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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - Al 7 SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sIebIanc@?haltoflsO8rch.com Campbel springs ii retireme Bel oved gmnastics coach ready to step down after30Oyears By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Afler tbree decades at tbe belrn of the local gymnastics scene, Janet Carnpbell probably needed at least a little reassurance about bier decîsion to fînally pack it in. She certainly got a suitable measure of it laite last rnonth in Grirnsby That was the site of bier Milton Springers' first-ever ail-around provincial champi- onsbip victory, wbîcb carne courtesy of Celena Morgan. The 1 1-year-old's golden performance not only rnade club history but provîded a fîîting conclusion to bier inistruc- tors lengtby and rnernorable mun. "The tirning couldn't bave been rnore per- fect, to bave an overaîl Ontanio cbarnp in rny last tnip to provincials," said 52-year-old Carnpbell, wbo'll officîally step down as bead coacb ait the end of next rnontb, but witb the 2006/07 season essentially over will be bon- oured witb a retirernent party this Saturday afternoon at Milton Sports Centre (MSC). V/hile still basking in the glow of bier provincial triumph, Morgans edation was tempered witb more than a hitle sorrow when contemplating a Campbell-less Springers club next season. "Shes 50 creative and bas taugbt rne so much. 1 feel like îîobody can really replace bier," saîd the young champ. That deep-rooted fondness for Campbell is by no means limited to the clubs gymn- nasts. Remarked Springers' adrnistrator and assistant coach I inda Massel, "Everyone bere will miss Janet. Shes been tbe glue thai bas beld us alI together over the years. 1 will miss ber expertise wben it cornes to any- tbing pertaining to, the Spningers or gymnas- tics. Janet coacbed my daugbter wben sbe was a provincial-level gymnast and 1 can se the impact sine had bad on Valeries life wben it cornes to working bard and staying focused on goals. "It's going to be a big transition for ail of us when she retires." At the rîsk of stating the obvîous, Campbell leaves the Springers in înfinîtely better shape than she found it in 1977, when fresh out of university - and witb an exten- sive background in gymnasties - she was enlisted to, lead the local club. "Back then we only bad about 50 rnern- bers and ran out of E.C. Drury Higb Sebool. 1 rernember we bad to set up and take down the equiprnenî ever nigbt," recalled tbe soon-to-be-retired coach, wbose îrnpending departure coincides wîtb bier busband's mremerent frorn Canada Post. It was a makeshifi operation, aIl rigbt." Wbîle the laie '70s Sprîngers were nowbere near wbat tbey are today, in terrns of enrolîrneni or range of prograrns, Carnpbell points to, one facet of the club that was alive and well even back then. "We bad incredibly cornritted parent volunteers wbo belped out every single nigbt." That dedication, she stressed, was the key to, survuval. tbrougbout sorne rather lean formative years, wben more bours were devoted to keeping the Springers afloat.than actually instructing their young participants. "There were times when 1 had to hold back rny pay-cheque and we didn't know if we'd be able to keep the doors open," said Carnpbell, whose cornmitment to local gymn- nastics was recognized last spring with a nomination for the North Halton ATHENA award, which honours professional excel- lence and valuable cornmunity service. "We'd bc out everywhere in town, putning op lyers and trying to fi every class." Having gone througb three other loca- tions hetween uts time at Drury and its cur- rent 14,000-square-foot facility at MSC, the club is now long-since past its financial bardships - wvith nearly 1,000 memnbers and a support system to match those sizable ranks. While ber young pupils have had their fair share of success over the years, Carnpbell said the 2003 move to uts spacious MSC digs was by far the most rewarding chapter in the clubs bistory "It's heen over three years and 1 still srnile wben 1 walk ini here. This is one of the pret- tiest gyms in the province. The Town helped us a lot mn getting in here and the parents deserve a lot of credit for hanging in until we did." .see CAMPBELL on page A18 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Monday, May 28th 2007 at 7:OOpm Banquet Hall a Milton Sports Centre 605 Santa Maria BIvd. Milton There are Executive & Board Member positions open for election. For more info please cail Lorraine Kerr, Secretary, MMHA 905-876-0407 Nominations for a position on the Board of Directors may be sub- mnitted to the Secretary, in writmng, prior to the annual general meeting or from the floor during the meeting. Written notification should be addressed f0 the MMHA Secretary, via mail at PO Box 37, Milton, ON L9T-2Y3 or may be hand delivered to the MMHA office in Rink B at the Milton Sports .Ceir *tr' -o Up ta 5 lires Of SW30 Mopar RI Maintnance.1 Lube <witece applicable) $ 9 e 1' Top ap washer fhwid Service Rotaato Oi 4 tires aPcovde writec report onfindings aPeace-0f-Mind inspectionl i HEMIO V85, ftd *esp",feU Moa ocrBi * Schoduie frWIicie Maintenance SoeMa. Including: /O[)ai and fltransmi~ssiontlcd Autom tic $9 5 Racovc and replace filter and gaskead cake ali cessary Transmission bn dutet S.q rvir.A 8 9 c.11,e AU ýesr a1 r( ii(, aaa (05-878-8877) - ~~~TII~~~~~~týÇ. Oij ..01<W Vpticeth.c6pe SCcc Seca PO 7tt7i