Total Sports Summer 2022 -Equestrian, Racing & Summer Sports

Total Sports 1

QUINTE

BELLEVILLE . BAY OF QUINTE . HASTINGS & PRINCE

TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

EDWARD COUNTY . NORTHUMBERLAND

RECOGNIZING LOCAL SPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY SUMMER 2022 Vol 6 Issue 2

The

Equestrian Sport pg 21-31

Quinte Summer Sports Review

Racing is Back

Meet Mike Raniowski pg 7

PLUS John Bondar Inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame pg 8

Guadañero AT P.R.E. Read more pg 23

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IKE FOR M .

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TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

Racing Academy

Total Sports TOTASPORTSQUINTE.CA

PUBLISHER Total Sports Quinte

QUINTE REGION

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kelly Leigh Martin

BOQTotalsports@gmail.com

WRITERS

Jeff Gard - Total Sports Writer Randy Uens Total Sports Writer Other Writers ADVERTISING AND SUBMISSIONS Economical Insurance Kelly Leigh Martin/ 905-914-7454 (Newman Insurance) BOQTotalsports@gmail.com Ian Press Stories - Jeff Gard - 905-269-2485 Joe Fee Terry Boyd Jeffgard.totalsports@gmail.com EDITOR Advertising SALES Jeff Gard Alisha Martin 343-261-8568 DISTRIBUTION Alishaleigh@gmail.com Angela Douglas PHOTOGRAPHERS Total Sports Staff BOQtotalsports@gmail.com Carly Graham TSportsQuinte Heather Bashow OJHL Images TotalSportsQuinte Michael Lekas Deroche Sports Photography TotalSportsQuinte Damian Pereira Steve Dunsford TotalSportsQuinte.ca Heal With Horses

905.914.7454 MAIN

Total Sports Quinte is a free magazine, digital stories posted daily, print+digital versions published six times a year. Contents Copyright 2020 Total Sports Quinte. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or depicted in print or digital form without the written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors may not be those of Total Sports Integrated Media. Total Sports Quinte assumes no liability for submissions or omissions.

Contributors - Take Mike For Granite, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Randy Uens, Quinte Museum of Natural History, The County Marathon, County Party Rentals, Bayhawks Lacrosse, Newman Insurance, Economical Insurance, Dragon Boaters, Boathouse Seafood Restaurant, Loyalist College Basketball, Dr Julianne Peterson, Belleville Dawgs Baseball, Upholstery by Design & Leather works, Equestrian Roots Feed & Supply, TPT Sterner Equestrian Centre, Miron Valley Stables & Riding School, Altebly Stables Caselton, Northumberland County Riders Horse Club, Heal With Horses, Wellington Dukes, Kelly Scott, Quinte Royals Baseball, D & J Masonry, Christine Rutter, Bay of Quinte Yacht Club, Stirling Gellyball, Terry Boyd, Belleville Sports Hall of Fame, Quinte Smart Homes, Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre, Best Western Belleville.

COVER PHOTOS - Jeannette Sterner - TPT-Sterner & Mike Raniowski Equestrian photo by Carly Graham Photography Racing photo by Michael Lekas

Summer 20224 Volume 6 Issue 2

2 .................................. Take Mike for Granite - More than Counter Tops 3 ...................................................... Fun at Shannonville Motorsport Park 5 ........................................................................ Uturns - The Parent Coach 6 ..................................... Explore the Quinte Museum of Natural History 7 ................................................... Need for Speed - Meet Mike Raniowski 8 /9..... REVVING ENGINES - Shannonville Motorsport Park in Full Gear 10/11 ................................... The County Marathon Returns this October 12 ....................... County Party Rentals - Everything for Your Next Event 13 .................................... Lacrosse is Back in a Big Way in Quinte Region 14/15 .... Little Known Facts - Seasonal Insurance by Newman Insurance 16 ........................................ It’s Patio Season at the Boathouse Belleville 17 ............ Loyalist College Sports - Basketball Team Welcomes Players 18 ..................... Give Your Child Confidence with Dr. Jullianne Peterson 19 .... The Dawgs Days of Summer - Baseball is Back for Belleville Dawgs 20 ......... The Equestrian Sport - Upholstery By Design & Leather Works 21 ............ Equestrian Roots Feed & Supply in Trenton - One Stop Shop 22/23 ........................................ TPT Sterner - Total Performance Training 24/25 ............ Miron Valley Stable & Riding School - Meet Cori & Kelsey 26 .............. Altebly Stables Castleton - Western & English Riding Stable 27 ..................... Check Out Northumberland County Riders Horse Club 28/29 ..................... Heal With Horses - Connecting Humans To Animals 30 ....... 1st Annual Heal With Horses Horseshoe Tourn. with the Dukes 31 ...................................... Meet Kelly Scott - A Love for Horses & Racing 32/33 ....................................... Play Ball! Quinte Royals Baseball is Back!

34 ....... List with Christine Rutter for Donation to Your Team or Charity 35 ....................................................... Sailing on the Bay of Quinte - BQYC 36 ............ Hey Sports Teams - Check Out Gellyball for Your Next Event!

37 .................................... Why Coach? Check Out Soul Beach Volley Ball 38/39 ............................... Belleville Sports Hall of Fame 2022 Nominees 40/41 .................................................. Dragon Boaters Back on the Water 42 .................... Quinte Smart Homes - Your Property at Your Fingertips 43 ................... Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre - Summer Registration 44 ................................ Best Western Belleville - Sports Teams Welcome!

FEATURES

COUNTY MARATHON RETURNS THIS OCTOBER 10/11

LOYALIST COLLEGE BASKETBALL 17

SPECIAL EQUESTRIAN INSERT 20-31

BELLEVILLE DAWGS BASEBALL 19

Interested in having a Total Sports Magazine, PodCast & SportsHub in your community?

Contact us to find out how you can become part of our network! BOQTotalsports@gmail.com 905-914-7454

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Sports Column

TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

By: Randy Uens

U Turns: A View on Sports

The Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of being a parent coach.

I can’t think of any topic in elite minor sports that is more divisive than the debate over parent coaches. Whenever there is adversity within a team coached by a parent, this theme will be raised. Often the visceral response to the team’s issues (no matter how complex) from some parents is that the coach’s judgement is compromised because of his/ her own bias towards their own child.

This thought process is a slippery slope. I have seen bad parent coaches.

I have seen excellent parent coaches. I have been one of those coaches.

The reality is that minor sports would not exist if it wasn’t for parent coaches. Parent coaches and the volunteer coaches that provide guidance and encouragement to our youth are the lifeblood of sports.

I think most people in sports agree that we need parent coaches. The question comes when the stakes get higher. Players reach a point where they have aspirations of moving on to higher levels of competition.

Parents will either fear the potential for bias by a coach or use the parent coach as a tool to point to failures by the coach to improve the abilities of their child.

My experience has been that in most cases, the parent coach is harder on their own child than they are on others. Often this child is not given opportunities that they may deserve because the coach and their staff are concerned about the optics if this player is made a captain or receives more playing time than other players of similar skill sets.

When the coach’s child is clearly one of the best players it sometimes is less of an issue, but even then the coach must be careful to balance development for all the players, especially their own. The greatest challenge for a parent coach is to balance being a coach and being a parent. You cannot coach and be worried about criticism. Your job is to develop athletes, all athletes, including your child.

The second part of this discussion relates to the relationship between the coach and their child. The car ride home is a critical and fragile time period for young athletes. It is in this moment the coach needs to become the parent and stop coaching. Ask your child if they want to talk about the game. If they do, be supportive and not critical. The coach can be critical, you as a parent cannot.

The car ride is the time to embrace the moment and enjoy the time together. Ask questions as opposed to offering advice. “How did you feel the game went?” “What would you want to do differently?“ “Did you try your hardest?” These are questions that allow your child to be introspective and thoughtful. It also allows you as the parent to be supportive and encouraging by letting them know it’s never as bad as they may view it. The sun will rise tomorrow … no matter how bad the game went.

I cherish the times I had in the car with my kids coming home from games. Did I slip up … absolutely, but over time I got better. More encouraging and more positive no matter the outcome of the game. In the end, that is what was important.

The reality is that as a parent coach you will have bias for your own child.

There will be times where you evaluate them higher than maybe they should be. It is natural and normal. It’s how you manage your bias that is important.

Like everything in life, it’s important to surround yourself with good people. People that you can trust, but also people that will tell you the truth to your face. Tell you when you are making a mistake because they have the team’s best interest at heart.

I was fortunate to have this with almost all of the teams I coached. Non parent assistant coaches like Jordie Freeland and Alex Lavalee were never shy to tell me what they thought. I valued their opinion and appreciated the candour. A parent coach needs this feedback, but more importantly needs to heed the advice.

The one perfect scenario that I had as a coach was working with Steve Bancroft. Steve is a former longtime professional player. Although I was the coach, I considered him as my co-coach. We worked as a team and I always felt that we were point blank honest with each other.

Hockey was easier than some other sports in that Steve’s son Dalton was a forward and my son Zach was a defenceman. I controlled Dalton’s ice

time and Steve controlled Zach’s. There were definitely instances where maybe we questioned each other’s use of our child in certain situations, but at no point did we interfere with each other’s decisions. It was a system that worked for us.

Each parent coach needs to find a way to park any potential bias and do what’s best for the team as a whole. If you can do this, it will make your life easier. We also had a routine after every game where we rated the players performance. The two of us and the assistant, would rank the players and their effort that game. This allowed for us to constantly be evaluating and to gauge improvement of the players but also to ensure we were on the same page with where players fit in.

The assistant coach was the control mechanism in this exercise. I highly recommend this approach for any coach, not just parent coaches. It helps identify trends in player development but also prevents coaches from falling into the trap of pigeon holing players. Other coaches may see positives that you somehow don’t see which creates healthy debates.

Now if the organization had said that they insisted on non parent coaches only, I humbly think that our team may not have developed as well as they did. Losing out on all of the experience that Steve Bancroft brought to the table would have limited the success that a number of players from that team have enjoyed.

Organizations need to evaluate the time to make a change from a parent coach to a non parent coach. If there is a non parent coach that is better and more experienced than the parent coach, it is an easy decision.

However, making a coaching change for the sake of making a coaching change often fails. It has to be the right fit.

Being a parent should not be a negative point when making coaching decisions. If the parent coach is the best candidate, they should be the one selected. Every coach has a shelf life. I knew when it was time for me to move away from Zach’s team. It was the best decision for the team, for Zach and especially for me. Coaches need to be honest with themselves.

The second part is to work with the association to develop a transition or secession plan for the future. Start recruiting a replacement coach, bring them on to the bench or at least start grooming your successor.

It benefits the team and the association if you can do this transition with the least amount of drama and change. Change is often needed to provide a new perspective but it needs to be done in the right way to ensure a seamless transition.

Finally, as a parent with a child on a team coached by a parent coach, it is your responsibility to support and appreciate these coaches. Do not assume the worst every time. If the coach is qualified and is experienced the team should be appreciative of having this individual as a coach.

One or two off decisions should not be met with vitriol and angst. Look for patterns over a period of time to fully understand if there actually is a systemic issue regarding your child.

If the issue persists over four or five games, by all means ask for a meeting with the coach and discuss if your child is younger than 13. Any player above 13, should have these discussions directly with the coach.

Parent coaches are needed. Volunteers are the foundation of youth sports. Without them there would be no youth sports. And if these parent volunteers are especially experienced, they should be encouraged to help and not be scared off by parental influences. Saying all of that, the parent coach must be cognizant of their own bias and natural instincts and allow for a strong voice to be there to assist them. It helps the team and insulates you from making emotional decisions. Team First is always the right answer!

UTURNS final Thoughts!

I see that former Ottawa Senator Daniel Alfredsson has introduced a new sport called Padel. It’s similar to pickle ball which has grown in popularity in our community but a little more dynamic and entertaining for the 30 -50 year old crowd. Tennis-like courts using racquetball size racquets are popping up all around Ottawa. Maybe our parks and rec department could check it out and offer it in conjunction with the pickle ball programming.

These are my own views and do not reflect the views of Total Sports Magazine, Dukes Sports & Entertainment or the Wellington Dukes Hockey club.

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TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA

Explore Quinte’s Destination For Natural Science and Discovery 99 Dufferin Ave, Quinte West, ON K8V 5E2

Book Your Tickets Online www.quintemuseum.org

Contact Us @QuinteMuseum info@quintemnh.ca

Admission $6.00 for Adults Children 4 and under are free

Donations Always Appreciated A Registered Canadian Charity No. 801549577 RR 0001

7

NEED FOR SPEED

TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

Meet Motorcycle Racer

Mike Raniowski Photo: Heather Bashow

By Jeff Gard/ Total Sports Quinte Life slows down for Mike Raniowski when he is zipping around tracks at high speed on his motorcycle.

“That 200 kilometres an hour, that’s my not-thinking-place,” Raniowski said. That means work can take a backseat for a while and he can relax on family schedules a bit as well. Food, however, might be on his mind. “I’m thinking about what’s for dinner because I’m calm out there.” he remarked.

This is the 10th year racing for Raniowski, mostly at Shannonville Motorsport Park, but also at Calabogie and Mosport. His love for bikes and cars extends back most of his life.

“I’ve been an adrenaline junkie since I was probably three years old. I used to do extreme skiing and stuff like that too so I was into moguls and all that. That was probably my big thing and then BMX, I was into that as well,” Raniowski said. “I was on a bicycle at two and probably started jumping stuff at four.”

Raniowski got a ZX6 street bike at the same time he bought his current business, Take Mike for Granite, and took it to Shannonville where there are opportunities for riders on racing or street bikes.

He impressed other riders with his speed and they encouraged him to register for an upcoming race. “I did well and then I bought a race bike and took my street bike off the street,” he recalled. “As funny as it sounds, it’s safer to ride on the track than it is on the street.”

While also having some success on the track, the key for Raniowski has always been having fun and making new friends along the way.

“The biggest thing about me compared to 90 percent of people is I do this 100 percent for fun,” he said. “I don’t go out there to be number one. I won’t take stupid chances to be number one if I have to. If I’m faster than you, I will get around you here or there, but I won’t stuff somebody in a corner to get away from them.

“I’ve never had a sponsor because I never wanted that over my head that I have to perform for somebody else, but I’ve definitely had a ton of support from people.”

He’s competed at national events hosted by Shannonville and Calabogie and even in Quebec and Nova Scotia (where he wiped out and suffered a collarbone separation and five broken ribs).

“On my bike I bet you I’ve got upwards of, if I say 12,000 laps, I’d probably be (estimating) low.”

“Years ago when I was into racing and had a bit more time I actually rented the track by myself a couple times just to go ride around.” It’s a passion that he takes in stride. He’s serious about safety, but not about results. He also loves teaching the next racing class through Shannonville’s Motorcycle Racing School, which is how he got his start.

All first-time racers must attend a school before getting their first competitive license. “I love helping people,” Raniowski said. “I like teaching other people how to do it. I couldn’t care less if I’m racing one, two, three for the win or racing 21, 22, 23 and just have two guys around me that were basically the same speed, same caliber and it’s just a good race. That’s what I like about it.” five years ago Raniowski added a 250 to his lineup, he then sold that for a ninja 300 which he still races now “I would say if anybody wanted to get into racing, that’s definitely the way to go,” he said. “Start with a little bike, get the fundamentals down and then if you feel like it step up, but some of the best headto-head racing out there is definitely the little bikes because you basically have to less break, more gas because you don’t have the power that the 600s and 1000s have to make up the time.”

More gas, higher speeds and, for Raniowski, no better way to relax.

Mike and Daughter Zoe

TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA

REVVING ENGINES

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Shannonville Motorsport Park Season in Full Gear

By Jeff Gard / Total Sports Quinte With an appreciation for the history of Shannonville Motorsport Park, John Bondar was also excited for its future back in the fall of 2019.

That’s when it was announced Bondar and Steve Gidman had purchased the racing venue east of Belleville. Bondar’s fascination with motorsports dates back more than 45 years.

“It started as a hobby – I had a passion for it when I was younger and then I progressed through a number of steps or phases. In the beginning I was waving flags and putting out fires as a trackside marshal,” Bondar said. “I started to race small cars and I did that for a number of years and then I got into the administration of the sport. I was president of amateur motorsports in Ontario. That led me to build a network of motorsport contacts across the country and North America.”

He also started a professional racing series – the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) – that ran strong for 14 years.

Bondar was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in May, which he considers “quite an honour after over 45 years in the sport.”

In 2014, Bondar was informed by the previous Shannonville owner that the track was up for sale.

“For me and for us it was just the next evolution of motorsports,” Bondar said. “The race track is now our next project.”

It certainly hasn’t been easy given the timeline of the past two years and Bondar, the president of Shannonville Motorsport Park, certainly couldn’t have envisioned what was on the horizon in the coming months with the emergence of COVID-19. In fact there’s been mixed feelings, or more like a “contradiction of feelings” as Bondar put it, starting in the spring of 2020.

“We were certainly frustrated that we couldn’t open our doors at the beginning of the season, which for us means April,” he recalled.

“Uncertainty, frustration and then when we opened the doors, we were busy. It was a case of it was summer and many people wanted to get out just to breathe some air so we found our motorcycle lapping days were very busy and also our car lapping days were very busy. It meant for a crazy year to try and stay on top of it. So it was scary, nerve-wracking and then it got to be very busy.”

A year later, the situation was similar, perhaps worse as Shannonville’s opening was delayed even further due to provincial restrictions.

“The list of inductees is a who’s who of motorsports in Canada,” he added.

“We thought we had gotten through year one and we were optimistic for year two, then we ran into more barriers and it was almost the same thing and then it did get busy again and it stayed busy right until the end of October,” Bondar said. “We made it through, is the short answer. Now, it’s a new year.”

A new year, indeed.

Continued ... next page

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TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

Photo by Michael Lekas Shannonville Motorsport Park had a more traditional opening in April for its 2022 season. Staff returned to get it open and had some rentals for the venue before hosting the Shannonville Racing Academy for members of the public who want to get into car racing.

There was even a public car-lapping day early in the season.

Bondar hopes to continue the tradition of Shannonville and add to the long history of the motorsport park.

“A long, long time ago I went to a racing school here to get my licence so I was introduced to the track and as an amateur racer I raced here a number of times,” he said. “I’m well aware of the history – this is known as the birth-place of champions and it’s true.

There have been so many Canadian racers that got there start here at Shannonville and have gone on to bigger things. Probably our most famous student and employee was Jacques Villeneuve. He used to work at the racing school here. It was with a third party, but this was the home for that school and he worked here as a mechanic and of course went on to win the Formula 1 World Championship.”

While appreciating the past, Bondar is all about looking to the future, starting with a full lineup of events and activities for the 2022 season.

“What will be very busy for us is actually motorcycles,” he said.

“We have our own motorcycle racing series called the Super Series and we have five event weekends scheduled this year which will encompass a Friday testing day and then two full days of racing.”

scheduled for July 9-10 (Nelson track), Aug. 20-21 (Long track) and Sept. 10-11 (Pro track).

Shannonville Motorsport Park is also introducing a new car racing program through the Pirelli Supercar Challenge, a response to high demand from their customers.

Open exclusively to Shannonville Racing Club members, the Challenge is focused on performance driving and motorsport enthusiasts who want to test their skills in a controlled and respectful environment on Wednesday evenings once a month.

After launching in May, the two divisions – Super Street and Super GT – continue June 15, July 13 and August 17.

“It provides an entry level for people that want to go car racing,” Bondar said. “We’ll have real race cars, as I call them, with all the safety equipment, but what will be fun is we have a category for street cars. It will give people the chance to experience a race, but in a controlled environment so we will only allow passing in certain areas. I think that’s going to be very popular because it’s all those people who think they’re great drivers and great racers on the street. We hope to draw them away from the street and get them on the track.”

Shannonville, sitting on 146 acres with a 4.03-kilometre multiconfigurable racetrack, is one of the few multi-purpose motorsport facilities in Canada.

“The best thing is we have grandstands here that see most of the track,” Bondar said.

No doubt about it, Shannonville provides a perfect venue to watch, compete or learn. There’s race schools for cars and motorcycles, lapping days and even a new drag racing program launched this year in partnership with RaceWindsor, which is taking on the organization of the event.

With event weekends in June, July, August and September, the goal is to include the classes of Pro, Super Pro, Street, Bike, Sled and Nostalgia with the possibility of Junior Dragster as well. You can check out a separate website (www.shannonvilledrags.ca) to keep up to date on the action.

“We’ve got a new team managing it and we’re expecting great things from them,” Bondar.

Photo by Damian Pereira Some of Canada’s finest amateur and pro riders, with a growing interest in grassroots motorcycle racing in this country, will take on three different layouts at Shannonville during the five scheduled weekends.

The first two rounds of the motorcycle Super Series were held in May (Long track) and June (Pro track) with the remaining events

It’s shaping up to be the kind of season Bondar envisioned when investing in Shannonville Motorsport Park.

Be sure to check out www.shannonville.com.

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TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA

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For potential sponsors - this is also an ideal event to invest in. We offer great opportunities to showcase the County and your services with a target market of largely young urban professionals.

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Race Kit Pickup will be held Saturday October 1st from 10AM - 6PM. If you are not able to attend please find a participant to collect your kit on your behalf because your chipped bib will be in your kit (no bib - no time - no medal).

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Start Line

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We feature a Boston Qualifying Full Marathon, Half Marathon for Runners, Walkers and Wheeled Athletes and new this year a 50 KM ultra!

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To Kingston

Join us for our 19th Annual County Marathon Weekend on Sunday October 2nd, 2022.

REGISTER TODAY AT thecountymarathon.ca

Happy Running from the County Marathon Committee, see you this fall!

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TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

COUNTY MARATHON Returns this October

By Jeff Gard / Total Sports Quinte

It’s been a marathon, not a sprint, perhaps that’s no surprise, but you can expect to see hundreds of runners finally return to Prince Edward County this fall.

For the first time since 2019, the County Marathon is back in its traditional form as competitors will tackle the picturesque route from Wellington through Bloomfield before crossing the finish line in Picton on October 2 for the 19th edition of the event this year and for the first time ever they will have the 50 KM Ultra.

“To have it come back is something that was created with a lot of people involved,” said race director Mark Henry. “To be able to put all of that organizational equity back into play again is huge.

We’ve got a competitive event and it’s been based on all of those volunteers, all of that effort over the years.”

Around 500 to 600 participants are expected this year for the 19th edition of the County Marathon, down a bit due to not offering the team relay event this year. The focus will be on the full (42.2-kilometre) and half (26-kilometre) marathons as they complete the popular route.

The full marathon start line is at the Wellington and District Community Centre while the half-marathon begins at the West Lake Community Church and both events end at the Prince Edward County fairgrounds in Picton. The athletes tend to enjoy running those routes.

“For some of them it’s familiarity. It’s a route that any number of the runners have complimented us on in terms of the variety of what they see along the way, that sort of thing, and spectators are always welcome,” Henry remarked. “From what I’m hearing, they seem to come up at just the right time for the runners.”

For instance, Henry noted one spectator would even play the bagpipes “on the worst hill just before Picton” and that seemed to spur the runners on. He’s not sure if the bagpipes will return this year.

Another attraction for the County Marathon is the opportunity for runners to qualify for the Boston Marathon as it is sanctioned by Athletics Canada and is an ORRA, AAA classified race.

“We like that side of it that we can offer that service here,” Henry said. “It’s because of the discipline that’s applied to the course and through our volunteers and the police support we get.”

Registration is open and organizers have shown an ability to adapt as a new 50-kilometre Ultra race has been added while virtual options – which most runners had to utilize the past two years – continue this year as well. The additional 7.8 kilometres for the 50K Ultra will be run on scenic trails along the route.

There are different prices available, but they increase as the event draws closer. The current pricing is available until July 26, followed by a window of July 27 until Sept. 26 and then Sept. 27 until race day.

Virtual options are continuing because of the success from the past two years as only a limited amount of runners were permitted on the actual course.

“We had about 75 people the first virtual in 2020 and about mid40s the second year in 2021,” Henry said. “Not a big crowd, but we had one person running on her treadmill in Texas. That was verified because her machine had electronic stuff on it so it was able to prove that she had done that. That was kind of fun to have that side of it.”

For this year, there won’t be a traditional awards ceremony at the end as organizations continue on with some of the virtual lessons learned.

As noted, volunteers are key to the success of the event and more are needed, especially following two years without the event in its traditional form.

“We have had some of our longtime core volunteers decide that they’ve contributed enough to it,” Henry remarked. “We are looking for both core committee members and absolutely volunteers on the day or even the day before when we have registration on October 1st.”

Volunteers will be required to help set up, register participants and be along the route, though police will cover major intersections.

The plan is to have unmanned water stations, however volunteers are welcome to be there as well.

Anyone interested in thecountymarathon.ca.

volunteering

can

e-mail

info@

Once again, the County Marathon will support the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation. In fact, organizers announced in May that due to the early support from registered runners, the event would be able to donate $2,500 ($1,250 from donations and $1,250 in matching funds).

“Every single year since we started,” Henry said of the County Marathon’s support for the Foundation. “Runners contribute when they register if they want to and then we match that from the entity itself so that we can make a reasonable contribution.”

Check out www.thecountymarathon.ca.

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LACROSSE IS BACK In a Big Way in Quinte Region

TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

By Joe Fee/ Bayhawks Lacrosse

Lacrosse is back in a big way in the Quinte region! The Quinte Bayhawks 2022 indoor recreational league picked up where it left off after its inaugural season in 2019, as youth (and parents) across the area discovered an exciting new sport. Players participated in skill development clinics, house league games, exhibition games with neighbouring teams from Kingston, Tyendinaga and Northumberland, as well as house league select games with Nepean. The U17 Quinte Bayhawks rep team is looking forward to the provincial championships in early August where it hopes to take the next step after the 2019 U13 Bayhawks came home as provincial finalists.

As the indoor season winds down, the Bayhawks organization looks to bring the lacrosse experience full circle with the introduction of recreational and club field lacrosse, including the new Olympic Sixes format, as lacrosse looks to make a big return to the Olympic Games in the coming years. Planning is underway for a fall program that will allow players to discover the sport all over again.

The Bayhawks look to build upon their successful 2021 fall outdoor recreational program with expanded divisions and more time on the field. Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in North America, and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is a big part of that in the United States. The professional league has taken the sport across the country and founded a new level of excitement in the sport. Many players from Ontario, among the best in the world, are stars in the PLL. The Quinte Minor Lacrosse Association looks to establish club teams in the U13 and U16 divisions that will participate in a provincial league that typically runs from Labour Day to Thanksgiving, as well as enter tournaments in New York State.

Locally, Eastside Secondary School has a field lacrosse team that competes with other schools from Kingston, Cobourg and Peterborough. Through development at the youth level, we are sure to see other high schools in the area form lacrosse teams in the coming years. The QMLA aims to play a big role in that by promoting the sport through elementary school and supporting the development of coaches and officials. The Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) exists to provide high-level field lacrosse at the post-secondary level, with many players moving on to play professional lacrosse. Additionally, there are opportunities for student athletes to cross the border and play at the NCAA level.

This was the case for Nicholson Catholic College graduate and Prince Edward County resident Luc Mayfield, who will be attending and playing lacrosse at Yale University this coming fall.

Keep an eye on the website https://quintelacrosse.com and @quintelacrosse on social media for details about the upcoming Quinte Bayhawks field lacrosse opportunities and other lacrosse programs put on by the QMLA.

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5 little-known facts about seasonal property insurance THE NEWMAN BLOG

By: Anita Iomins Economical Insurance

Photo by Steve Dunsford

A quick question for all the cottagers out there: what’s the difference between a bear and a skunk? When it comes to seasonal property insurance, it’s about more than their physical differences — damage done to your cottage by bears is probably covered, while damage done by skunks probably isn’t.

insurance company or broker. If you don’t and your renters cause damage, it may not be covered by your policy.

Take note of these five little-known facts about seasonal property insurance coverage and talk to your broker about what is (and what isn’t) covered in your policy:

Water damage, not fire or theft, is the most common type of insurance claim. If you’re using your cottage year-round, think about installing temperature and water alarms to notify you remotely of potential frozen pipes or flooding. If you close your property in the cooler months, don’t forget to shut off the water supply and drain your pipes, and consider using a monitored alarm or make arrangements for someone to check your property when you’re away to avoid water damage — doing so could even save you money on home insurance.

The onus is on you to prevent losses or damage to your property — and if a loss can be easily prevented, it may not be covered.

So if you forget to tie up your boat and it goes out with the tide, for example, you’re probably out of luck. Damage or loss caused by things outside of your control (not things you could prevent) will most likely be covered by your policy. In the bears vs. skunks scenario, the idea is that you could prevent a critter from entering your home by taking some simple precautions — but keeping a bear out might not be so easy.

If you leave your cottage unattended for an extended period of time, losses or damages might not be covered. Seasonal properties need to be checked regularly for safety and security. In fact, most insurance companies have a maximum number of days you can be away before coverage could be denied (60 days, for example). So if you haven’t checked on your cottage over the winter months and the roof collapses due to snow load, you might have to cover those damages out of pocket. That’s because if you had checked on your property more regularly, removing the snow could have prevented the roof from collapsing. Make sure you’re checking and prime cottage season. And don’t forget to confirm with your insurance company or broker just how many days the property can be left unattended. Your claim could be denied if you’ve left your property unattended for too long.

Renting out your cottage could void your insurance policy if it’s not permitted by your insurer. While you won’t necessarily need to pay a higher premium or take out commercial coverage for occasionally renting out your seasonal property, you do need to tell your

Bonus tip: If you’re planning on renting out your cottage this season, check out these handy cottage rental tips to keep your property in tip-top-shape and make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your seasonal space.

That old boat you don’t care about could cost you big money.

Even if you think it isn’t worth insuring your boat against theft or damage, getting liability protection on it is essential. If you don’t and it causes harm to someone or something, you’ll be on the hook for any injuries or damages. The same goes for other toys around your property that wouldn’t be covered by your seasonal property insurance policy, like ATVs and snowmobiles. If they present the potential to cause damage or injuries, they should be insured for liability. To cover unlicensed operators using your recreational vehicles, consider adding an endorsement to your car insurance policy.

Want to learn more about your seasonal property insurance policy or update your coverage? Contact your licensed insurance broker today.

This article was originally posted on economical.com

For more information please visit us at

www.newmaninsurance.ca

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LOYALIST COLLEGE SPORTS

Basketball team welcomes local players

By Jeff Gard / Total Sports Quinte Two local basketball players have been signed to Loyalist College’s women’s basketball team and more are welcome.

In May, the club’s coach Caleb Hugh announced the additions of Grace Callahan and Sam Clarke to the Loyalist Lancers.

Hugh has previously coached boys and girls basketball locally at a few high schools, including at St. Theresa, Quinte Secondary and Prince Edward Collegiate as well as with the County Clippers club program.

He believes there’s great talent in the area and players can make an impact at the OCAA (Ontario College Athletic Association) level while obtaining a post-secondary education at the same time with scholarships available to support the athletes.

“We’re fortunate now with Grace Callahan and Sam Clarke that we have a couple talented players that are going to stay local and play for their hometown and I’m hoping that becomes more contagious and they start a trend and maybe more in the next few years will follow their lead.”

Callahan and Clarke are both great athletes, first and foremost, Hugh noted, adding the biggest difference from high school to OCAA basketball is athleticism and aggressiveness.

“Sam can really score the ball. She can shoot and score from just about anywhere on the floor.” Hugh said. Grace, she’s played highlevel basketball for probably over 10 years – she’s played Spirits all the way through, always on their top team and been one of the best players.”

Clarke is a 5-foot-7 guard from Madoc where she was recognized as MVP for the Centre Hastings Centurions high school team.

She also has past club experience with the Belleville Spirits and County Clippers. She’s entering the first year of Loyalist’s Police Foundations program.

Hugh considers Clarke to be “a hidden gem.”

“She didn’t play Spirits last year, so she was just playing in Madoc, but super-skilled and just a really natural skill for the game and she can put the ball in the net so having her on the floor will make it easier for our other players as well because of threat she presents as a shooter.”

Callahan joins the Lancers from the St. Theresa Titans. She also recently earned a silver medal at the provincial championships with the Belleville Spirits U19 team.

The 5-foot-7 ultra-competitive shooting guard from Corbyville will join Loyalist’s Pre-Health Sciences Pathway program in September.

Hugh said he has been nudging Callahan since she was in Grade 10 to join the Lancers following high school graduation.

“She’s one of those players you hate to play against, but love to have on your team,” Hugh said. “We have big expectations for her.”

Heading into the summer, Hugh is still looking to bolster his roster if any Quinte area players moving on to post-secondary education are interested. After a couple challenging years due to COVID-19, he only had six players remaining by second semester this past season.

Currently, 10 players are signed to the Lancers women’s basketball team and High hopes to add five more. He expects to have training camps this summer which potential recruits are also welcome to join.

“The best way to be competitive in games is to be competitive in practice so we want to have a large roster,” he said. “I’m always looking to add depth to create that competition that will push our players even further.”

Any players interested can contact Hugh at chugh@loyalistcollege.com or fill out the Prospective Athlete Form at www.loyalistlancers.com

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THE DAWGS DAYS OF SUMMER Baseball is back for Belleville team

By Jeff Gard/ Total Sports Quinte The Belleville Dawgs are back for another baseball season, now playing at the under-16 level.

Formed in 2018, the Dawgs joined the Fergie Jenkins Showcase League in 2019. The league is a showcase and development opportunity for players aspiring to play at a higher level.

“They were especially great when COVID hit and were able to put together a great return-to-play guideline so we were able to have a bubbled season still in 2020,” said Dawgs president Tina RaeSararas. “John and Jane Allison were also super helpful in the first season of COVID and helped us use the diamond they care for in Wellington.

A typical season runs from May until August prior to fall ball, which is similar to spring training and tryouts for the club, Sararas said, noting league teams span from Ottawa and into western to Quebec across to the Niagara region making for a busy travel schedule during the season.

There’s an opportunity to compete at tournaments in the United States as well.

In August, the FJSL puts together an all-star team of players in the league and travels to the U.S. to represent Canada and the league.

“I am joining with a few others in the league to form a recruiting team that will further help all the players in the league find the best post-secondary options suited for their needs,” Sararas added.

In April, a number of players had the opportunity to participate in a scout day with U.S. based program Between the Lines measuring athletes’ metrics and evaluating their results.

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“The league is also hosting a showcase tournament in August where players from across the league are invited to participate,” Sararas said. “The event this year will have more than 30 schools across North America scouting. Currently we have three players who have been invited to participate.”

Members of the Belleville Dawgs U16 team are: Lukas Campbell, Braedan Melanson, Colby Sararas, William Hildebrand, Owen Ferguson, Mason Howe, Cole Eisenstadt, Jonny Buxton, Keaton Sararas, Aiden Allen, James Armstrong, Ben Buxton and Logan DeMille.

The Dawgs will host the FJSL year-end tournament for the U16 division Aug. 5 to 7. Details will be available on the club’s website and social media closer to the date.

Tryouts for the 2023 season will begin at the end of August and the organization hopes to add more teams in divisions between under-10 and under-18.

Applications for coaching and tryout registration are encouraged beginning July 15.

While they are the only club in the league without its own indoor facility, the Dawgs get pre-season training at the Loyalist Dome, Hastings Dome and at local gymnasiums.

“We have tons of potential here,” Sararas said. “This area boasts many great ball players eager and capable of post-secondary baseball across North America. We provide a local club for them to save a bit on travel and provide year-round training closer to home.

You can check out Belleville Dawgs baseball at www.bellevilledawgs.com and on Facebook.

You can also e-mail bellevilledawgs@gmail.com

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MEET JEANETTE STERNER Total Performance Training

By Total Sports Quinte Jeannette Sterner, owner of TPT Sterner Equestrian Education Centre in Roslin was Just three years old when she discovered her absolute unconditional love of horses. From the beginning, Jeannette started with vaulting to find the correct balance and had her first riding lesson at the age of six. At seven years old, Jeannette received her own pony named Schwalbe, a gift from her grandma. Jeannette was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany and came to Canada in 2010 for personal reasons. The plan was to be in Canada for what she thought would be just a brief visit. She fell in love with the country and the people and wanted to raise her son in this beautiful country.

TPT Sterner stands for Total Performance Training. Jeannette is a licensed Physiotherapist in Germany and she incorporates physiotherapy into the training program of each horse. TPT Sterner first and foremost is about the care of the horse and the proper riding techniques of the rider. The focus is to keep the horse healthy and fit; to develop horse and rider to their fullest potential so that riding becomes effortless and enjoyable for both.

Jeannette says she keeps a close eye on the horses muscle and movement and teaches her students how it feels when the horse is using its body correctly so that they can recognize if something is wrong. The earlier the rider can address muscle or body problems, the easier it can be corrected. A horse is an athlete and needs to be treated as such.

Jeannette has quite the history of Equine achievements that include some of the following; • •

• • • • • •

At the age of 5 years old - Winning the regional championships in Germany with the vaulting team.

Just 11 years old - Her greatest emotional achievement was winning A-Dressur equivalent to 2nd level dressage regional championships, with her pony Schwalbe, who was by far not a great mover, but they rode correctly and harmoniously.

At the age of 14 Jeannette competed in the 1.35 Show-jumping 1999 - 2008 - Competing up to Prix St. George in dressage and 1.45m in show jumping.

2012 - Her first show year in Canada in the A-Circuit show jumping - successful in 1.15m and 1.25m.

2017- Successful in the 5 year old showjumper class.

2019 – Successful in the 1.10m schow jumping class and earned the Ontario and Eastern Canada Dressage Champion with a client’s horse in first level dressage.

2021 – Successful in dressage 3 years material, training level, first level and third Level and again, became Ontario and Eastern Canada Dressage Champion with young horses in training level and first level.

Many people have influenced the career of Jeannette Sterner.

Jeannette says that riding is like a jigsaw puzzle that you will never be able to finish, but the picture gets clearer with every piece you add from various coaches. “I have been fortunate to have had Ingrid Klimke, Olympic Gold Medalist in Eventing and Helen Langehanenberg Olympian Silver Medalist in Dressage as well as Sabine Becker and Claudia Graff National Grand Prix rider as mentors for dressage; Jochen Schneider, National Eventing rider, Lars Meyer zu Bexten trainer of the German junior show jumpers and Volker Schmidt FEI level 3 course designer as my mentors in jumping and course design” says Jeannette. She goes on to say, “Becoming a physiotherapist for horses in Germany was a huge influence on my career.” To be able to understand muscle function and how it connects to riding enabled me to fully understand what good riding and bad riding is and how it affects the horse”.

Continued ...

Equestrian Education Centre

STERNER

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Learning from Eckart Meyners (Professor of Sports Physiology and Body Movement at the University in Luneburg/GER) how to analyze and correct a riders seat through ground exercises, improved her coaching skills tremendously in helping the rider to sit relaxed and correct on the horse. Horse and Rider become a unit. Another puzzle piece was brought to her by Tristan Tucker’s methods TRT. His program taught her how to handle and correct horses with anxiety and behavior issues.

Anxiety or behaviour issues can get dangerous for both horse and rider.

Jeannette says, ‘to teach a horse WHAT to do when they are scared is the road to success’!

Jeannette’s phrase: The Will of a horse is controlled by trust, Not fear.

To Carry a horse in your hand, you need Mutual Respect!

TPT Sterner offers training and lesson boarding programs for competition riders. The barn stalls are 14ft x 13ft and their deluxe outdoor stalls are 12ft x 14ft with attached sand and grass paddocks for individual turnout. TPT is very proud to have 2 outdoor sand riding arenas (80’ x 200’ and 140’ x 280’) and 1 grass-jumping ring.

As an exciting addition, TPT Sterner constructed a new indoor arena in December 2020, small but pretty 60’ x 120’. Next on the list is to build a cross country course pre-entry to training level on her 50 acre property, open for schooling fall 2022.

Jeannette offers a customized training program for horse and rider.

46 Leslie Rd Belleville TPT-Sterner.com

Guadañero AT is a full licensed P.R.E. owned by P. Schewtschenko.

His outstanding look and movement as well his pedigree is impressive. Invasor III x Salinero XB Nero is confirmed 3rd level dressage and is available for breeding (frozen only) Nero is also offered for sale. For more information please contact Jeannette Sterner. (Above photo) Most important for Jeanette is that a rider learns HOW to give the proper aids; WHEN to give the aids and HOW it feels when the horse responds to those aids.

The rider can make many mistakes when the aids are not correctly placed or put into practice. This will cause confusion to the horse and will end up in a stressful workout for horse and rider. Riding needs to be easy for both.

Nutrition is the first thing to achieve improvements in your horse.

“We are proud to feed all horses in our care Cavalor grain” says Jeannette. Cavalor is an international premium feed from Belgium and TPT became an official FEI partner in 2019. Jeannette says, “I stand behind Cavalor with such conviction that I became an official retailer of their products”.

Jeannette goes on to say, “this grain has no comparison to any other North American product and allows you to tailor a feeding program to each individual horse”. “From the look, to the smell, to the taste, you want to put it in your own cereal bowl. Cavalor grain keeps your athlete healthy from the inside out”.

Blanketing and booting is a given as well as feeding supplements as needed. TPT stalls are cleaned twice daily and they feed hay as much as they need 24/7. “At our night check at 11pm, every horse gets his goodnight treat”, says Jeannette.

Jeannette Sterner’s vision is to build an established Equestrian Education Centre, providing continuous learning. “We will be offering several clinics with internationally recognized clinicians and myself for Dressage, Show-jumping and I will be giving Horse Muscle clinics and Movement clinics for riders in the style of Eckart Meyners” says Jeannette. TPT will be hosting schooling shows and organizing an annual charity show to support the humane society, which is important to Jeanette.

Feedback from clients is that the care of their horse at TPT Sterner is exceptional, with the overall atmosphere heartwarming and the education they receive is beyond what clients have experienced in the past. Another statement she often hears; “I have never been taught that way before. Or everything Jeannette explains makes sense and now I know what I’m supposed to do. Riding becomes easy with Jeannette”.

Jeannette concludes by saying, “I think my variety of expertise and equine passion makes TPT Sterner a special place”.

Follow TPT-Sterner Facebook page www.facebook.com/TPTSterner to see upcoming show dates and clinics at her facility in July, August and September.

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MIRON VALLEY Stable & Riding School

337 Miron Rd. Trenton, Ontario mironvalleystable.ca (613) 885-9573

By Jeff Gard / Total Sports Quinte local horse shows and has now completed her Rider Level 8 through Ontario Equestrian and is working on becoming a competitive coach.

She loves “teaching the kids and being able to develop a rider and see progress.”

Make no mistake, though, riders of all ages are welcome. Kelsey’s show team averages around 20 to 25 students at different levels of riding from just trotting around over poles to jumping big fences. Her youngest student on the team is 10 years old and the oldest is 51. Many adults start riding or reconnect with it after their kids have grown up.

Located just minutes from downtown Trenton, services offered include riding lessons for English, Dressage, Hunter (jumping) as well as Therapeutic Riding Lessons.

All beginners go through Miron Valley’s Saturday lesson program first before entering into weekly lessons until they know how to ride and have good general knowledge of the stable.

Kelsey and Cori Miron, owners of Miron Valley Stable & Riding School There’s a family-like atmosphere surrounding Miron Valley Stable and Riding School when it comes to staff and students.

That’s not surprising given the mother-daughter team of Cori and Kelsey Miron leading the way.

“Saturday’s the students are fully supervised by a worker to learn the basics of handling a horse/pony. Getting them safely out of their fields, through the gates and into the barn. Then going through all the grooming tools, where each horse has their own, learning the proper techniques of tacking up and the students are then passed onto the instructor for their lesson.,” Cori said, Continued ...

“I’m hoping my daughter, when I retire, will take over,” said Cori, owner and instructor, who bought the farm from her parents a year ago.

“She’s fourth generation on the farm, I’m third.”

Daughter Kelsey is the head coach and horse trainer and relishes the bond with her mother. She has spent her entire life around horses; feeding, caring for, training and competing.

“I got to watch her kind of build the business because I was very young when it happened so it’s really cool to see how everything has changed and keeps getting bigger and bigger,” she said.

Their love of horses runs deep and they enjoy sharing that passion with new riders.

“I have loved horses since the day I put my eyes on them. I grew up with them my entire life. My dad had Standardbreds for racing,” Cori said, adding that Santa Claus brought her and her two sisters a pony for Christmas one year. “It was just a non-stop passion.”

Cori has mostly moved away from teaching and now has a focus on maintenance such as checking fences and horses, ordering enough hay for the year, watering the horses and maintenance work on tractors, 4-wheelers and horse trailers.

Kelsey attends clinics, lessons and horse shows to learn more to enhance her knowledge as well as to bring more to her coaching. She started 13 years ago teaching private lessons and taking students to

We host our own schooling shows for our students a few times a year.

Divisions for all levels.

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Coach Kelsey Miron

Miron Valley’s riding lessons and programs focus on safety and communication both on the ground and under saddle. They strive for a team atmosphere amongst students with well-structured lessons and a hands-on approach that brings the beginner to a comfortable level of confidence with their horse or pony.

Children as young as eight are welcomed and programs are tailored to meet the ability of each individual.

Benefits of riding lessons include improving fitness, memory, balance, control and overall well-being. In group lessons, students learn off each other and gain partnership skills. There’s a good variety of lessons available.

team going off property because off property at the horse shows, the rings are large, just as big or bigger,” Cori noted.

Miron Valley hosts its in-house shows for its students to learn.

“We have enough students that fill it so we don’t bring in outside people. This year we’re trying to host more than we have in the past just because a lot of kids have taken a liking to it,” Kelsey said. “It’s a really good learning experience because they’re in their comfort zone staying here. There’s lots of help if they need it, but still learning the correct things to do when you do go to a horse show or what’s expected of you when you step into the show ring.” Riders who are ready do go off property.

“If you come in and you don’t want to jump, you don’t have to,” Kelsey said. “There’s other directions or you can just take dressage lessons or flat lessons.”

Therapy Riding is also very important at Miron Valley and lessons are available for people with disabilities, depression or autism.

Cori’s background, in addition to riding and handling horses, was as a Developmental Service Worker. Horses and riding achieve goals that enhance physical, emotional, social behavioural and educational skills in people with disabilities.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get back to working with anyone with special needs, but here we are 13 years later,” Cori said. “They’re an absolute joy to work with and they’re always so happy when they get around the horses. All of our therapeutic lessons are done during the day when the barn is extremely quiet so it’s just them and the horse.”

There are two indoor arenas, including a smaller one where the beginners learn and it’s also used for some private bookings and small groups. It’s also where the therapy program sessions are held.

“It’s a cozier atmosphere. It’s just really bright, like a greenhouse.

They’re called coveralls and this one is an original coverall,” Cori said.

“They’re just very light, bright looking.”

One of many beautiful green pasture at the farm. These are up over the hill, you can not see these from the road.

“We support local barns and we just do schooling shows for right now,” Kelsey added. Cori noted there’s some people who join and eventually want to own their own horse.

“They want to come in and learn everything from the daily care right through to basic medical care and obviously the handling and riding,” she said. Great friendships can be made at the barn.

In general, anyone can benefit from spending time with horses.

“Being around horses is like a natural antidepressant for many, many people. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant for sure. Horses just put you in a state of mind...very soothing. Everything that’s going on in your life just goes away when you’re with a horse.”

One of three outdoor rings getting groomed A larger indoor arena – 80 x 200 – was constructed about four years ago and is where all the jumping lessons are held.

“The very large one we put in is the biggest indoor arena in the Quinte West area,” Cori said.

In addition, there are three outdoor arenas, including a huge one put in last spring that is 150 x 200.

“It’s great for training horses and students that are on Kelsey’s show

Ladies off property showing from MVS

For more great photos and to learn more about Miron Stable & Riding School follow us on facebook and instagram!

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Meet Anna Turnbull Altebly Stables

By Jeff Gard / Total Sports Quinte Don’t be surprised if you find yourself enjoying your time at Altebly Stables. You might even be counting down the time until you get to return.

Altebly means “all too happy” in the Afrikaans language and the staff there strive for horses, humans, dogs and cats to be all that they can be and all too happy doing it, says Anna Turnbull.

Located in Centreton in Northumberland County, Altebly Stables offers coaching in Western and English disciplines.

“It’s a good opportunity in the summertime to kind of slow things down a little bit and flesh out the other aspects of riding,” she said.

Turnbull would encourage anyone, for themselves or their children, to spend more time around horses and give riding a chance. The benefits are numerous once you get in the saddle.

“It’s a great thing to try and it develops character from so many angles, from your personal strength to your mental wellness to community.

There’s just so many positive aspects of riding that have nothing to do with actually being in the saddle,” Turnbull said.

“It’s based on creating a safe and fun place for people to learn and try new things,” Turnbull said. “I really encourage an all around riding style and an all around understanding of the horses from the ground up. It includes a lot of ground time, a lot of making sure you’re safe around the horses when your feet are on the ground.”

“I really encourage people to at least come on out to the barn and check it out, any barn, not just my barn. Check out horses in general and you’ll be amazed by the therapeutic benefits above and beyond just the riding that comes with it.”

Ages of participants are varied and there is a diverse range of riding abilities as well, from special needs riders to some who are highly competitive.

Altebly Stables Castleton, Ontario 905-376-4807 1anna.turnbull@gmail.com

“There’s a lot going on at Team Turnbull,” she said. “We really emphasize the team part of it. We all work together to get the job done and I’m nowhere without my wonderful barn family.”

Turnbull has had students as young as three and as old as 78.

“My motto has always been that when people come to the barn I want them to have had such a good time that they’re just counting down the minutes until they come back,” she remarked. “I really emphasize catering to the person to meet their needs so if I’m seeing a lot of anxiety then we’re just going to go slow and we’re going to get comfortable with the horse on the ground and we’re going to build up to get them on the saddle. I find with those young kids, especially ones who are a little nervous, it doesn’t take very long.”

Some people get into riding later in life or in some cases pick it back up later in life, perhaps when their children have grown up. There’s a number of reasons why riding appeals to adults.

“I have older people who ride with me who have some traumas in their life and they really share with me how the effect of being around the horses really helps with their coping as memories are coming back to them in their older age,” Turnbull said.

Turnbull said “it takes a village” to run lessons at Altebly as people need to care for the horses, clean stalls and help the young students as well.

Summer camps present an opportunity for students to spend more time out of the saddle and learn more about chores and equipment that is very important to the riding experience.

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Northumberland County Riders Horse Club Anna Turnbull is also a big supporter of the Northumberland County Riders’ Horse Club, which is celebrating around 40 years of offering the community a fun learning environment for schooling shows.

“Our classes run a wide range of disciplines with lots of variety. We really encourage people to come out and give it a try,” Turnbull said.

“All of our judges are warm and welcoming and take the time to teach people, which is very important to me...to have judges that are going to help build our young riders up and create these fun opportunities to grow and learn and compete and get rewarded for that hard work you put in. I really appreciate that about the NCR teams, that we can all work together.”

It’s personal for Turnbull who participated in Northumberland County Riders’ shows growing up. She began showing when she was 10 years old and is 33 now.

“I feel very connected to it and I think it’s very special to be able to take my own students back there and share that with them because it was a huge part of the growth of my riding,” she said.

“I’m competitive by nature so I really relished the opportunity to show off, for lack of a better term. I really took riding seriously and I really worked hard at it. I rode three or four times a week so it was a really great chance for me to use that hard work and validate my efforts.”

Turnbull was part of a group of five or six other girls who regularly attended the shows.

“There was always a little friendly competition, but we also supported each other in the anxiety and the stress and shared the mistakes we could see being made and how we weren’t going to make those same mistakes as those other riders,” she recalled. “For me it became something to work towards. Every year that was the highlight. Getting the horses ready the day before, making them look all pretty and getting myself dressed up the morning of and then putting all that hard work to use to get a fancy ribbon at the end of it.”

Northumberland County Riders’ Horse Club has a new location this year at the Roseneath Fairgrounds. They had one show in May already and have three more scheduled for June 12, August 14 and October 2.

The events are open horse shows, all breeds of horses are welcome.

“We’re encouraging people who have never come out to NCR to come check us out,” Turnbull said.

There are youth and adult divisions available.

“It does give kids a place to show without having to show up against adults who have been riding a lot longer, but it also gives the adult riders who may not have been riding very long to have a class of their own where they don’t have to show against the kids and show off their own skills.”

For more information Anna Turnbull/ President NCRHC 905-376-4807 facebook.com/NCRhorseclub

TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA

HEAL WITH HORSES

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By Jeff Gard/ Total Sports Quinte

There are benefits to people with autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, PTSD, anxiety, depression and more, but there are positives for anyone who attends Heal With Horses.

“What happens is when you’re around nature – animals, horses, even the riding component – it increases oxytocin and serotonin, the feel-good hormones, which acts as an antidote to cortisol, which is the stress hormone,” Latchford-Kulker said. “You get a little dose of happy.”

Heal With Horses, a recreational facility that connects humans to animals with a focus on therapeutic benefits, was the vision of Suzanne Latchford-Kulker.

Now with two locations, it provides an opportunity to improve mental and physical wellness through animals and nature.

“There was no business plan or blueprint,” Latchford-Kulker said.

“It just sort of came from following my path and being open to what I saw that people really needed. It’s not a structured five-star equestrian centre, it’s understanding empathy, compassion, not only for people, but the animals that are here as well.”

Her passion for animals began at a young age and it never wavered.

“I was just a kid that was animal crazy,” she said. “I started riding when I was eight and convinced my parents to let me have a horse by the age of 12 in which I had to look after and be responsible for so I learned how to care for animals at a young age. When some kids were off doing other things, I was at the barn looking after my horse.”

That was part of Latchford-Kulker’s journey to opening Heal With Horses on Danforth Road in Hillier, located in Prince Edward County, when it became a not-for-profit in 2013. Five years later, it received charitable status.

Heal With Horses, as noted on its website, has created a safe, quiet, natural, rural setting for people of all ages and physical and mental capabilities to interact with the large herd of horses and a variety of small animals, including rabbits, cats, dogs, pigs, goats and more. The interactions include riding, grooming, leading through obstacles, playing games and walking through the fields and forest.

Facilities and programs are wheelchair accessible and specialty saddles are available for people who are physically disabled and that allow for two riders. Staff are trained to work with those with special needs.

“I believe because our programs are completely unique,” LatchfordKulker said. “It’s a time for people to come and not feel pressured or structured. We have our certifications and our programs and methods that we use, but we don’t force anything on anybody. We really take a holistic approach to how we work with each individual and their interests and therapeutic goals.”

A second location has now opened in Quinte West as well on Old Wooler Road in Wooler which is primarily for equine therapy.

According to the website, equine-assisted therapy can help individuals living with trauma learn to trust again and find confidence in their voice by communicating verbal and physical commands to the horse.

Equine therapy is so important at both locations as horses are amazing creatures.

“Basically horses, because they’re prey animals, it’s necessary for them to be aware of everything that’s going on at all times so they’re very good at sensing people’s emotions as well,” LatchfordKulker said. “They don’t lie and they don’t judge and they’re in the present moment all the time. That’s basically why they’re so great as teachers because if we’re not paying attention, they will react and bring you back into focus.”

Continued next page ....

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Latchford-Kulker is pleased to have Karlee Cochrane as the program coordinator and facilitator for the Wooler location.

Cochrane previously worked as an intervention therapist running intensive behavioural therapy sessions with children and youth aged four to 15. She is able to pull her knowledge and skills from both her horse and Child and Youth Care Practitioner experience to assist and run client sessions.

“We started that in November and luckily Carly who worked with us and also did her college placement here is very eager and determined and she got that up and running and that’s where she had always boarded her horse,” Latchford-Kulker said, noting it’s been a success so far.

No matter at which location, Heal With Horses notes the benefits of riding as the website states: “While riding a horse, the rhythmic movement of the horse moves the rider’s body in a specific motion which then triggers the brain waves to align. This, in turn, sets the stage for spontaneous learning, concentration, balance, coordination and much more. The physical benefits are amazing as well! The rider’s body becomes naturally strengthened – especially the core – as riding requires the use of muscles we never thought we had!”

No riding experience is necessary as there is a team at Heal With Horses always willing to help, facilitating the session and walking the horse.

Appointments must be booked to attend Heal With Horses. There are some different experiences available including the Farm Life Family Experience that lasts for 90 minutes and you can meet the therapy animals.

It’s like going to a hobby farm with animals wandering about everywhere.

There’s chairs that sit low to the ground for a great way to interact with the small animals. Back scratchers are provided much to the delight of the animals. Pigs might flop beside you. Goats might get in your lap or jump on your back. Rest assured, “they’re very affectionate,” Latchford-Kulker said.

One-hour kids playdate sessions are also available, providing another opportunity for young ones to play with, feed and snuggle the herd.

Equine Soul Session is a new experience that has been added this year.

Activities include: Tree Meditation – Begin your experience by walking through the pasture and into the forest to the cedar grove sanctuary. There you will ground yourself in the moment and experience a group meditative moment.

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Meet the Herd – This activity is guided. We will walk into the pasture and hang out among our herd of 18 horses. You are free to walk around, stand together, observe, connect and interact with the horses.

Reflective Grooming – This is a prescribed method of grooming the horse with special grooming gloves worn on your hands.

The intimacy of the experience for you and the horse is close, comforting and mindful.

Join Up Heart Connection – This activity is one-on-one (horse and human) in a round fenced enclosure with a trained facilitator as your guide. The objective is to make an authentic heart connection with the horse.

Journaling – The vital objective of the entire morning’s activities is to be “present and in the moment” so that you can witness your own self awareness. We will provide you with your own customized journal to jot down your observations and feelings during the morning’s activities.

A healthy lunch is also provided.

“It’s a four-hour experience primarily for adults with a component of meditation, mindfulness and connection with the horses,” Lachford-Kulker said.

Hours of operation at Heal With Horses Therapeutic Centre are Monday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Be sure to check out www.healwithhorses.ca

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1st Annual HEAL WITH HORSES Horseshoe Tournament.

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Follow us on facebook.com/HealWithHorsesPEC Or Visit Healwithhorses.ca To register or become a sponsor please contact Lisa Rashotte Collaborative Specialist HEAL with Horses 613-438-6462 lisarashotte13@gmail.com

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A LOVE FOR HORSES & RACING

Kelly and SOS Justified

By Jeff Gard/ Total Sports Quinte Kelly Scott has raced horses with his family for 45 years.

“It’s our hobby,” he said. “I don’t fish, I don’t hunt, I don’t travel, I just go play with my horses.”

Scott vividly remembers the first. It didn’t go well. “There was an auction in Belleville at the Belleville Fairgrounds,” he recalled. “We didn’t buy a horse and then the auctioneer said ‘we’ve got one more to bring out, we forgot about this one.’ They brought it out and we bid on it and we got it for $350. She was no good.

“That got us started, though, and then we slowly climbed up from there.”

Local racing was especially a highlight at the Quinte Exhibition and Raceway. That’s “When we raced in Belleville, it was like family,” he said. “I was 17, my first good horse was called Noted Knight, I was in Grade 12. Everybody was out going to bush parties and I was racing on Friday nights. They said ‘look at the fun you missed’ and that horse made me $7,000 and that was a long time ago so it was good money and he won horse of the year. I learned so much from that horse, it was pretty neat.”

It was just Friday night fun. You could see family members of all ages sitting together taking in the action. Earning money was great, if you did well. If you didn’t, Scott said, at least it was a quick trip back home. “Belleville was just homey,” Scott said.

It was almost like a training ground as well and Scott continued to learn the ins and outs of racing horses, making some great connections along the way. As the years went on, racing became more of a business with larger purses of prize money and the challenges increased. “It’s a tough business, very tough,” he said.

Scott sees four keys to success with race horses.

“Luck, patience, perseverance and getting a good driver,” he said.

A good driver is important, but as Scott has learned over the years, having success with a driver one or two weeks in a row doesn’t guarantee they will drive for you the next week.

Currently, Kelly Scott has a horse named SOS Justified while his brother Randy has Major Motion and Malvolio. They raced at Rideau-Carleton in Ottawa during the winter. Scott noted the benefit of that raceway was the ability to watch from home sometimes via simulcast.

During the summer months, the horses race almost weekly at Kawartha Downs in Peterborough, which opened for the season on May 28.

There’s a lot of work involved when it comes to exercising, feeding and other care for the horses, but it’s all part of the experience.

It’s important to keep the horses racing, which is why I continue throughout the winter months. Otherwise “it can take three to five months to get a horse back in shape,” Kelly Scott noted.

Keeping the horses healthy is a top priority, especially to help them prevent catching viruses when they’re around 100 other horses at a track. “They can get sick really easily, so you have to stay on top of that,” Scott said.

SOS Justified won two races in a row during the winter, which amounted to $6,400 in prize money. “We bought him last fall and he won three races in a row for us,” Scott said, adding SOS Justified won 15 races in total and was the second or third most winningest horse in Canada.

Even placing out of the top three can at least cover gas to get to the races and for the care of the horses.

“You don’t get rich, but you pay the bills,” Scott said.

At the end of the day, he just loves his horses.

Kelly and Ranger

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PLAY BALL!

Quinte Royals Baseball Teams Back on the Fields

By Jeff Gard/ Total Sports Quinte

The Quinte Royals Baseball Association is excited for all of its teams as action at the ballparks heats up for the summer.

Quinte’s 12U Royals got off to a great start, winning their first three games. For a young team, the pitching and hitting is very strong.

The Royals appreciate the efforts of their coaches, team managers, umpires, and executive team and look forward to seeing the parks filled with Royal blue in support of our young ballplayers, representing the Quinte region.

Team members are Henry Martin, Henry Stitt, Ben Stitt, Gabe Larkin, Tyson Cooper, Eric Bell, Talon Dafoe, Tucker Allen, Grayden Howard, Dawson Roth, Brayden Tweedy, Sam Murphy, Dominic Labarge and Logan Hannah.

Five Quinte Royals rep teams are competing in Eastern Ontario Baseball Association league play this season.

Home games are played in Wellington and also at the Melrose diamonds. The team is grateful for its sponsors, including Task Force Engineering and RC Design as well as Tim Dainard Electric, Great Lawns Property Care and Landscaping, Quinte Paint, OT Group, Allen Insurance and Belleville Nissan.

10U Royals

The 12U are back with the goal of defending their EOBA championship from last season.

13U Royals

Following a couple of challenging seasons, the 10U Quinte Royals are excited and looking forward to finally getting a full season of baseball under their belts.

The team is hoping to build off of a second place finish in the August Madness Tournament last season. The 2022 season has started out well with a 4-0 start.

Home games are played at Bain Park in Trenton on Saturdays unless the team has a road game scheduled. The Royals have a couple of tournaments scheduled to participate in, including in Kemptville June 17-19 and in Aurora July 8-10.

Team members are Logan Thompson, Griffin Van Gemeren, Hunter Mayer, Jillian Bell, Kohen Couperus, Mason Haggar, Preston Martin, Jack Seeney, Carter Madill, Michael Ampuero, Ryerson Miller and Nolan Bell. The head coach is Chad Thompson and assistant coaches are Todd Haggar and Ivan Ampuero.

12U Royals

The Stirling Carpentry 13U Quinte Royals are excited to be playing a regular EOBA season again.

For most of the players it has been two seasons that they have been able to do this and for five of them this will be their first experience of a proper season since joining the team at various points since 2020.

This year their regular season schedule has 18 games, including a 9-0 win over the Kawartha Cubs in the Royals season opener on May 29.

Home games will be played at Don Ogden Park in Trenton just off of Bay Street next to the skate park. The majority of our home games will be doubleheaders on Saturdays again but there will also be three games under the lights in June and July.

To get ready to play in the EOBA playdowns that determine provincial representation, the Royals will compete in the Kingston Thunder tournament during the July 15th weekend.

“It will be a good test as there will be a mix of A and AA teams from across Ontario there that we haven’t seen and we will see what we need to fine tune before the playdowns on the August 12th weekend,” coach Chad Crawford stated.

Two players have been on a Royals roster for six seasons, five that have been together for five seasons and seven that this will be their fourth season together.

Continued ....

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Team members are: Logan Fonger, Nathan Miron, Trip Harvey, Jayden Pembleton, Jenson Shaver, Kalen Banks, Hudson Grimmon, Ryan Dunn, Taite Crawford, Tavis McCambridge, Seth Martin and Lorne Miles.

The team is a core of players that have been together since 10U with a few new additions. The roster consists of returning players Alex Bissett, Carter Rowles, Connor Boates, Colin Launderville, Ethan Thompson, Gavin Gardiner, Jack Stitt, Josh Thompson, Max LaCroix and Nolan Reitzel along with new additions Benjamin Dryfhout and Jack Murphy.

The last two years were tough for the team with not playing any games in 2020 and only about 12 games in 2021. Coach Bill Launderville and the rest of the staff are looking forward to deepening the players fundamentals about the game this year as they move to MLB distances in base lengths and mound length.

“We have a lot of solid arms that are deepening their mechanics on pitching and when you combine that with our strong defence, our timely hitting and our development of fundamentals, it makes us a very competitive team who can challenge for the OBA’s this year,” Launderville stated.

“We have a great group of players again this year and we’re expecting to have another strong season after last year’s August Madness play,” Crawford stated. “I’m really looking forward to having a season that is normal or as close to normal as it can possibly be. Obviously things could change but we’re confident/hopeful that we’ll be able to complete the season without anything shutting it down.

15U Royals

“We’ll be using a few different strategies through the season to get the team prepared for the playdowns in August where the goal is to be there in the final game on Sunday and earn the EOBA 13U A spot at Provincials. The focus is to continue developing as many pitchers as we can and start getting them ready to be able to go into any game during the season or playdowns and pitch as many innings as we need to help the team move forward.

14U Royals

The Quinte Royals 15U team is fired up for their 2022 season.

The Royals will be competing in the EOBA loop, which extends from Kingston to Pickering.

On top of an 18-game regular season, the Royals are entered into the London Badgers tournament June 17-19, as well as the Seaway Surge tournament in Kemptville July 8-10.

In August, the reigning EOBA champs will play host to the EOBA Championship weekend at Rotary Park in Belleville and Bayshore Field in Trenton.

The Royals are hoping to represent at the Ontario Baseball Association provincial championships in Windsor Labour Day weekend.

Team members are: Bryce Mitchell, Jakob Briscoe, Colin Stephens, Mitchell Sills, Oliver Brackenbury, Nathan Soules, Christian Fonger, Curtis Kerslake, Colby Coe, Ben Demille, Nick Martin, Cole Baird and Marcus Forbes.

The 14U Quinte Royals team has been busily preparing for the upcoming season, which is highlighted by a 22-game regular schedule including two tournaments in June (one in Kingston and one in Ottawa) Quinte’s 14U Royals are looking to peak for their playoffs in early August as they work to challenge for the Ontario Baseball Association championship. The team plays its home games on Saturdays out of the Bayshore diamond in Quinte West.

The coaching staff includes Chris Lisle, Steve Sills, Peter Brackenbury and Trent Stephens.

Learn more about the Quinte Royals at www.quinteroyalsbaseball.com

Action photos by Deroche Sports Photography

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TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

SAILING ON THE BAY OF QUINTE

By Jeff Gard/ Total Sports Quinte Bay of Quinte Yacht Club members love being out on the open waters just in a recreational sense.

On June 25 and 26, the BQYC will host the 2022 Canadian Shark Championships in Belleville.

There’s also an opportunity for competition as members can race in keelboats or dinghies.

During the racing season, any BQYC member can easily get signed up to compete. All you need is your boat and a Performance Handicap Racing Fleet Lake Ontario (PHRFLO) certificate. The certificate gives a rating to allow your boat to be scored against different designs of boat as well as racing membership fees paid.

After two straight shortened seasons of racing, the BQYC is looking ahead now to a complete racing season this summer.

BQYC is active with three PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) divisions as well as Sharks. Division 1 is Spinnaker, faster boats with PHRF below about 200; Division 2 is Spinnaker, PHRF above about 200; Division 3 is White Sail, no spinnaker nor flying headsails and Shark class is one design racing.

A typical race night has boats leaving the harbour in Belleville between 5:30 and 6 p.m. with races starting at one of the club’s white marks that are set out in the bay around 6:30 with three different starts depending on the boat type.

Racing will then go around a preset number of race markers, determined that night based on wind direction. The races normally conclude around 8:30 p.m., but that depends on wind strength.

“Watching from shore you would see a line of boats all heading towards the same point with moments where it would appear that they are on a collision course,” said Chad Starr, the club’s Fleet Captain Sail. “Without knowing what the course is, it would be difficult to know the best vantage point or where all the boats are heading. The best way to watch is to get out on the water racing or in any boat, keeping clear of the racers.”

There is a lot of history associated with racing at the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club, which was founded in 1876. Racing has always been a main focus and the club was one of the founding members of the Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA) with a BQYC regatta held back in 1885, Starr noted. The club was also represented in an America’s Cup Challenge in 1881 with the Yacht Atlanta.

Starr said racing at BQYC “continues to evolve as time progresses.”

“The race fleet itself changes year to year as different boats join in or move on to other interests. Currently the largest racing fleet is a one design boat, consisting of three crew members called a Shark. However, in the past, larger boats with five or six crew members would have been the biggest fleet on race night. One of the highlights of the year is a race to Picton called the Katie Gray, which recently completed its 50th anniversary.”

“The other way to join in racing is to be a crew member on someone else’s boat,” Starr said. “This option allows you to get experience racing with someone that is more comfortable than you might be on your own boat. We also host a family day race on July 1, which is a great race for someone new to try out. There is PHRF certificate needed and you do not need to be a racing member to take place.

We welcome non-racing members and even non-club members with a boat to try out a fun race.”

While most BQYC just race locally, Starr said some have competed at events around the world, including taking their personal boats to Texas to race or used loaner boats in Europe to compete in world championships.

Andreas Steinitz of the BQYC, a former learn to sail student at the club, is currently racing in the 49er Olympic class with a goal to represent Canada at a future Olympics Games. He had this to say about racing.

“Racing has taken me on an international journey with training, major events and world championships being hosted in destinations such as Italy, Myanmar, Mexico, Antigua, Spain and all across the U.S. and Canada. Most recently I represented Canada at the 2021 Youth World Championship in Oman in the 29er Class.

In my first year of Olympic class racing in the 49er, I have been training in Miami and Halifax and look forward to the U23 Worlds this summer in Lake Como, Italy.”

You can check out the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club at

www.bqyc.ca.

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WHY COACH?

TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

By: Terry Boyd Why would anyone want to coach? It’s a good question. I was asked this very question a few weeks ago. Coaching isn’t just about a few players out on a field, court or rink. It’s about parents, grandparents, opponents, referees, other coaches, league mandates, executive committees, and most recently Covid and lockdowns, the list goes on. I coached my first team when I was 16, an Allstar soccer team in Brighton. Since then I’ve coached hundreds of athletes at all levels, ages and numerous sports. I’ve been fortunate enough to have won championships and collected personal accomplishments such as being a 2 time OCAA coach of the year. This is not why I coach.

Most coaches go about their business and require no recognition or gratitude for their time away from their families and dedicating their time to teach and support someone else’s young athlete. So why coach?

A few years ago at a tournament in Ottawa I watched a mother walk across a field and proceed to punch out a young referee. I intervened and for my trouble was cursed at, and for the first time was concerned I was going to get punched out by an angry Mom. When she spun out of the parking lot with her crying kids in tow I asked the bloody nosed young referee if he was OK. He said he was fine and said I “get paid 20 bucks for this”, he continued reffing the rest of the day. He wasn’t reffing for 20 bucks - there’s much easier ways to make a few bucks. But he knew the game, he loved the game. Is it because we love the game, is that why we ref, coach or volunteer? Could it be that simple?

Recently I had the absolute pleasure of watching Andrew Hinchey, owner-operator of Soul Beach Volleyball, work with a young group of female volleyball players. This guy is a dynamo. Andrew grew up in this area and was a small town boy who played and coached volleyball world wide. His credentials are impeccable and include playing for Team Canada, 2 silver medals on the NORCEA tour, a career as a professional volleyball player and more. What struck me about Andrew- in his bio it reads, “he began coaching with the National Team Program to give back to his sport”. His coaching credentials include the University of Melbourne ( Australia ), Durham College where he won OCAA Coach of the year. No surprise that Andrew is a teacher. Let me rephrase that, he is an excellent teacher. As it says in his bio he wanted to give back to the sport. Is this the answer to the question why we coach? It was very clear that Andrew loved coaching, his passion and enthusiasm for the game rubbed off on the girls as they were glued to his every word. It was a coaching session that was fun, fast and taught the girls all at the same time. Is Andrew the answer to my question? I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to be a part of any of Andrew’s programs for the advanced player or beginner to do so. I guarantee a fun, positive learning experience. ( see attached info ).

The past few years have been a learning curve for young athletes.

Skillsets are lower, draft years have been altered, leagues have been realigned, high school sports have had to change to more of a varsity

set up, it hasn’t been easy. Coaches and parents have had to adjust and find ways to motivate young athletes. Enrolment in a number of sports have been alarmingly low, but are thankfully starting to grow. Now more than ever coaches are needed. Not just for the technical parts of the game, but the emotional and mental aspects.

Coaching after a two year break from lockdowns means you have to adapt to a new type of athlete with varying degrees of skill levels.

Andrew Hinchey has this figured out to a tee, a part of his training strategies is the mental and team building aspects of training. Kids are resilient, perseverance is the key.

Unfortunately, there are negative sides to coaching a team. Judging by some parent’s reactions most amateur coaches must have multimillion dollar contracts. It’s quite the opposite, using holidays, sick days, or spending money to go to tournaments, games etc..

When the team is winning- the coach is great, when it’s losing- it’s the coaches fault. Parents are biased towards their own child- of course, they are invested in their child’s sports, this is a good thing.

The downfall is when the sport parent starts aligning other parents against a coach, bad mouthing the coach in front of their child.

This is the quickest way to destroy a team. If there is something so egregious that a coach needs to be removed, it should be quick and transparent. If it is a question of coaching tactics or decisions, it’s a conversation between adults who should be conducting themselves as such. Unfortunately emotions and feelings can blur the lines of common sense. Being front and center coaching a team means you are the first target the easiest fruit to pick. Ironically those who align parents against the coach and bad mouth the coach in front of their child stand back with some version of self fulfilling prophecy when things start to fall apart saying “I told you so”, blissfully unaware they are the cause of the problem. So, again I ask, why coach?

I am helping Brett Davis with the Trenton High School Girls varsity soccer team. I like Brett, he’s a great guy, great coach. The team is young players playing older teams, it’ll be a building season. Brett’s attitude is perfect. He’ll take the small victories where they can and build on it for the future. The girls have bought into this, scoring a goal is a victory, a good play is a victory, this attitude assures a bright future. The girls are great, some have experience and others have none but their attitude is second to none- in time they’ll be a force.

During practice on a miserable Tuesday night I asked him why he was coaching, he said “he was giving back to the game”. There it is again the same answer that Andrew gave. That’s enough proof for me, this is the reason why coaches coach, it’s for the love of the game.

Andrew Hinchey, Brett Davis, and count me in with this group, love the game and want to give back to the game. The negatives associated with coaching fade into the background when you love the game. It doesn’t matter which game, watching athletes succeed whether it’s a National Championship or small victories, you are a part of showing athletes what you know to be true- they will love the game as well. Watching the successes, sharing victories and years later reminiscing with players I’ve coached is proof positive that coaching matters and your role in their lives has importance. Some day when they themselves are showing grey hairs and moving on in their own lives they’ll understand what it means to give back to the sport when they too will coach. They’ll understand it’s how sport grows, it’s why coaches like Andrew, Brett and my all-time favourite Tom McCulloch coach. It’s all for the love of the game.

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BELLEVILLE SPORT Fall 2022 Induction Ce 38

Brad Lentini -athlete -powerlifting

After a number of years lifting weights to achieve fitness goals, Brad won gold at the first lifting event he entered. He went on to medal over 25 times at various competitions and represented Canada several time at international events.

Paula Lockyer -athlete -basketball

Following a standout high school career, Paula continued to excel at the Intercollegiate level at York University. She has also competed internationally in Marathons, Duathlons and Triathlons, including the Boston Marathon.

Jim Parkhurst -builder -drag racing The Belleville Sports Hall of Fame has received the names of several individuals and teams to be considered for induction into the hall this coming fall. To promote this fall’s induction ceremony and to celebrate the nominees and highlight the importance of nominating deserving candidates, the hall of fame committee has put together brief bios of our present nominees. At this point, we have thirty nominees. The actual 2022 inductees will be chosen by our selection committee later in June and shared shortly afterwards. Our main goal is to host a 2022 induction ceremony this coming September at the Quinte Sport & Wellness Centre. Follow us on social media and our website for up to date information.

***********

This article contains valid nominations that were received before March 30, 2022. Nominations received after this date are not included in this article due to timeline constraints. However, all nominations received before the deadline of May 25, 2022, will be considered for the 2022 induction ceremony.

Steve Bancroft -athlete -hockey

Drafted and for the Belleville Bulls of the OHL, Steve was picked in the 1st round by Toronto in the NHL entry draft. He had a 16 year professional career, playing NHL games with Chicago and San Jose.

Glen Fortin -athlete -skating

Getting started with the Quinte Figure Skating Club, Glen went on to be national champion in his age group in 1987. Following his retirement from competition, he has spent 30+ years as a builder and official with Skate Canada, working and judging at national and international competitions.

A fixture in the area racing circuit as a driver and race promoter at Shannonville Motorsports Park for years, Jim is honoured every year at Thanksgiving with a Memorial Race Weekend.

Kim Whaley-Hilts -athlete -darts

After starting as a teenager, Kim proceeded to participate 31 consecutive times at the Canadian Championships, earning the #1 ranking 7 times.

She has also competed on the international stage, reaching a #5 World Ranking.

Jen Herron -athlete -volleyball

Representing high school and club teams, Jen earned multiple accolades for her on court success, including a scholarship to Barton College, where she was inducted to their Hall of Fame. She followed up with a teaching/coaching career, at multiple levels and numerous sports, including volleyball, tennis, basketball & lacrosse.

Allan Meagher -athlete

As a teenager, Al played second base for the 1919 Grand Trunk Championship team, as well as on teams in subsequent years that competed for Provincial titles. Following his retirement from the diamond, he managed the Memorial Arena through the 1940’s.

Todd Crawford -athlete -multi sport

A lifetime multi-sport athlete, Todd has medalled at the provincial, national & international levels in numerous track & field events as well as bobsleighing. He was also the driving force behind Belleville hosting a World Floorball Championship.

Howard Dell -athlete -basketball

1976 Juvenile AAA Hockey team -team -hockey

A standout high school athlete in numerous sports, Howie was nationally ranked in decathlon in 1986. He represented Canada at international competitions in bobsleighing, including World Championships and Olympics.

Belleville Yardman Benefit team -team -softball

The first Quinte Red Devils team to win a provincial crown was coached

by Brian Bowen. Many players from this team went on to the next level of play.

Steven Stewart-athlete -powerlifting

A former Belleville Bobcat, Mark went on to a university career which saw him earn first team all-star accolades two years running. He had a strong professional career winning championships at various levels.

This talented and hardworking group of teenagers brought home Belleville’s first ‘AAA’ hockey crown with a 69-8 won-loss record for the season. They also edged a Swedish team in an exhibition game.

1996 Quinte Red Devils Peewee -team -hockey

A dominant force in softball in the 1970’s, they won four pennants & two championships in the Belleville and District Ladies Softball League as well as three Provincial Crowns over a span of eight years.

Mark Rupnow -athlete -hockey

A standout as a high school football player, Steve turned to weight lifting & body-building after graduation. While rehabbing a serious automobile accident, he returned to weight lifting to the point where he represented Canada at two Paralymics Games.

Denis Legros -athlete -badminton

A multi-sport standout in high school, Ralph was tagged with the nickname “High-Pockets” due to his 6’5” frame. After playing Junior Baseball locally, he progressed to a 14 year professional career as a pitcher, including an MLB appearance with Cleveland in 1946.

After a standout athlete at the high school and university level in football, Pat turned his attention to coaching. He has spanned 30+ years working at the Junior, University and CFL levels, helping to foster numerous players to professional football careers.

As a fifteen year old, Dennis was granted an exemption to compete as an adult in the Quinte Badminton Club. He won the titles the following three years and went on to compete in Provincial and National Championships.

Ralph McCabe -athlete -baseball

Pat Tracey -Builder -Football

Doug Plummer -athlete -bowling

Brian MacKenzie -Builder -multi sport

Being involved for over 30 years, Doug has coached bowlers of all ages and competed himself at the provincial level. He is a member of the Master Bowlers Assoc of Ontario as well as serving as president of the Bay of Quinte Bowlers Assoc.

Rob Cooke builder -football -rugby

Participating in multiple sports while in high school, Rob excelled on the football field as an OUAA lineman and later on the rugby pitch with the local Bulldogs club. He was a teacher/coach for 30+ years at the high school level, guiding teams in basketball, football, track & field and curling.

Barb Snedden Wood -athlete -multi sport

A standout in numerous high school sports, Barb has also held titles with the local badminton club. She has achived gold medal titles at the provincial and national level in both softball and ice hockey.

A graduate of BCIVS, at which he competed in multiple sports, Brian returned to Belleville after university to teach/coach multiple sports in area high schools. He served as President of the Bay of Quinte and COSSA, representing both organizations with OFSSA.

Joanne Moring -Athlete -weight lifting

Getting started as a teenager with the Apollo Barbell Club, Joanne repeatedly medalled at the Junior and Intermediate levels. Following a 15 year retirement, she returned to competition at the Masters level, winning gold at Provincial, National and Pan-Am Events.

Continued next page ....

RTS HALL OF FAME Ceremony Nominees 39

1976 Midget “A” Belleville Yardmen Softball Team

This team of Belleville teenagers won the OASA crown and followed that up with a Silver Medal at the Tournament of Champions. Their roster included BSHoF inductee Andy Rossit.

Mike Kirby -Builder -basketball

A Belleville native, Mike was a standout player at the high school and university varsity level. As a high school teacher, he coached school teams, as well as starting the Belleville Spirits Basketball program.

Judi Gilbert -athlete -hockey

A standout player with local female teams, Judi was the scoring leader on the first Belleville women’s team to claim an OWHA title. She continued to excel at the university level, as a member of an OWIAA Championship team with York University.

TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE

Our main goal is to host a 2022 induction ceremony this coming September at the Quinte Sport & Wellness Centre. Key public health and health system indicators continue to improve, and the province of Ontario is cautiously and gradually easing public health and workplace safety measures. We are optimistic that this trend will continue, and that we will see you at our first induction ceremony in three years!

The Belleville Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honouring, and preserving the record of outstanding achievements accomplished by the city’s elite athletes and builders from all eras and displaying them on a permanent basis. The Hall of Fame is housed in the Dr. R. L. Vaughan Atrium at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Center.

1919 Grand Trunk BB team -team -baseball

The first Belleville team to win a Provincial Championship. A number of this teams players would repeat a Provincial title with the Senior A Nationals in 1928.

Grant Goegan -athlete -hockey

A former Belleville Bobcat, Grant had a standout NCAA career and followed that with an 11 year stint playing professionally in Italy. He was on the Italian National Team which competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics

Jon Mills -athlete -golf

A successful amateur golfer, Jon earned an NCAA College scholarship and contributed to numerous team championships. He competed several years professionally and now coaches, winning the NCAA 2021 Coach of the Year Award.

Jim Buck -builder -multi sport

Coaching OCAA Loyalist College teams in basketball, badminton and x-country, Jim’s passion for sports and sportsmanship was evident for over 30 years. He brought the same talents to coaching youth community teams in soccer and basketball.

2022-23 SEASON

Contact Info: Email: bellevilleshof@gmail.com Website: www.bellevillesportshalloffame.com Address:Belleville Sports Hall of Fame 265 Cannifton Road, Belleville, ON K8N 4V8 Social media: Twitter: @bellevilleHOF Instagram: @bellevillesportshalloffame Facebook: Belleville Sports Hall of Fame For questions related to this press release, please contact: Ian Press, HOF President, 613-921-1665 Nancy Popovich, HOF Vice-President, 613-242-0330

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DRAGON BOATERS BA

By Jeff Gard / Total Sports Quinte Many local dragon boaters are getting back on the water this summer as local organizations look to rebuild their programs following a couple of challenging seasons.

Some pivoting was required, of course, especially in the spring of 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For instance, the Belleville Dragon Boat Club developed a kayaking program with members donating the use of their personal kayaks to the club for the entire summer in order to have different groups with eight paddlers at a time.

“Some other members who owned kayaks also brought their boats so had 10 to 12 people paddling at one time,” said the club’s Commodore Nancy Lewis. “We had four different groups going out each week and were able to expand in 2021 with an additional paddling session, so five groups going out each week.”

The kayaking program is continuing this year with eight boats available for people who don’t own one, but want to paddle as it launched June 1. At that time the club was still accepting registration for some time slots and you would now need to contact the club to see if they are still available. The kayak program is held Tuesday and Thursday mornings and evenings.

Dragon boat racing came to a halt from spring 2020 until August 2021. “By the time the boats were on the water last year most organizers couldn’t put together festivals for competition,” Lewis said.

That’s about to change this year. In June, the Belleville Dragon Boat Club members be taking part in a 150-kilometre paddle down the Trent Severn Canal in Peterborough. The five-day event is organized by Dragons Abreast (dragonsabreast.ca), a breast cancer survivor crew from Toronto, with funds raised directed to a breast cancer support fund.

In August, some of the Belleville club’s members will join forces with paddlers from the Pickering Dragon Boat Club to represent Ontario at the Canada 55+ Summer Games in Kamloops, BC. They will events in Pickering, Guelph and a third to be determined to prepare for the national event.

Since its launch in 2004, the Belleville Dragon Boat Club has developed three distinct programs to focus on the different interests of its members. There is a recreational program Tuesday and Thursday evenings for those who want to paddle, but at a more leisurely pace; fitness program Monday and Wednesday evenings for paddlers who want to make dragon boating part of their fitness program as it provides an intense workout; and race crew program Monday and Wednesday evenings for those who want to compete.

Dragon boating is available in Belleville for ages 14-and-older with some members continuing past age 75. Lewis noted it’s a great team sport and basic skills are developed quickly.

“With the different programs people are able to paddle with the program that suits their abilities and interests,” Lewis said. “We provide equipment and the opportunity for someone to have two dragon boat paddling sessions before they need to decide if they want to become a member.” Great team sport and basic skills are learned quickly. “Wonderful cardio workout and participants get to enjoy the beautiful Bay of Quinte from a new perspective – in a boat,” she added.

Not surprising, there are a number of challenges that come with dragon boating as well. “For new paddlers it’s the concept that working in unison is essential. Every new paddler works so hard as boats are heavy but the key to success is paddling together as a synchronized unit,” Lewis said, adding weather conditions as another challenge. “High winds can result in crews having to reduce numbers to lighten boats if waves are coming over the sides of the boat. Intense heat and sun can be draining for athletes as competitions take place over the course of a number of hours.”

There is often a challenge as well to recruit a sufficient number of men for a mixed crew as the sport is more associated with women, Lewis noted, as dragon boating began in Canada when a Vancouver physician recognized the benefits of the physical activity for women recovering from breast cancer.

Check out more about the Belleville club at www.bellevilledragonboatclub.com.

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BACK ON THE WATER

Brighton Dragon Boat Club In Brighton, dragon boating has been available since 2007.

Prior to the pandemic, the Brighton Dragon Boat Club had grown its membership to around 100 members and now 2022 is a year of rebuilding. In May, in addition to getting the word out on social media and through street signs, the club held an open house and an open paddle session in an effort to recruit some new members.

“A number of past members are not ready to return to our sport where there is such close contact,” said club president Tricia Boehme, who is also head coach of the competitive program, while noting there has been success. “To date we are approximately 90 members.”

There was no season in 2020 and last year Dragon Boat Canada advised no club paddling until August and there were no festivals to compete in.

“We were guided to fill boats at half capacity of 10 paddlers instead of the usual 20,” Boehme said. “The capacity restriction was lifted shortly after implemented, however our club chose to keep the reduced numbers. We had a small membership and a reduced paddle schedule, but we managed to get out on the water for both our competitive and recreational programs.”

Brighton’s competitive program started in May and practices two nights per week to work on technique, speed and endurance as well as a race plan leading up to festivals. The club competes at a recreational level.

Members were looking forward to the fundraising festival in June in Peterborough, which the crew won in 2019.

everything they have in unison and that success doesn’t lie with just one or two paddlers,” Boehme said.

“We must always be aware of what’s happening in the boat and react to situations. The individual steering the boat has a very challenging job getting the crew to the start line, keeping the boat straight and then controlling the power of 20 down the race course. Keeping a sustainable stroke rate can be another challenge as crew excitement levels rise.

“It will be more challenging for us this year as we have a number of first time paddlers to quickly get up to speed on technique and racing. We are excited though for this challenge and the new members are showing great progress. The adrenaline rush of a race is always exhilarating, especially when you win.”

Keep up with the club at www.brightondragonboat.ca.

Trenton Rowing and Paddling Club Dragon boating won’t be available in Trenton this year, but the hope is for it to return in 2023.

The Trenton Rowing and Paddling Club was formed in 2013 and added the dragon boat program in 2017 when a boat with all the equipment was donated to the club.

“We run a small program for those that want to enjoy the physical and social aspects of dragon boating without the pressure to compete,” said Suzanne Andrews.

They’re also hoping to defend a 2019 win when the YMCA’s Trenton Dragon Boat Festival returns this year on July 16.

In 2020 and 2021, the club was able to have shortened seasons for rowers and paddlers, but unable to offer dragon boating due to the challenge of keeping members physically distanced. This year presented another challenge.

The Brighton Dragon Boat Club is open to anyone 14 years old and up. The club’s recreational program is for members who wish to go out on the water and have a fun paddle for an hour on Presqu’ile Bay. Six sessions are available each week and members are welcome to sign up for as many as they wish.

“We are currently searching for a replacement boat as we have retired our dragon boat due to its age and the amount of work required to ensure it is safe and usable,” Andrews. “We plan on coming back in 2023 with new equipment and volunteers in place to run a successful recreational program.”

Meanwhile, the competitive program has two practices per week with sessions more focused on technique, endurance and strength. The program was previously referred to as the race team (HeatStrokes).

Be sure watch for information about the program’s return at trentonrowingandpaddling.ca as dragon boating is open to adults of all ages and beginners are always welcome.

“We wanted to encourage as many new paddlers as possible to try the sport and so created a competitive program with the option to race if interested,” Boehme said.

Members thrive with the challenging team aspect of the sport, “realizing that success comes from 20 crew members giving

“Experienced members of the team look forward to sharing their love of the sport with those with no experience,” Andrews said.

“There is a lot of fun involved with dragon boating and everyone learns to work as a team which brings so much satisfaction to the group.”

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