Whitby Freo Press, Wedaesday. May 5, 1993. Page 23 Woutdnt t be great to be halt as wonderfut as your child once thought you were and only hait as stupid as your teenager thnks you are now? Dd you know that ail of the Audi 90 series teature the 2.8 litre V6 engine. producong 172 horsepower at 155 rpm? M i 'echeOacofig I ynnat goes to nationals A Whitby gymnast has quali- fied for the national novice championships in Calgary, Alta. May 19 to 23. Ambre Shearer, a membor of the Winstonette Gymnasties Association in Markharn, was sixth overall in the novice divi- sion at the Elite Ontario com- petition in Brampton recently. She was first on floor, sixth on beam and vault and seventh on bars. The meet was a qualifiler for the national championships. Be active for kid's sake BRAD THOMSON will be attending a Pennsylvania college on a - golf -.scholarship corne, September. The Whitby student is a natural when it cornes to golf -- although he's only been golf ing for four years. He had his pick of scholarships from 15 U.S. colleges and universities. Photo by Mark Reesor, Whltby Free Press Fast learner earns golf scholarship in US. By Mark Reesor If you've spent years trying to master golf but are stili hard pressed to break 100,' you ina yant to skip this story. It's about Whitby resident rad Thomnson, who's beginning a golf scholarship at Slippery Rock University (affihliatod with the University of Pittsburgh) in Pennsylvania this September. It's an accom plishment ail the more impressive considoring he's only been pay ng the game for four years. Ho had always thought of golf as rather boring until a friend talked hlm into joining him for a round. Thomson says the dificult~ and challenge of the gaine appealed to him xm- m ity. "Golf is se hard... there's se many things you can do wreng; little things." But unlike many of us, Thomnson quickly began doing more thing right that wrong. "Wen 1 triod hockey, I tried years of practice but with this (golf) I picked up a few basic ski ils and it's gone frein there." He began practising rogularly and taught himself the gaine, "pretty much through trial and error." His folkstg ave hum a set of clubs for Christmnas. Thomnson says his fat er, Grant, has given hlm a lot of su pport and encouragement. Thomnson then igot a job at Country Lane Golf Course, playing as often as ho could. He bought a membership at Thunderbird Golf Course last year and began working in the pro shop where he picked up some tips from assistant pros Cody Barbeau and (this year) Mike Fudge. Working at a course gives hlm a chance to get out on the links everyday, uproviding the weather holds off.' Thomnson began winning se many tournaments ho was hard pressed to find room for aIl his trophies. A tournament in Chicago last summer which was well attended by scouts froin U.S. colleges and universities gave hlm his big break. A lot of people were impressed with hîs play. IHe received 15 scholarship offers from colleges in Texas, the Carolinas, California and Ohio. Afrer interviews and a visit to several campuses, ho settled on Sli Er Rock. The university is located in a sinali town -- much i ikeWtby -- but is affiliated with a larger institution, which ho liked, and they offered "a good deal financially." Golf is a big deal in the U.S., behind only football and basketball in popularity. Thomnson wil ho a member of SIppery Rock golf team which compotes against other colleges and9un iversities at courses across the country. What's Thomnsoa's secret? SER PAGE 28 QION Filte' Daily Physical Education, has been formied eut of streng concern for these statistics. t includes such national organizations as the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadien Principals Association, Canadian Parent-Teacher Federation and Perticipection. The facts are our children are net receiving an adequate level of physical activity. Physical education pleys a strong role in both their health and their learning. By supporting their effort of enceuraging 30 minutes fquality daily physical education (QDPE) and by being an active example te your children, you will help te change these dismel stetistics. Ensure thet children are healthior end happier, and encourage schools te provide Q Einte criclP So e enf1t efDPE 0 exhibit better health habits (e.g. tend net te sinoke); Il display positive attitudes towards an active lifestyle; *develop personal physicel fitness; * are less susceptible te stress; 0 experience enhenced bone growth; 4 perform botter academi- cally; e have less aggressive behaviours; * oxibit more positive attitudes about school, physical activity and self;, e corne to class «ready to learn.' Remember, being a healthy and active exemple bas the greatost influence on your children's lifestyle. Don't just beave it up te the achools. Encourage family activities that pursue fitness and are fun. Be sure te choose sports and fitness activities that are appropriate for your child. These activities should bo within their abilities and ones they enjoy. If they are net positive experiences, they rnay de more harmn than good by making them feel incapable, inferior and/or defeated. Lot thein decide what they want te pursue and encourage their enjoyinent and appreciation of the activity and not focus on winning but improving and learning. By Lisa APaul Fitnoss consultant Durham Region Fitness Council Much has been written about the health beneflits of regular physical activity. An inactive lifestyle has been associated with significantly increasing one's risk of a number of potentially fatal diseases. Now, according te the American Heart Association, physical inactivity joins high blod pressure, smoking and high cholesterol/fiat intake as the main risk factors for coronary heart disease -- the country's leading killer. In a recent position statemont, the Anierican Heart Association said, "There is a relationship botween physical inactivity and cardiovascular mortality ..." and "inactivity is a serieus risk factor for the developinent of coronazy heart disoase." The authors refer te recent studios that show that regular bouts of moderato activity provide beneflits in tenus of disease prevention. Consider aIse that, according te the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, by the turne the average Canadian child is a teen, their arteries are already one-third blocked. We must change our lifestyle -- for our own longevity, as well as for our children's. t is literally killing us. The most important thing you can do is be an example of active living. Here are somo other shocking facts yeu need to ho aware of. e children are 40 per cent less active than they were 30 years age. * only 6 poer cent of children aged 10 te i9 are active on a regular bass; e children's fitness begins te decline at age 12. A national coalition, the Canadien Coalition for Quality CO*STEEL ý>LASCO ATLET HF TE W EE K SPONSODRED BY DAVID CHANT, goalie for the Elscint Canada major atom MAA team, was reoently named the first recipient of the Andrew Valaitis memorial award as one of two most valuabie goalies in Whitby minor hockey. 1 à Wl te