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24-h 'Milton competitors make a mark in BC By STEVE L.BLANC The Champion When it cornes to going the dis- tance, very few communities measure Up to Milton. Ten local racers - representing one of the largest groups for any town this size, anywhere in the country - pushed thern- selves to the lirnit at Ironman Canada August 29. Arnid picturesque surroundings in Penticton, British Columbia the graup - who train regularly with both the Milton Runners and Milton Masters Swirn Club - battled a grueling 3.8 kilometre swim, 180 kilometre bike ride and 42.2 kilornetre flan course. AIl 10 rnanaged'to complete the journey, eacb playing a raie in an arnbitious and successfül sports initiative. "For Milton ta have this rnany competi- tors at-this type of event is arnazing," remarked Calvin Snow, the local team's top finisher with a time of 11:14:50 for 343rd place out of 1,775. athletes from 65 countries. *"Outside Penticton, there's no other area that had this kind of representa- tion." Milton had sent -competitors to thse event before - but neyer se rnany. The endeav- aur began around Labour Day '98, when a ee IRONMAN on page 25 Merchant wins pile up By STEVE LOBLANC The Champion And the wins just keep an com- ing. Tbe Merchants pusbed tbeir seasan- apening undefeated streak ta six gantes at Memrnoal Arena Wednesday, toppling tbe Oakville Blades 8-3. Now front-runners in tbe West Conference, Milton carne out extrernely fiat and allowed 17 shots against tbern ira periad one. But Lac Larnothe turned back every one af those - several witb astounding acrobatics - and weatbered the starrn until bis coborts could get their act together. Wben they did, five goals were arnassed witbin a 15-rninute spant ira the second staraza ta quasb wbat initially loaked ïa be the first suspenseful evenîng for tbe Merchants. Frarn there, tbe tearns traded twa goals eacb ira the final frarne and dernonstrated that - despite sweeping player cbanges on bath sides - the bad blood between thern still exista. Dan DeLang andi Rab Martin squared off witb Blades Aaran Cales and Eugene Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Reps respectively ira tbe first twa stand up Calvin and Janice Snow led a group of local athietes ut the recent lronman Canada ln Pentîcton, figbts of tIse year. BC. Ail 10 Mltonlans who particlpated were able to comploe the gruellflg course. Thse spirited slugfests pravided about tIse anly flashes of exciternent in a game that was otberwise largely uneventful. Elliot Altberg enjayed thse lian's share of the scoring pie witb a bandful of points, including three goals. Centering tbe most productive farward unit se far, with fellow newcorner Phil Barski and veteran Mike Wheeliban, his bat-trick was thse fourth ira as rnany garnes delivered by the Merchants. Wbeeliban, Mark Beisel and Jeff Petberick did sa previously. Barski had a seasan bîgh four assists wbile Wbeelihan scored once and belped set up Altberg's final maiker. Ian Malcolrn tallied twice for bis first multi-goal garnte. Also denting tbe twine weoe Beisel and Martin. Merchant notes: David Derma, Milton's college advisor, bad a bole-in-ane at a cbarity.golf tournarnent for the Cbildren's Wish Foundatian September 23 at Landon's Fox Glen. He used a four iran ta sink a 159-yard shot on tbie 1 ltb hale.. David Csurnrik bas rnade the Nortb Bay Centennials. He scored a powerplay goal in their borne apening losa ta Erie.. Defencernan Ken Robins continues ta suf- fer frarn inflarned joints and is now back an the disabled list ... The Merchants' only weekend garne is tanigbt in Brarnalea. Garne tirne is 7:45 p.rn. WC aic f.o'sol torzdeIr