Page 16 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 2

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The Club Without A Name

By Diane Hunter brought the kids to a run for cancer.
When the kids, aged 11 or 12 passed
Every Thursday evening a group him, he was embarrassed and has
of people meets at Island Park in been running ever since.
Alexandria, Ontario to run in an
The Alexandria Running club has
attempt to stay in shape. Some run
been meeting every Thursday from 6
for health, some run for competition.
p.m. to 7 p.m. for about a year and
There are from 20 to 25 people who
get together in the summer and run a half. The cost is $30 per month
with the help and direction of Jeff and most sessions run for about
LaPierre. 10 weeks. In the winter, the group
increases in size to approximately 40
There is no name for this club,
to 60 participants ranging in age from
and there is no advertising: the club
nine to sixty. All are welcome to
communicates by word of mouth.
join. “Just show up and we’ll get you
In the winter, the club meets at the
started,” says LaPierre. “Running is
Alexandria Dome, which has an
indoor running track. The Alexandria for everybody.”
Dome does advertise its winter Laurier Rochon and son Tristan meet on Thursday nights to run and If you would like to join the
stay in shape.
programs, but other than that, people Inset: Jeff LaPierre, organizer of the running club. running club, just show up at Island
often join simply by accident. Some Photos by Diane Hunter Park on a Thursday evening between
people are in the park to watch their 6 and 7 pm. For more information
children play soccer, or just to visit Jeff LaPierre runs every day to LaPierre, who has been running on activities available at the park or
the park and relax. In most cases, stay in shape for competitions and for the past seven years. “I started
people have heard about the club marathons. “It’s better that sitting running because I was embarrassed.” Alexandria Dome, visit: http://www.
from someone else. on the couch watching T.V.” says He had been coaching soccer and northglengarry.ca/en/thingstodo.

Local Teacher Tries to Make Rowing Club a Reality

By Jentry van Baal

As soon as the ice melts, the water
warms, and the summer sun comes out,
the waterfront becomes a hot spot for
local boaters.

Among the different types of crafts
out on the water is Kevin Donnelly,
rowing down the canal in his sculling
boat, and it shouldn’t be too long before
a whole club of rowers joins him.

For the past three years, Donnelly has
been trying to start up a rowing club
in Cornwall. “I started (rowing) as a
student in Ireland…in University,” he Kevin Donnelly shows first time rower Michelle Rozon the ropes out on the canal.
explained. He picked up the sport once Photo by Jentry van Baal
again when he moved to the area and
began teaching. Foundation, who have also supported School, he would one day like to see Donnelly hopes that with the help of
the St. Lawrence Rowing Club in
Despite the perfect location for the sport introduced to the schools and posters around the city, media attention,
Iroquois, for funding, which would
rowing along the canal, starting the develop interschool activities. and simply being spotted out on the river
assist in acquiring a container suitable
club hasn’t always been smooth sailing. will generate further interest and attract
for the equipment needed for the club Athlete Alicia Brown, 19, of
“The main challenge is to store boats,” people to the new sport in Cornwall.
and help with additional costs. Williamstown, recently caught wind
said Donnelly, “We’re still struggling
of the possibility of a rowing club, and
for storage.” Donnelly has been offered Once developed, the rowing club will already thinks highly of it. “It makes use Despite the challenges that he must
a location in Guindon Park by the boat be geared more towards the youth, and face before the Cornwall Rowing Club is
of Cornwall’s ideal location for water
launch right on the river, however he plans to incorporate both competitive and up and running, Donnelly has confidence
sports,” she explained, adding that it
is still looking at options for the home recreational rowing. Seeing as Donnelly when he says that it is “definitely going
would be a great way to encourage
of the Cornwall rowing club. He has is currently in the teaching profession to happen, it’s just a matter of getting as
youth in the area to get moving, and
also looked to the Ontario Trillium at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary much out of it as we can.”
a great “alternative to team sports.”