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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Oakville man paddleboards 51km across Lake Ontario by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Sports 25 | Friday, September 25, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Oakville's Mackenzie brothers, Jamie (left) and Phil, hope a strong showing by Canada at the Rugby World Cup, which kicked off last Saturday, will help the sport continue to grow. | Oakville Beaver file photo When it comes to sports, Jordan Rosenberg has shown a knack for picking things up quickly. When he was 31 years old, he set a goal of completing his first Half Ironman in less than 5 1/2 hours. Nine months, six triathlons and 35 pounds later, he finished a Half Ironman in Montreal in five hours, 35 minutes -- just five minutes short of his goal. When he was 32, Rosenberg set a four-year goal to make a Major League Baseball team, despite the fact he'd never played baseball before. After six months of training under former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Rob Butler, Rosenberg cracked the roster of the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League, a loop that features many past and present MLB players, though he quit the team the following season. He's also a world-class decathlete, finishing fourth in his age division at the world masters championships five years ago, and hopes to break the record for the 45-49 men's division at next year's competition. So when the 46-year-old financial advisor gave himself nine weeks of training to prepare for an attempt to cross Lake Ontario on a standup paddleboard, he had high expectations. Little did Rosenberg know it would be his most difficult test yet. "I didn't anticipate I'd be that sore," the Oakville resident said Tuesday, four days after successfully crossing the lake from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto -- a 51-kilometre distance -- in a time of eight hours, 15 minutes. "This was the most mentally-challenging event of my career, for sure. The fact that after 2 1/2 hours, I was having some challenges, and then had to do another six more hours... that was the biggest part." YouTube footage of his effort is labeled under the `Comedy' category, but Rosenberg wasn't laughing Friday. One hour into his crossing, he had already fallen into the water four times. He wound up falling 13 times on the day, challenged by waves that were as high as four feet. Due to a wind from the west, he was only able to paddle on the right side in order to stay on course, which led to concerns about cramping and muscle soreness. After 2 1/2 hours, he boarded the boat that was escorting him across. Battling sea sickness and fatigue, Rosenberg took a Gravol and pain killers, then laid down on the deck. see Disease on p.26 Brothers using World Cup to help rugby grow by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff Ireland on Saturday, at this year's Rugby World Cup. But with three pool games, and hopefully a playoff match, the Canadians hope to generate the same kind of buzz they did four years ago. "Hopefully the kids watching us play, if they're being exposed to Phil Mackenzie had just scored the game-winning try late in Can- it much earlier, they might get into it before high school," said Phil ada's 25-20 victory over Tonga in the opening game of the 2011 Mackenzie. "And if they see (rugby) sevens and they want to be an Olympic athlete, they can pursue that." Rugby World Cup. Representing his country for One Canadian player who benefitted from that the first time in the tournament, the Oakville native early exposure to the game is the third Oakville could not have asked for a better debut. member of the national squad, Djustice Sears-DuHe and his teammates were obviously excited ru. He began playing at 12 and worked his way up about their comeback win, but halfway around the through Canada's development teams. At 21, Searsworld in New Zealand they had no idea what was Duru is the youngest member of the national team, going on back home. Rugby players were used to three years younger than any of his teammates. competing in a sport that was overshadowed by "He's one to look for in the future, if not now," hockey and other North American professional Phil Mackenzie said. sports. So even with their games being broadcast Sears-Duru made his World Cup debut against nationally, if their victory had been overlooked -- Ireland, coming on in the 48th minute. especially with the NFL season just starting and Both Mackenzie brothers said the presence of NHL training camps opening -- they wouldn't have quality young players coming up through the been surprised. ranks pushes everyone to train harder to hold on After each game, Mackenzie would check his text Phil Mackenzie to their spots on the team. messages. National men's rugby player "People don't understand how crazy it is just to "Everyone kept saying, `You guys are all over the get a cap," Jamie said. newspapers,' I thought they just meant the sports "When you show up to train, there's pressure to perform," Phil section, but then someone said, `You guys are on the front page of said. "If you get too comfortable it's going to show in your perforThe National Post.' That's when I realized how big it was." Canada wouldn't win another game, tying Japan and losing to mance. You have to go that extra mile." With a loss in the books and only the top two teams advancboth New Zealand and France, the two teams that would later meet in the final. But the exposure for the game continues to be ing, Canada will be in tough to advance from its group. Italy (Saturday), France (Nov. 1) and Romania (Nov. 6) are its remaining felt today. "With all the games being on TSN, we really built momentum opponents. All three are ahead of Canada (No. 18) in the world after winning that first game," said Jamie Mackenzie, who again rankings but it's a challenge the team is ready to accept. "That's what's exciting," Phil said. "We've learned a lot since the joins his brother on the Canadian squad for the World Cup of Rugby in England. "We've had a chance to host some big games. last World Cup. Now you get to go out and test yourself against the Sevens is being pushed because of the Olympics. There's a lot of best and hopefully come out on top." excitement." -- Herb Garbutt can be followed on Twitter @Herbgarbutt Canada wasn't able to repeat its opening victory, falling 50-7 to If you get too comfortable, it's going to show in your performance.