No one really knew what to expect when members of the Horseless Carriage Club of America – Southern Ontario Region said they were planning to make Sydenham a lunch stop on one of the touring days of their annual gathering... which is centred at the Ambassador Hotel in Kingston this year.

There were about 60 of the brass-era vehicles, so-named for the shiny gold trim on many of the them, all built before 2016. They were planning to drive from the hotel up Sydenham Road to a pit stop at the Limestone Creamery before heading to Sydenham to visit Trousdale’s General Store, before having lunch at the Legion.

Trousdale’s was a fitting stop, since the store has been operating since long before these cars were first built, having survived from the horse and buggy days of the 1830’s.

The vehicles began to arrive at around 11, and by 11:30 they were buzzing and darting around the intersection of Mill Street and George Street like so many bees. Club members were checking out Trousdale’s, some filling up at the One Stop along with all of the modern cars, which all looked pretty drab and uniform in comparison to the elegant and varied brass era beauties.

The vintage cars never seemed to stop for too long, though, before heading one way or another through the village, some at a gentle cruising speed and others bolting along at a rapid clip. Club members smiled at passers-by, and whispered to each other about how their cars were running, where they were able to source parts, and about makes and model years, etc.

After 15 minutes, they began to vacate the intersection, heading towards the Legion parking lot, which was quickly filled up. There club members gathered in earnest, talking shop for the most part. After lunch they were gone, headed towards the Wilton Cheese Factory and the return trip to Kingston.

Sydenham quickly returned to normal, the modern lumps on wheels reclaimed the streets, and pedestrian put their phones/cameras back into their pockets.

The brass-era invasion was over.

Storrington Minor Soccer finished off its 2019 season on the weekend with a fun day style championship at Gerald Ball Memorial Park in Sunbury.

Director of Officials/Registrar Greg Horton said there were 44 teams participating representing 623 players.

“We have a crew of about 25 pretty dedicated referees too,” he said, referencing the warm temperatures on Sunday.

The various Division Champions (Divisions determined by age categories) were:

Division 3A — Storrington Lions Club

Division 3B — Rich Lakins Remax Finest Realty

Division 4A — Donaldson Construction

Division 4B — Cloverview Farms

Division 5A — Levac Supply

Division 5B Petrie Ford Sales Ken Mundell

On Saturday, July 6 Sydenham Lake Canoe Club competitive sprint paddlers, Paige Bowes, Kayla Headrick, Claire Swinton, Ashley Headrick and Parker Friendship competed in the Annual Gananoque Canoe Club U14 Regatta. Experienced paddler, Claire Swinton, Parker Friendship teamed up with novice paddlers Kayla and Ashley Headrick to place first in the U14 Women’s K4 200 m race. Kayla and Ashley placed third in their U14 Women’s K2 200 m race. Claire Swinton, Kayla, Ashley all placed third in their U14 women’s K1 races and Paige Bowes placed fifth in her U12 K1 200m race competing again paddlers two years older than her.

All this effort is in preparation of the Divisional Championships which will take place right here in South Frontenac at The Point in Sydenham. Sydenham will be hosting the Eastern Ontario U14 Championships on Saturday, August 10 and 11. The regatta will be an exciting event with over 400 paddlers and their families coming to Sydenham for two days to compete in multiple sprint canoe and kayaking events. Sydenham’s nationally sanctioned regatta course is highly regarded in the paddling community for its fine water quality and clear line of visibility. The younger paddlers with have the opportunity to become Eastern Ontario Champions and older U12+ paddlers will have the opportunity to compete at Ontario Championship in Ottawa and possibly the Nationals in Regina Saskatchewan.

Now in its twentieth year, the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, a volunteer run organization, is an established part of the region’s sprint racing canoe kayak tradition producing a number of youth and adult Masters competitive paddlers despite its small size. Along with the sprint training for youth and Masters adults, SLCC offers a recreational Canoe Kids Day Camp. The camp follows the skills progression outlined by Canoe Kayak Canada’s Canoe Kids program. Any U14 paddler who has registered for a week of the camp over the 2019 summer season is eligible to compete in the Sydenham EOD Regatta. Program registration is ongoing throughout the summer, so there are usually, but not always, spaces available, if you wish to sign up at short notice. For more information, please go to www.sydenhamlakecanoeclub.com

“I think we have a legitimate shot at first or second,” said Karl Hammer Monday at the Stock Sports demonstration in Harrowsmith’s Centennial Park as part of the Canada Day celebrations. “Brazil is a powerhouse but we’ve put in a lot of time.”

Many will know Hammer as coach of Sydenham High School’s football team, but in this particular case, he’s talking about Stock Sports, a curling variant that can be played on tennis courts or any other smooth surface. The granite rocks of curling are replaced by stocks (which can be and are played on ice) with plastic or Teflon bases. The game is very similar to curling with some differences.

“There’s a perfect Venn Diagram of similarities,” Hammer said.

There is a world championship organization for the sport, which will be holding its championship in Asuncion, Paraguay July 9-11 and Hammer, along with teammates Mike Osborne, Tyler McComish and Karl Hammer Sr. will be representing Canada in the four-nation event, which is called the America Cup of Stock Sport. Tammy Lambert will also be going as a member of the women’s team.

Worldwide, South America is a perhaps the most enthusiastic about this sport, Hammer said.

“The origins of the sport are Austrian-Bavarian,” he said. “There was a large emigration to South America from those areas and they brought the sport with them.”

Canada hosted the championship in Angus, ON in 2015 but this will be Hammer’s first championship.

“Our other members were there,” he said. “Including Tyler, who came seventh out of 15 in the target competition.

“He was the first person to ever compete in the world championships who has an exceptionality.”

He said McComish has become something of a celebrity in the sport.

“Some people were worried about him competing but it’s turned out he’s bolstered the sport’s reputation,” Hammer said.

Obviously, Hammer and squad want to do well but there’s also an underlying reason they’d like to put in a good showing.

“We’d like to host the 2021 championships in Sydenham,” he said. “We’re making a push for a playing area specific to the sport.

“It would be nice to have level asphalt without any pressure cracks.”

It’s highly likely the phrase “fishin’ is better in the rain” was heard several times on area lakes Saturday as anglers of all ages took to the water amid rain and windy conditions in two fishing derbies.

Numbers were down at the third annual Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation Bass Derby, said Chief Doreen Davis, who also served as chief tournament official at the weigh-in at Oso Beach.

“You can’t anchor in this weather,” she said. “But because it’s any lake north of the 401, people could find their own favourite spots.

“And it’s about getting the community together. All of the kids get a prize and even though it’s a bass derby, kids can weigh in anything, even if it’s a minnow.”

However, the kids division win, was anything but a minnow. Owen Lightheart landed a 3-pound bass on his “last cast of the day” to win the rod and reel combination.

Craig Schonaier took the $630 first prize in the derby with a 4.7 pound lunker, which he caught in Mosquito Lake, followed by Connor Clow’s 4.1 pound $180 second place winner. Jacob White took third with a 3.14 pounder.

Over at the King of Sharbot Lake tournament, which was limited to fish caught in Sharbot Lake, 22 teams braved the weather with Team #12, consisting of Bill Bowick, Scott Bullen and Brayden Bullen taking home the $1,500 first prize with a combined weight of 14.11 pounds.

Second place ($750) went to Team # 19 consisting of Billy Chambers and Taylor Lowry with a combined weight of 13.12 pounds. Third place ($500) went to Team #5 of Dave Lockridge and Steve Lockridge with a combined weight of 13.11 pounds.

Cazz Bahm and Josh Carr (Team #9) won the Hidden Weight prize.

Your boat is in danger, a passenger has fallen overboard, or you’re stranded on open water. How do you get help? Minutes matter. Make sure you know what do before you face a boating emergency. It could make the difference between life and death.

The most effective and reliable way to issue a distress alert is with a marine VHF radio. Keep your radio tuned to channel 16 and know your location at all times.

If you are in grave and imminent danger, use channel 16 to contact the Coast Guard and repeat MAYDAY three times. Then give the name and position of your vessel, the nature of your emergency, and the type of assistance you need.

If you need help but you are not in immediate danger, use channel 16 and repeat PAN PAN three times. Then give the name and position of your vessel, the nature of your emergency, and the type of assistance you need.

Only use channel 16 for emergency and calling purposes. To continue a conversation with another vessel, change to another channel.

One benefit of VHF radio is that in addition to the Coast Guard, other vessels in the area will also hear your distress call and can come to your aid.

New VHF radios can also issue a digital alert with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on channel 70.To make a digital call, your radio must have a nine-digit Marine Mobile Service Identity (MMSI), which is assigned free of charge by Industry Canada. DSC service is available on the east and west coasts and in the high arctic.

Many cell phone providers offer a *16 service, which connects you to the nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre. Cell phones are not a good substitute for VHF radios because other vessels in the area can’t hear your distress call and rescuers can’t identify your position or follow your signal back to your vessel. A global positioning system is one of the most useful tools in providing accurate information on your position. The use of a cell phone is not an approved method of issuing a distress signal.

Training on the use of a Maritime Radio is recommended and now available from Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons. Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive your Recognized Operator Certificate (Maritime).

For more information on the Global Maritime Distress and the Safety System, visit www.csbc.ca.

Fishing is so popular that well over 50% of the boats sold in Canada are used at least in part for fishing. By far, the most popular boats for this activity are small open powerboats under 6 meters in length. Coincidentally, between 2009 & 2013, boats of this type were involved in 26% of the boating-related fatalities according to the Lifesaving Society’s 2016 Drowning Report.

Contrary to popular opinion, simply having a lifejacket aboard the boat alone isn’t necessarily going to be enough to prevent a catastrophic outcome. In approximately 80% of boating-related fatalities, victims weren’t wearing their lifejackets. Often times, a wave or wake from another boat can not only knock a boater into the water but also carry their boat away leaving them in the middle of a lake without any floatation and they drown.

In this day and age, there really isn’t any excuse not to wear a lifejacket. Manufacturers have designed purpose-built units that not only provide comfort and allow ease of casting but also have pockets and clips to keep tackle, tools and other necessities at arm’s reach. They’re even available in a camouflage pattern!

Inflatable lifejackets, too, provide a great option for anglers. They are cool, comfortable, allow for full arm motion and are completely adjustable. They can be deployed either manually or automatically and come in both vest and fanny pack models. The only conditions associated with inflatable lifejacket wear are that they must be worn to be legal and aren’t legal when the wearer is engaged in an activity where they could be knocked unconscious. Also, the wearer must be 16 years of age or older.

No matter what type or style of lifejacket an angler chooses, they should be treated like their lucky fishing hat in that they only work when they’re worn. The Canadian Safe Boating Council understands that we’ve gotten our families hooked on fishing. We just want to get everyone hooked on lifejackets as well!

Many fisherfolk in the area may have thought it was too wet and rainy to go fishing last Saturday, but the weather didn’t faze the 27 blind anglers and their 16 pro guides from venturing out on Kennebec Lake for the 31st annual Blind Anglers International Tournament (B.A.I.T.). This was the second consecutive year it’s been held at Springwood Cottages on Kennebec Lake, and organizers said they plan to return for next year’s tournament.

“This was our second year here, but we’ve still got some wrinkles to work out so we’re going to do it again next year,” said tournament chair Paul Riddell. The tournament is hosted by the Stittsville Lions Club.

This year, the top prize, Catch of the Day, went to Martin Collicott, an “American by birth but from Orleans now,” for a total weight of 12 pounds, including a seven-pound pike.

His guide, Ottawa’s Scott Campbell, representing AIM Marine, said the lunker pike was caught on a No. 3 Mepps.

“It was windy and wet and the best fishing ever,” said Collicott. “Scott was really good at picking spots.

“I’ve only missed three of these tournaments since 2000.”

Collicott said that being a Maritimer, being on the water is second nature to him.

“I grew up catching brook trout,” he said. “But when my eyes went south I kinda missed all that.

“This tournament is a good chance to get all that back.”

He said this was his first Catch of the Day win.

“It’s my second trophy though,” he said. “I did win biggest walleye one year and I had a big pike in the boat but lost it when we tried to get a picture.

“This pike is the biggest fish that never got away.”

Mike Thompson from Eganville shared the boat with Collicott and Campbell.

“I’ve been in about 20 of these, including that one time with Catch of the Day,” he said. “I always have a good time.”

And so do the guides.

“It’s such a fun day,” said pro Bob Boyer. “I’ll do it til the day I die.”

One of the biggest laughs of the day was provided by Coun. Tom Dewey, who brought greetings on behalf of Central Frontenac Township.

With the rain coming down outside, Dewey said in all seriousness: “It’s apparent to me that the anglers participating in this tournament look forward to this very special experience, whether they are catching a fish, or just sitting in the boat with the warm sun rays embracing their face,” at which point his wife Shirley reminded him it had been pouring rain all day, to the delight of the laughing crowd.

Granite Ridge Educational Centre can add a couple more names to its growing list of accomplished athletes.

Grade 12s Devin Cooney and Nick Anderson have returned home from the Youth Invitational Special Olympics in Toronto last week (May 14-17) with a total medal haul of five, including two golds.

Cooney took the gold in shot put and silver in both the 200 metres and 400 metres. He was also fifth in the long jump.

Anderson won gold in the long jump and a bronze in the 100 metres (both personal bests) and added a sixth in the shot put.

“This was a big deal because there were 2,500 athletes from all across North America, including Cayman Islands and Jamaica,” said coach Tammy Steele.

“There were athletes from Chicago, North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec,” said Cooney.

The guys are no strangers to athletic competition. Last year, Cooney was on a gold-medal winning basketball team from the school and Anderson took gold on the soccer team. Albeit, those were much smaller events.

Cooney actually likes basketball best, he said, citing Michael Jordan as the best ever. But the Invitational in Toronto was “a lot of fun, evenly fun with basketball.”

Anderson prefers the field events, such as long jump, despite winning bronze in the 100 metres.

“With the running events, after a while my legs hurt,” he said, explaining that he’s had a bout of shin splints lately. “But my goal is to be a weightlifter like my Uncle Murray.”

(Murray Anderson has had considerable success in strongman competitions, including two 12th-place finishes in Ontario’s Strongest Man in 2005 and 2007.)

Both Cooney and Anderson, like most athletes, remember the food at the competition.

“They had good breakfast, lunch and supper,” said Cooney. “And cappuccinos.”

“And Ice-caps,” said Anderson.

Next year, the Invitational is scheduled to be held in Kingston and both athletes are looking forward to it, albeit for different reasons.

The school is looking at taking most of the student body to the Kingston meet to cheer them on.

“The student body is coming to watch?” asked Cooney. “I want that!

“I guess I’ll really have to train harder.” Anderson said that while he likes the idea of competing, having a lot of people there watching him really isn’t his thing.

“No, not really, anxiety,” he said.

The Toronto Invitational marked 50th year of Special Olympics since its inception by Dr. Frank Hyden and Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968.

Flooding, washouts, impassable trails and terrible conditions forced the postponement of the Spring ATV Ride for Dad in Ompah for a week, but even though it corresponded with the Mother’s Day weekend, organizers were still pleased that about 400 drivers and passengers that came out last Saturday.

Byron Smith of Ride for Dad said they’ve been coming up here for about eight years and even though numbers were down slightly this year, it’s still important to them.

“It’s important for us to get word to smaller communities,” Smith said. “The big attraction to this event is that so many participate.

“We get guys coming to us saying that because of this event, they got their prostate checked and it was caught in time.”

He said they still got plenty of pledges and sold some memorabilia.

“All the money we raise goes right into cutting edge research,” he said. “We don’t put any money into bricks and mortar.”

And even though the event had to be put off for a week, it didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the participants.

“It was fun, and for a good cause,” said Beverly Bulman, who lives in Bailieboro but has a cottage in the area.

“I’ll go anywhere to ride a trail like this one,” said Roger Rocha of Ottawa.