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Friday, August 26, 2016 9 Brooklin Town Crier Emily Batty: You Had Lots of Support Dear Emily: Fourth Is Awesome By Richard Bercuson Hi Emily, We haven't met. All I know of you is what I've read, watched in videos, and heard about from Brooklin folks. Oh, and that Rio thing. Every word uttered has gushed positivity. I hope one day we can chat because the opportunity to meet an Olympian isn't an everyday occurrence. Besides, after all the reading and watching, I've come to admire your tenacity and see you as one of those special people who set a standard and example for those around you. How many Brooklin kids will become competitive cyclists because of Emily the Olympian? I've met a few Olympians over the years through my sports and writing involvements. Only a couple won medals. A fellow who did medal turned out to be one of the most arrogant individuals I've met in sport. He was a guest speaker to my senior phys. ed. class and had the students writhing in mental anguish at his self-promotion. Clearly winning a medal did him a world of no good. There was the chap whose son I coached in hockey. He ran the 4 x 100 in the '76 Games, finishing 8th, 0.69 seconds from a medal. That's a blink. Another, a teaching colleague, was a pitcher on the Athens 2004 Olympic baseball team. They finished fourth. I asked him straight out how it felt because so much stock is put on medals. It bothered him, but he said he realized they'd made a few bad decisions. To him, being an Olympian and being close to a medal was in many ways medal enough. As you can appreciate though, reactions by athletes to near-miss medals are highly individual. I wish Baron Pierre de Coubertin were alive. I'd ask him how he decided on three. I know some of it is because gold, silver, and bronze were valued medals back when marathoner Phidippides et al did those events, mostly in the starkers, by the way. Somehow, today's society sees three as important. Good thing the Canadian Olympic team set a goal of top five finishes - and surpassed it. Then again, why five? Why not seven? Or nine? It all seems rather arbitrary and puts enormous, almost undue pressure on athletes to be in the medals. Just in Rio, you were in pretty impressive company. Mohammed Ahmed ran the 5000 m 1.59 seconds from a medal - in fourth. Melissa Bishop, in the 800 m, was 0.13 seconds from a medal - also in fourth. Evan Dunfee competed in the 50 km race walk and was 14 seconds from bronze - yup, in fourth. Here's my take on finishing fourth, or 14th, or 84th in the Olympics: OHMIGOD! That's - on the planet! I have a tiny sense of the work and investment required having coached elite hockey players and being married to a former national tennis and badminton champion. Maybe I'm an impressionable chap about high achievers, like athletes or musicians and the like. Then again, maybe society needs to give its head a shake and recognize accomplishments like just making an Olympic team, and putting a bit of a tarnish on those medals. Two seconds away? Okay, I can appreciate the anguish. Over time though, you will come to see just how momentous your achievements are. How will you know? I knew when I sat in The Goodberry watching your race along with some adults and a few kids who were handing out Canada flags. Next time you stroll around Brooklin, watch out for cyclists. One of them may yet join you marching through a stadium. Coffee's on me. Wait: Is caffeine a banned substance? Best regards, Richard This giant flag with a message for Emily Batty was hosted onto a hay wagon at the corner of Ashburn and Winchester. Photo by Leanne Brown Customers at The Goodberry await the start of Emily's race. Photo by Richard Bercuson Meanwhile, at The Goodberry on Baldwin, owner Sheila Corrigan added a new drink for the occasion: The Emily Batty Iced Tea. Photo by Richard Bercuson DRPS: Drug Bust at Uxbridge Senior's Building Three people are facing charges after more than $15,000 worth of drugs and $15,000 in cash was seized from a senior's residence in Uxbridge. After receiving tips from the public, officers from the North Division Community Response Unit began to investigate possible drug activity at a senior's building on Perry Street in Uxbridge. On Thursday, August 18, 2016, a search warrant was executed on a unit and three people were arrested. During the search warrant, 10 marihuana plants as well as quantities of hashish, cocaine, opiates and illegal cigarettes were seized, with an approximate street value of more than $15,000. More than $15,000 in cash was also seized, some of it found hidden in the walls of the residence, as well as a rifle with ammunition. William THEAKSTON, age 67, and Kevin STONER, age 50, both of Perry Street in Uxbridge, are charged with: Production of a Controlled Substance (Cannabis); Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x2; Possession of a Controlled Substance x2 (Cannabis Resin and oxyco- done); Careless Storage of a Firearm; Careless Storage of Ammunition; Possess Firearm Other than Restricted without Holding a License; Possession of the Proceeds of Crime over $5,000; Possession of Unmarked Cigarettes for the Purpose of Sale andPossess Unmarked Cigarettes. Miranda LEHTINEN, age 33 of Brock Street West in Uxbridge, is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone). Anyone with new information is asked to contact Cst. Brown of North Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2659. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.