Categories include: best Santa, best dressed senior, best dressed
puppy, and most unusual costume. Prizes for each category will feature stocking stuffers from Pet Valu. John Maloney, one of the organizers for the Decorate-a-Pet event, explained that LAWS is always on the lookout for pet food donations to support their organization. “This is a great way to get out and have some fun with your pet while supporting a
worthy organization,” Maloney said, “LAWS gives so much to local pets, giving something back at Christmas is a great idea.” For more information or to register a team please contact the DBA coordinator at 613283-4124 ext. 1114 or at dba@ smithsfalls.ca or visit www. downtownsmithsfalls.ca. Submitted by the Downtown Business Association. R0011753991/1122
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