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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 21,1999 PAGE B1 A vision followed through Gymnastics club vaults on to scene in Clarington of the more traditional sports. "Gymnastics gives people in the area another option," she said. "You don't have to be interested in a scholarship or he an Olympic champion," to take part she added. Ormcrod, who competed regionally for 10 years and has been a coach for the past live, is looking forward to the club's first competition that will he held April 2 in Brantford. It will be the first meet for many of the young gymnasts, so expectations aren't extremely high. "The competitors will be eight and under, but they are showing some progression," progression," she said with a laugh. The elub also has four other coaches, and a new session will begin in January. Ski resorts hope for snow Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - or at least slay cold lor a few consecutive days. That's the top item on the wish list of local ski resorts, who arc hoping for a white Christmas even more than the average average yulclide enthusiast. "Mother Nature could really do us a favour," says Linda Schaffer, office manager manager of the Oshawa Ski Club in Kirby. "It's been pretty bleak-out there." Although there has been no skiing yet at Kirby or the Lakcridgc Ski Resort in south Uxbridge, the Dagmar Resort, also in Uxbridge opened last Sunday. And all three had varying degrees of optimism optimism entering this weekend and, more importantly, the Christmas holidays. "You're kind of at God's mercy, but you can almost always make up for lost time somewhere along the way," says Craig MacDonald, assistant general manager at Lakcridgc. MacDonald points to last year as a good example. Although the weather was similarly mild to this year during the early months, several heavy snowfalls in January provided the necessary jump- start. At Dagmar, enough snow was made artificially to open two of 12 runs last Sunday. Mike Pearson, outdoor operations manager, says the resort will concentrate on those two runs for now in order to keep things up and running. . "Right now, we have a good base, about 10 centimetres, but it is thin in areas," says Pearson. "It was looking good (last week) and then the rain started started and washed it awày. But I think we'll be able to stay open." BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor Christine Ormcrod had a vision and was able to see it through. For as long as she can remember, the Oshawa resident has always wanted to operate a gymnastics club. And in September, September, sbe got her wish. Luckily, Clarington residents were the benefactors. The Clarington Gymnastics Academy Academy opened its 3,000 square foot facility facility on Lake Road in Bowmanvillc to the public in the fall, and so far, 140 young athletes have taken advantage of the programs that are offered. "It's something I've always wanted to do," said Ormcrod of the decision to operate a gymnastics club. "I put a lot of thought into it...I love gymnastics and love to work with kids. I knew if I put my mind to it I could do it." The club, which is a member of the Ontario Gymnastics Federation, boasts $25,000 worth of equipment that is used by members who range in age from 18 months to 14, seven days a week. For kids up to the age of six, the classes arc co-ed. Beyond that, members arc split into classes based on gender. Offering kids the opportunity to improve improve co-ordination, balance, strength and self-confidence, Ormcrod says that gymnastics is a great alternative to some Christine Ormerocl helps Erin Greer at the Clarington Gymnastics Academy Academy in Bowmanville. JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman pltolo LAST MINUTE SHOPPING Treadmill *999 Bauer 5000 Jr„..*199 Sr. '299 Jr. & Sr. Snowboard Packages ptrw rr nemn SPORTS WHITBY C0URT1CE/0SHAWA 728-8881 579-8880 * Sports &LEISURE Eagles happy to say goodbye to December BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor It has been said that all good things must come to an end. Although there hasn't been anything good about the month of December for the Bowmanvillc Eagles, they arc certainly glad to sec it end. The team suffered through its worst month of the .-sea- - - son, winning only once in eight outings. That losing trend continued this past weekend, as the Eagles dropped a pair of games. In Trenton on Friday night, Bowmanvillc suffered suffered a 5-2 setback, while on Sunday night on home ice, Peterborough managed a 5-4 victory. ■ The losses dropped Bowmanvillc's record to 11-17-3 on the season. "We didn't lake care of things in our own end and it cost us," said coach Mike Posavad of the loss on Sunday night to Peterborough. "We outplayed (Peterborough) for two periods, but we had a defensive breakdown and the puck ended up in our net. "It's frustrating. We wait too long to do things properly. We get behind and get away from what we want to do." Bowmanvillc trailed after each of the first two periods - 3-2 after the first and 5-2 after the second. Goals by Jason McAulcy and Ted Marks in the third period pulled Bow- .manvillc to within one, but the team couldn't get the equalizer equalizer despite pulling goaltcndcr Nick Grainger in the final minute. Mike Leonard and Jason Jackman both had power play goals in the first period for Bowmanvillc. The game was the last one for 1999 for the Eagles, who don't return to action until Sunday, Jan. 2 at home to Trenton. Trenton. With only three wins in their past 12 games, an extended extended layoff just might be what the team needs right now, said Posavad. "You don't like to have that much time off, but it might be something we need right now," said Posavad. "Hopefully "Hopefully we can regroup and come out fresh with a clean slate." THE SCOOP - Both starling goaltcndcrs failed to finish finish the game. Bowmanvillc's Raj Bhangoo left the game with a touch of the flu in the first period and was replaced by Nick Grainger. Peterborough's David Currie suffered a back injury with 28 seconds left in the game and was replaced replaced by backup Scott Evans. An ambulance look Currie to hospital...Police were called in after a light broke out in the stands following the game...Nick Stacey and Ryan Jackman were the goal scorers in the 5-2 loss to Trenton on Friday night. ADI ID SALES /llVLIL LIMITED aOur Gift To You... S^Sdown ÈQ PAYMENTS vk; INTEREST O.A.C. 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