HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-12-13, Page 17Wednesday, December 13, 2006
TIMES—ADVOCATE
17
Local lad dives
deep in Egypt
EXETER - The Red Sea sounds awfully good to
Doug Sitter about now. More specifically, he
yearns for its 21 degree water temperature.
Currently Sitter, a longtime Exeter resident now
living in Toronto, is training in Lake Ontario,
where the water is a far -less -inviting five degrees.
The object of his training is the free -diving world
team championships.
December 1 - 12 in Egypt. Sitter, 30, will be part
of the eight -member (four men, four women)
Canadian team. "It has been very hard training in
Lake Ontario because the water is so cold," said
Sitter, a South Huron high school grad who is now
a project manager in the biotech industry.
Free diving, a.k.a. breath-holding, diving tests
competitors on time, distance and depth. The
physical demands are obvious. The mental test is
equally harsh.
Sitter's personal bests, all achieved at this year's
nationals in Vancouver in July include a stationary
breath holding time of five minutes, 12 seconds;
moving underwater a distance of 106 metres while
holding his breath; and holding his breath to a
depth of 42 metres. In the depth event, competi-
tors must come back up with all the weight they
take down or they're disqualified. He has sur-
passed all of those marks in training since nation-
als. Sitter was third at the Canadian champi-
onships the last two years. He qualified for last
summer's world individual championships in
France and Switzerland, but passed on the event
because it conflicted with wedding plans with
Elaine Sinclair, a PhD in biomedical science. They
were married in August 2005.
Sitter was born in Deep River, north of Ottawa
and the Ottawa River was an early playground.
Sitter thinks that's where he began a life-long love
affair with the water. "I've always been around it
... and even as a three -year old I would dive for
rings on the bottom of the pool," he said.
Sitter became a lifeguard, which he did in
Exeter, and a proficient scuba diver. He also
played underwater hockey with the London
Dolphins. He ran a half -marathon (21.1 kilome-
tres), completed a triathlon and played rugby for
Balmy Beach (in Toronto, Stratford & Exeter.)
But the water and diving are constant draws,
especially the freedom free -diving offers. "All you
need are fins, a mask and snorkel. You don't have
to think about tanks (of oxygen used in scuba div-
ing) I love how it gets me close to nature. Because
there are no bubbles, you don't scare the fish. I've
had fish come right up and tap my mask. The
freedom is wonderful and amazing.
Canada has done well internationally in the past.
At the most recent team championships in 2004 in
Vancouver, the men were third. The women have
won gold twice. Along with his wife, Elaine,
Doug's cheering section includes his family in
Exeter, parents Bonnie and Conrad Sitter and
brother Russell.
Contributed by London Free Press
and Jim Bearss
POLICE BRIEF
FESTIVE R.I.D.E. taking aim
HURON — The holiday season is upon us, and the
Huron OPP are reminding motorists of the dangers of
mixing alcohol with driving. The first festive weekend
had the Huron OPP busy with R.I.D.E. spot checks.
Officers throughout the county completed checks, stop-
ping a total of 1,355 vehicles. Officers issued three road-
side tests, which resulted in two 12 hour suspensions.
Officers laid six charges under the Liquor license act,
two Highway Traffic Act and one charge under the
Controlled Substance Act. Impaired driving remains the
leading criminal cause of death in Canada.
NOTICE
Exeter Public Cemetery Rates for Lot
Sales, Interment Fees and Flower Beds
will be INCREASING IN 2007.
Attend to the
South Huron Municipal Office
322 Main Street South, Exeter
to make any arrangements
before December 22, 2006.
Laurie Dykstra
Deputy Clerk
Panther profile
EXETER — Good morning/afternoon/evening, South
Huron!
Check this out — every Alaskan citizen over the age of
six months receives an oil dividend check of about
$1,000 per year. I guess there has to be some incentive
to live in Alaska.
This past weekend the boys and girls had their School
boy/girl Zone Playdowns. The girls team of Laura
Noakes, Lana Shapton, Molly Hunter, Robin McKnight
and Jesse Baynham won two games to advance on the
'A' side. The boys team of Scott McGregor, Craig
Skochinski, Brad Keys and Bill Rundle lost their opening
game in an extra end but were able to rebound and win
four straight games to advance on the 'B' side. Both
teams will compete in the Regional Playdowns right
here at their home club in Exeter Feb 3.
Steve Maas and Roger Mills had this to say: It's that
time of year again. A time where families get together, a
time of giving and receiving and of course South Huron
District High School's annual Comedy Night. This event
is Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m., and guess what ... it won't cost
you a cent. But remember to bring a canned good, so
Big Brothers, Big Sisters
This is one of our older
Little Sisters. She is excit-
ed about having a Big
Sister to do fun
things with. She
likes to read, go
for walks, go tub-
ing and watch
hockey games.
She would like
her Big Sisters to
be nice, caring,
outgoing and
able to enjoy hav-
ing fun!
This little Sister is one of
the many children waiting
to be matched
within a mentoring
friendship. For
information on
becoming a Big or
our other volunteer
programs, call our
office at 519-235-
3307 or visit our
website at
www.shbbbs.on.ca
Dr. Geoff Hann
Accepting New Patients
Chiropractor -Acupuncture -Orthotics
105 Main St., Exeter 235-1535
www.DrHann.ca
we can donate it to the Exeter food bank. This event is
one night only so don't miss it. It contains South Huron's
Grade 11/12 drama class performing a variety of skits.
Well I can't speak for everyone but
wow, a free show of this calibre does-
n't come along everyday, hard to pass
that up.
I haven't got anything else for you
this week, except I notice that the first
day of winter is Dec. 22 and I'm pretty
sure it's also the last day of classes.
Have a good week!
One more thing, Battle of the Bands
will happen this year! The date is set CRAIG
for Feb. 28, so all you musically SKOCHINSKI
inclined Panthers get goin' to make PANTHER PRO -
sure it's a huge success. At least 50 FILE
per cent of the band must be from
South Huron.
Want to
Tupperware Book a parts,
Need replacements? Need a great fundraiser?
Looking for part/full time employment?
I can help - Give me a call
Erin Playford, Independant Sales Consultant
519-227-0045 or erinplayford@my.tupperware.ca
Access FREE Professional
Resume Development
Interview Preparation &
Job Seekers & Coaching Club
If you're unemployed...
Call your local HERC office
519-235-0471
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