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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 10, 2012 · 18 Sports Oakville Beaver The Oakville Blades maintained their hold on first place in the Ontario Junior Hockey League's South Division with a pair of wins last weekend. Oakville (9-2-1) grounded the Orangeville Flyers 8-2 Friday evening at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, then blanked the Toronto Junior Canadiens 2-0 Sunday afternoon in Toronto. Patrick Chore recorded four points -- all coming on assists -- in the victory over Orangeville. Jonah Renouf scored twice and added an assist, with brother Nathan Renouf collecting a goal and two helpers. Spencer Green (goal, two assists), Len Fabbri (goal, assist), Aidan Orbinski (two assists) and Kyle Jenkins (two assists) also enjoyed multiplepoint outings. Kris Bennett, Sean Perichak and Eric Chore had Oakville's other goals in support of victorious netminder Evan Buitenhuis, who made 21 saves. Buitenhuis bailed out the Blades' league-leading offence (58 goals in 12 games) Sunday with a 27-save effort to record the shutout. Bennett scored the winning goal in the second period, with assists going to Spencer Green and Eli Berg. Patrick Chore added an empty-netter with four seconds to go in regulation. Toronto, the last-place team in the South, outshot Oakville 27-26 on the afternoon. The Blades carried a two-point lead over St. Michael's into last night's (Tuesday's) visit to the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, a game that began after the Beaver's press deadline. Oakville will be home to Orangeville once again this Friday, a 7:30 p.m. start at Sixteen Mile, and then travel to Mississauga Sunday for a 4 p.m. matinee with the Chargers. SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com Blades maintain division lead LEAPS KNOW NO BOUNDS: Oakville Trafalgar student Helen Chambers and her horse, Utopia Belles, clear a jump during the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships, held recently in Quebec. Chambers and Utopia Belles won the overall junior jumping championship at the event, the latest success for the tandem that was formed less than a year ago. PHOTO COURTESY OF ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION Unlikely tandem enjoying unbridled success By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF Jenny Lineker felt she knew what the answer was going to be, but she asked the question anyway. Helen Chambers was looking for a horse to lease and she had come to Mississauga to ride Utopia Belles. Lineker watched as her shy, quiet student rode the Belgian Warmblood mare she described as aggressive with a big personality. As they got in the car afterward, Lineker turned to her student and asked, `What do you think?', assuming there was no way this was a partnership that had any hope. Chambers didn't need to say a single word. "Her eyes lit right up and she nodded as if to say, `That's the one,'" Lineker recalled. In a sport where the relationship between horse and rider is crucial, this odd couple pairing has been a perfect match. Though they got a late start -- Chambers leased the horse in December, whereas Lineker prefers to have a new rider-horse combination start working together in September -- they had immediate success. Chambers finished second overall in the 1.1-metre jumpers division and fourth in the jumper medal division in the Central West ly confident on a horse and it's wonderful to zone of the Trillium Circuit. That earned her a watch." Chambers was the Central West overall spot on the Ontario team for the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships in hunter medal champion in 2010 and took the jumper medal title in 2011. Bromont, Quebec at the end of September. Lineker says Chambers' The Grade 12 student at strength is her ability to develop Oakville Trafalgar High School "Helen's not the most and execute a plan. not only helped Ontario win the vocal person but when "She's able to apply strategy bronze medal in the team event, she's riding, she shows in the ring," said Lineker, who she was also named the overall you that she's grasping works with Chambers at Vector junior champion in jumping. Equestrian in Milton. "She's "I had a pretty good season everything you're easy to teach; she's a sponge. coming up to (nationals)," teaching her." She takes everything in. Helen's Chambers said, "but I didn't Vector Equestrian riding not the most vocal person but think I would win." when she's riding, she shows Chambers began riding seven coach Jenny Lineker, years ago. Her interest was referring to student you that she's grasping everysparked after her older sister Helen Chambers thing you're teaching her." went to a riding camp at Teen Chambers says she has Ranch in Caledon. Her mom, Lee Anne Downey, learned a lot from Lineker. Finding the right was a little surprised by Chambers' interest, but horse is also key to the equation, though. signed her up for riding lessons. After four years "It's very important," the 17-year-old said. of riding, she began competing and showed "This horse, I find she really trusts the decisions I make. And I know she's always going to be promise. "We kept seeing this progression and she there." That was on display on the second day of the really loved it," Downey said. "It's interesting to see Helen have control of a horse. She's extremeSee Horse, page 19