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Sunday, October 10, 1999 Oakville Beaver Weekend C 25 White mulls over next year's options (Continued from page 24) Club ponders Australian tour As their outdoor season winds down, members of the Oakville Field Hockey Club can be proud of another successful season of fun and fitness. The club's founder and caretaker, John Picone, knew that interest in field hockey was growing. But he really did n't anticipate the OFHC's reputation to extend to England. "It's amazing," said Picone. "The phone rings and someone from England is asking all these questions about the club." It turns out the soon-to-be new immigrants to Canada wanted to stay involved in the game and, after some research through the internet, phone calls, and contact with Canadian friends, decided on the Oakville Field Hockey Club. Ian and Tiffany Davis live in Georgetown, but the drive to Appleby College each Tuesday is certainly worth it. "After quite a bit of looking around," said Ian, "we decided to play in Oakville. The club is fun, friendly and sociable." Interest in field hockey and the OFHC has noticeably grown, particu larly in the masters division, as the club enjoys its third season. As for the Under-19 division, the OFHC again fielded four full squads, enjoying a double-header each Thursday evening at Appleby. One difference this year seemed to be more players of a younger age, and more boys. "If this interest continues," says Picone, "then I can see the club branch ing out into an Under-12 division, and a boys' division as well." One of the OFHC's truly special members is Becky Edwards. Although Becky has Cerebral Palsy, she joins her mom and the other masters players for a good run. Becky says the best part of the game is the people she's with. "They're a lot of fun!" The OFHC welcomed some new sponsors this season, as well as some new coaches. The Under-19's enjoy sponsorship from Lilly Szekely of Engineered Plastics and Heather Hisey. Gino's Pizza (Hopedale), Fantasy Fruit Market and The Oakville Beaver continued their support of the masters division. The club is grateful for new sponsorship from The Abbey Arms Restaurant and Bucci Hair Salon Inc. "Oakville has been so generous in their support of the club," says Picone. "We've been able to keep member ship at a reasonable fee and provide the teams with jerseys, socks, team pic tures, and the quality playing surface of Appleby's omniturf." In response, the OFHC has looked for ways to "give something back." At both the Oakville Sports Hall of Fame Inaugural Dinner and the Rizzutti Dinner, the OFHC donated an auction item of an air tour of Oakville. The club has also contributed to the Bronte Butterfly Project for the Millennium, and also put on a display at the recent M illennium 2000 Sports Day at Coronation Park. Then, there's the crucial problem with the Halton high school league which was almost cancelled this year due to a lack of umpires. The OFHC responded to the need, inviting its members to take the neces sary classes and become certified. The Halton Athletic Association was able to add no fewer than four more umpires from the Oakville Field Hockey Club to their 1999 season. After their closing round-robin mini-tournament, members of the Under-19 squads were presented with division were Kathy Maksuta and Ross Gordon. The OFHC also presented two Special Recognition Awards. Becky Edwards was an inspiration to all. And Olympian Jim MacDougall has volun teered his time each week for more than two years -- both indoor and outdoor -- to umpire the masters and coach them towards better play. As for down the road, the OFHC is now looking to put some "select" teams from both divisions to compete in tour naments and with other clubs. And they're also confident that the masters will go on tour before long. "Australia is a nice dream," says Picone. "Vancouver is more realistic. But, with the energy of this group, who knows." There are certainly some rewards for such spirited promotion of field hockey. After receiving the Field Hockey Canada and 3M Domestic Coach of the Year Award last summer, Picone was honoured earlier this year with his sec ond Special Achievement in Coaching Award from Field Hockey Ontario. And for the second year in a row, the club hosted a national junior tourney. For more information about the OFHC, you can visit their website www.cgocable.net/-ofhc. pulled off a victory in the first race and a fourth place posting in the season finale, moving him up to 11th in the final standings out of close to 50 eligible drivers. The win was actually W hite's second in a row, hav ing won the previous race earlier in September at Mosport. They were the rookie driver's first wins of the sea son, and he said winning back to back proves it was no fluke. "It proves what the team is capable of," said White. Considering W hite had never driven the track previ ously, one practice round was rained-out, and his car blew a fuel pump on the first lap of the initial qualifier, the win was exceptionally sweet. "I ended up qualifying 13th out of 23," said the well-spoken young racer. "It was important to get a good start." That White did, moving from 13th position to sixth after the first lap, and with a handful of cars running in a "train", lap after lap he made his moves. "With two laps to go, I got into first position. It was the first race, I believe this year, that went the whole race distance with no flags; it went flag to flag, flat out." With little time to study the track, W hite learned as he went along. "I learn better following. I usually stay with them pretty good and I learn from that." The final race was a bit of a disappointment in that a change in gearing to accommodate the predicted weather "hurt us." "We qualified ninth and made our way up to fourth. It was a tougher race. Everyone was running a lot hard er because it was the last one." Over the winter, W hite and his father David, a for mer Formula Ford Canadian Champ, will test cars as well as W hite's options. Depending on sponsorships, White will either stay with the Formula 1600 series or move up to the Formula Atlantic series. "We have not made a definite decision for next sea son," said Matt. F ile P h o to by P e te r C . M c C u sk e r Club founder John Picone is active on the field, as well. Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Awards. For the second year in a row, Alyssa Carmichael was voted MVP for Energy Fitness, and rookie honours went to Jacqueline Cudmore and Gabriel DiRollo. For Merrill Lynch, it was veteran Lesley Beharry as MVP with rookie honours to Justin Simoes and Lyndsey DeSouza. Lindsay Watson and Catherine Kilpatrick took home the respective trophies for Oakville Sports Excellence. And for Century 21, the honours went to veteran Jennifer Baillie and rookie Amanda Jolliffe. Rookies of the year in the masters Call 1 .8 0 0 .9 0 5 * 0 2 7 0 www.russellhockey.com Game of the Week Low Level Adult Hockey League Fall & Winter Season ndrvidual or group registration) A social, relaxed recreational atmosphere O ver 15 locutions including O akville, Burtngton, Mississauga, Brampton. Games take place on ` Otym pk R ink ' a t R iver Oaks Arena, OakviBe. Also registering lor: ADULT HOCKEY SCHOOLS for Men & Women Russell Hockey Enterprises FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5/99 at 7:00 p.m. at the Blades sport 4-3-2 record (Continued from page 24) OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS WITH SPECIAL GUEST d efic its o f 3-0 and 5-3. "It (th e co m e b a c k ) w as good to show we can do it," said g en eral m a n ag er G eo rg e M cD o n ald . W hile the team o b v io u sly aim s at a m uch red u ced g o als a g a in st ra te , M cD o n ald said the blam e did not lie s p e c ific a lly w ith the g o a lie s or the defen ce but ra th e r a "lack o f team e ffo rt in our ow n z o n e ." C h ris P eth ick had a p a ir o f g o a ls and sin g le m ark ers w ent to G avin M illig a n , P erry R yerson, M ike T ara n tin o , M ike P o rte r and C h ris K nighton. A ss is ts w e n t to M ik e L u k a jic (3 ), M arc P in izz o tto (3), R ob K ap u scin sk i (2), M ike P o rter (2), M illig a n , T aran tin o , E u g en e R ep a and P eter L ang. T he B lades w ent in to the w eek en d sp o rtin g a 4 -3-2 (w ,l,t) reco rd . Britney Britney Spears V akcA a s kWc # | shod * m . Kor-Ht Arvxxica/ Ptr-foovtm.^ +o So\A ouk Au*Ait*.ccs tocriyfacce,! Tickets Available at the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts 130 Navy St. Oakville, ON An Incred/bte. Tribute to th e B A C k S m g T BOVS 9 0 5 -8 15-2021 Tickets: $15.00