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D2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 3, 2000 Bailey cracks Olympic qualifying time in opening race ofthe outdoor season It didn't take Donovan Bailey long to post the Canadian Olympic Association's qualifying time for the Sydney Olympics over 100 metres (10.23 seconds). He did it in his first out door meet of the season, posting a 10.21 second time in the heats of the opening meet of the season in Martinique on Saturday. He improved to a 10.03 count in the championship race, good enough for runner-up, but it was a wind-aided time. "I am very pleased with this run today," Bailey is quoted on his website (www.donovanbailey.com). `This is just the beginning." On Monday night, in a race in Guadaloupe, Bailey also finished as runner-up in a time of 10.35 seconds, behind American Brian Lewis (10.26). Bailey, of course, is the defending Olympic champi on but he is also coming back from his career-threatening Achilles Tendon rupture in September, 1998. While his performance last year had critics wonder ing if he could recapture the same form that earned him Olympic and world champi onships, Bailey said it was necessary grunt work in order for him to be ready for this important year in which he tries to defend his Olympic title. Donovan Bailey, seen here at the Spectator Indoor Games at Copps Coliseum, has posted the Canuck Olympic qualifying time. File Photo by Barrie Erskine Sayer loses one-point decision to Canadian national champ B y N o rm N e ls o n BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR In his first trip to the Canadian national boxing championships, Grade 10 White Oaks Secondary School student Brandon Sayer missed a shot at the gold medal by the slimmest of margins. Sayer, who has just turned 16, was competing in the U-16, 116 pound class in Sarnia this past weekend as the Ontario provincial champion. It's the youngest age division that proceeds on to a national champi onship, so it was a new experience for the entire field of five. Sayer lost out to eventual champi on Quebec in the Saturday semifinal bout by the closes t of margins -- 4Photo by Riziero Vertolli 3. Brandon Sayer, seen in practice at McGrory's in Hamilton, went toe to toe "I tried my best," he said. "I can't with the eventual national champion this past weekend. argue or complain. I did the best that were there to support each other and ate together and I could. I'm happy." Added his Dad, Dave Sayer: "He was that close. I things like that. It was just an experience that will last the rest of his life." mean, I thought he actually won the one against Quebec The Sayers then watched as his Quebec opponent went and Vinnie Ryan (his coach) thought so, too. That's how on to decisively win the Canadian gold medal. close it was." "The poor kid from Newfoundland, the first 30 seconds But definitely no sour grapes. "He was fighting the best of the best, and he was right of the first round, the kid from Quebec just destroyed him in there. He lost basically by one point," said the elder and they had to take him to hospital." Sayer didn't get the luck of the draw. Sayer. With five fighters in the field (Sayer along with boxers "He met some great kids from Ontario. It was just a great experience. The team really came together and they (See `Sayer' page D3) Photo by Ron Kuzyk Sensei Stephen Ramkalawan helps prepare two of his students -- Zakary Richardson, 12 (middle) and Chris Pereira, 16 for this week end's world championships in Italy. Local youth off to Italy for world championships Two Oakville youth were set to leave for Italy yesterday in prepa ration for this weekend's World Karate Organization world cham pionships which are being held in Jesolo, near Venice. Competing in their respective divisions are 12-year-old Zakary Richardson a Grade 7 student at River Oaks Public School, and Chris Pereira, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Members of the C.A.K. School of Martial Arts in Oakville, they will compete in sparring and patterns events. The two who typically train more than 20 hours a week were select ed on to the team after team trials earlier this year. Oakville Skating Club honours Its Gold Medalists The Oakville Skating Club held its fourth annual awards banquet Saturday night, honouring a multitude of skaters for their achievements over the past season. Oakville Skating Club president Mardy Hewitt was on hand with past president Greg Young presiding over the evening as master of ceremonies. A former Canadian novice and junior dance champion as well as a Canadian senior dance bronze medalist, he also gave an inspirational speech. On tap were presentations for freeskate, dance and skills tests as well as handing out of bursaries. As always, the highlight was the gold and diamond medal presentations. The gold achievement is the culmination of years of work by the skaters. To present the awards, the club was honoured to have on hand, Fran McLellan, a former past president (in 1980) and still an active member, volunteer and precision skating judge with the club. Here they are ... SKILLS 1: D eborah A llw orth, Kendra Johnston, Katy Kellner, M elanie Vipond, Jennifer Vipond and M arta Warner. G O L D DA NCE: D enise Fung, Jenny d e e d , Kendra Johnston, A shleigh Lockwood, Stephanie M authe, Sarah M iniaci, Jennifer Stirrat, A licia Visconti and Cindy von Hagen. D IA M O N D DA NCE: Jessica N elligan G O LD FREESKATE: Ashleigh Lockwood, Julie M acDonald, Carly M cFadden, Daniel Pursoo and Tanya Rank G O L D ARTISTIC: D eborah Allworth and Heather Wilkins. The Oakville Skating Club honoured its gold medalists Saturday night. BACK ROW: Daniel Pursoo, Jennifer Vipond, Katy Kellner, Jennifer Stirrat, Melanie Vipond, Cindy von Hagen, Julie MacDonald, Deborah Allworth and Ashleigh Lockwood. FRONT ROW: Heather Wilkins, Carly McFadden, Denise Fung, Stephanie Mauthe, Kendra Johnston, Tanya Rank, Alicia Visconti, Marta Warner and Jessica Nelligan. ABSENT: Jenny Gleed and Sarah Miniaci. The Only Stop Before The Course if* A ' W >>· Check out these great deals at Nevada Bob's C anyonIS Men's and *< / kWomen's basics Crusaders inaction in Oakville Saturday The rugby sea son kicks off this Saturday at SPALDING. ^ Tour $ 0 ^ .9 9 Edition ATT Edison Carrylite Bag > Alien Quadmetal I Woods Steel Reg. $299.99 Crusaders Park. The Crusaders first team, which finished second in Ontario last year, will cap off a full day as they host Bytow n Blues from O ttaw a at 3 p.m. The second and first team s will see action at 1:30 and 3 p.m., respective ly, against teams from the Barbarians club. And in the m orning, it's the club's youth pro gram in action. The Crusaders w om en's team is in action but with an away game against Ajax. 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