Page 45 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 128

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #128 September 2023 45

Swimming with the Sea Lions: Hailey McDonald

By Victoria Klassen country. She placed 23rd overall Cornwall Sea Lions are such a
in the 100m freestyle and 25th small club, there is a lot more

ornwall Sea Lions swimmer, overall in the 50m freestyle. opportunity to form more
CHailey McDonald, “I’m excited to watch Hailey friendships with everyone on the
attended the Canadian Junior grow this upcoming season and team, not just the people that are
in your group,” shared Hailey.
Championships at the Toronto gain more experience attending
Pan Am Center at the beginning these high caliber events. She is Next year is already shaping
of August. It is a national level very talented and with continued up to be a big one for Hailey. She
meet with strict qualification hard work and dedication, I has qualified for the 2024 Eastern
standards. have no doubt she will achieve Canadian Championships in

“It was awesome to see all of her goals,” said Cory Kyer, Sea March, in Quebec City, with
the teams around Canada and see Lions head coach. her teammate Maddyson Kyer.
the different coaching styles,” Hailey has been swimming Hailey also already holds the
said 14-year-old Hailey about with the Sea Lions since 2016. 15-year-old Canadian Junior
her first experience at a Canadian She said the lifelong friendships Championships qualification
national meet. she has made through swimming time for the 50m freestyle. This
means that next August she will
Hailey competed in the 50m has been a highlight of her Photo Submitted be back in the water competing
and 100m freestyle against the swimming years so far. in the 2024 Canadian Junior
top 13 and 14 year olds in the “I think because the Championships.

Youth Sailing a SUCCESS at Stormont Yacht Club

By Ann Marie Blinkhorn become familiar with sail teaching program the kids were able to set up
techniques and best practices. the proper rigging on the dinghies as
ONG SAULT (ON) – Youth from Registration for the two sessions well as de-rig the boats at the end of
Lthe Cornwall, South Stormont opened in March and filled quickly. each day. All participants were also
and Glengarry areas gathered at the Hutchinson was not surprised with able to independently leave the dock,
Stormont Yacht Club (SYC) in early the response nor with the enthusiasm sail, and then safely return to the
August to take to the water and learn from the local community. She dock, which was quite impressive.
how to be a sailor. Two ‘1-week’ exclaimed that it was a joy to see Overall, 31 youth enjoyed the
sessions were offered to youth from excitement for the program. program. Each received a certificate
ages 8-15 years of age to learn the from Sail Canada attesting to their
Youth participants were exposed
basics of sailing on 12-foot ZEST completion of this introductory
dinghies. to sail knots, wind direction course aptly called ICAN Sail.
fundamentals, sail terminology,
Linda Hutchinson, SYC Youth Sail basic capsizing skills, and boat Hutchinson expressed a huge thanks
Program Coordinator, explained that control during off-water and on- to Ontario Sail for their support
the aim of the program was to provide water exercises. towards the development of the
a safe and fun learning environment youth sail program. Photo Submitted
for young sailors and to teach the By the end of Day 1 they were SYC is hoping to offer the
all sailing with 2 youth assigned to
kids about safe boat handling, program again next summer and,
seamanship, and sportsmanship. each boat. Two instructors guided perhaps, a higher level through the
the sailors from their own individual
Several SYC members undertook Sail Canada’s CANSail Program. Stormont Yacht Club by visiting
Community Instructor training with dinghies to coach and guide the their website at https://www.
Sail Ontario throughout the winter to young sailors. By the end of the You can learn more about the stormontyachtclub.ca/.