NEWS
www.nanaimobulletin.com
Thursday, August 9, 2012 Nanaimo News Bulletin
Swimmers dive into challenge of gruelling Salish Sea crossing
Man accused of punching new mother
BY RACHEL STERN THE NEWS BULLETIN
Committee agrees to have another go at Guinness standard in 2013 BY JENN McGARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
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group of Nanaimo youths is taking aim at another attempt at beating the Guinness World Record for longest street hockey game. In June, 40 people attempted to play non-stop for 105 hours and 17 minutes, but event organizers ended the game at the 50-hour mark – almost halfway to their goal – due to a rash of injuries. “It was a tough call to make to pull the game,” said Tali Campbell, president of the Youth Sticking Together board of directors and a John Barsby Secondary School student. “The first question all the guys asked was, ‘Can we do it again next year?’” Faced with this enthusiasm, the board agreed and the 2013 Longest Street Hockey Game takes place Aug. 9-13, 2013 at the Nanaimo Curling Centre. The group learned some valuable lessons from this
year’s game, such as keeping more medical supplies on hand, scheduling shifts based on each player’s needs and bringing in more medical personnel, including massage therapists. Injuries included one broken ankle, someone who needed stitches and a whole lot of bruises and sore muscles. “We know what we need for next year,” said Campbell, adding that the players, who started off worrying too much about scoring goals and playing competitively, also know what they need to bring to the table. “At the end of the day, score does not matter, time matters,” he said. “In itself, 50 hours is an accomplishment to not overlook – it’s second-best in the world.” Through its various fundraisers leading up to the event as well as money raised during the game, Youth Sticking Together is donating $6,000 to three community organizations – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island, Crimson
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Coast Dance Society and the Harewood Youth Ball Hockey League. Campbell said next year’s charities of choice are B.C. Children’s Hospital, Kid’s Help Phone and Nanaimo Curling Centre’s youth program and the board hopes to do several fundraisers. One of the goals for the organization was to show the community that youth can band together for positive reasons. Campbell said everyone involved felt validated when people stopped by and congratulated them on their efforts. “When people came in and told them they were doing a good job, it put smiles on their faces,” he said. “I think we’ve taken a step in the right direction.” For more information about Youth Sticking Together and upcoming fundraisers, please go to www. youthstickingtogether.com. reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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Crew sticking together for world-record effort
Pub:
NEWS BULLETIN FILE
A group of 40 Nanaimo-area youths played street hockey for 50 hours in June, falling short of their goal to surpass 105 hours and 17 minutes, the Guinness World Record. The group announced this week plans to take another shot at the record in 2013.
Nothing but the blue-green shimmer of ocean will stretch before three Vancouver Island swimmers as they make their way across Georgia Strait Saturday (Aug. 11). Not even the horizon will be discernible among the cloak of ocean and sky surrounding them. The situation can be psychologically challenging, said Victoria swimmer Karen Tannas. It isn’t something that bothers her, but she knows many swimmers who find dealing with the expanse of ocean before them daunting. Tannas is joining two other swimmers – Susan Simmons, from Victoria, and Lorraine Langstaff, from Sidney – who will take turns swimming the 10-hour relay, 35 kilometres from Davis Bay, near Sechelt, to Neck Point in Nanaimo. The trio, the Georgia Girls, also challenged Vancouver and Okanagan teams to participate. Tannas said Simmons, who has multiple sclerosis, is a big advocate of using exercise to help with the disease. The third annual Salish Sea Swim will start at 9:30 a.m. and is expected to end at Neck Point sometime between 6:30-7:30 p.m., depending on currents. “Last year we couldn’t land at Neck Point because we got stuck in a strong current so the swimmers were going backwards,” said Tannas. “You can always get caught in a particular current.” Each swimmer will try to swim a minimum of one hour at a time. When not in the water, they will remain in the escort boat. This isn’t the first time Tannas has braved the waters of the strait – she also swam last year. The event will also help her prepare to swim the English Channel, which she and Simmons plan to take on in 2014. The Salish Sea Swim is also used as a means to bring attention to increased pressure being placed on the strait and threats to marine life such as toxic chemicals, pollution from sewers and storm-water, oil spills and more.
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A Tofino man was charged with assault after punching the mother of a two-dayold baby while she was recuperating in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s maternity ward. Police were called to the hospital shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday by a nurse who told them the victim, 27, was assaulted while holding her infant daughter. The victim told police there was an argument between her and the suspect and at one point, while holding her child, she was punched in the head. Fearing for the child’s safety, she placed the baby in a bassinet and pushed her assailant out of the room. The suspect then fled the hospital. Police said neither the victim nor the infant were injured in the altercation. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the suspect’s behaviour. Police have not said what the relationship is between the man and the woman. Police arrested Daniel Archibald Frank, 30, of Tofino, on Nicol Street shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday without incident. Frank was held in custody until his appearance in Nanaimo provincial court Tuesday. He was charged with one count of assault, plus breach of probation from a previous court order in February, when he was prohibited from having consumed alcohol while in the presence of the victim.
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