World Cup soccer flag-wavers keep Milton salesman happy EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer There was little hesitation shown by flag salesman Shawn Sarin when asked which country he's cheering for during this year's World Cup in Germany. "Everyone," laughed the 27-year-old from Milton, who has been doing brisk business over the past few days in the mall parking lot across the road from the Georgetown Market Place on Guelph Street. "I wouldn't have been standing out here every day since (the World Cup began June 9) if it wasn't going well." Sarin wouldn't divulge any sales figures but said that England and Holland flags that can be attached to car windows (for $15 apiece) are the top sellers. Strangely enough, sales for certain countries tend to pick up after their team wins. A lone Edmonton Oiler banner could be spotted flapping on Sarin's car, almost lost in the bright colours of several of the 32 participating World Cup nations. Sarin also has team jerseys and wristbands to sell out of the trunk of his vehicle and has similar roadside set-ups in Bolton and Brampton. With permission from the mall owners and a Halton Hills vendor's permit in hand, Sarin said he recently got the idea to sell the flags from a friend as a sideline to the family's ceramics business in Brampton. He hasn't been disappointed, although selling during the day means he can't watch the games live. Still, Sarin is experiencing World Cup fever at the grassroots level. "I don't even have to watch the games. I get all the scores and the play-by-play from the fanatics," he added. "I sold seven big Portugal flags today to one guy. We really like it when there's mixed marriages, say with England and Poland. We try to keep everybody happy." (Eamonn Maher can be reached at emaher@independentfreepress.com) The competitive season recently finished up for athletes from the Halton Hills Gymnastics Centre and they were able to bring home some hardware from the Gymfest and Burlington Cup events. Pictured above (front, from left) are: Miranda Cauchi, Jasmine Gilmour, Melissa Penningtion. Back row, Sara Villani, Anica Chouinard, Ashley Butler and Lily Hughes. Absent from the photo was Taylor Belcher. Submitted photo Good medal haul for locals Several members of the Halton Hills Gymnastics Centre moved up a level to compete in more advanced categories at the recent Burlington Spring Cup and still managed to haul in several medals. The interclub girls again competed well with Jasmine Gilmour now in level 4 where she finished second overall including gold medals on bars and floor. In the same level, Miranda Cauchi and Melissa Pennington earned silver and bronze, respectively, on floor. Sara Villani also moved up to Level 4 and gained gold and silver on beam and bars in her second-place finish. Also moving up a level Anica Chouinard won gold on beam in the Level 3 9-and-under category, and in the 8-year-old division, Lily Hughes earned a gold score on beam and Ashley Butler achieved nines on bars and beam. Daisy Murphy earned her gold score on floor in the Level 4 age 7 category, while Syandene Baker scored over 9.0 on bars, beam and floor in the same category. Savannah Wepf improved her performance in the Level 4 age 8 division in gaining a gold score on bars and silvers on vault and floor. Competing in Level 5, Shannon Daley achieved gold scores on bars and beam and a gold all-around, while Lauren Rock and Mikaela Telschow gained their gold medals on vault in a tie in the same level. In the Level 6 category, Melanie Butler also achieved her best score on vault with a 9.15, and in Level 5 age 9 Jennifer Krause gained a bronze medal on beam. The Burlington meet was the last competitive event of the season for the provincial-level girls and the highlights at this level included a high score of 37.5 by Emily Krusky in winning the Level 6 9-year-old category, a third place overall by Carolyn Hale in her best result since moving up to level 6, a strong performance by Marissa Parker in scoring 36.6 in her second provincial meet, and a strong second-place finish by Xhosa Baker to follow up on her excellent showing at provincials. Gymnasts earn gold at Eastern Canadians Two Halton Hills Gymnastics Centre gymnasts received gold medals at the recent Eastern Canadian Championships in Hamilton. Marc deLestard received a gold medal with a first overall score and placed second on parallel bars and pommel horse while Alex Bowmer received a gold medal on high bar and a silver on vault which helped him place sixth overall. The men's team, in the level 3, 13+ level, consisted of four gymnasts-- two from Halton Hills and two from other Ontario gyms. Halton Hills Gymnastics Centre coach Nistor Sandro coached the Ontario team that placed second behind Quebec. Flag salesman Shawn Sarin shows off the various flags he has been selling as World Cup soccer has gripped the nation. Sarin says he has been doing a brisk business on Guelph Street and admits his top sellers have been England and Holland flags. Photo by Eamonn Maher OPEN HOUSE to celebrate 60 years of life for DAVID HARLEY SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2006 The Royal Canadian Legion 127 Mill St., Georgetown from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. downstairs lounge Best Wishes Only 905-877-4171 Happy 60th! Ray & Bernice Whaley Norval June 22nd Best Wishes from all who love you! Reny and Yvonne Pietrobon of Guelph, Ontario together with Ken and Lucy Flynn of Georgetown, Ontario are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children Susanne Marie Pietrobon to Kenneth Jason Flynn on July 1st, 2006 at Church of Our Lady, Guelph ON. Love and best wishes from your family.