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12 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, JuIy 1, 2003 -Deumer Springers' Ath lete of Year Stephanie Deumer scooped up one last piece of hardware before calling it a career. The retiring gymnast was recently hon- oured as the Milton Springers' Athiete of the Year for 2002-03. The 13-year-old got the nod over other competitive team mem- bers in large part for her standout provin- cial qualifying efforts - particularly at Brock University. There Deumer solidified passage to, the Ontario finals with an overail silver-medal performance in the Novice 2 division. Second-place showmngs on the beam and floor fueled ber all-around camnpaigo. She followed this up witb sixth and eighth-place efforts on the bars and floor at the provincial chanspionships in Brantford - aiding in her Central Region squad's overail bronze-medal finish. The Athiete of the Year award highlight- ed a hefty haul for Deumer, who was also narned to, the club's honour roll and shared On the Beam honours with 2001-02 Athete of the Year Jainù Fellows, who's also closing the books on her competitive gymnasties career. The Springers' Most Dedicated Athlete award- namned in honour of long-time competitor Vicky Chliszczyk - went to April Chappell, while provincial altemnate Chelsea Bennett topped the voting for Teammuate of the Year. Bennett also added a new component to the awards banquet program. This past season she became the first club member to secure gold in alI thie provincial qualifying meets - in the process winning the Springers' inaugural Solid Gold title. Fellows earned the SUI Achievement Award, while Eleanor Pineau-Levman and Maddy Bannock were selected as the Most Sportsmanlike and Most Focused Springers respectively. Top competitur awards went to Melissa Hastings (7C), Josan Pineau-Levman (8B), Val Massel, Litsa Sotiniou and Kathermne Russell - al from the Masters loop. In the Most Improved category, the vault award was given to Leah Rubenstein, bars to Lindsay Bright and Sydney Thring, beamn to Olivia Lister, floor to Leighton Bannock, performance to Baylee Kraus and all-around showing to Heather Sadler. Sadler also picked up a First Kip award, as did Pre-competitive counterpari Josan Pineau-Levman. Retuiting from an injury that sidelined ber three years ago, Kristen Deumer was given the Comeback Award. while the Poise Io Performance title was scooped up by Brittany Schrader. The Stuck Landing award went to Alexis Stoffels. Among Multon's youngest gymnasts, Sara Blay was recognized for Best Presentation on Beam, Maddie Jolivet for Best Bar Routine, Cinstina Donovan for First Backwalkover On Floor, Holly Bennett for Most tmproved Backwalkover On Floor and Marilyn Heggie for Most lmproved Front Rolls On Beam. Nained to the bonour roll were April Chappell, Stephanie Deumer and Julie Gagnon. Barnes hoping to top national field once again But new work schedule cutting into local triathete'ys training By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion H arry Bamnes has delivered somne sizzling triathlon results recently. However, the perennial powerhouse's confidence level these days is less than red bot. And with less than two weeks remaining before the national championships, that's bad news. A revised sebedule at Milton Town Hall -wbere be bandles maintenance- bas left the 56-year-old rather sluggish for early morning workouts, and questioning bis ability to reign supreme in Edmonton July 13. lI'm only gettnng about four or five hours sleep a nigbt. It's been bard and I'm not feeling ail that confident," explained the higbly accomplisbed racer, wbo's looking to defend bis Canadian 56-59 men's title out west. It's (new sehedule) ' been really detnimental." Nevertheless, Campbellville's ageless wonder seems poised for another suc- cessful summer - at least if recent results are any indication. Just two months ago in Florida, Bames managed a sub-2:l10 performance to once again win bis age group at the St. Harry Barnes Anthony's Meet. And in what's expeeted to be bis last competitive outing before nationals, he tamed a sprint triathlon in a sensational 1: 12 June 14 in Muakoka. That effort wasn't only tops in bis own age group, but among the three younger divisions below it as well. In fact, Barres would bave placed second within the 35-39 men's loop, whie overall he fmnisbed 24th. Remarked the local champ, "The water was really cold and I think it botbered somne racers. But once I gos going there was no problem. I actuaily found it refreshing." It's that first triathlon leg in which Bamnes stiil believes there's room for iniprovement - not only in Edmonton but later this year at the world championsbips in New Zealand. It (Swim) was s0 easy in Mexico last year that with a wet suit this time around 1 should be able to shed somne more tune." He bolda similar hope for the grueling 40-kmn bike evens, which will be particularly billy in both Edmonton and New Zealand. * see STILL on page 15