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D 2 - The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e sd a y F e b ru a ry 5, 2003 0 Oakville Gymnastics Club to host national event, at Maplegrove Arena April 4-6 with 500 athletes By Norm Nelson b e a v e r s p o r t s e d it o r # pumu ·#* / / a IZXXXO 0 $ # * i N O W OPEN ^ f* North Oakville Soccer & Rugby Dundas Street West & Neyagawa Blvd. (Rio Plaza) The Oakville Gymnastics Club has a lot of exciting things on its plate. Although it has hosted many provin cial championships in recent years, it's hosting a national event for the first time this spring. A combined provincial and national power tumbling and tram poline championship will be held April 4-6 at Maplegrove Arena. More than 500 athletes are expected to compete at this event, including some international competitors. Meanwhile, the club's elite athletes in both the traditional artistic gymnas tics discipline as well as the newer power tumbling and trampoline disci pline are right in the thick of their own provincial qualifying meets. And behind the scenes, the non profit club, which is already bursting at the seams despite recent expansion, is continuing to roll up its sleeves with the town over a possible joint facility. Still, this is not what they wanted to talk about, for this particular interview. No. in recognition of 'I Love Gymnastics Week', which officially kicks off this Saturday (Feb. 8) and runs until the following Sunday (Feb. 16). they wanted to shift the spotlight, for a moment at least, away from the elite athletes, who make regular appear ances in these local sports pages, to their entire membership. This membership boasts wide rang ing levels of talent and time commit ment. but the vast majority do share Club registration for March Break and spring session The Oakville Gymnastics Club is holding registration for both its March Break Camp and its Spring Session beginning this Saturday (Feb. 8). Existing members can register this week. The camp w ill be held from March 10-14. Half day camps are offered for 3-5 year olds. A half day camp or full day camp option is offered for 6 years and older. The spring term runs March 17-June 22. Please call the club at 905-847-7747 for more information or visit their web site at www.oakvillegym.com Tel: 905-257-9000 < # % < f» ^ > FEBRUARY S K Y d o m e W -2 3 . 2 0 0 3 c o n v e n t io n c e n t r e ; a n d t h e m e tr o to r o n t o q p ; : EZ W IN fl NEW BEETIE Here's an EZ way to win at the 2003 Canadian International AutoShow. Ontario Volkswagen Dealers. 97.3 EZ Rock and Metroland newspapers present a chance to win a 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle. To enter, simply drop off a completed ballot below at the feature area on the 600 level. South MTCC or AutoShow office, Room 201. Or enter online at www.metroland.com. Listen to 97.3 EZ Rock on Monday. February 24 at 7:10am as Mike and Christine make the Grand Prize draw! And don't forget to watch for a special AutoShow section in your Metroland community newspaper on February 11-14. Barrie Erskine* Oakville Beaver M etroland Andrew C iancio, 4. T ristan Vella, 5, and Am anda Q uek, 4, have fun in the O akville Gym C lu b 's K inder Gym program . that one trait: love of gymnastics. The club is threatening to surpass the 2,000 mark in terms of member ship, split into four sessions -- fall (14 weeks), winter (9 weeks), spring (14 weeks) and summer (10 weeks). As well, they run both March Break and summer camps. Members range from entry level -- as young as 1 8-months old and just walking -- to national level athletes. As with most sports organizations that provide the complete recreational and competitive spectrum, the percent age of elite athletes is actually quite small. The pyramid structure is a good analogy. The Oakville pre-competitive and competitive teams boast about 100 elite athletes. The percentage of boys in both the recreational and competitive programs has been continually rising, up to about 35 per cent now and even 40 per cent in the youngest age groups. The boys now have their own com petitive division, which did not exist a few years ago. Perpaps, the club will one day pro duce an athlete to follow in the foot steps of Jason Hardabura. a former Loyola student, who is a former nation al team member and a former NCAA champion. Club general manger Wayne Hussey, who coached Canada's national basket ball team from 1984 to 1992, including a bronze medal at the 1986 world championships (behind Russia and the U.S.), said there are a number of good reasons for kids to check out gymnas tics. First, he said, is they can start younger than most other sports -- as young as 18 months. Second, he said, the skills that are learned can provide building blocks for all other sports, even if gymnastics is not necessarily the ultimate goal. And third, he said, half jokingly, it's a unique sport in that the young athlete can almost immediately surpass their parents' skill level. The club has planned " several dif ferent community involvement activi ties" to coincide with the `I Love Gymnastics Week', said the club's recreational gymnastics director. Laurie Chambers. The club will unveil a `Wall of Fame' and various classes will be host ing a 'bring a buddy' event and holding a mini-Olympics. Actually, the club is continually try ing to promote the benefits of gymnas tics to the community, and to give back to the community. The facility and coaching staff have been used by figure skaters, cheerlead ers -- even snowboarders. The club has Welcomed in schools and community youth groups. And it has donated its facilities to such groups as Big Brothers and Big Sisters. A spinoff of providing a complete gymnatics program to the community, is the coaching and community service opportunities it provides. Unlike other sports, such as hockey and baseball, gymnastics, even at the recreational level, must have trained and qualified coaches. The Oakville Gymnastics Club boasts a huge coaching staff of about 45. including 10 full time. All are NCCP trained. And beyond that, there are opportu nities for coaches-in-training and for high school students to do their volun teer hours with (he gym club, if it's in their area of interest. A ll have to under go a minimum two-day course. Oakville Sports Hall of Fame Gala Induction Dinner Feb. 20 The Oakville Sports Hall of Fame w ill hold its 4th Gala Induction Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 20. 6:30 p.m., at the O akville Conference and Banquet Centre, at the corner of Wycroft and Bronte Road, south of the Q EW (Holiday Inn). This year's honoured inductees include John Base (curling). Jack Davidson (hockey), Chris Pridham (tennis), Sean Stewart (jui jitsu) and Ernie Samuel (horse racing). The evening will include a silent auction, raffle and entertainment pro vided by the Appleby College Jazz Band. Funds raised at this event w ill sus tain the Hall of Fame and support its scholarship, bursary and athletic assis tance program. To access more information: Phone chairman Bob Labbett at (905) 338-5232; Lars Melander at (905) 825-2229, #24; or Virginia Kuypers at (905) 847-7581 ... Email info@oakvillesports.com ... Or visit the website at oakvillesports.com. O a k v il l e S u m m e r M in o r H o c k ey L eague May - August Schedule Including "vacation week" to assist w ith holiday planning. O Divisions for boys & girls Non-contact ages 5-15 14-game schedule O Trophies & awards N o weekends or Fridays O Certified officials Prime time evening games Many games on Olympic size O Coaching & sponsorship positions available River Oaks surface O No fundraising O Balancing o f teams Applications available at River Oaks, Glen Abbey, Mainway & Appleby College arenas. For information or to receive an application. O O O O O EZ WIN R NEW BEETIE First Name:____________________ Last Name:______________________________ Address: City:____________ Province:_____ Postal Code:___________ YourEmail:_________________________ Mail to Metroland Corporate Sales. 10 Tempo Avenue. Wlllowdale, ON M2H 2N8 For full contest details, please visit www metroland com (905) 8 4 9 -9 7 1 2 o r w w w .hm hl.bizland.com A STAFF W IT H SEVERAL YEARS O F C O A C H IN G , OFFICIATING & LEAGUE AD M INISTRATION EXPERIENCE GUARANTEES A WELL O RG ANIZED & QUALITY LEAGUE FOR YOUR CH ILI). REGISTRATION: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. AT RIVKR OAKS ARENA r Canadian Tire's Athlete of the Week Canadian T ire and Oakville... A W inning C o m binatio n! 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