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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-02-01, Page 13r Your max ar Sledquarters Snowmobiles & ATV's Sales & Service - Parts & Accessories LICI1C car SHARE OUR PASSIM* PERTH COUNTY UNE 44 SNOWMOBILE COUMRYA The Huron Expositor • February 1, 2006 Page 13 Sports Scoreboard From Page 12 Jan. 24 Seaforth 4 vs London 3 Scorers: Connie Finlayson 3, Sara Kramers Coaches comments: What a great comeback. Jan. 28 Seaforth 3 vs St. Marys 3 Scorer: Connie Finlayson Coaches comments: Good game. CURLING Seaforth Curling Club (Results by Name of Skip) Life gets in the way for Seaforth Ladies Ringett� team Susan Hundertmark Three babies, a wedding and a long commute stopped the Western Region's silver medal -winning ladies' ringette players from taking the ice in Seaforth this year. "Life got in the way and all of a sudden, we didn't have enough play- ers," says goalie Andrea Gingerich. The Seaforth ladies' ringette team, which played in the regional gold medal game its second year in the more competitive B level, had been playing for three years. While the Seaforth women's team started out in the C level - playing towns near the same population as Seaforth - it recently jumped to the B level after a season of winning most of its games. In B level, Seaforth plays large urban teams like London, Guelph, Kitchener and Cambridge. "Hopefully, this is temporary. Everytime we meet up, we say we want to play again. I guess you could say we're in a rebuilding phase," says Gingerich. While the ladies' ringette team pulled together enough members to play in this weekend's annual Seaforth ringette tournament, it was uncertain at press time if enough teams would be available to play. One of three teams signed up to play pulled out and organizers were scrambling to find a replacement team. Still, the Seaforth players, includ- ing the new moms, were on the ice last weekend preparing for the tour- nament. "My baby was only born a month ago so it was a little scary. But, it's good to get out with the girls," says Robyn Dietz. Dietz says the team has been try- ing to find new recruits from the women who've played ringette in Seaforth as girls and recently moved back to town. "Unfortunately, we can't take peo- ple who've never played before at this level. It's too competitive," she says. New babies and all, Dietz says she expects the team to get back togeth- er in the fall. "I really missed it this year. I'm sure we'll get it going again," she says. Carol_ Mitchell, M.P.P. Huron -Bruce Ontario Budget Consultation As part of the budget process I wish to consult with the people of Huron Bruce. A survey will be made available to you on the 2006 Ontario budget. Please complete the online survey by February 17th 2006 The survey may be done online at www.carolmitchell.ca/prebudget or call the office. The results will be forwarded to the Minister of Finance and be posted on my website. Information on the budget is posted at www.fin.gov.on.ca For more information please call 519-482-5630 or 1-800-668-9320 519-396-3007 or 1-866-396-3007 Let me hear from you. Carol Mitchell, M.P.P. Huron -Bruce Junior Curling Jan. 25 Tommy McGrath 3 Avery Bennewies 3 Mike James 5 Taylor Bennewies 2 Jessica Menary 3 Kelsi Trotter 1 Men's League Jan. 16 Rick McDonald 10 Kelly Dalton 6 Kevin Campbell 12 Gord Pryce 3 Mike Thomas 11 Bob Kistner 6 Greg Ricard 9 Keith Siemon 6 Todd Doig 9 Don McKercher 3 Brian nuhn 10 Eric McIntosh 7 Jan. 23 Rick McDonald 11 Brian Nuhn 3 Bob Kistner 8 Kelly Dalton 6 Kevin Campbell 6 Mike Thomas 6 Greg Ricard 8 Todd Doig 6 Keith Siemon 7 Eric McIntosh 6 FOND MEMORIES by Craig Nicholson (©2005 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) After years of snowmobiling, I can laugh at even the worst experiences. I recall snowmobiling near a popular ski resort in the mountains. Our guide worked for a local tour and sled - rental company catering mainly to novices, primarily skiers looking for a new adventure. The tours followed a groomed logging road to a play area in a large, open meadow, with no trees or rocks, just oodles of deep powder. It looked to me like a very safe place for beginners to play, yet each of the new rental sleds had suffered serious dings, bends and cracks. "With nothing for renters to hit but snow, how do your sleds get damaged?" I asked. Our guide replied that when each new group arrives at the meadow to play, they inevitably do two things: run into each other and get stuck, hitting the throttle while the sled digs itself a burial hole. Apparently, the guides spend all of their time either separating collided sleds or hitting kill switches before excavations start. Maybe leaving them stuck would reduce collisions! Another favorite memory is simultaneously trying a proto- type, pre -studded track and a new aftermarket suspension. We were far from home when my engine warning light came on. A mismatched combination of studs and suspension had holed my tunnel heat exchanger, allowing coolant to escape. We towed my sled back on a Krazy Karpet. Like dog paws slip- ping on a vinyl floor, the back end of my machine careened from side to side while I tried to steer a straight line on that groomed trail. Two hours of terror later, we found a country store. I figured buying extra antifreeze to top up my coolant might enable me to ride my sled back - except none was available! Just as I had resigned myself to resumed towing, I noticed a large display of window washer fluid and bought 12 jugs, tying them to every sled. Three hours later, we made it home, after refilling the reservoir countless times and consuming all but a half jug of washer fluid. I didn't even get a chance to clean my windshield! When the Great Ice Storm hit the northeast, we awoke to check our sleds and slid halfway across the parking lot on glare ice. Crawling on hands and knees, we made it to the ice sculptures that used to be our sleds. At almost 1 1/2" thick, the ice had to be cracked with a hammer and brute force before prying it off. Even so, we had to lay over for a day because the going was too treacherous. Two days later, we were trailering home, still blissfully ignorant about the true extent of the ice storm damage. Except for emergency vehicles and us, the roads were empty, with most exits were blocked with stranded vehicles or impassible snow banks. The power was out, including for gas pumps. Consequently, countless cars were abandoned on the roadside, but we made it, thanks to a siphon hose, an empty jerry can and the fuel remaining in our snowmobiles. Later we found out that highways were actually closed as part of a disaster plan. It pays to have emergency gear on board, just in case! The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. BOMBARDIER' ATI/ I •SALES •SERVICE •ACCESSORIES USE TRAIL AT YOUR OWN RISK YOU must know and obey the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act (Ont,) YOU must use caution t all times • Emergency and cell phone service may not be available � • s