HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-22, Page 13Sports
The Huron Expositor • March 22, 2006 Page 13
Seaforth native trains for pentathlon competition
Veens kept busy between swimming, fencing, cross country and rugby
Jeff Heuchert
While many athletes would focus
their time and energy on one sport,
that's definitely not the case with
Seaforth's Luke Veens.
Veens, who is only 17 years old, is
hard at work training for his second
season competing in the pentathlon,
which incorporates shooting, fenc-
ing, swimming, horseback riding
(which Veens cannot compete in
until he's 18), and running.
.Veens took time away from his
training recently though to travel
overseas, where he and the St.
Anne's Secondary School rugby
team played games in England,
Scotland and Wales.
Veens says it was a valuable expe-
rience and that he. was just happy
to be playing.
"I just love competitive sports and
team sports, and when you put
those together - I just love it," he
says.
In fact, he loves it so much he's
also part of the St. Anne's track,
cross country and swim team, and
the Huron Hurricanes swim team.
In all, there's very little time when
Veens isn't training.
"Training's my life. I still make
time for my friends, but during the
week it's training and school," he
says.
The pentathlon begins with shoot-
ing 20 shots from an air pistol at a
target 10 metres away.
Second is the fencing, where com-
petitors face off against another and
attempt to land a hit on their oppo-
nent's body with their sword.
The third leg of the competition is
a 200 -metre swim, followed by the
horseback riding, which Veens is yet
to have competed in.
Competitors must ride a horse
through a course and over several
!TI,uik Youb
The Seaforth Mites would like.
to thank the Kinburn Foresters
for their generous support of
1Eour tournament held March 14
& 15. Thanks also for serving
the meals to the participants.
Your help was
Lgreatly appreciated!
obstacles.
The fifth and final stage is a three
km run, in which your position at
the beginning is based on your score
through the first three events.
The shooting and fencing have
been entirely new sports for Veens
to learn.
"The shooting came kind of easy to
me," he says. "I didn't find it that With barely any experience behind
difficult." him, Veens competed in the fencing
Veens says he took to fencing fair- provincials last year.
ly quickly as well, although he's not He finished 10th out of around 40
sure how. competitors.
"I played with sticks a lot with my
brother as kids. That might have
had a something to do with it," he
jokes.
Jeff Heuchert photo
Luke Veens poses with his fencing sword and attire.
South Hibbert Athletic Assoc.
(Cromarty Park)
BALIJ REGISTRATION
Wed., March 22 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Thurs., March 23 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Staffa Hall Basement
Fees: Regular Teams $40.00
$10.00 Late Fee
Late Entry Contact
Jim Docking 345-2569
South Hibbert Athletic
Assoc. is accepting
Tenders for
Concession Stand
for Cromarty Ball Park.
Lowest or any tender
not necessarily accepted:
Mail to Jim Docking,
RR 2 Staffa, NOM 1Y0.
Post marked no later
than April 16, 2006.
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