Times Advocate, 1992-11-04, Page 19Times -,Advocate, Novenbert4, 1892 Paps 19
Rotary Club's Celebrity Dinner
Ross sisters, rowers have had
to be determined, dedicated
By Pred Groves
T•A staff
GRAND BEND - There is one thing all the athletes
at the Huron United Way Celebrity Dinner had in com-
mon - perseverance.
Wednesday night at the Oakwood Luc, the Rotary
Club of Grand Band saluted six outstanding athletes
and a coaches who have accomplished not only pa-
sonal goals but have brought recognition to Canada.
Among the guests were Paul Henderson who soared
three very big goals in the 1972 Canada -Russia Hock-
ey Summit Series who showed highlights of the big
hockey series.
But it was the sister duo of Marie Claire Ross and
Jessie Ross which received a standing ovation frau
the large crowd. Marie Claire, 16, brought home a sil-
ver and three bronze medals from the Paralympic
Games in Barcelona and her sister, although only 13,
was fifth in the backstroke and ninth in freestyle.
The Paralympifs are for disabled athletes, the Ross
sisters are visually impaired and according to Jessie, it
was very important to be in .Barcelona =presenting
Canada.
"I found at the Paralympics, winning isn't every-
thing...it's trying your best."
Both Jessie and Marie Claire swim out of the Lon-
don Aquatic Club and had to go to Winnipeg to quali-
fy for the Canadian team. When she returned frau
Barcelona with her medals, Marie Claire had told her
friends it wasn't the "real" Olympics but the Paralymp-
cis.
She said she was a bit upset with that statement.
"What an injustice I was doing to disabled sports.
We all dediattecl ourselves to our sport," she said.
Surprisingly, neither one of the girls said they were
nervous when they were in Barcelona but there were
some anxious moments.
"When I raced, the hardest part was getting up on the
blocks and being watched by thousands of people,"
said Jessie.
Marie Claire said she was more excited than she was
nervous.
Rowers dominated: At the 1992 Olympics in Bar-
celona, Canada will always be remembered for domi-
nating the rowing events. At Wednesday night's din-
ner, AI Morrow, coach of the Canadian Women's
Rowing team along with coxswain Leslie Thompson
told there stories about the Olympics and how Canada
became a powerhouse in rowing.
"We have always had medal winners. Someone has
always come through with a big performance," said
Thompson.
The Landon school teacher has been the coxswain
for many Canadian teams and brought home a third
place performance from the 1985 world champion-
And how does someone become a coxswain?
Thompson said she was a gymnast and was recruited
by the University of Western Ontario to shout the com-
mittals to the rowers.
"Being a coxswain is like a goalie. You're either a
hero or a loser," she said.
Morrow said he taught his rowers some basic funda-
mentals such as values, principles and being gracious
in either victory or defeat. He said when one of the
rowers in the women's four team could not compete
just 12 hours before the heat, someone was there to fill
in.
"We were thoroughly prepared for a situation which,
for most, would be a serious problem."
London has many fine rowers including Renata Troc
who spoke at the dinner as well. She was a bronze
medal at the World Lightweight Championships.
Demonstration sport: Sending athletes to events
around the world is expensive and some of the compet-
itors like Marcia King who won a silver medal at the
Barcelona Olympics in the demonstration sport of Tae
Kwon Do had to pay some of the bills themselves.
"We get some (funding) when we travel, the rest we
have to come up with ourselves," said King.
Being a demonstration sport, meant that athletes
were not fully funded but King said it is a 99 percent
chance now it will be a full fledged Olympic sport in
1
r
Admiring each other's medals from the 1992 Olympic Games In Barcelona were Leslie Thomp-
son, left; and Marcia King. Thompson, the coxswain for the women's eight rowing team won a
gold medal while King, a silver medalist, competed In the demonstration sport•of Tae Kwon
Do. The two were among the many guests at the Grand Bend Rotary Club's Huron United Way
Celebrity Dinner on Wednesday.
S was also at the 1988 Olympics in Korea and has
been t : tieing the martial art for over 13 years.
W .1 -1: y's Celebrity Dinner also doubled as a j
chance a r the Grand Bend Rotary Club to recognize .
Sherry Rowe a graduate of Northmiddlesex High
School in Parkhill and Mike Clay a graduate of South
Huron in Exeter for their academic achievements.
Former Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell ran an
auction and among the many items taken home were
an autographed hockey stick from the Toronto Maple
Leafs, and a beautiful painting of Guy Lombardo's
speed boat.
Bill Thompson, chairman of the Huron United Way,
thanked everyone for attending the dinner and said
they are currently assisting in the funding of 14 agen-
cies.
"We have just done a study of the agencies and de -
=mined there is a need for $200,000," said Thompson
who added the goal of the Huron United Way, which
is in its second year. is 5100,000.
Panthers' comer
Seniors win by one
WINGHAM - In a very close and
exciting game the South Huron
senior girls' basketball teen edged
host Madhill 31-30 on Wednesday.
Tied 15-15 at the half Amy
Campbell led the way with 11
points while Angie Gould added
seven and Stacey Rader hit for six
pouts.
Volleyball: The senior boys' vol-
leyball teem had a very successful
week as they travelled to Wingham
and won six games.
. -They defeatedSeafartlf by scores
of 15-1, 15-13 and 15-1 and then
topped the host F.E. Madhill team
15-7, 15-7 and 16-14. The Panthers
remain in first place with a ret
of 18-3.
On Saturday the Panthers com-
peted in die Mitchell Invitational
Shuffleboard
Ha axil
October 27
5 gpme winners
Peed McKnight 417
Evelyn M cBeath 367
John Pepper 269
Ross Richardson 224
gene winners
Hanel McEwan 435
Jinn Davis 390
Gen Eagleson 388
Uoyd Skyi•auo 363
Dave Kyle 320
Faster
October 28
3 are winters
Sees Goma 274
Stave Hrepchak 273
Olga Davis' 247
Howard Jokes 241
28sae winners
Model Mershon 155
WileAlt.Davis 99
ibilbeer 39
51pre enikests
• lam DOM 374
Alleniserry 295
Pat Davis .274
•
sratemliwors
L/i ytl;� he 337
tkOima 324
;Riskier Skimp 319
3 eaissers
_ 271
alorGl sear 247
MeoluillailmiwgItimpoker
.4,11,J$
where they narrowly defeated Lis-
towel 15-13 and 15.13 and then
split with Northmiddiesex 14-16
and 15-4. That was followed by a
pair of defeats 9-15 and 8-15 to
Mitchell.
Crass country: At the WOSSA
cross-country meet held on Thurs-
day, Molly McClure was eighth in
junior girls and Dan Vanderlaan
finished 18th in senior boys.
The midget boys team placed
12th overall and they were ltd by
Mike Coolrnan _who was 22nd
overall while Kevin Bierling was
43rd.
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