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The Citizen, 2015-10-01, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015. Shade Trees • Fruit Trees • Spruce, Pine, Cedar • Shrubs MARTIN’S NURSERY EMANUEL E.M. MARTIN 42661 Orangehill Road, RR #1 Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0 1 Concession North of Wroxeter on Belmore Line Container and Field Grown Trees and Shrubs Shade Trees 3 feet to 12 feet in pots Choose for specimen and windbreaks • Maples • Oaks • Elderberry • Sycamore • Honey Locust • Apples • Pears • Cherries • Plums • Ginkgo Biloba • Blue Spruce • Green Spruce • Cedars • HedgingAND many, many more varieties! Sports LaFlamme first in province Nathan LaFlamme of Blyth bounced back from a less-than-ideal season last year to capture his third BMX provincial championship this year. The win earns LaFlamme the top spot in the eight-year-old intermediate class which garnered him a numbered plate for his bike next year, a backpack and a $150 cash prize. Last year LaFlamme finished seventh in his age bracket, but this year he snagged first place at the end of the provincial championships held in Milton last month. The championship, which is a point-based system, consists of seven provincial qualifiers and the final day, each race consists of two qualifying competitions and a main race. At the end of all that, LaFlamme had won first place and contributes some of the win to slipping during the championship. “I’m pretty sure I got at least second in all the races,” he said. “I didn’t get anything less than second. I slipped a pedal at the gate in the last one though.” Slipping the pedal caused LaFlamme to have a slow start, however serendipitously, it meant he wasn’t as far ahead as he should have been which would have put him in the middle of a crash involving a racer positioned beside him at the start. “If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have won the championship,” he explained. The provincial races were held as close as Saugeen Shores and as far away as Ottawa, making for a lot of travelling for his family over the past five months since the season began. LaFlamme has been cycling since he could manage to sit on a bike and has purchased a new racing bike each year he has competed. This year, however, his bike should last a little longer as it can grow with him. That’s fortunate since, while he is proud of his first place plate which adorns the front of his bike, his plate from last year holds some special meaning. The plate was signed by Maliek Byndloss who announced last year he would be cycling for Jamaica’s national team. It also represents LaFlamme competing against rain and illness and still managing to finish in the top 10 according to his parents Sharla Haney and Scott LaFlamme. “He was disappointed with how last year went,” Haney said. “It put some fire in him this year. It was exciting to watch.” With the cycling season behind him, LaFlamme is planning on swimming this winter to cross train according to his father. The young cyclist is looking forward to it and confident in his abilities. “I swim like a fish,” he said. Being the best takes a lot of time and effort. LaFlamme said he and his family have been to every track in Ontario. In what off-time he has he likes to play with his friends both at home and at the track. LaFlamme said that if anyone else wants to compete, the best advice he can give them is to never sit down. “Stand on your pedals if you want to try racing,” he said. “It really helps you go faster.” As for the young champion’s financial windfall, LaFlamme said he doesn’t have it anymore. “I spent it on Star Wars toys,” he said. “I got lightsabers for the build- your-own lightsaber kit and some extra lightsabers that don’t come with it.” For more information about the sport visit USA BMX/BMX Canada at www.ababmx.com Number 1 Nathan LaFlamme of Blyth is more than happy to show off the first-place plate on the front of his bike after he earned a first place finish in provincial BMX cycling. (Denny Scott photo) Coaching, encouragement lead to top spot: Townsend Continued from page 1 which he said he enjoyed. As for practicing on his own, Lucas was only able to get onto the field by MGM Townsend Tire three or for times before he competed at the Huron County match near Port Albert and, due to school and helping out with Papa’s Barnyard at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, couldn’t manage to get any practicing in before the IPM. The IPM actually turned out to be a very Huron-centric experience for Lucas this year, who said that four competitors from Huron County will be heading to the Canadian match as a result of their own wins. Also making the trip will be Brian McGavin, Shawn Ryan, Gerard Corbett and Troy Leeming. Don Dodds, also from Huron, was one of the judges at the IPM. Lucas said he has to thank his grandparents George and Ruth, both of whom took him to the event. Matt said that having a good coach is the biggest key to success and having his father, George, as a coach helped Lucas out. “I’m most definitely proud of Luke’s accomplishments,” he said. “But I have to wonder if the ploughing trip skipped from my brother and father to him. They have the patience to do it and I didn’t.” Matt said that George has an extensive list of accomplishments through being a coach, though he feels his father might be a bit easier on Lucas than he was on himself. “My dad says that grandchildren are the dessert of life and he’s enjoying it,” he said. That doesn’t mean that Lucas isn’t learning everything his grandfather has to teach, however, as his mother Aimee said that the praise from George motivates him to keep going. Encouragement and instruction also came from community members including Brian McGavin and Melissa Sparling through the 4- H Sodbusters Club, Paul Dodds and moral support from the Canadian champion Brandon McGavin, the Walton native who won the championship for Alberta this year. Lucas said that having his family there was also a big boost. As for the future, Lucas hopes to continue competing. He said he will move out of his current division, a plan his father wholeheartedly agrees with, especially if he manages to get a scholarship out of it. He also plans to keep on using his grandpa’s tractor, a John Deere. It’s the second tractor he’s competed on, the first, another John Deere, wasn’t heavy enough to use in competition. Lucas said, if anyone hopes to follow in his footsteps, that there isn’t one specific tip that helped him succeed, there were many. He did say, that all of them can be found in one group: the 4-H Sodbusters Club. “The Sodbusters really help you get going and show you what’s what,” he said. Those interested in joining the club can contact Brian McGavin at 519-527-0245. FREE ADMISSION! Apple Cider - Guided Walk Stream Creatures & Local Reptiles Wagon Rides - Stewardship Information 38854 Nature Centre Rd., North Huron [w] www.mvca.on.ca [t] 519-335-3557 Maitland Valley Conservation Authority es mation uron 557 horityy F a l l C o l o u r T o u r O c t . 4 , 1 - 4 P M Wawanosh ValleyConservation Area REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Big win Lucas Townsend triumphed over tough clay, time and his fellow competitors to earn first place in his class at the International Plowing Match in the Township of Stormont last month. (Photo submitted)