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Special Olympian off to world games for snowshoeing For Orléans athlete, trip to Korea payoff for long hours of hard work Brier Dodge brier.dodge@metroland.com
EMC news - An Orléans man is the only eastern Ontario special Olympian to be travelling to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea. For Jacob Mathews, 24, years of competitions have paid off as he heads to South Korea on Jan. 24 to compete in snowshoeing. In a four year cycle, Mathews had to qualify at the Eastern Ontario regional championship several years ago, then provincials, before the 2012 national games, which served as the world games qualifier. “It’s very hard to get picked for world games,” Mathews said. “You have to go to a lot of competitions.” He’s been competing in the snowshoeing event for 10 years, but has also competed at the national games in swimming and five pin bowling. His medal count for snowshoeing far outnumbers his other medals, so snowshoeing is the sport he’s pursued. It helps that he’s got a close connection with his coach – his mother, Rachel Mathews, who was also selected to trav-
el to South Korea as one of the snowshoe team coaches. The pair will be heading to PyeongChang in South Korea for the Jan. 29 to Feb. 5 events, where they’ll stay for two weeks, competing at the same venue as the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the Alpensia Biathalon Centre. Over 120 countries compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games and Mathews has been training intensely to try and win a medal. The athletes are divided up after the preliminary round, and put into groups with similar finish times. Each group then has their own medal winners. To improve his personal best times in his events, the 1,600- and 800-metre cross-country races and the 4x100 metre relay, Mathews trains several different ways throughout the week. He swims once a week, completes strength workouts with a personal trainer two times a week, runs track several days a week and snowshoes once or twice a week as well. In the summer, he’s even trained in the sand at Petrie Island. He ramped up his training this summer, including run-
BRIER DODGE/METROLAND
Rachel and Jacob Mathews of Orléans are heading to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea on Jan. 24. Jacob has qualified for the 1,600-, 800- and 4x100-metre relay snowshoeing events, and Rachel will be attending as a snowshoeing coach. The Special Olympics World Winter Games, like the regular Olympics, are held every four years. ning, which he found different than snowshoeing around a track. At first, one lap around the track was difficult, but by the end of the summer he was able to run 10 kilometres. “You need that kind of endurance so you don’t run out of gas,” Rachel Mathews said. “He’s big and strong and his legs are long.” The 6-foot-4 Mathews said
he enjoys snowshoeing because it’s ‘easygoing’ and he enjoys team training sessions, especially snowshoe soccer. All the travel associated with competing has been a benefit for the outgoing athlete. “I like to travel to the competitions because there are all sorts of places you can go,” he said. After training camps took
him to Canmore, Alta. and Toronto, he is excited to travel to South Korea. He has his guidebooks and phrase books ready to go, and has done research on the country ahead of time. He’ll be taking some time off work from his two jobs in Orléans, at Home Depot and Metro to travel, but he hasn’t lost sight of the upcoming competition.
Pet Adoptions
PET OF THE WEEK DUKE ID#A148023
Duke is a neutered male, tricolour, Blue Tick and Walker Hound mix. The staff at the Ottawa Humane Society think he is about 5 years old. Duke was brought it to the OHS as a stray, and has been a beloved resident for just over 5 months now. He is patiently waiting for his forever home. Duke is a laid back fella, just looking for some extra attention from people who love him. He loves to discover new things by going on long walks, and would love a bed to call his own after his regular outings. He’s a little stubborn, and wants things done his way so a house with kids over the age of 8 would be better for him. Duke is available as a ‘Special Needs’ adoption due to possible food allergies, which may need some veterinary guidance to sort out.
The Price of Adoption
Jasmine
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Time to make a grooming appointment
Why doesn’t the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) give away dogs, cats, and other pets for free? At first this may seem like a great idea: free pets means more families will be able to afford a homeless animal. However, having a pet costs money. A free kitten from a friend of a friend is hard to resist. However, that kitten needs to be health checked by your veterinarian, dewormed, vaccinated, and spayed. A free puppy from the newspaper or an online ad needs the same. How much are you really saving? The year one initial costs sterilization, vaccination, deworming, etc. will cost more than $600 for a kitten, plus approximately $900 in yearly ongoing costs that include food, litter, grooming and boarding. Sadly, many people are uninformed of these costs and many “free” animals end up being surrendered to the humane society. In fact, more than 7,000 cats end up at the Ottawa Humane Society every year. Thirty-five percent of them are believed to have been acquired either from a friend or relative or from some form of “free to good home.” At the OHS, a health check, initial deworming and vaccination, sterilization (spay or neuter) a permanent microchip identification and pet insurance for 6 weeks is included in the dog and cat
EVEREST ID#A152285
Everest is a neutered male, gray tabby, domestic longhair cat, he is about three years old. He was brought to the shelter as a stray on December 28, but is now available for adoption. Everest loves people! He is looking for a family that will give him lots of affection. As much as he loves company, he would be much more comfortable as the only animal in your household. Give Everest the chance to win your heart over by coming to see him at the Ottawa Humane Society! Visit the OHS website at www.ottawahumane.ca to see photos and descriptions of all of the animals available for adoption. Stop by the Adoption Centre, weekdays 11:00am-7:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am-5:00pm. adoption fees. The average cost of canine sterilization at a vet clinic is $350.00 while feline sterilization costs and average of $250.00. In the end, adopting a pet from the OHS offers great savings! The OHS adoption prices are: $290 for dogs older than six months, $350 for puppies and small breeds; $170 for cats older than six months, $225 for kittens. It’s the best deal around! OHS dogs receive a temperament assessment prior to being placed for adoption. This translates into much needed information about the dog in order to make the best possible match between the potential adopter and the canine, for a successful and permanent placement. All animals receive a routine health check by OHS veterinary staff prior to adoption. The first vaccination is given and if the animal is within our system for any extended period of time, they will receive a booster (second vaccination). All animals are implanted with a microchip (a permanent form of identification) prior to being adopted, and are automatically enrolled with pet insurance for six weeks of free coverage, effective 48 hours post-adoption.
Please note: The Ottawa Humane Society has many other companion animals available for adoption. Featured animals are adopted quickly! To learn more about adopting an animal from the Ottawa Humane Society please contact us: Website: lll#diiVlV]jbVcZ#XV Email: 6Ydei^dch5diiVlV]jbVcZ#XV Telephone: +&( ,'*"(&++ m'*Ottawa-East EMC - Thursday, January 24, 2013
R001187228-0124
12-5303 Canotek Rd.(613) 745-5808 WWW.TLC4DOGS.COM
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My name is Jasmine, and I am a 7 month old parti poodle, with our other, much older standard poodle Riley to play with whenever. My owners love me very much it seems as they’ve taught me to sit, and whenever I do they hand out tasty rewards. I love to sit! They are so warm, and when they are sitting I lean against them and on their socks, and we all get warm. Going for walks in Britannia Village is a bark and a hoot with so many other dogs and their owners to sniff and greet. My favourite thing to do is leaping through the snow in our big back yard.
If he were to give advice to younger special Olympians, he would tell them, “Train hard, it’s worth it,” he said. And bringing home a medal is a family affair for the Mathews. “I’ve just watched these athletes develop and you can see the change from year to year,” Rachel Mathews said. “To have the two of us together is something special.”
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