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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-07-10, Page 13• Park to be named after Alvin Willem mall towns have few sports heroes. And there is a sim- ple reason for that. While we as sports writers may try and make Local ath- letes hnd coaches immortal, we often fail to take a really close look. A look at those from the past who, without them, our games in the future have little meaning. Sports is history, tradition and brings a community together. On Monday, August's, Exeter will have a chance to honour one of its own. A man who, for over 30 years organized, coached and was the backbone of sports in this community. At 6:30 p.m. the Alvin Willem Park will be officially opened. It's not a new park, but the hardball diamond at the end of Victoria St. Brad Gregus, the president of minor baseball is organizing the event and he. realizes the importance of naming the park which he helped build. "It gives younger people in the community a vision of what can be done. It makes them more appreciative of previous generations," said Gregus. A week ago he went to Alvin and told him they Were going to name the park. "He wasall excited and tears came to his eyes. He's looking forward fo it and said there are more deserving guys," said Gregus. It doesn't matter if there are more deserving guys. I haven't been here long enough so I couldn't tell you the major con- tributors to Exeter sports. But I do believe, however, Gregus has taken a positive step towards that preservation, that recognition. Alvin was the arena manager and recreation director from 1952 to 1982. "He organized the house league in minor hockey and he coached minor ball for several years," said Gregus. In fact, Alvin only coached one group of boys in baseball. But it was from peewee to midget and his efforts paid off when he and the Exeter team won the 1956 midget 'C' base- ball title. 1 Members of that team included Cy Blommaert, Jim Hennes- sey, Allan Rundle, Jim Russell and Doug Sillery. Russell remembers that team and to his knowledge, it was the first Ontario Baseball Association championship to come to Exeter. "We had a good team, we were first year midget and thought we'd do well the next year," said Russell. He was a pitcher on that 1956 team and has kept his hand in baseball. Russell is now the manager of the Exeter Co-op Jun- iors and no doubt a few of the tricks he leamed on the mound he passed on to his son Scot. And what kind of coach was Alvin? "He was nervous, he lost weight. We put him through a lot," recalls Russell, ryi.4, le. R, . _ Alvin and his wife Edith spend their stimmere in Bayflcld they have five children and are•planning a two-month trip to Africa to visit one of their children. There are still fond mem- ories of coaching both baseball and hockey. _ He recalls back in 1955 when his baseball team won the Western Ontario title and advanced to the provincial champi- onships. According to Alvin they won that bantam final but lost on a protest. "One of the boys didn't have a birth certificate and he was registered with the Western Ontario Athletic Association,' said Alvin. Exeter won the bantam final game 18-4 over West Lorne, but due to a technicality had to wait until the next year to win it as midgets. And what about having a park named after him? "I think it's great but I don't think they should do it," said Alvin. "I may be modest, but there are a lot of others who have done a lot for baseball." sidelines by G roves Barrel racing takes stamina and yes, a good horse By Fred Groves ZURICH - The sign leading up to Merhaven Farm may indicate the home of Holstein cows, but over the weekend it was the haven of 50 horses. Larry Merner, president of the Ontario Barrel Racing Association (OBRA) presented a two-day event which saw riders and their mounts come in from all over the province. They camped, took care of their horses and socialized. But although the atmosphere was relaxed, there was a lot of competition going on in the ring. Barrel racing is a very easy sport to watch from a spectators eye. On Sunday, it was important to find a shade tree, sit back in a lawn chair and watch the sleek horses make their way around three barrels set out in a triangle formation. If a barrel is knocked over, which didn't happen too often on the weekend, five seconds are add- ed to the time. According to Merner, this is just one of 30 events held on the circuit of the OBRA. Many of those com- petitors . at Merhaven Fanns will pack of their gear and head to To- ronto this weekend. Las year, there were 79 mem- bers-- n the OBRA, now Meurer says, it's escalated to over 170. The horses were broken up into an 'A' and a 'B' category on Sun- day. The 'A' horses being faster and usually more experienced. °. 'ou're. looking tat- ' *lee- ;, and difference," said'Mester. ter son Justin finished second in the 'A' on his 13 year-old horse Sally Bar with a time of 19.449. The winner of the • • came across the line at 1' .4 ' , . Fifth place Murray Manson of Komoka was 19.875. That shows how close the horses are. Moving up from the B' to the 'A' requires the B' horse to have a time which is within two-tenths of a sec- ond of the winning horse in the 'A'. "Last year we had a lot of horses turn 'A'," said Merner. "But this year is tougher, this is the toughest year we've ever had." One rider who would like to move up to 'A' is Andrew Geiger of Zurich with his horse Final Cheque. On Sunday they competed in 'B' and had aatime of 20.454 seconds, well off the pace set by the winner in the 'A'. • Huron's Largest Stock of Grinding & Chop Wheels Rent a MIG Welder Maklta Style_ c to r+ 0 0 1 arcres* 0 z 12" Metal Chop Blade HUREX Tool and Rental Ltd. Hwy. 04 North Exeter 235-0918 EQUIPMENT RENTALS AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPUES "Where Ws NII the best" Huron's Largest Stock of Grinding & Chop Wheels J It Should be pointed out that all 'B' horses can at any time compete in the 'A' but once you've qualified as 'A' you can't drop back to the lower level. When asked when he and Final Cheque will be moving up, Andrew said, "by the end of the year." "I don't go in 'A' runs yet. It cost too much and there's a lot of good horses," he noted. The end of the barrel racing sea- son is a long ways away. Races be- gin May 4 and conclude October 14. It takes a lot of hard work for a horse and a rider to come together. Andrew has been working with Fi- nal Cheque for a couple of years now. His horse used to be a racer on the tracks in Toronto, but now, with a coaxing hand from Andrew turns around the barrels pretty quickly. Final Cheque is one of the biggest horses in the 'B' category. is better, he has a larger stride," said Andrew., The Barrel Racing circuit usually has two Geiger's but Andrew's younger brother Steven has a new horse that isn't quite ready yet. He recently purchased Sizzle On Sue. "I'm going to show her as a four year-old futurity horse," said Ste- ven. Pttiturity horses, he explained, are water T horses which go into*. le eattg0ry I they win, they're worth more," he said. Steven and his former mount Ima' Char Two were a good combina- tion that won the Mid Western On- tario Junior 'A' high point champi- onship a year ago. But Steven has grown and Char isust too small for him now. He seems very happy, however, with his new horse. "I rode her before I bought her and she hardly knew anything," he said of Sue. "But dad worked with her and she's doing really well." The Geigers have an indoor are- na where they train horses in the winter and teaching a winner, one such as Final Cheque who will hopefully move up to the 'A' takes many long hours indoors and out. Andrew Geiger and Final Cheque go around a barrel in Sunday's race. Zurich's Justin Memer and his mount Sally Bar were flying us: Sun- dey. ANNOUMEMENT BECKER FARM EQUIPMENTS General Manager, Bob Becker is pleased to announce the following management appointments. • Joe Becker Jany Fuhr Service Marketing Manager Customer Sales Representative Joe Backer has recently been appointed "Service Marketing Manager", a new position within the firm ''Joe's 14 years of experience in the family owned and operated business, has certainty prepared him for the challenges in directing our service department. Joe's new responsibilities wilt Include customer rela- tions, echedutkg, budgeting, and customer service programs. Our service managemont team, Brad Murray, (Technical Support Manager) Jim Hyde, (Service Co-ordinator) and our newest member, Joe Becker look forward to improving the quality and efficiency within the department. Jerry Fuhr has just recently joined Becker Farm Equipment as "Customer Sales Representative" however, he is no stranger to the Farming Community. Jerry has a history of 18 successful years in the Fame Equipment business, the last 11 in wholegood sales. We welcome Jerry to our staff and invite you to drop in to Meet him. He will be servicing the arca south of Hwy. 883 and Len Lobb will continue to service his customers to the north. SICOMBEt FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. (519) 235-2121 21 5-2791 815 Main St. S., Exeter Ont. Fax (519)