Total Sports BOQ
BELLEVILLE . QUINTE WEST . PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
DANCE XTREME STUDIOS PG 8
Aug/Sept 2019 Volume 3 issue 2
JON MILLS
A LOCAL LEGEND
PG 12
DRAG RACER
BRANDON BARKER PG 20
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BELLEVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 CLASS OF INDUCTEES INTO THE BELLEVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME.
JACK MILLER BUILDER, SPORTS MEDIA
LOU CRAWFORD HOCKEY
CHRISTINE WALT OLYMPIC-STYLE WEIGHTLIFTING
KRISTEN MACLAREN GOLF
1998-99 BELLEVILLE BULLS HOCKEY TEAM
JOIN US FOR THE INDUCTION CEREMONY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 1 PM THE QUINTE SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTRE BOQTotalsportsmagazine.ca
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Total Sports PUBLISHER Kelly Leigh Martin
BAY OF QUINTE REGION
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelly Leigh Martin
BOQTotalsports@gmail.com
WRITERS Andy Sparling Brock Ormond
905.914.7454 MAIN ADVERTISING AND STORIES Kelly Martin Pam Murray Lisa Ormond Alisha Martin
EDITOR Andy Sparling DISTRIBUTION Angela Douglas
Please send all enquiries to: BOQTotalsports@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Deroche John Chambers
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BOQTotalSports
August/September 2019 Volume 3 Issue 2
INSIDE
2 ..............................................Stop by Planet Fitness Belleville 3 ...........Congratulations to the 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees 5 .......................Trinity Dental - A Beautiful Smile Starts Here! 6 .......................Belleville Bombshells - Blackhearts & Bruises 7 ...............................................Ben Langley - Powering Ahead! 8-9 ....Dance Xtreme - Fun, Success & Personal Achievement 10 ......................Meet Cassandra - The Ultimate Sports Mom 11 ...........................The GYM - FIT 4 HER - Why Women Only? 12-13 ................................. Jon Mills - Belleville’s Links Legend
COVER PHOTOS: Jon Mills Photo By Amy Deroche - Deroche Sports Photography l Brandon Barker Photo By John Chambers Sports Photographer
14 ...........Quinte Bayhawks Minor Lacrosse - Back in Quinte! 15 ........................Quinte Sports & Wellness - New Programs!
Total Sports Bay of Quinte Region Edition is a free magazine, published six times a year. Contents Copyright 2019 Bay of Quinte Total Media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or depicted in print or digital form without the written permission of BOQ Total Media. The opinions expressed by contributors may not be those of Bay of Quinte Total Media. Bay of Quinte Total Media assumes no liability for submissions or omissions.
16 -17 ............................................Quinte Royals in Full Swing!
Contributors - OJHL Images, Amy Deroche, John Chambers, Belleville Bombshells, Brock Ormond, Shannon Hatton/Dance Xtreme Studios, Terry Boyd/The GYM, Belleville Sports Hall of Fame, Quinte Bay Hawks Lacrosse, Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, Planet Fitness, Trinity Dental, Chris Lisle/ Quinte Royals Baseball, Ben Ruckstuhl, JoAnne Robinson/ Centennial Secondary School Rugby, The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant and Waterfront Patio, Williams Hotels, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Parkhurst Transportation, KD Transmission
20 - 21 .....Brandon Barker - Drag Racer Expanding Horizons
FEATURES
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18 .......Brianna Demille - Trenton Ball Player - Major League 19 ..................................................Ben Ruckstuhl - Strong man 22 ......................Centennial Junior Girls Rugby - A Great Year! 23 ........The Boathouse - Catch the Flavour after the game! 24 ...........................................Williams Hotels - Where to Stay!
Dance Xtreme 8
Jon Mills 12
Quinte Royals Baseball 16
Brandon Barker 20
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/trinityfamilydentaltrenton /@DrSureshAppan FREE Sports Mouth Guards for our patients! All insurance policies accepted with direct billing.
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BOMBSHELLS, BLACKHEARTS & BRUISES
Roller Derby not like it was, but it’s still ‘got game’ Submitted by: Belleville Bombshells
Maybe you’re old enough to remember watching women’s roller derby on TV - fearsome and ferocious females making it look like they were going to rip each other’s arms and legs off on those banked tracks. Kind of like wrestling - you knew it was pretty much fake, but it was still entertaining. Today, things are different. Roller derby is still a full-contact sport, played primarily by women in leagues all around the world. Back in “the day,” the “bouts” were often scripted, and focused more on theatrics than athleticism. Roller derby is now played on a flat track, and while the scripted bouts have been ditched, you still get the legacy of showmanship with playful pseudonyms and boisterous uniforms. Belleville Roller Derby and The Belleville Bombshells have been skating in the Quinte region since 2013. Some players have been with the team since its formation, and now they help train our newer members. It’s a community of strong women pouring their hearts and souls into a physically and mentally demanding sport. We are a not-for-profit organization, governed by an elected board of active skaters who keep us on track and accountable to the team. On June 1st, the Bombshells hosted the home opener for their sixth season, defeating the Bytown Blackhearts from Ottawa. If you missed it, be sure to catch our other home game for the 2019 season - August 24th at the Dunc McDonald Arena in Trenton. The Bombshells hold practices twice a week. Skaters also participate in committees, which look after scheduling, marketing and securing sponsors. You can also find us in the community at events like parades and fundraisers. We’re like a family -. players, refs, officials and fans. Anyone who has ever felt like the outsider can find a home here.
not your thing, there are other ways you can get involved. We need volunteers (non-skating officials or NSOs) to run the timeclock, keep score, and track penalties. ALL the details about games, info sessions, community events, you name it - are on our social media sites. Find us at “Belleville Roller Derby” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, or reach out to us at bellevillerollerderby@gmail.com or message us on Facebook. How the game is played In roller derby, the games are called bouts, and each bout is made up of two 30- minute periods. The game is played in jams - periods of up to two minutes- in which the jammer is trying to score as many points as possible. Each bout includes 5 players from each team: three blockers, a jammer, and a pivot. The jammer is identified by a star on her helmet. A jammer’s job is to get through the blockers and around the track as many times as possible during the jam. One point is earned for each blocker (or pivot) passed on each lap. The blockers are trying to stop the opposing jammer, while simultaneously helping the jammer through the pack. A pivot, identified by a stripe worn on the helmet, acts as a blocker unless they are passed the star from the jammer, in which case the pivot becomes the jammer and the jammer becomes a blocker for the rest of the jam.
Those interested in joining the Bombshells must attend an orientation session and complete approximately 12 weeks of training. You’re also tested for skills and knowledge to be cleared for contact to help ensure everyone’s safety. If skating’s
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BEN LANGLEY POWERING AHEAD! An Uplifting Experience By Brock Ormond - Bay of Quinte Total Sports Since then, Langley has lifted in several competitions, including the North American regionals, the European Arnold Classic and the Commonwealth championships in South Africa. In competitive powerlifting, you get three attempts at maximum weight on three lifts - squat, bench press, and deadlift. It requires a strict training regimen for his entire body that helps him in all areas of life. “Being a loadmaster in the Canadian Forces, I find powerlifting and strength training help in my day-to-day life,” he said. “Lifting heavy boxes and pushing heavy pallets are great complements for heavy lifting.”
A Trenton athlete has a couple of rare accomplishments that most people never experience: serving one’s country in the military, and representing Canada nationally in sport. 26-year-old Ben Langley is on the rise in Canadian weightlifting, competing in - and winning – the Canadian championship in the 74 kg (163 lbs.) men’s open weight class in Ottawa in March. The national title means he’ll compete in the world championships in Helsingingborg, Sweden.
The road to success hasn’t been easy. It began with trips to the gym for training to increase his weight. A big step was reaching out to his current coach, Alfred Jong, from ‘The Strength Guys’ online powerlifting coaching organization in Calgary, to keep his career going in the right direction. “Getting a true professional to program for me has made a night-and-day difference, ” he says.
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Langley says he will continue to aim higher. He wants to train hard and get back on the world stage and achieve more.
His passion began with high school wrestling, which developed into a love affair with powerlifting.
“I plan on putting up some big numbers this year in preparation for next year’s nationals and the worlds (International Powerlifting Federation) in Belarus next year.”
Langley, originally from Brandon, Manitoba, powerlifting at the age of 21, and weightlifting at 15.
“In the military, I stopped wrestling but continued weight training and I met somebody on my QL3 course in Borden (Ontario) who was a power lifter who said I should try it, as I would likely excel at it,” he said. Langley took the advice and entered a junior weightlifting competition in Dauphin, Manitoba five years ago, winning his weight class and getting first overall for the junior ranks.
Even as he surges to the peak of his powerlifting career, Langley says his supporters will still be at the top of his mind in every competition. “Everyone in my personal life is a big supporter.” “Obviously, my mom getting up at 3 a.m. to watch a livestream of me when I’m in Sweden is a big commitment. But my most important supporter is my girlfriend, Nicola Paviglianiti, who has done so much for me - helping me through bad training days, and cheering me on.” Ben Langley. Powering upward on a mission for greatness.
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Dance Xtreme Studios - Fun, success,
and personal achievement Submitted by: Shannon Hatton Dance Xtreme Studio
“If you hit a wall, crawl over it, climb under it, or dance on top of it.”
No one’s sure who said that, but it’s a pretty fair description of the soul-affirming joy dancers often feel, and of the happy culture and motivation you’ll find at Dance Xtreme Studios in Napanee and Trenton. From the fun of a recreational dance class to fulfilling dreams of becoming a dance instructor - it’s all available at Dance Xtreme Studios’ locations at 113 Richmond Blvd. in Napanee and 17538 Unit D Highway #2 in Quinte West. Now nine years old, Dance Xtreme Studios is a family and community-oriented business whose mission is to help dancers enjoy themselves and achieve success. And through its examination program, dancers are also offered a level of training required to become qualified instructors. Led by qualified dance teachers and industry pros, there are literally programs for dancers of all ages and abilities. And they really mean ALL ages! Toddlers as young as 2 are participants. Ten-week programs for tiny dancers start for as little as $115. In addition to the basic fundamentals, social interaction and making new friends are emphasized. Programs run each year from September through to June, culminating in the year-end showcase, a demonstration of students’ talent and progress. All students from both our recreational and competitive programs participate in this annual performance.
Recreational & Competitive Programs DX provides quality dance instruction not only for the competitive program, but also for our dancers who choose to dance for enjoyment only.
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The Recreational Program is ideal for students looking to get fit and have fun. The focus of these classes is on coordination and rhythm, but also on life skills that will remain with students in their future endeavours; social interaction, confidence, discipline and creativity. Personal attention is guaranteed in our recreational classes, to ensure students are meeting their full potential. The Competitive Program prepares dancers for the professional dance world. Acceptance into this program is by audition. These classes concentrate on developing and strengthening a strong balance of technique and performance through intense conditioning and technical training. Teachers are happy to discuss the qualifications required to enroll. Adult programs are also available throughout the season. Teachers-in-training can lead discounted dance class programs for as little as $200, which means full-season dance classes at discounted rates. These classes are taught by our young instructors-in-training as a component of exam programs for which “hands-on” experience” is a requirement for graduation. Dance Xtreme Studio offers exams at all levels, from B.A.T.D. to Acrobatic Arts. All of the above programs are posted on our website.
Need more information? www.danceextremestudio.net
Class Placement Recreational classes are available for boys and girls of all ages and levels, in all disciplines. An extensive class schedule allows for classes that suit your needs, at ANY age. DX offers beginner classes at every age...so it’s never too late to start, and you know you’ll be learning comfortably with other students at the same age and at your level. Students are assessed regularly to make certain they are placed in classes that are best suited for them.
Competitive Team Dance Xtreme Studios is also well known for its awardwinning competitive team, and recreational dancers looking for that next level of accomplishment can always be assessed for inclusion on the competitive squad. The team was outstanding this past season, bringing home choreography and other special awards, and earning scholarships for dancers to travel to the U.S.. The novice dancers are “Victory” champions, and all our teams received marks over 90.
Dance Education “We’re also about dance education,” explains owner and founder Shannon Hatton. “We feel strongly about educating our dancers about the history of dance and anatomy, to understand how our bodies move. We want them to be knowledgeable when they move on in the world.” “We also offer a professional dress code for each genre, which helps the teacher examine and correct technique and form without the distraction of excessive accessories or additional fabric. All outfits are age and activity-appropriate. Dance Xtreme Studio teaches young dancers self-respect, and respect for sport generally.” Hatton adds visitors who want to get a feel for the studio and its environment are welcome anytime.
Photographer: Becky Hinch
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SPORTS MOM Meet Cassandra Kotry
We spotted Cassandra on facebook this summer as she was volunteering to coach baseball. Cassandra is a wife and mother of five adorable kids seen in the photo to the left. She coaches several ball teams and is one of the busiest moms we have seen yet. Her children Christopher 12, Sienna 9, Ella 6, Aaralynn 4 and Delaney 1 told us their mom is THE BEST sports mom because they love how she always teaches them new things and that she coaches their teams ... and when we say “their teams� we mean all of them! They are pretty proud of their sports mom and so are we!
Congratulations Cassandra! You will receive some great prizes from our sports mom sponsors below! Do you know someone who you think should be featured as our sports mom for her outstanding contribution to kids in sports? Email us and tell us why @ BOQTotalsports@gmail.com
FIT 4 HER
Located in THE GYM
Boutique and Gallery
421 Dundas Street West, Trenton
35 Ontario St. Trenton
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40 Dundas St W, Trenton
www.thegym.one
FIT 4 HER - Why Women Only? BY: Terry Boyd - The GYM Trenton
Back in the early 1990’s my wife managed a number of women-specific circuit training gyms. I’m not going to lie. There was more than one time that I parked a bit down the street and tried to peek in to see what this new women’s-only gym was about. Admittedly, I was caught more than once trying to get close enough to at least hear what was going on. There was upbeat music and laughter from the women who were training inside. I was a little more accustomed to “Thunderstruck” and “Hell’s Bells” and grumpy people waiting their turn to use equipment at the local gym. This women-only gym was definitely onto something, so I had some questions I wanted to ask. I’m curious by nature and anything to do with gyms always catches my attention. My first question was why women only? In a day and age where political correctness is all the rage, how could a company get away with excluding men? The answer I received is that “businesses have the right to enact and enforce policies supporting their core function. In the case of gyms for women-only, women are catered to specifically (tone vs bulk).” I beg to differ on this one, knowing full well there are women who train with dumbbells and who deadlift as much as half the men I know. While I challenge the answer I got, there is a point to be made here. Some people are not comfortable training in an open gym where dumbbells are dropped, personal
bests on bench presses are achieved, and “Thunderstruck” and “Hells Bells” are playing. In fac,t there are gyms sprouting up all over that limit noise and even the weight of the dumbbell to discourage the hard core mentality. My next question was how does a women’s-only gym work? I was still in the dark, despite my surreptitious attempts to get the answers. Well, it’s not top-secret, and it’s definitely something the women were proud of and had ownership in. It’s a 30-minute total body workout using hydraulic equipment. This workout is designed for strength training, cardio and stretching; the big three in fitness, and all supervised by a coach. Best of all, this program caters to any level of fitness. From the new person who has never tried weights, to the more advanced member who pushes repetitions to the max, this training definitely works. My last and most important question was why? Why train in a women’s-only gym? The reasons are many as I soon discovered. “It works,” I was told. Another user said, “I’ve made friends here that will last the rest of my life.” Other reasons included “I’m not intimidated,” “I like that I can go at my own pace,” and my personal favourite,“we are a family here.” That clinched it. FIT 4 HER was born. We converted a portion of THE GYM and dedicated the entire section to hydraulic weights, music, coaches and and an upbeat atmosphere - for women only. FIT 4 HER is for beginners, for the advanced, for strength, cardio and flexibility. It’s always a friendly atmosphere in a program that allows you to go at your own pace. Meet new friends and create new memories in a gym that’s designed for you. FIT 4 HER. - Stop by THE GYM at 421 Dundas St. West, Trenton. Mention this article and receive your free day pass and try FIT 4 HER!
THE GYM TRENTON: 14,500 sq ft. facility, 50’x 20’ saltwater pool , 2,400 sq. ft. strength training area, 2,300 sq. ft. of floor space dedicated to our cardio and core program, two large and private training rooms, cafe and more. 421 Dundas S. West, Trenton, Ontario 613.392.1825
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JON MILLS
Belleville’s Links Legend By: Bay of Quinte Total Sports locations around the world. My success as an amateur gave me the confidence to make the jump to professional golf.” “Along the way people like Herb Page, my coach Dave Woods, Golf Canada’s player development program and of course my parents and my wife Megan provided the support I needed to get to the pro level.” In 2001 Mills jumped straight to the Nationwide Tour, only to find that his game wasn’t quite ready for that level. Having previously qualified for the Canadian tour by playing in just one event during an off-week for the Nationwide Tour, he spent 2002 travelling across Canada, winning the Manitoba Open, the Canadian Tour Order of Merit, and then jumping back up the ladder to the Nationwide Tour for 2003.
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For Jon Mills, golf began in Belleville. His father’s work brought the family to Belleville in 1985 and the Bay of Quinte Golf Club soon became the place to be throughout the summer. Initially Jon would be left near the putting green while his parents played, and that provided many hours of chipping, putting and self-designed competitions with buddies that would pay off in later years. The first tastes of on-course competition took place in Bay of Quinte Junior Field Days, and on the St. Lawrence Junior Golf Tour. Perhaps motivated by the success of his brother Jeff – who attended Jacksonville University on a golf scholarship before spending two years on the Canadian tour - Mills completed a fine junior career with a 1996 win in the Ontario Junior Boys Championship, and earned a four-year scholarship to Kent State University, under the tutelege of legendary coach Herb Page. Page, himself an Ontarian, would go on – and continues today – to play a major role in Mills’ life. The four years at Kent State saw Mills win five college championships, the Mid-American Conference golfer-of-the-year award in 2001, and four team conference championships. He was also a medalist in the 2002 NCAA Central Regional championship, and was named a first team all-American in 2001. During that same period, Mills was selected to the Canadian world amateur team, competing in the 2000 world championship in Berlin, and to Canada’s Four Nations team that defeated New Zealand, Japan and Australia in 2001. Mills capped a stellar amateur career by winning the Ontario Men’s Amateur title in 2001 before turning pro and qualifying for the Nationwide Tour. “Amateur golf gave me the opportunity to not only develop my game, but to see much of Canada, a lot of the USA and a few
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TOP LEFT PHOTO: Jon with trophy after winning the Canadian PGA Championship on the Nationwide Tour ABOVE: Jon coaching during a college event
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In 2005, in addition to winning the Nationwide Tour’s Canadian Professional Golfers Championship, Mills finished fourth on the tour Order of Merit and advanced to the PGA Tour for 2006. Every step up the ladder presents new challenges and in 2007 Mills was back on the Nationwide Tour. However, a win at the Boise Open and a third-place finish on the tour’s Order of Merit saw Mills jump back to the PGA big show for 2008.
His successor? Jon Mills. Big shoes to fill as he enters a new phase of his career.
Over his career, Mills played in ten Canadian Opens, 70 PGA Tour events, 184 Nationwide Tour events, and three USGA Opens (including a T36 at Torrey Pines in 2008).
Mills met his wife Megan while attending Kent State (she was a basketball player) and after living in Indiana, Pennsylvania for Jon’s professional career, they relocated to Kent, Ohio to pursue his coaching career. They have two children – Benjamin (8), Emma (6,) and also Cameron, the pet dog named after Scotty Cameron.
In 2007, Mills was selected as Score’s Canadian Male Golfer of the Year and inducted into the Kent State University Sports Hall of Fame. In 2014 Mills stepped away from serious competition and returned to Kent State University as the associate head coach for the men’s golf team - still under the leadership of Herb Page. In 2019, Page ended his impressive coaching career with his induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, and announced his retirement.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to take over a world-class program that Herb has built, and to continue the Kent State tradition. Our goal down the road is an NCAA championship and Herb has laid the foundation for us to pursue that dream.”
His parents – Dave and Judy – still reside in Belleville. His sister Jennifer is the head coach of the Clarion (Pa) women’s volleyball team, and brother Jeff is the director of golf at the Wildfire Golf Club.
Jon walking with Herb Page at Canadian Open. Page recently announced his retirement as head coach at Kent State, as Jon Mills takes on the top job
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Quinte “Bayhawks” Minor Lacrosse Association Minor lacrosse is back in Quinte Submitted by: Quinte “Bayhawks” Minor Lacrosse Association
to give potential participants the chance to put a stick in their hands and give lacrosse a try.
The Quinte Minor Lacrosse Association (QMLA) is a not-for-profit organization established in 2018 to give youth in the Quinte region the chance to learn and play Canada’s national summer sport. Lacrosse is a fast-paced sport that promotes physical activity, coordination, and teamwork. It’s also an easy way to make great new friends, and the focus is on providing a fun and active experience. Box lacrosse is played indoors from April to June, in a “box” (ice rink with the ice removed!). The Q.M.L.A. had huge success with a series of “Try Lacrosse” clinics before the season started,
The Association just finished its first box lacrosse season in mid-June. Young people between the ages of 3 and 15 took part, many for the first time. For the youngest, ages 3 to 6, it’s about having fun and learning basic skills. They played mini-3 vs. 3 games with smaller nets. Everyone 7 and up played full-floor contact games with a focus on skill development and teamwork. The Q.M.L.A. got together with other local associations to provide an enriched playing experience where house league teams could play teams from Northumberland, Tyendinaga and Kingston.
The QMLA looks forward to continuing to #growthegame and plans are already underway for next year.
Want to learn more about QMLA? Please visit our website: www.quintelacrosse.com Facebook / Twitter / Instagram @quintelacrosse
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Workout Studio
Open 7 Days/week Only $3 /visit Drop-in Cost: $6.05 to $10.00 /Class · Many classes to· choose from like:
*Aqua-Fitness *Zumba · *Lunch Express Classes · · *Strong Seniors · *Women’s Cuts & Curves *Tone & Sculpt *NEW: 3:30pm & 4:00pm Fitness classes *Therapy Classes (COPD, Diabetic, Stroke, Cardiac ·
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SUMMER’S PASTIME BASEBALL!
Quinte Royals are in full swing for 2019 Submitted By: Chris Lisle
The Minor Peewee Quinte Royals is a talented group of ball players coached by Ed Turpin, Jason Baird, Chris Lisle, Jordan Lisle and Colin Martin. Many of the core group of players have been together since their “Rookie” year. It’s been incredible to witness the development of these players and we look forward to future seasons. If you or your player is interested in joining the Royals family, visit our website. Many teams have fall tryouts. The objective of the Quinte Royals organization is to foster and improve baseball in Quinte. The Quinte Royals Baseball Club is in full swing for 2019. We are fielding eight teams from ages 9-18 in the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association. The league spans from Kanata to Pickering. In the past 3 seasons, the Royals have brought home four silver medals from the Ontario Baseball Association Provincial Championship - three straight for the current midget team! In June, the Royals hosted their Summer Sensation tournaments again this year on diamonds all over the Quinte region. Teams from Windsor to Montreal and up to Sudbury and Ottawa battled in the Summer Sensation competitions. This season’s first Summer Sensation winners were the Quinte Royal Mosquito team over Seaway Surge in the final at Don Ogden Park, Trenton. Royals hosted two more Summer Sensation tournaments early this summer. The Minor Bantam EOBA Championship took place Aug 16-18. The season will be capped off with the Peewee OBA Provincial Championship on Labour Day weekend at Bain Park and Don Ogden Park. For more news and all information regarding Quinte Royals rep baseball please visit our website at
www.quinteroyals.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter 16
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THE ROYALS LINEUP OF TEAMS INCLUDE: • Rookie 9u • Minor Mosquito 10u • Mosquito 11u • Minor Peewee 12u • Peewee 13u • Bantam 15u • Minor Midget 16u • Midget 17u/18u
Photos by Amy Deroche/ DerochSportsPhotography,com
BASEBALL
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BRIANNA DEMILLE
Trenton baseball player showcasing her talents on major league stage By Brock Ormond/ Bay of Quinte Total Sports
A “once-in-a-lifetime” experience has turned into an impressive stretch of years on the big stage for a young local baseball player. Brianna Demille,13, recently capped off her fourth appearance at Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run Competition in Toronto on June 8. Demille. a Grade 8 student at Trenton High School was the overall champion for her age group (13 and 14) in both the local and sectional competitions that were held in Trenton in May. The district competition is divided into two divisions, softball and hardball, and participants will show off their skills in pitching, hitting, running and all-around events. The competitors with the most points in all events took their talents to a sectional competition, consisting of players from the closest MLB team’s geographic area, in this case a zone ranging from Cobourg to Ottawa and even into Montreal. Demille’s scores from the sectionals were then compared to all competitors in Ontario and the top three players in her age category moved on to participate in the team event at Rogers Centre in Toronto, home of the Blue Jays, with a chance to go to the national finals at the MLB All-Star festivities in July, which are held in Cleveland, Ohio this year. Unfortunately, she came up just short, finishing third place overall this year after winning the hitting section, placing second in running and third in pitching. Still, to get as far as she has is impressive. The “wow factor” in this story is that only 90 kids out of 600,000 that compete in all of North America make it to the major league stadium level and Demille has now done it four years running. Demille comes from a baseball-oriented family, which includes her father Jamie, mother Emma and brother Ben. Her parents both volunteer and work on the executive team for the Quinte West Amateur Baseball Association and helped fuel her passion for the sport. “My mom and dad love baseball so they signed me up for tball back when I was four years old with Quinte West Amatuer Baseball Association,” Demille explained.
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She said she heard of the competition from QWABA President Chris Lisle, who helped her practice twice a week leading up to the competition. “It’s been crazy. It’s kind of opened my varieties (in) baseball. It was an overall great experience and very exciting,” she said. Going up against kids her age from throughout eastern Ontario was an interesting experience that Demille said has helped her with her fastball team, the Quinte West Mudcats. Demille says the most memorable thing about the Rogers Centre is just simply being there and taking in what the big league players see. “(The stadium) is empty when you get there, so it’s such a different feeling than when there’s an actual game going on,” she explained. “The feeling of being there with nobody else there is really weird, but it’s a really cool feeling.” Demille, who will enter secondary school at Trenton High in September, said she will still be eligible to compete for one more year. Even though she hopes to continue her baseball career, she also has an interest in being a part of other sports teams, like rugby and basketball. “I want to keep (playing baseball), but I’m not sure of what I want to do with sports after high school. During high school, I do want to get on some more sports teams and get out of the range of baseball a little bit.” Demille said she hopes she can inspire young girls who play baseball or are interested in the sport to give the competition a try, no matter their skill level. “I hope to show girls that baseball is not just a ‘boy’ sport and that girls can be just as good, if not better, than boys,” she said. “The Pitch Hit and Run is a great competition that allows you to showcase your skills and have fun.” Continued success to Brianna throughout the summer with the Mudcats and all the best to her as she enters The Pitch Hit and Run competition in 2020. The Pitch, Hit and Run Compeititon is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. For more information, visit MLB Pitch Hit and Run.com
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE TSIF TRENTON SCOTTISH IRISH FESTIVAL
Saturday September 7th 2019 9:00 AM Solo Piping and Drumming Begins 9:00 AM Heavy Events Begin 11:00 AM Festival Tent Opens 11:30 AM Massed Bands - Massed Highland Fling 11:45 AM Opening Ceremonies - Main Stage 11 AM to 4 PM Children’s Glen - Pavilion 12:15 PM The Fellowship - Festival Tent 12:45 PM Belleville Scottish Country Dancers 1:15 PM Pipe Band Competition Begins - Main Field 1:30 PM Astounding Heights Dance School - Highland and Irish 2:00 PM Entertainment by: Seventh Town 2:45 PM Quinte Irish Dancers 3:30 PM Lindsay Rose Highland Dance - Cobourg 4:00 PM Entertainment by: Seventh Town 4:45 PM Drum Major Competition - Main Field 5:00 PM Bass Drum and Tenor Drum Competition - Main Field 5:30 PM Closing Massed Bands/ Presentation of Trophies 6:00 PM Entertainment by the Fiddleheads - Festival Tent 7:00 PM Entertainment by: Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost Midnight Bar closes 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀 吀䔀一吀
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CENTENNIAL PARK QUINTE WEST, ONTARIO 29 Years of Tradition Admission: $5 Children under 12 FREE Get out your kilt and bring the whole Clan to join us in beautiful Centennial Park, Trenton on September 7, 2019! BOQTotalsportsmagazine.ca
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BRANDON BARKER Local Drag Racer looks to expand horizons in his sport By: Brock Ormond/ Bay of Quinte Total Sports
A local drag racing phenom is aiming to make his mark in more than one avenue in his sport. 23-year-old Brandon Barker began his career at six years old driving a junior dragster at Shannonville Motorsport Park, “The birthplace of champions”, following a path blazed by his late grandfather Jim Parkhurst, who managed the Drags serie at Shannonville for many years. Barker shares the same passion for the sport of racing that his grandfather always had. Barker has driven six full seasons in the “Super Pro Dragster” class and over the course of his career, has amassed over $100,000 in winnings. He had a banner year in 2018, claiming the Luskville Dragway Driver of the Year award, and was a champion of the Show Me the Money Tour and the Canadian Bracket Supertour, ending the year with the most winnings by any Canadian driver in history.
Barker not only takes his driving talents to Canadian race tracks but throughout the United States tracks as well. In some of the larger races in the US, Barker goes up against as many as 500 other racers and having finished in the top 14, a very impressive feat.
“T B yo a ta
He is now on the brink of making drag racing a full-time career, and although he aims to win every race he enters, what is equally as important to Barker is the marketing side of the sport, which has lacked in years past.
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Barker’s goals “are not solely about racing, it’s about being involved in the community helping out local businesses. I don’t want (the public) to be stuck with ‘this guy likes driving a race car all the time,’ I do want to be involved in more than just going down the track.” Getting involved in promoting the sport is also something that Barker said he can do to give back to the community he lives in.
If sa is fr th B a o a
“There’s a lot of business aspect to it, and I don’t want to dismiss that. Without sponsors, without financial assistance, then you cannot compete at this level for very long.” “It’s about being at the track and meeting the people, gaining valuable experience, finding ways to improve and help the sport grow.”
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There is “untapped potential” for the first wave of entrepreneurs who put in their investment to grow Canadian drag racing. “The Canadian Drag Racing scene is something many companies are missing out on,” Barker said.
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Also, Barker said he is looking at starting a school to teach people about bracket racing and how to get into it.
H o lo w g h
When asked what it would take to grow Canadian drag racing, Barker said it would take several factors, including building partnerships with businesses, getting the word out on social media, having the media involved in talking about the sport and educating the public.
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Photos by John Chambers
RACING
SHANNONVILLE MOTORSPORT PARK INC SHANNONVILLE.COM 613-969-1906
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“The big thing is understanding the work that goes into it,” Barker said. It’s not just that you have a lot of money and your car goes really fast. There is a lot of work, determination and things you’ve got to learn with bracket racing and it takes a lot of skill to drive as well.”
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“We’re talking about thousands of a second at 150 miles an hour that we’re trying to judge by. It’s a really crazy sport when you think of it that way - to drive your race car down the track like that and be looking around at where the other guy is and that you’re not making a mistake on the track.”
g I g n g o
If someone is interested in becoming a drag racer, Barker said the best way to get involved and understand the sport is to go to the track and soak up any knowledge you can from people who have experience and have been around the track. Barker’s passion for drag racing was ignited from a young age by his grandfather Jim, and he talked about the amount of respect and admiration other drag racers across Canada and the US had for him.
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“When I go to all these different race tracks and seeing all the people around, everybody knew him and everybody had fun stories about the different things he would do. I would love to have him here just to see what it’s becoming now and how everything is going for us.”
of n g
“There’s so many things that are different from 10 years ago when he passed away that it’s too bad he isn’t here to experience and see it all with us and have his ideas and takes on what to do, because he was a big part of keeping the sport alive for the last 20-30 years.”
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His message to Barker right from a young age was a simple one.“No matter how big you get, what you win, what you lose, you always remember where you came from and where you started.” Barker carries the memory of his grandfather with him in every race that he runs and knows he is always watching over him.
g g ut ut
Established 1957
Drag racing is a family affair for Barker and he feels it is extremely important to thank everyone that has supported him throughout his career; his grandmother Brenda, mother and father, Sherry and Rob, brother Daniel, his cousin Nathan, great grandfather Alvin, great grandmother Marge, his uncle Steve and aunt Suzie, and his girlfriend Rachel, as they have all been instrumental in his success on and off the track. Brandon also thanks his sponsors; Parkhurst Motors, KD Transmission, racesponsorship.net and Dialled in with Jake & Zach. In the words of his late grandfather, hoping for “blue skies and green lights” at a race track near you.
To learn more about Brandon Barker (local drag racer) visit Brandon Barker Racing (BBR) (Facebook) and @BrandonBarker55 (Instagram)
125 College St E, Belleville 613-968-5109
Transmission and Auto Mechanic Services in the Belleville and Quinte Region PROUD SPONSOR Shannonville Super Pro, Brighton Speedway and Brandon Barker 68 Dundas St. West, Belleville BOQTotalsportsmagazine.ca 21 613-962-4797
ON A RUGBY ROLL Charger Junior Girls coming off a special year Submitted By: JoAnne Robinson
Prospects for the senior girls’ rugby squad at Belleville’s Centennial Secondary School are looking pretty darn good for the next couple of years. That’s because the junior girls’ team, many of whose players will graduate to the senior level next year, have had a spectacular and gold-plated 2018-2019 season. The Chargers were undefeated in the fall season in Bay of Quinte competition, winning gold in the final against Bayside. They won again at the Central Ontario (COSSA) tournament, with a victory over Holy Cross of Peterborough. This spring, the girls participated in three exhibition tournaments to prepare for the prestigious Barbarian Cup tournament in Fergus, Ontario, the oldest high school rugby tournament in the province. The team earned silver after defeating Bayside 17-5 in the semi-
final before falling 24-12 to Uxbridge in the final. Coaches Jo Robinson and Pete Hercus say the team came a long way this year, and they’re looking forward to seeing how the athletes make the jump to senior. The Centennial team is a small part of an explosion in the popularity of women’s rugby internationally. In many countries, it’s the fastest-growing women’s sport. Since 2009, the number of women participating around the world has jumped from 200,000 to more than 2.6-million. Canadian teams have enjoyed success, too. The national team is usually ranked in the top five in the world, and the women’s sevens won a bronze medal in the event’s first appearance at the Olympics in 2016.
Back row (left to right): Jo Robinson (coach), Daniella Robinson, Julia Egas, Amie Foster, Madison Adams, Katie Putnam, Calsha Miller, Hanna McCrae, Jada Bassett, Kyla Fallow, Pete Hercus (coach) Middle row: Lexi LaFrance, Jasmine Maxwell, Sarah Dolan, Sierra Wood, Laura Hill, Robyn Elson, Sophia Cook, Elayna Reid, Kassidy Groh, Sophie Wilson Front row: Lily Nguyen, Maya Lott, Olivia Cook Laying Down: Tianna Anurukem, Grace Huizenga
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