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"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 12, 1998 - 19 > PORT PERRY STAR 4 SPORTS Local club gearing up for another season Durham Rowing Club set to make a splash in 1998 By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The Durham Rowing Club has hit the waters of Lake Scugog for another year and are looking to continue building on the good fortune they had last year. With the 1997 rowing season already deemed a success, club director Rob Millikin says that his group will continue to strive to do their best on and off the water. "We've got a pretty good group now; they're a fine bunch," he said last week at the club's boathouse at the northern end of Water St. by the public boat launch. "I think that the club is an asset for the community as a whole. They raised money for a building for our boats, the community built it, and then we turned it over to the township," he said, referring to an official commissioning service last weekend where the building was intro- duced to the community and ownership was legally transferred to Scugog. "This is a long-term base for the rowing club and it's a winning situation for the community. They didn't have to pay any- thing for the building that their kids use for rowing. Working together with the community is the best thing." Now, as tenants of the building, Mr. Millikin says that the rowing club is responsible for maintenance and for the cost of utilities when hydro is connected in the upcoming weeks. Most of the 3,200 square-foot building : Members and executive of the Durham Rowing Club, along and talk to those involved with the club. With sunny skies and warm tempera- tures, the crowd even had a chance to see some of the boats in action, Veteran, youth mix key to successful year for Redmen The Brooklin Redmen of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Major Series open the 1998 season at Brooklin, Evans replied "I always respected the Brooklin Redmen when I played against them. to be as big a team as in other years. Some of the new players that have been impressive in training was constructed during the weekend of July 19-20 last summer by numerous vol- unteers. And, like most everything else, he says, the pleasantly warm spring has allowed the club to hit the water at it's earliest time since the club came together in 1990. "They were out on the water in early April -- actually April 9 and 10 -- and that's the earliest they've ever been out there," he said, noting that the early training season has allowed them more practice time for the coming school season, which has already seen the club partici- pate in Kingston and later in Brockville. One of the biggest regattas coming up, Mr. Millikin says, is the 53rd Annual Canadian Championships at the Royal Canadian Henley Course in St. Catharines. High schools from throughout North America will travel there for the May 29 to 31 event, he adds. Currently there are nine crews in the high school program, consisting of 56 stu- dents, and 20 people signed up for the adult sessions, says Mr. Millikin. "We've got a good number right now. The adult program will grow as time passes; we had a 2 per cent increase this year but a rowing club is something that doesn't build quickly. "Each year it has to grow and develop with the availability of equipment. Right now we're carrying too many kids for the equipment but it's something we can Turn to Page 20 home against the expan- sion Akwesasne Thunder on Saturday, May 16. The game will be played at Iroquois Park Arena in Whitby, starting at 7 p.m. Head coach Peter Vipond returns for 1998, and the coaching staff will be rounded out by Elmer Tran and former Peterborough Laker Mark Evans. When asked what it would be like for a long time Laker to come to Brooklin teams always knew what it took to win, and we're trying to instill that in the 1998 team." Last year's assistant coach Kevin Van Sickle is unable to coach during the 1998 season due to work com- mitments. Vipond offers the follow- ing observations on the 1998 Redmen: "This will likely be the youngest team in the league, and very fast, however we are not going camp to date include Darryl Gibson and Andy Dudun, who are both real good ball handlers with good speed. Two local kids who have impressed the coaching staff during training camp are Jaret Bilich and Jamie Williams. Peter Lough, who was a rookie with New Westminster in 1997, is a tremendous all round ath- lete with size, and he makes good decisions on the floor." Turn to Page 20 LEADING THE PARADE: The Central Ontario Pony Club Region Prince Philip Games kicked off Sunday at the Port Perry Fairgrounds when the race which require them to manoeuvre through a slalom course. Men lmates a a a AT WIP oi SE ple vs i ge oy