What's Up Bracebridge Gravenhurst June 2010 - Whatsupmuskoka ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKASPORTSAdrienne’sFamily Restaurant, Gas Bar & VarietyUnderNEWOWNERSHIP!On Hwy 11 South, Huntsville | 789.6477Early Bird Breakfast Special $5.99Ultra series is off and runningBy Chris OcchiuzziCompetitive trail running is comingback to Muskoka this summer.As part of the Ontario Ultra Series,Limberlost Forest and WildlifeReserve is set to host the LimberlostChallenge on July 17.“There was a trail running seriesheld at Arrowhead Park between 2001and 2005. It was a popular eventapparently, attractingover 100 runners,”says Neil Jefferson,“I love thesolitude oftrail runningand thecamaraderieof theOntario trailrunningcommunity.”who has partneredwith Dave Gibson asthe Limberlost Challengerace directors.“Last summer, myfriend Dave Gibsonheard about the LimberlostForest andWildlife Reserve, a10,000-acre, privatelyowned gem that isopen to the publicentirely free ofcharge. The ownersallow the public togo on the trails forhikes, running, skiing,snowshoeingand mountain biking.Because theydon’t allow motorizedvehicles, thetrails are in excellent condition.”Jefferson and Gibson started runningthe trails at Limberlost on Sundaysand it didn’t take long for themto begin discussing an idea to host anultra race at this location.Shortly thereafter they were askingthe caretakers and owners of Limberlostabout using the venue for a race.“They liked the idea, recognizingthat this is just the right use for themany trails that they have,” says Jefferson.“We put our proposal to theOntario Ultra Series and it wasaccepted.”The Limberlost Challenge racedirectors are anticipating a successfulevent with an estimated 150 participantsin 14-kilometre, 28-kilometreand 56-kilometreevents. While quite afew runners areexpected fromMuskoka, most willbe visiting from outsidethe region,according to Jefferson.With this expectedinflux of visitors,the Huntsville Lakeof Bays Chamber ofCommerce was ableto help secure somePhotograph: Heather DouglasDave Gibson and Neil Jefferson are organizing the Limberlost Challenge,featuring 14-kilometre, 28-kilometre and 56-kilometre races.funding fromMuskoka Futures forthe race organizers.“This is seedmoney for the firstyear only and isbeing used primarilyfor promoting theevent,” says Jefferson.“The applicationwas made by the Huntsville Lakeof Bays Chamber of Commerce onour behalf.”Jefferson, who only a few years agobegan trail running, says the LimberlostChallenge is in very good hands.“I have a background in triathlons,but three years ago I was invited on atrail run. I was hooked,” says Jefferson.“I love the solitude of trail runningand the camaraderie of theOntario trail running community.Everyone else on the race committeehas some sort of experience in competingand/or organizing events.”Soccer fans host tournament in honour of World CupBy Chris OcchiuzziA group of soccer-crazed Muskokaresidents will be celebrating the FIFAWorld Cup final with a tournament oftheir own.On July 11, as billions of people prepareto tune in to see who will lift thecup the following day, 18 Muskokanswill play a three-on-three event at thehome of a soccer fan in Huntsville.Nate Sowrey loves soccer so muchhe built his own miniature backyardfield, complete with nets and lines.“I just wanted a place for me and mykids to kick the ball around,” saysSowrey, who built the 30 metre x 15metre field three years ago.On quite a few occasions, Nate andhis wife Irene have welcomed friendsand family over for soccer days.“It’s become a great way for us to gettogether,” says Sowrey. “Everybodyloves to come out and kick the ballaround.”Friends and family will convene atthe field early in the morning and playuntil the evening to contest a tournamentbased on pride and passion.Their will be no money for the winningtrio, only a makeshift trophy andthe bragging rights to go along with it.Another interesting part of thistournament is the fact none of the participantswill know who their teammateswill be until that day. All thenames are being placed into a jar andsix teams will be drawn one player at atime.“It adds a little something extra tothe tournament,” says Sowrey. “Someteams might have more defensiveminded players, while others will getall offense. It makes it so each gamebrings a different strategy.”However, don’t think the WorldCup final is being forgotten. A breakin the local tournament is scheduled towitness FIFA’s extravaganza of soccercome to its conclusion.“Really, that’s what the day is allabout,” says Sowrey. “Celebrating theworld’s greatest sport.”30 June 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Blind athletes tackle triathlonBy Allan CookFor the second year in a row, a uniqueteam of athletes will compete in the Joe’sTeam triathlon at the CNIB Lake JosephCentre in MacTier.The Blind Guys Tri Team – athleteswith vision loss who compete pairedwith a sighted guide – will participate inthe triathlon on July 10.The Joe’s Team event was foundedfour years ago by Lake Joseph cottagerand CNIB supporter Joe Finley, who isalso a cancer survivor. It is a fundraiserfor the Princess Margaret HospitalFoundation for cancer research. A sprinttriathlon, the competition consists of a750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre bikeride and a five-kilometre run.In its second year, CNIB boardmember Terry Kelly wanted tocompete, and the idea for the BlindGuys Tri Team was born.“He showed up and wanted to race,and his friend Tim Tremain teamed upwith him so that he could,” recalls BrianMcLean, team captain and manager forthe Blind Guys Tri Team.McLean is also the president ofAchilles Canada, an organization thatteams athletes with disabilities with ablebodiedpartners so that they may participatein events such as the Joe’s Teamsprint triathlon.“We have 15 blind or visuallyimpaired athletes coming from acrossthe country to compete at the race,”McLean explains. “Their guides need tobe in as good a condition as they are –better, actually, since the guide has to beready if their partner has one of thosemoments where they find some strengthand speed and endurance they didn’tthink they had.”The guides are tethered to their partnersfor the running and swimmingportions of the race, and steer tandembikes for the cycling portion, as well asbeing in constant verbal contact.“They let us know if we’re getting offcourse, and they cheer us on constantly,”says McLean, “and when we get tothe last hundred metres they let usknow we’re almost there, and we reallyPhotograph:courtesy of Brian McLeanBrian McLean, assisted by a guide, competes at the Joe’s Team Triathlon on the Blind Guys Tri Team.pour it on. There’s no feeling like crossingthe finish line in a race like this. It’samazing.”McLean is legally blind from retinitispigmentosa, which has left him withonly a pinhole of vision. Were it not forthe guides, he and the other visuallyimpaired members of the Blind Guys TriTeam would not be able to participate.“I can’t say enough about our volunteers,”he says, and encourages anyonewho wishes to get involved, either as aguide athlete or as a visually impairedathlete, to contact the CNIB.The 30 members of the Blind GuysTri Team will join 520 other participantsat the Joes Team event at the LakeJoseph Centre, which opened its doorsin 1961. The Lake Joe recreational facilityoffers unique specialized campingexperiences for people of all ages who areliving with vision loss.“We enjoy Muskoka in slightly differentways than those with fullvision,” McLean says of the triathlonsite. “The water feels so much coolerand more refreshing than a dip in LakeOntario. The air is so much cleanerand easier to breathe, especially whileyou’re working so hard in the race. Andthere’s the wind in the trees and thebirds as the backdrop when the cheersgo up when you finish.”www.whatsupmuskoka.com June 2010 31
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UPJune 2010MUSKOKA’S NEW
Page 3 and 4: SizzlingSummer SavingsIf you can’
Page 5 and 6: Security rolls into HuntsvillePhoto
Page 7 and 8: Muskoka books initiative launchedBy
Page 9 and 10: Author shares tale of torture in Te
Page 11 and 12: Breakfast Television draws hundreds
Page 13 and 14: Sculpture connects past and present
Page 15 and 16: Enjoyed a busy month of literary ev
Page 17 and 18: Advertising FeatureGord Smith, Jami
Page 19 and 20: Advertising FeatureDuncan Anderson,
Page 21 and 22: The Muskoka Awards are an opportuni
Page 23 and 24: Advertising FeatureIt’s about tre
Page 25 and 26: Bala Habitat home well underwayArou
Page 27 and 28: SUN VOLTSS UNLIMIT- TMSolar and Win
Page 29: RunningacrossMuskokaCharmaine Broug
Page 33 and 34: Art challenge revisits the pastBy S
Page 35 and 36: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKASOCIAL SCENE312P
Page 37 and 38: YOUR MUSKOKA GROWERSSpecializing in
Page 39 and 40: Define Your Space with...Superior C

What's Up Bracebridge Gravenhurst June 2010 - Whatsupmuskoka ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?