Fastball players inducted into Kemptville Sports Hall of Fame

Midget fastball team, golf pro and legendary softball builder among those inducted into North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame
By Ashley Kulp

EMC Sports - A who's who of North Grenville athletes and sports builders were out in full force Oct. 27 for the North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame's 2011 induction ceremony at the North Grenville Municipal Centre.

Four individuals (golf professional Henry Brunton, snowmobiling trainer Lois Beckett, kayaker Adrian Richardson and Kemptville's 'Mr. Softball,' John Patrick 'Jack' Higgins) along with one team (the 1966 Kemptville midget fastball team) who have all helped to enrich the sporting history of North Grenville were inducted during the event. They will be represented in the municipal centre arena foyer on the large-screen TV and also on the hall of fame website (www.ngsportlegacy.ca).

Heather Burns and Doug Rigby, co-chairs of the North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame selection committee, served as masters of ceremonies during the evening. The hall of fame committee selected the inductees from nominations submitted by members of the community. Other committee members include: Debbie Wilson, Alison Johnston, Ted Cooper, Bill Forbes, Chal Conn, Barb Tobin, along with the Municipality of North Grenville's Tammy Hurlbert and Darren Patmore.

Before the main portion of the ceremony got underway, guests were treated to refreshments and hors d'oeuvres served by members of the Kemptville 73's Junior A hockey club. They could also mix and mingle with other visitors and view an impressive display of memorabilia.

North Grenville mayor David Gordon was first to address the packed crowd and indicated how pleased he was to be at the induction ceremony. He underlined how important sports can be to a community.

"The inductees are a strong representation and example of community athletes, teams and builders who have promoted sports and healthy lifestyles to our broader community," he explained.

Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark echoed Gordon's comments and noted that sports has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember and it has enriched it deeply.

"...The relationships made when playing sports has transcended a lot of my jobs," he remarked. "Sports brings people together from all backgrounds and all walks of life...when that goal gets scored, it doesn't matter where you live or what background you have, we all stand up and cheer. Sports unites us as we all work towards a common goal."

Committee member Bill Forbes took a moment before inductees were honoured to salute the Adam Harlow Fellowship Fund. The non-profit organization created over 10 years ago which provides registration funds and equipment to children unable to afford to play hockey, was the recipient of proceeds from the North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame's first golf tournament held at Rideau Glen Golf Course in May.

"Over 100 young athletes have benefited from the Adam Harlow Fellowship Fund," Forbes commented, adding that a $1,500 donation was realized for the fund. "...It seems fitting that this type of community effort fit in well with the hall of fame. I'm certain this well help assist young aspiring hockey players today."

Plans are in place to hold the second annual golf tournament next May 2012 where proceeds will benefit a different local charity or sporting organization.

Ted Cooper, with the help of Gordon, also presented hall of fame pins to a group of last year's inductees in attendance at this year's ceremony.

GAW SERVES AS GUEST SPEAKER

Guest speaker and local sports legend Sam Gaw had the audience's full attention when he addressed the crowd as the evening's guest speaker. Gaw, who was inducted for his contributions to hockey during last year's inaugural induction ceremony, shared some old memories he had of fellow inductee and Kemptville native Frank Boucher, who played with the New York Rangers for 10 years. Boucher also has the distinction of winning the Lady Byng Trophy a record seven times in eight years.

Gaw, who noted his favourite hockey player was Toronto Maple Leaf Syl Apps, got emotional when remembering when Boucher invited him to a Rangers training camp in 1943. He said the sport of hockey was much different back then.

"Back in those days, teams would take one goalie with them on the road and if he got injured they would try to get

some brave person from the crowd to take his place," Gaw remarked as the audience laughed.

He stressed that residents of North Grenville should feel blessed they live in this part of the world. "These days we watch TV and you see all that goes on in the world, Kemptville is a good place to live. With the hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and famine, we've been very, very fortunate," he said.

INDUCTEES HONOURED

First to be inducted into the North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame for 2011 was Lois Beckett, who was born in Burritts Rapids in 1940. While she was heavily involved in the Kemptville Women's Fastball League, it is her commitment to the sport of snowmobiling that earned her the nod into the hall of fame.

Beckett championed the need for safety in the sport and took a leadership role in helping develop the driver training program for snowmobilers aged 14 and up. "Under Lois' leadership, this fledgling provincial program took shape," notes the induction program. "Despite the opposition to change, she recruited volunteers to teach the classes and sponsorship to financially support the program. Her perseverance and dedication convinced snowmobile clubs all over Ontario to embrace the concept of a safety course for newcomers to the sport."

Though Beckett passed away in 1987, to this day, 5,000 Ontario students graduate from the program she helped build, each year. Beckett continues to be remembered for her efforts through the prestigious Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) Driver Trainer of the Year award, which was created in her name.

The sponsor of Beckett's induction, Robert Noseworthy of Westerra Homes, presented Beckett's award to her sister Pauline McIntosh.

One of the most recognizable names in Canadian golf, Henry Brunton, who has been Canada's national golfing coach with the CPGA (Canadian Professional Golfers' Association) since 1999, was next to be inducted. Brunton was raised in Kemptville and was a skilled player in a variety of sports but his true love became golf. A member of the CPGA since 1985, Brunton has developed a passion for helping develop the golf games of junior players. Teams who have succeeded in winning the 2001 Four Nations Cup and the 2003 Americas Cup under his tutelage.

He also coached the 2006 Canadian national men's golf team to a silver medal finish at the 2006 World Championships and followed that up with a bronze medal for the junior team in 2010.

Brunton is also a published author and educator and helped establish the national teacher and coach educator program which is widely acclaimed within the CPGA. His impression on the golf community has earned him several accolades, including being the first and only Canadian named by Golf Magazine as one of America's Top 100 Teachers.

Steve Thibert of Tibbs Transport presented Brunton with the honour. "This is a fantastic honour and it's a real pleasure to be here," Brunton remarked. "I thank the community and all the sponsors for this tremendous honour. It's really special for me. When asked by the papers in Toronto what this felt for me, I said this is at the top of the list."

Brunton has happy memories of growing up in Kemptville. "Someone said the most important decision you can make in your life is choosing your parents and it's the best decision I ever made," he said, referring to parents Doug and Catherine Brunton.

He thanked his wife Rhonda and his son as well as his sisters and one of his first coaches and mentors, Rick Kotlarchuk. He also noted it was fun to see his Grade 2 and Grade 7 teachers in the audience.

"Being from Kemptville is a celebration for me. I'm very proud to be from here and my life has been enriched because I'm from Kemptville, the chances I got to play sports and being allowed to grow up here...I wouldn't trade this for anything," Brunton stated.

Lifelong North Grenville resident Jack Higgins, born in 1923 in Oxford Mills, was inducted for his hard work in developing fastball in the community. In 1937 he began playing baseball for the Kemptville Senior Men's League and played in area leagues until 1954 before founding Kemptville's major softball tournaments, something he developed for 30 years which earned him the title of 'Mr. Softball.'

Throughout the years, the softball tournaments became known as a gathering of the best of the best in Ontario and raised more than $300,000 for organizations including the Kemptville Lions Club, Kemptville District Hospital and Riverside Park.

Higgins also continued to coach bantam, midget and juvenile softball teams as well as serving on a number of boards and executives, including the Ontario Amateur Softball Association and president of the Interprovincial Junior Fastball League. He was also a valued member of the Knights of Columbus and Lions.

Sponsor Royal LePage Gale Real Estate's Harry Pratt presented Higgins with his award and he stepped up to say thank you. "I've had a lengthy career and an enjoyable career and the major softball tournament was very dear to my heart," Higgins commented. "...For years we drew thousands of people into Riverside Park. It wasn't easy to get all these teams. People might think I just sent out letters and folded my arms and waited. That wasn't the case. I worked my butt off, but it was thoroughly enjoyable."

"...It was a great ride and meant a lot to Kemptville and I was only too glad to help out on different projects," he concluded.

Kayaker Adrian Richardson, who moved to North Grenville in 1995 with his family at the age of 14, soon began sprint kayaking with the Rideau Canoe Club and could often be seen training in front of his house and paddling between the Burritts Rapids locks and Merlyn Wilson Bridge.

He earned a spot on the Canadian canoe/kayak team in 1996 and competed in his first international competition in Hungary. Some of his accomplishments include a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games and ended his career on the highest note possible, winning two gold medals at the 2001 World Canoe/Kayak Cup in Georgia. At the international level, Richardson has had over 20 top three finishes in the national canoe/kayak championships.

After retiring in 2001, from 2003 to 2005 Richardson served as head coach for the Rideau Canoe Club and passed on the knowledge and skills he learned in the sport. Under his direction, Rideau Canoe Club athletes earned 13 gold medals at the Canadian Canoe/Kayak Championships in 2004, and has also coached four athletes on the Canadian team, two of which participated in the 2008 Olympics.

Sponsor Tallman Truck Centre's Gerald Tallman honoured Richardson with his award.

"Thank you very much for the opportunity to be invited to this ceremony," Richardson noted. "It's a pleasure to be a part of such great company. There's so much history of sports here in North Grenville."

He said his kayaking career got underway after his parents forced him to make a "life changing decision" to either continue down the wrong path or make a decision to stay out of trouble. Richardson chose the latter. "I picked kayaking and I was lucky. I got in the kayak and everything seemed to work out," he stated.

The final inductees of the evening were the 1966 Kemptville midget fastball team who were crowned All Ontario Champions in 1966, marking the first time a Kemptville team has won a provincial championship.

"This was a real fun ball team to follow and there were a lot of people in this room who were big fans," noted Burns as she introduced the team.

Guided by head coach Keith Forbes (inducted into the hall of fame last year) and assistant coaches Forrest Christie and Ken Burchill, the team of 15 and 16-year-olds made the decision to play against teams in the South Carleton league, which was comprised of adults. "Despite the age and size differences, the skill of the players shone through," notes the induction program.

It was a great amount of commitment by families, sponsors, coaches and parents and players for the team to attempt to enter the Ontario playdowns. They took out Kingston, then Picton, Binbrook and finally Cochrane, before claiming the championship.

"When the boys arrived home they were honoured by a spontaneous downtown night parade, another first for Kemptville," states the program. "The next year the team entered the South Carleton Fastball League and went on to win many local, area and a provincial championship again in 1969."

In addition to the coaching staff, members of the team included: catchers Clarke Christie and Mike McGinn, pitchers Murray Hyndman and Doug Montgomery, first baseman Gerald Christie, second baseman Gary Christie, third baseman Neil Forbes, shortstop Bill Forbes, outfielders Ron Donnelly, Dave Gaw, Bryan Burchill, Alan Forbes and Eric Buckingham.

Many members of the 1966 team were in attendance to accept the honour and others who have since passed had family members who represented them at the ceremony.

Gerald Christie noted he would like to "thank our parents for driving us all over the province of Ontario. Without them, I wouldn't be here today."

He noted that Keith Forbes was a firm head coach. "Keith drilled balls at us left and right and we thought he was being rough on us but he said we would get it in the games and he was right, we did," Gerald said. "Years later we found out he was a drill sergeant in the army!"

McGinn said he was asked to come from Brinston to play with the team and he was "very happy to do so."

"I thank Keith Forbes for asking me to play because I don't think I ever thanked him," he said. "It was a great life experience and I had a wonderful time and made some great friendships."