Times Advocate, 1991-07-31, Page 13ometimes you don't have to look very hard to find a
story.
Last week, I sat down and had a brief chat with the
guy who occupies the desk behind me here at the T-
A, Ray Lewis.
This summer he has taken a group of soccer players ages
13-15 and entered them into three tournaments. Although
they've lost more games than they've won, it appears as
though Lewis found an outlet, a place to play for a few soccer
players.
"I did it because I had four kids who weren't going to play.
They were losing interest," said Lewis of his reason for form-
ing the team which he calls 'Hotspur.'
It's a select team which goes in tournaments for boys 15 -
and -under, but as Lewis pointed out, the three tourneys
they've been in has seen his squad go up against primarily 15
year-olds.
As all young athletes know, playing against those older and
more experienced than yourself is tough. The Hotspurs have a
lot of 13 year-olds.
"Most teams when they have a 15 -and -under tam it con-
sists entirely of 15 year-olds, whereas mine doesn't because
we don't have that many to draw -from," said Lewis.
Interesting enough is the fact in Exeter, there aren't a lot of
15 year-old soccer players.
"It's just a weak age cate-
gory," he said. ` sidelines
Lewis, a former South Hu-
ron District High School and i
Guelph University varsity
player, has no problem with
sending his team against old- w b
Freder, bigger players. g
"There is a lot of size dif-
ference. They're playing
against a lot of kids that are bigger than me, but they're pretty
fiesty. I've known the kids a while and I sort of expect it, but
you do expect a little hesitation there but they don't back
down."
The first tournament of the year for Hotspur saw them travel
to Sarnia where they won their first game in a 16 -and -under
tournament. The Exeter boys beat a Samia select team 2-1.
Believe it or not, in this toumament each team was allowed
to add three 17 year-olds.
"I could have put together a different team but we're looking'
towards next year and we need the experience."
Lewis' team also played a series of exhibition games against
Owen Sound and in another Sarnia/Clearwater toumament won
another game, but according to Lewis, had a good chance of
winning.
Again against bigger and more experienced players. Lewis
says it's important for his team to go after the ball.
"I don't think it would do me any good to tell them to back
off, I don't think they would and I wouldn't want them to."
And how did his team come to be called Hotspurs?
It was an intramural team I had in Guelph and it comes from
an English FA team." The team is the Tottenham Hotspurs.
Whatever the name, this team will be a powerhouse next
summer.
Lewis passed on an interesting tid-bit to me, his grandfather
once played in the premier division in Europe.
TraveHers: The�-Hpttpurs -arcnk e
Exeter. John Rosenberg haS a mosquito to al� Kic cer team d
the name seems to suit these young men.
Under the age of 12, they have been in six toumaments, win-
ning four. The other two events saw the Kicks advance to the
semi-finals.
They've seen a lot of the province from Mooretown to Kin-
cardine and this weekepd will be heading to Welland. There
are only two mosquito aged teams in Exeter, the Kicks are a
combination of these.
"I've had some of these kids for four years. They're good ath-
letes and good soccer players," said Rasenberg.
How good are these guys? Rasenberg said both his son Scott
and Jeff MacLean made a London select team but opted to play
in Exeter.
"All we are is a tournament team because we just draw from
Exeter," said Rasenberg.
"People can't believe we're a team from a town of only
3,800."
But believe it or not, the Kicks are winning tournaments left
and right and the Hotspurs are on their way up.
�V lin c-• {
y
ShOUIdhelmets be mandatory?
July 31, 1991
By
More and
ing helmets when they cycle, the
reason is quite simple- safety.
The Ontario Legislature realize
the need for helmets and, accord-
ing to Stuart Spanglett of the Onta-
rio Cycling Association, have a
Private Members Bill before them
which would make the wearing of
helmets mandatory.
"I believe we will see it become
mandatory like it did with motor-
cycles. The majority of people will
abide by the law," said Spanglett.
But getting cyclists to abide by
the laws aren't always easy simply
because of lack of enforcement.
Cyclists are still riding on the side-
walks, failing to stop at stop signs
and forgetting to use proper hand
signals.
"I suspect as people become
aware of it, more groups will insist
it become mandatory," said Span-
, glee.
Helmets mean safety and people
have a tendency not to spend very
much money when it comes pro-
tection no matter what it is. But men
surprisingly,a good quality helmet jou
can e prcased for less than $40. Gra
The main reason for wearing a
helmet is to stop head injuries. ing
Spanglett said a 39 year-old mem- Dam
ber of the OCA might still be alive
if he would have been wearing a
helmet.
"A member of our association a to
died in April from head injuries
suffered after landing on his head. on the
It's not to say a helmet would have b
saved his life but you often wonder rider
if it would have," said Spangleu. ries
Disciplined: The OCA has basi-
cally two groups of cyclists. Rac-
ers and recreational cyclists. Any his
OCA sanctioned race states all Placed
competitors wear a helmet.
"With respect to cyclists who m
race, it is mandatory they wear a m
helmet and we can enforce it. If the loo
they don't we can suspend them," ac
said Spangleti he
Tom Maier of Grand Bend c cher the
_ 20a Kilometres -a. y Six Assoc
Years ago he beganw�.- Six
wearing a het- - SN
met met and could have been seriously tion)
injured a year ago if he hadn't been M
wearing one. four
"I've fallen and landed on my gy-a
head. It was last year and when I foam a
fell it helped," said Maier. tention
have no
be mor
Th
which
This is
lene
tle mo
The
distrib
foam
vents
injury
It's
which
an ens
wear
"I fell off my bike in 1980. I
didn't land on my head but I could
have." said Harte.
He noted that back in 1982 het.
� were "stuffy", uncomfortable
and veryeunstylish, but things have
Bed.
"With more and more people
wThey're mthem, orn comfortable've andan mot tore
fashionable."
On one bike trip, Harte went
stumbling over some railway tracks
and landed on his head. He said his
helmet prevented a serious injury.
As fir as making
helmets mandatory, the believes oft
should be only for the more serious
riders. The ones who go out on the
busy highways on a regular basis.
"I think all serious cyclists who
g� out on the highway should have
one. It's like not wearing your seat
belt."
Few wear helmets: Liam Bre
nan of the Exeter Police Dep
t is an avid cyclist and ofte group of friends fora trip
Grand Bend. Shorter outings
their mountain bikes include tour
around the trail at Morriso
As a police officer, Brennan, wh
wears a helmet, says he doesn't
"A t of people wearing them.
lot of adults are putting the
u kids who are riding on th
ack of the bike. It's just a serious
who is aware of head inju-
," said Brennan.
Helmet manufacturers recom-
that if a cyclist does fall on
head, the helmet should be re -
When you go shopping for a het -
et, although they are becoming
Olt and more stylish, remember
k is not as important as the
coal protection. Make sure the
lmet you buy is approved byei-
iati n), CSA (NSI (American an Nus
Standards Ifstiptte).. ,pr_
(Snell Memorial Eounda-
ost helmets are comprised of
parts: an outer shell, an ener-
bsorbing liner, a layer of soft
and fabric pads and a good re-
nter shestem. ll and theyltralight tendto
e expensive.
e actual part of the helmet
saves lives is the foam liner.
usually made of polypropy-
or polyethylene which is a lit-
re expensive.
outer portion of the helmet
utes the load and the inner
absorbs the shock which pre -
crushing of the skull and any
to the brain.
also important to get a helmet.
has adjustable straps and has
y to release buckle.
n -
art
en
to
o
n
0
see
m
e
He doesn't believe cyclists should
have to wear a helmet unless they
want to.
"There's no pressure, it's up to the
individual. If somebody doesn't
want to wear it, that's their choice.
If you legislate it, it will turn a lot
of people off."
Adrian Harte of Exeter has been
a serious cyclist for ten years which
includes entering long distance
events. He first strapped on a hel-
met in 1982, two years after an ac-
cident.
Try this on - MacLean's Lori Dalrymple, right; helps co-worker Ar-
lene Kuntz on with a helmet. Bike helmets are becoming
more visible but still are not mandatory although there pa bill be-
fore the Ontario government.
Bantam testba.11,Roya's
having agreat
season
EXETER - The Exeter Bantam Royals fastball team are having quite
a season in the Usborne Softball League as they have lost only one
game and have outscored their opponents 156 to 72.
On Monday they are scheduled to face a very tough Londesboro
team in the first game of a best -of -three series with the winner advanc-
ing to the Ontario championships August 17-18.
Thursday, in Exeter, the Royals came up with a big six run rallyin
the second inning to beat Clinton 16-7. First baseman Ken Hines ed
the offense with a pair of doubles and a triple and also scored twice.
Starting pitcher Dennis Gower picked up the win as he struck out six
and walked five. Reliever Steve Cook struck out four and walked two
while allowing no hits.
Last Tuesday night in Fullarton, Exeter got off to a bi
four runs in the first inning en route to an 8-6 win. Chris Mc pDonald
and Mike Burton each had a hit and a walk and scored twice.
The night before, Ben Armstrong doubled, tripled and scored three
times as the Royals fought back from an 8-6 deficit to win 15-8.
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