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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009 37 Russell picks up the pace in Guam Dolphins swimmer earns four medals at Pan Pacific meet swimming against her peers from other countries. That brings down the stress level and the more comfortable you are, the more apt you are Sinead Russell likes the idea of people pushing their to do better," said her mother and coach, Erin limits, and she had the perfect opportunity to test her Russell. "She wasn't intimidated by the top own earlier this month. Aussies doing 2:01. She didn't want to lose that Heading into the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming medal." Championships in Guam, Russell's best time in the Her four-medal performance is certainly a step in 200-metre freestyle (2:03.83) was two seconds slower the right direction toward Russell's goal of making than that of her rivals from Australia. the Canadian team for the world chamKnowing she would have to improve to "I learned that pionships and, down the road, the keep the 4x200m relay team in con- it's possible to go Olympics. tention, Russell turned in a 2:01.67 on the further than you "You're going to see many of these third leg, sending Canada into the anchor think you can." juniors be serious contenders for the leg in second place. It took a sub-two Olympic team in 2012," Pierre minute swim by Australian anchor Ellen Dolphins swimmer Lafontaine, Swimming Canada's CEO Fullerton to deny Canada the silver by Sinead Russell and national coach, said on the Swim seven-tenths of a second, but the 15-yearOntario website. "This team came over old took away a bronze medal and a valuable lesson and showed that they belonged here." from the race. Russell would like noting more than follow in the "I learned that it's possible to go further than you footsteps of her brother Colin, who narrowly missed think you can," the 15-year-old said. out on an Olympic medal in Beijing with the Canada returned from the Junior Pan Pacific meet Canadian men's freestyle relay team. with a dozen medals and Russell played a role in a third "I always looked up to my brother. That's how I of them. The only Canadian swimmer to compete on got into swimming," she said. all three relay teams, Russell helped bring home silvers Whether he is still competing in four years time, in the 4x100m freestyle and medley relays and added Colin has no doubt there will another Russell at the an individual bronze in the 100m backstroke. She nar- Olympics in London. rowly missed bringing home another, finishing fourth "She's very focused and mature. She doesn't let in the 200m backstroke. much distract her from her goals," he said. "You can see it in her workouts. She pushes herself to a level More comfortable at meets not many can do. I've always known she would be LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Swimming in her third international meet, better than me. She's got a drive and a talent that I MEDAL COLLECTOR: Dolphins Swim Club of Oakville member Sinead Russell is growing accustomed to competing against didn't even see in myself." Russell played a role in four of Canada's 12 medals at the Junior Pan Pacific the world's best at her age. Swimming Championships in Guam, earning two silver and two bronze. "She's less anxious and more comfortable · See page 39 for more Dolphins results OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By Herb Garbutt Oakville Curling Club set to host Scottie's Tournament of Hearts The final field has been set and the draw has been finalized for next week's provincial women's curling championship at Oakville Curling Club. Chrissy Cadorin's Mississauga rink and Jenna Hanna's Ottawa team successfully qualified for the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts at last weekend's challenge round in Bradford to round out the 10-team field. Also set to compete are defending champion and four-time Scotties winner Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Thornhill Bayview's Julie Hastings and Alison Goring, Fort William's Krista McCarville, Idylwilde's Tracy Horgan, Port Arthur's Ashley Miharija, Sudbury's Dawn Schwar and Brant's Julie Reddick. Reddick's name is a familiar one to local curling fans. The Oakville Trafalgar High School grad curled out of the Oakville Curling Club as a junior, teaming with White Oaks Secondary School alumnus Stephanie Leachman and Milton's Leigh Armstrong to win three provincial championships. Reddick, Leachman and Armstrong's team will be rounded out by Brantford's Jo-Ann Rizzo. The rink is making its third consecutive appearance at the provincials, having gone 5-4 at last year's tournament and 4-5 in 2007. Round-robin play at the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts is scheduled to begin Monday and conclude Friday. Top-four finishers in roundrobin action will qualify for the playoffs, which will follow the Page system (first plays second, with the winner earning a bye to the final; third plays fourth, with the winner meeting the loser of the other game in the semifinal). The semifinal is slated for Saturday evening, with the championship game set for 2 p.m. Sunday. Single-game and daily tickets are available for the tournament, as are a limited quantity of full-week, reservedseating passes. Contact the Oakville Curling Club by phone at 905-844-6982 or by e-mail at oakvillecurlingclub@on.aibn.com for ticket information. TVCOGECO will provide live television coverage of all games in the tournament. The winner of the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts will advance to the national championship tournament, which will begin Feb. 21 in Victoria. -- Jon Kuiperij Boasting over 14,000 players nationally, the Canlan Ice Sports 3 on 3 Spring/Summer Hockey League is without question one of the largest youth 3 on 3 leagues in the world. 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com