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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-07-20, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017. Precision riding team to perform at plowing match In sync The International Plowing Match being held in Walton this year will feature many entertaining acts. Recently, it was announced that the Kinglyn Stables Precision Team, shown above, will be performing throughout the opening day on Sept. 19 as well as on the final day of the event, Sept. 23. (Photo submitted) The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo is proud to announce that Kinglyn Stables Precision Team will be performing throughout the day on IPM 2017 opening day, Sept. 19, with additional performances on Closing Day, Sept. 23. The Kinglyn Stables Precision Team, has its team headquarters in Monkton and has previously performed at the Royal Winter Fair, been an opening act for the RCMP Musical Ride, and a feature in many parades including Oktoberfest in Kitchener -Waterloo and the Niagara Ice Wine Festival Parade. The team members themselves are all accomplished riders, and not only enjoy the precision team performances, they also individually compete in horse shows throughout Southwestern Ontario. The horses on the team are predominately quarter horses and paints, whose speed, strength and athletic ability showcase the versatility of these breeds. "Many hours of practice and training have gone into each routine for both the riders and the horses" explains Jeannette Wilson, performance announcer for the team. "We are very proud to be a part of this special milestone, the 100th International Plowing Match and Rural Expo!" The team will be performing two different shows during their time at IPM 2017. One will be more traditional riding, highlighting the technical elements with a high degree of precision. The girls will be wearing their traditional blue and white outfits that Kinglyn Stables is known for. The second show will be more adventurous, to upbeat music, with new choreography and new costumes. The shows will take place at the Dodge Ram Rodeo Centre and at the CKNX Event Centre in Tented City. The team is coached by stable owner Connie Bull and her daughter Ashley. IPM 2017 takes place Sept. 19 — 23 with advanced tickets being sold at every municipal office in Huron County for $15 and tickets available at the gates, the day of, for $18 per person. More information about all the programming and events for IPM 2017 can be found online at plowingmatch.org/ipm-2017 or the Facebook Page Huron IPM 2017. Council rezones hall, diamond to sell it By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council has officially rezoned the Moncrieff Community Hall property, as well as its adjoining ball diamond property, in an effort to sell it. Huron County Planner Claire Dodds addressed the issue at council's July 11 meeting, saying that the property has been "under-utilized" in recent years and that residential use would fit in well with the largely residential community of Moncrieff. The properties are now zoned as Agricultural Small Holdings, which means that a house can be constructed on both properties. The former ball diamond property has been farmed in recent years. Dodds told councillors that the changes would conform with Official Plans from both Huron County and Huron East. There was no discussion from councillors and the properties were rezoned. Bluewater Tug of War team pulls for charity at IPM Unbeknownst to many, Huron County is home to a tug of war team that has competed around the world representing Canada for two decades. The 2017 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM 2017) Executive Committee is proud to partner with Huron County's own Bluewater Tug of War Team to host a charity pull on the final day of IPM 2017, Saturday, Sept. 23. The charity pull is open to anyone wanting to submit a team of between eight and 10 people with a registration fee of $100. Each team will be pulling on behalf of a self-selected charity in a winner -take -all tournament. Advisors to the Bluewater team will be offering free coaching sessions for teams registered to participate in the charity pull. The pull runs from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Registrations must be received by Blaine Pryce at 519- 520-7317, by Aug .31. This is not a first for tug of war at an IPM hosted in Huron County, as Bluewater and the Canadian Tug of War Association (CATOWA) hosted a league pull at IPM 1999 in Dashwood. Ten professional teams came to pull, eight from across Canada and two from the U.S.A. CATOWA will again host a league pull at IPM 2017 with four teams confirmed to participate. This will give charity pullers and attendees the opportunity to see proper techniques and the skill of professionals. If inspired, the Bluewater Club is looking for men and women to join, ensuring the team's growth and long-term success. Coach Jim Connolly can be reached at 519-521- 9387 if interested. "Fun, fun, fun," says Pryce in describing his tug of war experience at IPM 1999. "One of our teammates, his farm was one of the host farms at IPM 1999, so it felt like we were pulling at home. Dashwood is also very supportive of our team so there were hundreds of people out watching us pull, cheering us on." IPM 2017 has committed itself to telling the stories of families in agriculture, in Huron County's history and development of the plowing association and its impact on agriculture in Huron County. The Bluewater Tug of War Team is much the same. With multiple siblings on the team, with multi -generations pulling together, sport is being used to celebrate our families. IPM 2017 takes place Sept. 19-23 with advance tickets being sold at every municipal office in Huron Collision An incident on County Road 25 on July 13 saw a vehicle and cyclist collide. The cyclist was taken to hospital with non -life threatening injuries according to the Ontario Provincial Police and no charges are being laid. (Denny Scott photo) County for $15. Tickets will be available at the gates on the day of attendance for $18 per person. More information about all the programming and events for IPM 2017 can be found online at plowingmatch.org/ipm-2017 or the Facebook Page Huron IPM 2017. Huron East approves full support for IPM By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen As the International Plowing Match in Walton approaches, Huron East is making every effort to ensure the event will succeed. Public Works Manager Barry Mills addressed the issue at council's July 11 meeting, saying that as the host municipality (and, by default, the closest geographic municipality to the site) a number of things have been requested of Huron East that will require staffing and equipment. "As public works manager, I have attended two meetings this week resulting in a letter received July 19, 2017 from the IPM committee. As a result of these meetings, the Huron County Road Superintendents will be taking the lead in addressing the equipment and logistical items required prior to, during, and after the match," said Mills in a report to council. He said that while some of the municipal contributions to the IPM have already been discussed, others have not. "As council knows, Huron East has committed to provide services including water, sewer and garbage disposal to the IPM," Mills said. "Leading up to the IPM there will be traffic signs to be installed within road allowances for parking and directions, stock -piling of wood chips and erecting fencing for the tented city. During the match, a total of 30 volunteers will be required each day from the participating Huron County municipalities for traffic control." Mills said that while it's difficult to predict the number of hours and staff members required to carry out the municipality's duties in hosting the match, all of the staffing and resources committed to the match will be tracked and reported back to council as part of a post -IPM report. "In anticipation of heavy traffic volumes and as host municipality with equipment and housing in close proximity, we are anticipating that the resources of the municipality will be made available prior to, during and after the IPM," Mills told councillors. Mills told councillors that much of the services have already been approved by council at previous meetings and that the 2017 municipal budget contains a line item for the IPM, so it will just be a matter of tracking all of the services and contributions and reporting back to council after the match. The process, he said, is still very much underway. He told councillors that 30 volunteers will be required to handle traffic volumes and he currently has four. Councillors were also concerned about the potential for a public works emergency during the 1PM, similar to the localized flooding that occurred several weeks ago. Mills said that in the event of flooding, the department's first priority, as the host, will be to ensure that the IPM site is secure and safe. However, if crews have to leave the site and tend to an emergency elsewhere in the municipality, because Huron East has two patrols, making those employees available shouldn't be a problem. Council received Mills' report and approved his plan for the IPM.