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Times Advocate, 1995-09-27, Page 14• 1N"0sirs f0minks 1)19% commission 2) 235.3948 September 27, 1995 Shuffleboard - more than a game Area seniors play shuffleboard for the sport, for the excercise and to socialize with each other Chris Skalkos T -A staff EXETER - Shuffleboard is not just a game. For seniors citizens, it's a way to stay healthy, it's a so- cial event and, for the young at heart, it's a competitive sport. This is what brings the senior cit- izens of Exeter and the surrounding community together twice a week. Over 60 seniors belong to the Exet- er Shuffleboard Club. They gather at the Exeter Legion on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons to par- ticipate in an event which for many, has become the highlight of their week. . Shuffleboard is similar to curling. Two teams of two people place themselves at opposite ends of a 60 foot court and try to place four metal discs, sometimes called "blocks" on strategic spots on the court. At each end of the court is an outlined triangle divided into five sections. Each player gets four shots at placing a disc within the point sections of the court. The top part of the triangle is worth 10 points, the next two are worth eight and the last two count for sev- en. There is a long strip at the end of the triangle called "the kitchen." Ten points are subtracted from the team with a disc in that section. The players alternate turns launching their discs with forked poles trying to place their discs for points or knocking their op- ponents discs off the court or into the kitchen for a loss of points. Discs touch- ing any part of the lines drawn on the court don't count. They must be placed clearly within each point section. How- ever, unlike curling, the discs can't be curled. They are shot straight and shooters must stay on their side of the court. Doris Denham, club president, said the sport is very popular among seniors who play year-round. She said the main skill behind the game is getting "a feel for the weight" of the disc. The player's ac- curacy depends on getting just the right amount of strength behind a launch in order to get the disc to where they want it to go. "Shuffleboard is like pool, you have to get the right weight and angle," said Denham. "It takes a little good playing and a lot of luck," she said. Delmer Skinner from Exeter said he has been playing shuffle- board for over five years, club has been playing at the Legion he finds it to be a great Hall for eight years and they feel. form of exercise. their location enhances the social "You're walking a aspect of their games. lot and your "The Legion has been awfully arms art good to us. They donate prizes and moving, it's sometimes serve us lunches. Com - not as hard ing here to play shuffleboard is as run- one of the main events that brings ning," seniors together," said Skinner. said Lloyd Lovell agreed. He thinks Skinner shuffleboard has grown in popular - who es- ity since Exeter's one 'and only timates bowling alley closed years ago. he "After the bowling alley, what walks was there to take its place? It's two very important seniors have a so - miles a cial event especially in the winter day when there's nothing else to do." when Lovell said the seniors enjoy the he's competitiveness of the sport but playing the opportunity to get out with oth- ' Shuffle- ers their own age is what everyone board. really comes out for. "That's "Shuffleboard gives us a chance why we're to get out with others. This group are all is a real dandy of a bunch for so - playing, ciability and you really appreciate to keep that, especially when you get to be healthy." my age," said Lovell who is 86 The years old. Others such as Allen Berry, play for the competition. He insists shuffleboard, in nature, is no different than any other sport. "I'd call it a sport. A sport is any- thing that's com- petitive and this is a com- John Pepper from Hensall launches a disc while playing shuffleboard at the Legion on Thursday. Pepper will be 94 years -old soon and he is her- alded by fellow "Shufflers" as being one of the best shuffleboard players in the area. Books The Exeter Times Advocate offers all kinds of services... • I lard Co\ er • Paperback, • Fitness & I lealtii • Nutrition • 1Vildlife • (alydening • I t'cal History • 1 tumorous • Children's • I )ictionaries Artist Supplies • (;raphic pencil sets • Calligraphy supplies Sz sets • 1\'insor Newton - Water- acrylic • Oil paints, brushes, sketch pacts • Canvas panels • Pastel sets • I)el'\\l'n1 illy U • Fax • Photocopies • Colour Copies • Transparencies • Laminating • Resumes • Typing • Flyers • Programs • and more School & Office Supplies Business Cards Rubber & Self- Inking Sta111 Personal Labels Wedding & Anniversary Invitations & Supplies 424 Main Street Exeter, Ontario (519) 235-1331 Fax: (519) 235-0766 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. Mon. -F11. Alk • petitive sport," said Berry. "I used to love sports when I was younger and I still do now," he said ex- plaining how he used to play soft- ball every night after working on the farm all day. Occasionally the club is involved in tournaments with other shuffle- board clubs in the area. Den -ham said usually eight members are chosen to travel to other clubs in Hensall, Grand Bend, Lucan, Mitchell and St. Marys, while rep- resentatives from those clubs visit Exeter. The chance to play a great- er variety of players allows them to hone their shuffleboard skills. "There's a lot more skill involved than you think. It may look like a kids game but there is a lot of strat- egy involved,'' said Berry who pre- fers to knock his opponents disc in the "kitchen" for a loss of 10 points. "You can block a disc with a guard, you can put 'em in the kitchen and some players here can do it to perfection. It's a great sport now -a -days and it has been for years," he said. The shuffleboard club originated in Exeter when Lorne Marshall and Marshall Dearing, who used to play in Kirkton, organized a club at the Recreation Centre 12 years ago. Since then, club membership has grown as has the popularity of the sport. According to Denham, unless the Legion requires the hall for an event or the winter weather be- comes severe, the "shufflers" rare- ly miss an afternoon. "They never miss a day if they can help it, they're here ready to play twice a week," she said. Denham credits the success of the club to the many members who volunteer their time and efforts to keep it going; member like Eldon and Alva Haywood who have been helping the club since the be-' ginning. They were also in- strumental in moving the club into the Legion where they have been playing on a regular basis since. Denham said the "shufflers" play year round but 'the season cul- minates at the Exeter shuffleboard Annual Meeting when they or- ganize -a pot -luck dinner and pick next year's president. This year, the meeting takes place on Wednesday, September 27 at 12 noon. Shuffleboard scores Hensall September 19 6 game winners Hazel McEwan Dave Woodward Russell Ferguson Dave Kyle Lorne Archer Emma Campbell 5 game winners Ethel McMurtrie Tom Williams Exeter September 20 4 game winners John Pepper Sena Gosar Jim Davis Gordon Clubb 3 game winners Ruby Beaver Ray Hodgson Anne Northey Gordon Hoggarth Howard Johns September 21 5 game winners Olive Essery Gil Northey Estelle Chalmers Tom Williams John Pepper 4 game winners Marjorie Hodgert Marge McCurdy Howard Johns Delmer Skinner Muriel Marshall 492 469 433 431 392 377 361 345 381 364 354 302 305 296 281 265 265 554 445 433 426 390 523 399 384 311 308 Ontario has ... t' ** tf*i t*** kAk* 174 Mi -Lu 6f k� young people, aged 6 - 18. We're looking for 12 of the best! Do you know a young person, aged 6 to 18 years, who is involved in worthwhile community service or a special person who is contributing, whilo living with a physical or psychological limitation? Do you know a youth who has performed an act of heroism? The Ontario Community Newspapers Association, with Bell Canada as the patron, is looking to recognize these 'good kids'; the young people of our province who show a commitment to making life better for others. To nominate an individual or a group of young people for the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award, please contact this newspaper or the OCNA at 905-844-0184. Nominbtions for this year's awards will be accepted until October 31, 1995. Every nominee will receive a certificate and up to 12 Individuals and one group will be the recipients of a plaque presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year lapel pin, S200 and a family portrait with the Lieutenant Governor. NOMINATION FORMS - ore available by contacting this community newspaper or•OCNA at 905-844-0184 ONTARIO JUNIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 1