Month: August 2013

 

Designer David Casselman has laid down quite a challenge for golfers at the Morrisburg Golf Course, a challenge that involves an average break of about two feet anywhere on the new third hole green.

Friday, Casselman was at the course where he was joined by Morrisburg Golf Club officials to cut the ribbon to officially open the newly designed and constructed third hole and the resurfaced and slightly expanded second hole green.

On hand for the opening were Morrisburg Golf Club greens chair Shawn Hummel, club captains Andy and Monique Patenaude and greenskeeper Lee Beaupre.

“We are very pleased,” said Hummel. “David did an exceptional job with the construction, and Lee has done a great job with the maintenance.”

Last year, the second and third greens at the Morrisburg Golf Club were lost to disease, and the greens on the first, fifth, seventh and eighth greens were affected to a lesser degree.

To resolve the green issues, it was decided by the membership-owned Morrisburg Club to totally rebuild and redesign the third green, re-surface the second green, spot repair the other affected greens, and put a new mowing/maintenance/fertilizing program in place that would strengthen all of the course’s greens. 

This all got rolling late in the fall of 2012, with the major work done this spring. The result as of last Friday, is that all greens at the Morrisburg Golf Course are now healthy and providing golfers with some great play.

According to Hummel, it was Casselman’s decision to increase the playing surface of the second green. The back end was raised, and tile drainage was added to prevent water from laying on the green. He was left to design the third hole.

Casselman is pleased with the results of his work. Although he has helped to design and build holes with his dad at the Cedar Glen Golf Course east of Williamsburg, this was his first time to design greens for another operation.

“I like how they have turned out. We doubled the size of the old  third green (now 4,000 square feet). We dug the pond to the left of the green and used that ground as the fill for the new green as a cost savings. The idea is that the pond will now help with drainage in the area. Fawcett Brother Excavation did a great job. They dug the pond and spread the fill around.”

“I put down 12 inches of green mix, and we sodded with a bent grass.  The green is now higher than the former green and raised at the back to make it more accessible to receive a ball and to provide esthetic value, and better drainage….along with hopefully some tricky putts.”

As for the second green on the par three second hole, “we levelled it off, sloped it towards the tee and took out some of the gullies that held water.” Casselman says he found there was too much sand in the green and so, while he used the soil that was there, he added 10 inches of greens mix to enable the new sod to develop a good root system.

He says it has been a good summer to establish new greens. “We had the rain that helped out and Lee (greenskeeper Beaupre) has helped with the maintenance.”

“The greens are looking really good,” said Beaupre. “They are still in the process of mending, but we now have them cut to the same height as our other greens.”

In addition to the work on the second and third greens, new sod was placed in the troubled areas on the fifth, seventh and eighth greens and they too are now in great shape. A better maintenance/mowing program has rejuvenated the first green.

Beaupre says the larger green surfaces (two and three) now offer more pin placement opportunities and will help to spread the traffic around more effectively, thereby helping with the maintenance. With a chuckle, he adds, “on number three, there is not a level spot, and I am looking forward to some pin placements.”

The coast of the work totalled about $30,000, and in addition to those who physically helped with the project (laying sod etc.), the support of the members has been phenomenal through a loans program and various fundraising initiatives.

“We are looking forward to having some of our members return and to green fee guests coming out to give us a try,” says Hummel. “We are in good shape and we are inviting the golfing public to drop in for a game.”

[…]

 

Kingston Frontenacs winger Marc Beckstead and the Canadian Tire Store in Morrisburg were the hosts for the day, Saturday, as area youngsters were provided the opportunity to meet Beckstead and three of his Fronts teammates and have a little fun with the Tribeck Inflatables.

Beckstead, 18 of Morrisburg was joined by defenceman Mikko Vainonen, 19, of Finland and centreman Darcy Greenaway, 20, of Wilton, Ontario. The three, who will report to the Fronts training camp at the end of this month, had a great time Saturday, at CT in Morrisburg, visiting with the local youngsters and signing ball caps and posters.

The attendance of the  Ontario Hockey League’s Frontenacs players at the Canadian Tire’s Back to Hockey Event was organized by Marc’s uncle Trevor, owner of Tribeck Inflatables.

“We do a lot of different events in Kingston and the area,” said Greenaway, who is heading into his third season with the Frontenacs. Greenaway says he has spent much of his summer and most weekends doing this type of promotion for the Frontenacs. “It’s fun to talk to people and give away free stuff, and it’s good to come out and do it with the guys.”

Greenaway is five foot, eight inches. He weighs 186 pounds and wears the Frontenacs #22 sweater. He had a 44 point season last year with 24 goals and 20 assists.

 Also on hand was defenceman Mikko Vainonen who has returned to Canada having spent much of his summer back home in Helsinki, Finland. The Finnish defenceman, who will play out his second season with the Frontenacs, recently signed a three year entry level contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. He is six foot two inches and weighs 205 pounds.

Locally, the Frontenacs were represented by Marc Beckstead, son of Ernie and Leisa Beckstead of Morrisburg. Beckstead, is looking forward to shedding his rookie status as he heads into his second season with the Frontenacs. Last year, he played in 53 games and posted six goals and eight assists.

He says he has had a great summer and worked hard with his training. “I have been training with Ian Perry, five days per week all summer. I am feeling really good, and I’m excited for camp, really excited. They (the Frontenacs) told me to put on some muscle over the summer, so that is what I have been working to do.”

Beckstead attended his first camp last year with a weight of 173 pounds. He finished the season at 180 pounds, and will be heading to camp at the end of August with a weight of 190 pounds.

In addition to his weight training, Marc has been skating four times per week.

Trevor Beckstead, of Beckstead Inflatables says he was excited to spearhead the Frontenac/Canadian Tire promotion.

 In a recent local event, he noticed a number of kids wearing Fronts caps. “I told them (the Frontenacs) they’d be surprised at the number of Fronts fans in this area. When they said they would bring the truck and the wheel and prizes for the kids, I thought that was awesome. They have never been past Gananoque, so this is great.”

[…]

 

While it will be several weeks before it is decided who is part of the 2013-14 Morrisburg Junior B Lions roster, those standing behind the bench have been determined.

Last week, the Lions team management announced that Andrew Scott of Iroquois, and Mark Evans of Cornwall, will be joining head coach Dan Frawley behind the Lions bench for the coming season.

Former Pittsburgh Penquin captain, Memorial Cup Champion and AHL Calder Cup Champion, Frawley is returning for his second season as the Lions head coach.

In addition to Frawley’s credentials, the two assistants coaches sport some pretty impressive hockey and coaching experience of their own.

Scott, who comes on board as associate coach was the 2010 Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey Metro Division “Coach of the Year”.

Originally from Johnstown, Scott, a defenceman, played Junior B hockey with the Prescott Falcons and Junior A (Tier 2) with the Kingston Voyageurs. He finished his junior hockey career as a 20 year old with South Grenville.

Scott’s coaching career includes stints with the Kemptville 73s (Jr. A.), the Upper Canada Cyclones (AAA minor) and the Metcalfe Jets (Jr. B.). As head coach of the 2010-11 Jets, he was named the Metro Division’s coach of the year.

“I was with the Jets for two years,” says Scott. “I was there to help them get their program up and going again.”

After taking last year off, he says, “I’ve known Dan for a couple of years, and I jumped on board when he asked me if I was interested.”

“I have played against the Lions and coached against the Lions, and I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to work with Dan and the Lions. They are one of the winningest teams in the league. There is a lot of history here.”

Assistant coach Mark Evans originally comes from Fergus, Ontario. “I came down here to play hockey for the Cornwall Royals and played for them for three years (85-88).” Originally a defenceman, Evans guarded the  Royals’ blue line for two seasons, until coach Orval Tessier moved him to right wing for season three.

“I was basically a utility player, and so that is what I’ve brought into my coaching. I’ve seen it both ways.”

For many years, Evans has been involved with the Huron Hockey School. In 1991, he started coaching at the bantam level with the Seaway Valley Rapids minor association. 

“I started as assistant coach with the Cornwall Colts (Jr. A Tier 2) in 1992-93, when they moved from Massena to Cornwall. In 1994-95, I was the head coach.”

During the 94-95 season, the Colts were the CJHL Champions and Evans was voted Coach of the Year.

After a three-year coaching hiatus, Evans returned to coaching to coach his twin boys’ minor level teams. 

Evans became familiar to the Lions organization last season when his son, Eric played for the team.

Evans and Scott are both excited and eager to get the season rolling.

“We are all on the same page,” says Scott of this year’s Lions coaching staff. “It’s all about development for the players with a winning attitude, both on and off the ice.”

Since the Lions skated off the ice with a dismal finish last season, team ownership has changed with newcomers Rick Gilmer (vice-president of operations and assistant general manager) of Morrisburg and Gary Brownlee (vice-president business development) of Ingleside, now on board with veterans Kevin Casselman (president/general manager) and Dale Lewis (vice-president community relations), both of Morrisburg.

Joining the owners on the executive management team are Bonnie Barkley (treasurer) and Lois Casselman (secretary).

Rosanne Brownlee and Patti Laframbois will be putting their experience with the Cornwall Colts to work as a fundraising coordinators, Tracey Mabo returns as music coordinator, Thom Racine is on board as Director of Public Relations and Barry Cooper is the team scout.

The Lions opened their camp Sunday night (August 18) in Spencerville. 

They are on the ice in Spencerville again tonight (August 21) and then will host the Brockville Tikis this coming Saturday night, August 24 at 8 p.m.

[…]

 

Morrisburg women’s club champion, Vicki Boivin, made it two big wins in a row at the Morrisburg Golf course here last Wednesday, when she posted a very strong 80 to walk away with the championship of the annual Ladies Open.

Boivin’s 80 was seven strokes better than the next closest competition which came from fellow Morrisburg Club member Lori Anne Davies and Patti Negrave (public player) who tied with 87s.

Despite the rainy/windy weather conditions which were particularly prevalent during the early play, Boivin collected a two-over par 38 (one birdie-three bogeys) on the front and added a 42 on the back.

“With the wet conditions, the greens were holding really well,” said Boivin. “You could throw the ball up, and it would land and stick. I was chipping really well.”

With Boivin claiming the tournament’s low gross for the day, that left Davies and Negrave to play off for A flight’s low gross. That ended with Negrave taking the decision with a par on the par 4 ninth hole.

Also scoring a big win at the annual Open, which attracted 66 area golfers, was Morrisburg’s Elsie Guindon.

Guindon, playing in C flight, where she was the top shooter with a 105, had a 65 net for the overall low net of the tournament field.

Boivin and Guindon were presented the Odonto Corporation championship trophies by Morrisburg club captain Monique Patenaude.

The next three spots in A flight all went to Morrisburg members. Brenda Stitt was next with an 88, which gave her a 68 net for the low net for A flight. Defending Open champion Diane Gallinger scored a 91 and Patenaude shot a 92. 

In B flight, Barb Badali from Champions Nest (Ottawa) was the low shooter with a 96. Second spot went to Cedar Glen’s Susan McIntosh with a 97, and Lombard Glen’s Kim Sumare was third with a 98. 

Sumare’s 98 gave her a 68 net for the low net in B flight.

Next up was Morrisburg’s Valerie St. John with a 105.

Guindon led the C flight shooters with her 105. Sandy Hood of Metcalfe was next with a 106, and Metcalfe’s Margo Neilson had the third low score with a 112.

Eighteen players competed in a non-handicapped division for which the winners were determined by the Callaway Scoring System.

Straight up the low shooter in the Callaway class was Linda Spratt with an 87, while Debbie Leger scored an 88.

Using the Callaway scoring, Spratt remained in first place with a 72. Ledger and Donna Tapp were next in the Callaway with 73s.

[…]

 

ond consecutive year, Sarabeau Stables, has had an impressive seven riders and seven horses qualify for the prestigious Trillium Ontario Riding Championships at the Caledon Equestrian Park at Palgrave, Ontario, from September 4-8.

Sarabeau Stables, owned and operated by Sandy Marcellus is a young stable located east of Morrisburg, just now in its third complete season. In each of the three seasons, Sarabeau has been represented at Trillium, beginning with five riders in year one.

“We’ve been having a really good year,” said trainer Cheryl Levere who has been with Sarabeau since it opened. “All of our horses have qualified, and that is really something. We have some really good horses.”

Levere points out that Sarabeau Stables has attracted some really good riders, many of whom she has watched grow, both physically and within their riding abilities.

“Some of our riders are finding it a bit harder this year, as they are now having to juggle their riding with work. Sometimes, some of them aren’t able to ride as often as they should,” she added.

Marcellus and Levere are pleased to have two horses return to the stable this spring, Skip the Frosty and Sweet Cherry Wine, both of which have been great horses for Sarabeau.

“We have re-schooled both horses. Both have new riders and both are doing well,” said Levere.

“Ours riders are all second year (or more) riders now. They are working hard, and they all now know when they have done something wrong. They have all improved over the years so much…they have really grown as riders. It has been good to watch them grow up,” says Levere.

Riders to qualify for this year’s Trillium competition are  16-year-old Rayanna Marcellus of Pigeon Island Road, 14-year-old  Madison Drenna of Morrisburg, sisters Serena, 15, and Brianna, 17, Armstrong of Iroquois, Julie Julien, 27 of Cornwall, 16-year-old Troy Webb of Ingleside and 15-year- old Jeanna Lamothe of Ingleside.

Horses to qualify include Sweet Cherry Wine, Simply Irresistible, Piccolini, Keepsake, Morganfield, Skip the Frosty and Alexus owned by the Armstrong family.

With one more points show left before Trillium, all riders have qualified or will have qualified at this show for one or more Trillium events.

The top seven riders from each of seven regions in Ontario compete at Trillium

Rayanna Marcellus is currently in first place in Children’s Hunter riding Keepsake, and in first place in A Equitation over Fences riding Picco and Keepsake. She and Picco are in second place in Large Ponies. Rayanna and Keepsake are second in A Equitation and third in Children’s Medal.

Madison Drennan and Sweet Cherry Wine are second overall in the small-medium Pony/Hunter division.

Serena Armstrong and Skip the Frosting are first in small/medium ponies and second in B Equitation. Riding her sister’s horse, Alexus, she is eighth in Low Hunter and fourth in B Equitation on the Flat.

Brianna Armstrong and Alexus are first in Children’s Medal and fifth in Children’s Hunter.

Troy Webb is third in Children’s Hunter riding Morganfield, fourth in Children’s Medal and fifth in A Equitation over Fences.

Jeanna Lamothe and Simply Irresistible are fifth in Children’s Hunter.

Although she will not be making the trip to Trillium, Julie Julien is fifth riding Morganfield in Adult Equitation over Fences.

Hunters categories ride on simplified courses meant to mimic traditional hunting field obstacles and the horses are judged. 

The jumper category rides a more technically difficult course with twists and turns and judging is on the fences etc. knocked down as well as time. The horse is judged.

The Equitation category is a hybrid between hunters and jumpers in which the rider’s abilities are judged over a jumper type course. The horse itself is not judged.

In over fences and flat, again it is the horses that are judged. In over fences there is one horse and rider at a time and the horse’s skills are judged. In flat all horses gather in the ring and are judged in a group at different paces, walk, trot and canter.

The Sarabeau riders are busy working with their horses in preparation for Trillium and running fundraisers to help with expenses.

For each rider the cost to go to Trillium is about $1,400 which includes entry fees, transportation for themselves and the horses, lodging for themselves and stable costs for the horses,  and food for themselves and the horses.

In addition to sponsorships, the riders are most appreciative of support from the public at their fundraisers. These have included car washes, spaghetti dinners and bake sale. 

Individuals/businesses/clubs interested in sponsoring the Sarabeau riders/horses can call Sandy Marcellus at 613-543-4561.

Pictured above, l-r are Julie Julien, Madison Drennan, Serena Armstrong, and Rayanna Marcellus. Horses l-r, are Morganfield, Sweet Cherry, Frosty and Picco.

[…]