38 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 15, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Muay Thai in Oakville Approximately 700 people were in attendance Saturday to watch Masters of the Ring, an authentic Muay Thai boxing event, at Oakville Arena. In the main event, Chris Kew successfully defended his Light Heavy Weight title against challenger Paul Saccoccia. The competition featured nine other fights, with elite athletes from Toronto, Kitchener, Stoney Creek, Scarborough, Stratford, Cambridge, Richmond Hill, Ottawa and Rosemare, Que., participating. The sport, long a part of Thailand sporting culture, features punches, elbow strikes, kicks, grappling and feints -- all executed to the tune of an accompanying wind-and-percussion ensemble. It is fought in five three-minute rounds, with the winner being the competitor judged to have won the most rounds. Euro Vinyl Windows, a Woodbridgebased company, donated a VIP table for the event to the Halton Big Brothers. PHOTOS BY BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER A TASTE OF THAI: Clockwise from left, Halton Big Brothers members Faryar Foroodi, Shailen Mhapsekar and Bob Hepburn (front row, left to right) enjoy the action with their little brothers Jeevan, Dean and Jacob (back row, left to right), Markus Grech delivers a kick to Frank Liguori, and Sofia Kovalenko performs a ritualized dance to honour her instructor. Milestones 905-845-3824 Engagement Birth WILLE / HIGGINS Stefan and Claire Wille of Oakville are pleased to announce the engagement of their son Gordon to Jennifer Higgins, daughter of Blake and Marilyn Higgins of Fonthill. A Spring 2007 wedding is planned. Christopher Markovic and Krista McMartin are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Alexander John! Alex was eager to make his appearance so he arrived 2 months early on August 12, 2006 weighing 2.8 pounds. Proud grandparents are Nick and Marlene Markovic (Oakville) and John and Darlene McMartin (Cornwall). A special thanks to the fantastic medical teams at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and McMaster University Hospital. IT'S A BOY! 905-845-3824