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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-02, Page 18Page 18 May 2, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Sports Marathon 36 -hour soccer game in Exeter to raise money for Huron -Perth Crime St000er5 Susan Hundertmark 0.11011111111.. As a lifelong soccer player, Shawn McFalls didn't have to kick around ideas for too long when deciding how to raise money for Huron and Perth Counties' Crime Stoppers while celebrating his soccer team's 15th anniversary at the same time. The local Crime Stoppers coordi- nator says trying to break a Guiness Book of Records title for the longest soccer game with a 36 - hour game seemed like a "unique and fun" way to do a fundraiser and celebrate the team he helped found in 1993. But, when he realized he'd be playing the equivalent of 24 back- to-back games with 15 -minute breaks every three hours, he says half his team might be "a little crip- pled" for the regular league game the following Wednesday after the May 12 and 13 marathon. "It will be very difficult but we'll get her done," he says. With a marathon game between Exeter and Stratford, McFalls has recruited 18 players for each team from throughout both Huron and Perth Counties. He says six of the 18 on the Exeter team are oldtimers and the players ages on the whole team range from 17 to early 50s. During the recruiting process, he's had 46 players over- all agree to play Come join Huron County's premier golf course! 2007 Memberships 7 -day — $798 single, $1359.75 couple 5 -day. Mon -Fri - $661.50 single. $1 128.75 couple Intermediate - 19 to 25 $395 Junior — 18 and under — $262.50 all prices plus GST LEAGUE PLAY Come Play in one of our leagues SENIORS Monday mornings 7 am - 12 p.m. Excluding Holidays `12/9 holes, '18/18 holes LADIES' NIGHT: Wednesday `13/9 holes MEN'S NIGHT: Thursday '13/9 holes All leagues start week of May 1 Learn to play Golf BEGINNER GROUP LESSONS -CLASSES START MAY 7 AND RUN FOR 5 WEEKS • MONDAY MAY 7: 6:30-7:30 pm 7:30-8:30 pm WEDNESDAY MAY 9: 9:00- 10:00 am 10:00-11:00 am WEDNESDAY MAY 9: 6:30-7:30 pm 7:30-8:30 pm Learn a game that lasts a lifetime! All lessons taught by CPGA professional Fee: $50. for 5 one hour lessons 482-7144 PAR 71 CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE ON HIGHWAY 8 BETWEEN GODERICH AND CLINTON 3 km. west of Clinton 116. before arriving at the 36 who filled the roster last week after a number dropped out. "Hopefully, no one drops out now," he says. While none of them are doing much more than a little more run- ning to train for the event, McFalls is confident that everyone is in good enough shape to endure the ordeal. "Come the five-hour mark, some people may be wondering what they got themselves into. But, the major- ity have played soccer their whole lives and most have played indoor soccer or hockey all winter. No one has been sitting on the couch all winter," he says. Each player is collecting a $500 minimum in pledges so Crime Stoppers is ensured at least $9,000 from the event. A food booth will also raise money from the specta- tors McFalls is hoping to attract to the game. "If the weather's good, we should get quite a few people out to the game. It better not rain or snow but we'll play in anything, except light- ning," he says. St. Columban soccer attracts close to 350 players Soccer returns to St. Columban in early May, according to Jason Dietz, president of St. Columban soccer. Dietz said the number of players is quite high again this year. "Our numbers are good again," said Dietz. "They're similar to last year, around 300 participants from the third division men's team all the way down." He said that number doesn't include first division men's or women's teams. "If you included those, you'd proba- bly have close to 350 players," said Dietz. All told, there are 24 teams: one third .division women's, one third division men's, one first division men's, two under 18 (U18) boys, two U18 girls, two U15 boys, one U15 girls, two U13 coeds, two U11 coeds, two U9 coeds and four coed teams for both U7 and U5. The numbers are so high that Dietz said that they're trying to get approval from the school board to start using the field beside New Orleans Pizza in Seaforth for some of their games. By Aaron Jacklin In order to follow the Guinness Book rules, the game has to have two witnesses at a time keeping score and keeping track that rules are followed, writing up their obser- vations after each four-hour shift. "Everything has to be videotaped as well and we still need someone to do that," says McFalls. The marathon games also still needs volunteers and stewards to take care of the players during the game. The local St. John's Ambulance has agreed to staff the needed medical personnel. McFalls says the teams are plan- ning to schedule half-hour to hour- long naps in the night for players who are not on the field for their shifts. "I'm sure we're going to fade in the middle of the night," he says. The game between the Exeter Fury and the Stratford Enterprise at the Exeter Community Park begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 12 and ends at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 13. The current Guiness Book record is 30 hours and 10 minutes. Susan Hundertmark photo Katelyn Govier, 13, tosses a ball during the first night of spring training for Seaforth minor baseball on Monday night at Seaforth Public School.