The Canadian Champion, Tuesdiay, Augt 28, 2001-21 vAnother dramatic finish to open men's triples Final end comnehack caps first event championship The HJM Insurance Brokers Open Triples are getting more dramatie by the year. For a second straigbt sumîner, the local competi- tion's irst event cbampionship was decided by just a single point at the Milton Lawn Bowling Club August 18. This year's showdown reached a new level of excitement, as Niagara Fals' Ryan Stadnyk grabbed two final end pointa with a perfect trail of the jack and eclipsed Toronto's Ian Joncs 11-10 in a scintillating comeback. The toumnament triumph marked the second in a row for the young sharpahooter, who was backed up by Miltonians Ken Armstrong and Dave Young. Stadnyk's trio upstaged three teama en route to the finals including one led by brother Chris. Burlington's John Haggo overcamne the challenge of Miltonian Bob Woods in Uhc second event finals whilc homctown bowler Dave Anderson took third event honours by besting Kitchener's Lanry Chaput. The fourth event titie went to Burlington's Richard Mec, who turned aside Miltonian Chonie Chatterton. In singles play August 17, Annstrong's star shone brigbtest as he outducled Chris Stadnyk 7- in thec fust event and took back some of thc moncy be put into thc toumnament. This marked thc only time in recent mcmory that an ares howler bas been part of first event wins in botb singles and triples competition. The second event finals were even tighter, with Toronto's Mark Sandford cdging Laura Seed 7-6. Tcam Canada's Andrea Weigland and Miltonian Tina Henneberry took third and fourth-event cbampionship honours respectivcly. Midget Sox gain momentum for provincial championships By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion When it cornes to winning cbam- pionsbips, momcntumn can be as valuablc a conunodity as talent and effort. With Uiat sald, things are looking awfuliy bright for Uic midget Red Sox. Milton wrapped up top spot in tier two Icague play with a couple of hard-fougbt victories carlier this month and was in fine form during its second last tune-up game for Uic Ontario 'A' sbowcase this weekend in Brantford. I front of a smal fan base at Maplchurst Bal Park Sunday, Jef Harper's charges sruck carly and went on to blank Uic second-place Georgetown Eagles 6-0. Steve Spiers, Conan O'Brien, James MacDonald and Kevin Cooper al saw some mound work in preparation for Uic provincial championships - and none of tbcmn got into anything close to wliat would be considered a legiti- mate jam. Fielding solid as a rock A solid flelding campalgn was partialy to credit for that. Miton's defensive unit wasn't flawless, but certasnly sharp at key points tlrougb Uic early going of Uic ran- soaked sbowdown to handcuff Uic opposition. Red Sox pitchers col- lectively gave up just seven its and one walk while striking out seven baters during ic aftemnoon clash. Offensively, team work and aggressivc base running factored heavily into production - crcating a good omen for Uhit weekcnd's season finale. Evan Jeans scored Urec times white coming home once and driv- ing in a couple of runs on a sixth- inning single was Andrew Pepper. Seven différent local players post- cd ita, including supporting cast member Reg Taylor. Leading wiUi two singles apiece were Pepper and Ryan Harper. The Red Sox playcd Uieir final provincial tunc-up gamne Iast night at home agatnst Orangeville. Thcy begin this weekend's double knockout toumament against host Brantford Friday. If victorious, Uey'll eam an alI- important second round bye and only have to play once on Saturday. Guelph and St. Thomas are expect- cd to be Uic local lads' biggest obstacles to provincial gold. "It's just a matter of who geta pitcbing at Uic right time," Mfilton manager sasd. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Mltonlan Ken Armstrong was a duel champlonshlp In maent competition et the local lawmn bowling club. 'Bishop Reding runner strikes gold twice at nationals Photo courtesy of ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION ion Butchar crosses the finish Ul n lthe 4»n race et the Royal Canadien Legion TreCk and Feld ChamplonshIips ln Sherb~rooke, Quebec. By HERB GARBUTT Special ta The Champion Wlien Ian Butcher startcd Uic track scason, he had neyer mun Uic 400m. And he really had no intcrcst in it eiUier. But with Bisbop Rcding Secondary School's track tearn needîng a runner to fill out Uic 4x400m relay teain, Butcher was enlisted by coach Maureen Morinson. I had always mun distance or sprints in (lemcntary) school," he said.. I didn't even want to mun the 400. I sort of got pushcd into it." Butcher bas warmcd up to the event ovcr the last five months, tbougb. A couple of national titles wiIl do that. The I 4-year-old capped an outstanding season by claiming two gold medals at the Royal Canadian Legion Track and Field Cbampionships in Sherbrooke, Quebec - one in the I 5-and-undcr boys 400m, Uic other in the 4x400m relay. He knocked more than four seconds off bis 400m time during the high school season -wbicb culmi- nated witb a silver medal at OFSAA. Just before the provincial cbampionsbips in Etobicoke, Morrison said, "be's gotten faster cvery time out. I could sec anoUier second coming off (bis tne of 52.5 seconds)." Nccding a victory at Uic provincial Legion meet to advance to Uic nationals, Butcher defeated Uic Sania rival who topped bim at OFSAA by half-a-second, fln- isbing in a persona! best 52.15s. Prior to nationals, he shavcd even more timne off at an Ontario Track and Field Association competition, flnisbing second in a sizzling 51 .69s. Stili, lhe wasn't considcring bimself as one of Uic contenders at Uic nationals, at lcast not until he over- bead a conversation. Last-minute confidence boost "I was really nervous because it was a national track and field meet," Butcher rccallcd. "TMen I beard some- one froin Nova Scotia talking about some guy froin Ontario who was munning a 5 1. That gave me a lot of confidence." That carried over on to Uic track, where Butcher tumcd in a personal best of 51.47, making the prcdic- tion of bis bigb achool coach come truc. Butcher then joined Ontario teammates in the t,600m relay. "Coming off my 400m, I was hoping to just make it around Uic track," bie said. Not only did bie make it around, but lie and bis provincial counterparts did it faster Uian anyone cIsc - bring home a second goîd medal. Butcher also tumcd in a sixth-pîacc finish in Uic 800m, but it is bis ncw specialty Uiat bc's looking for- ward to next season. WiUi another year of midget cîigibihity, tome school records and a provincial bigh sehool titie are not out of Uic question. Not bad for an event lic didn't want to take part in. "I'd say it's tumed out pretty well," quipped Butcher.