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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, MAY 16 2001 PAGE 13 JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo A pair of Clarington Green Gael players sandwich a Mitnico player during an 11-10 overtime overtime loss in the team's home opener. 1 Green Gaels off to slow start Losing record after three games BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor BOWMANVILLE - With 16 new players in the line-up, the start of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B regular season has been a learning experience for the Clarington Green Gaels. And while it's too early to grade the team, the learning process has been a painful experience experience so far. In three games, the team has a losing record of 1-2. With many of the players graduates of the intermediate program in Whitby, there is much to learn at the higher junior junior level. The players are faster, stronger and the games arc longer. And the quicker the team realizes it the better, says coach Brad MacArthur. "I don't think you've seen the junior team yet," he replied when asked if the team on the floor in the first three games was still playing like an intermediate intermediate club. "All facets of the game arc lifted a little at this level and the players have to recognize they have to play a whole game and do it all the time. They can't play just when they want to." A case in point was last Thursday's home opener, when the Green Gaels resembled an intermediate team in the first period, falling behind Mimico 6-2. In the second period, the team looked more like a junior club, rallying to tie the game 7- 7 before eventually losing 11- 10 in overtime. In the first two games of the season the Green Gaels lost 10- 5 in Nepean but defeated Gloucester 10-3. "We are a 40-minute team right now and to be successful you have to play 60 minutes. I've stressed you have to play 60 full minutes or this (the loss to Mimico) will be the outcome," outcome," said MacArthur. "(Against Mimico) we didn't didn't give up and we put up a fight. It's something to build on." On the bright side, the Green Gaels have the next four consecutive consecutive games on its home floor at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, giving the club an opportunity to build a winning streak. Thursday night the Green Gaels host Barrie at 8 p.m., followed followed by home games against Akwasasne on Saturday (2 p.m.), Huntsville next Tuesday (8 p.m.) and Six Nations on Thursday, May 24 (8 p.m.). Race car driver shifts gears to higher series Chris Hcirt will be at Mosport Park this weekend racing in the F1200 series. Chris Hart on starting grid at Mosport this weekend BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor BOWMANVILLE Climbing the ladder of success success in the racing business can be long and arduous. Nobody is more aware of that than Chris Hart. The Bowmanville resident has moved up considerably in class this year, out from behind behind the wheel of a go-kart and into the seat of a Formula 1200 racecar. While the climb to this level has been a natural progression, he is well aware that the next"step is a stretch and one that many drivers drivers don't make. "I want to make a career out of racing if possible, but I know it is a big step," says the 23-year-old. In his first two races held at Mosport recently, Hart didn't didn't show any of the jitters associated associated with a rookie. In the first race he finished fourth during a morning session and in the afternoon session he crossed the finish line eighth. After the first two races he is in fifth place overall in the point standings. "It was better than expected," expected," says Hart of the results. "It was our first time out and we have to get used to communicating communicating and working together." together." Hart also added that the team had a "little bit of bad luck" after an incident during qualifying left the team scrambling to fix some damage damage to the car. The Courtice Secondary School graduate started racing at the age of 14 because he had a "personal interest" in racing and "always wanted to give it a try." Like most young racers, he lined up on the starting grid at regional, provincial and national national levels, first in a 4-cycle cart and then moving up to a Formula 125 shifter cart. Moving up to the F 1200 scries is a significant step in terms of the quality of drivers that arc on the track reaching top speeds of 130 miles per hour in a field of 30 cars each race. "It's a lot more professional," professional," says Hart. "The drivers have a lot more experience and it's a higher class of racing. racing. A lot of the people have been- in (F1200) for 10 to 15 years. "It's a better opportunity for me to move up." His goal this season is to win the rookie-of-the-year award, noting he will need a number of "top five finishes and steadily be in the top 10" to grab the honours. The next race in the series is this weekend at Mosport, where Hart expects 50,000 spectators. The seven-race series has six stops in Ontario and one in Quebec that he will compete in for his XWAVE team, an information technology company. company. He also credited local sponsors Glen Morris of Morris Morris Auto Glass and Deborah Kohlsmith of Regal Capital Planners with making the transition a smooth one. Gtuirafdee Carden Centre OSHAWA STORE HOURS: SAT. 7 A.M.-10 P.M. SUN. 9 A.M.-7 P.M. MON. 7 A.M.-5 P.M. LONG Kelly Doran Travis NicAdarfij lor 2 Gallon Evergreen Choose from a large selection of cedar, juniper and much more. 97 Each EVERY DAY PlantSmmt 20-10-5 weed &Feed 9 kg will cover approx. 400m 2 . Each EVERY DAY 10" HANGING BASKETS Deluxe 2 Gallon watering Can Sunshine Peat Moss 3.8 CU/ft. 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