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bit? Which brings me around to Richmond Hill and Robert Q. Thompson and Company who have been doin}.r their best to roil the waters of track and field in the area for the past three years. “I don’t really know,” he was saying the other day. “About three years ago a few of us guys thought it might be a good idea to start a club.” That “inspiration” triggered the pres- ent day Richmond Hill Athletic Club. Bob’s club can’t afford it. It opefated on a $500 budget last season which included a $300 subsidy from the town to start a minor track and field club. [â€"â€" By Fred Simpson That seems to be the nub of the whole prob- lem. ‘Crothers and Kidd managed to make a dent in international competition for a few halcyon days a few years ago. Glamor. It was great. Then it just faded away. It’s taken the immin- enlt arrival of the Olympics to stir the blood just a itt e. Which is the problem with traek and field. People, not enough people, just don’t seem to think of it enough. I surmise the reasons are many but include the fact that we are too hockey, football and baseball-oriented. So be it. VOL. 97, NO. 43. Bob’s interest was stirred by the talk of having the Olympics in Canada because “I felt it would be a good time to start something like this. People would be thinking of track and field where they hadn’t beenrfor years.” “I think you have to approach track and field in a different way than say hockey or foot- ball,” states Bob. “It’s more of a solitary oper- ation. The individual is on his own. If he fails the onus is on him. Not a teammate. There are other problems: “We had to turn down the opportunity to host the Ontario Midget outdoor championships this year because of a lack of all-weather track facilities," said Bob. “It’s a common plight all over the area. “The high school final meet is held each year in Parry Sound because that’s the only place where an all-weather track is available. “It’s ironic that the area in the Region of York which spawns the better track and field athletes, Richmond Hill, does not have a 400 metre track in good condition for use by local athletes.” “People don’t always realize how exciting a track meet can be. They just see people run- ning. The thrill comes with realizing that some- one has just shaved a few seconds off his prevâ€" ious best timing. Of seeing some unknown come out of nowhere and challenge a runner you thought had the field to himself.” “We’re lucky in one way in Richmond Hill, unlucky in another,” conceded Bob. “We’re close to the action in Toronto which gives our athletes the strong competition they need. Then again. the competition means a lot of frustration be- cause we’re going against the best in Ontanio. It can get discouraging.” It has just occurred to me that when some- one mentions track and field the only names that immediately flash to my mind are Bill Crothers (Markham druggist) and Bruce Kidd (aspiring politician7). But that’s a hundred years ago, isn’t it? Bob’s club has, in his words, “50 registered members” but that doesn’t mean he has 50 people at all times. You have to be dedicated. Have to be de- termined as well as talented. If you finish in 99th spot in a field of 100 there’s a strong temp- tation to forget about track and field. This, of course, means that all the victories recorded by Richmond Hill and area athletes this summer will be away from home and draw only a passing interest from local citizens. What’s to be done about it? Probably very little. A proper all-weather track facility would cost in the neighborhood of $60,000 and there just ain't anyone around will- ing to comeAup with that kind of money. Especially with the aura surrounding the upcoming Olympics in Montreal in 1976. Hope- fully, very hopefully, it could be the start of something big in Canada as regards the poor cousin which is track and field. “They tend to come and g0. Some might show up for two or three sessions and then drop out.” Someone mentions track and field and I start to stutter. Like too many other people I would imagine. Just never got around to knowing too much about it after high school. I’ve come toregret this. How did Bob get into the track ahd field (Continued on Page 16) LACK OF FACILITIES THRILL IS THERE MONEY. MONEY MR. THOMPSON 1 Poor Cousin RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1974 ’ired Simpson During the season there appeared to be lack of com- munication both between the coaches and between the coach and the players. There was also substantial .parent interference with Mr. Black’s method of running the team. At one point during the sea- son, Mr. Black offered to resign but was talked out of doing so by Sid Moreland, then president of the RHMBA. In spite of these difficulties, the record of the team speaks for itself. Hav- ing had a successful finish to what began as a disappoint- ing season, Mr. Black sub- mitted an application to coach the bantam team again this year. Another applica- tion was also submitted, this one by Moreland. In 1973 Paul Black was ap- pointed to coach the Rich- mond Hill Bantam Boys Town Representative Softball team. No other applications were submitted for the team and Mr. Black graciously consented to do the job. This team finished in third place in their league and went to the league playoff finals. There were also OASA zone champions and provincial semi-finalists against the best bantam teams in Ontario. This is a better showing than any other Richmond Hill Bantam team has ever done. After a lengthy debate of the pros and cons of last year’s circumstances, it was decided by an executive vote of five to four that Mr. Black should be given the team again this year. (Mr. More- land, a member of this year’s minor ball executive, chose not to cast his vote). Five members of the executive felt that if Mr. Black was capable enough of coaching last year’s team, worthy enough to have been talked out of resigning and in- terested enough to want to coach it again this season with a year’s experience under his belt, then, as last year‘s coach, he definitely deserved the first considera- tion. A letter was sent to Mr, Black informing him of his acceptance. Two weeks later at the next executive meeting the Paul Black situation was brought up again :by minor ball chairman Bill Fox. Ac- cording to Mr. Fox, five alleged letters had been sign- ed by five parents requesting that Mr. Black be removed from his coaching position or they would take their boys off the team. \lllllmulllllll“lllllllll\\llllllllIll“llllllIll“lllllllllllllllllllllllll Display Endurance Hill Swimathon MINOR BALL ERUPTION Dear Mr. Sports Editorâ€" The second leg of the Richmond Hill Swimathon was completed Sunday with some surprising examples of endurance from the younger swimmers. The event was staged in two legs because some swimmers were competing in events which clashed with the Swim-a-thon. The amount raised has not yet been calculated but those participating will be calling on their sponsors to authenticate their scores. At least two Richmond Hill swimmers, Bonnie Branch and Neil Miller. have qualified for the age group finals in Kitchener next weekend. Senior Swimmer Gary Gentry, who was fourth in Canada last year in his age group back-crawl, swam the 200 length course in an easy crawl in a little over an hour. Seventy percent of the proceeds go to Richmond Hill Aquatic Club. 20 per cent to the Ontario Section and the final 10 percent to the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association. Mr. Fox wanted to have the entire situation discussed again. When the executive appeared to be stalemated over the issue. Mr. Fox tele- phoned Skip DeGeer who im- mediately came over to the meeting as a representative of the five parents. Mr. De- Geer informed the executive that the five parents would (I) attempt to go over our heads to the ball association and 12) play their boys on a team outside of Richmond Hillâ€"if Mr, Black was not removed as Bantam coach. Mr. Black was- then asked to come over to the meeting. For over an hour he faced the humiliation of having to defend his ability as a coach. After Mr. Black had left, the matter was further dis- cussed for another hour after which time Mr. Fox put a motion on the floor “that Paul Black be relieved of his duties as coach.” One execu- tive member who had previ- ‘ously supported Mr. Black was absent from this meet- ing. Since Mr. Moreland de- cided to vote this time, the motion was carried five to four and Mr. Black was re- moved from his coach duties. In view of the above cir- cumstances, we feel that we can no longer. in good faith, serve the people who elected us. We hereby submit our resignations. Perhaps the five concerned parents will take our positions. MARG HOWORTH, (Secretary), RONALD MacINNIS (Registrations), ALLAN HOWARD, (Publicity). BRUCE HOWORT‘H. Equipment) We, the undersigned mem- bers of the Richmond Hill Minor Ball Association execu- tive, find that we cannot in our minds accept this deci- sion for the following reasons 1. We feel that to be cred- ible an executive must sup- port its dedisions. This executive has shown itself to be less than credible by call- ing for a second vote on a decided issue when one of its members was absent. 2. Mr. Black has suffered consider- able personal embarassment because of this situation. We feel that a man who has given freely of his time should not have to be sub- jected to this kind of treat- ment. 4. We feel that another bad precedent has also been established; namely that par- ents can dictate to the execu- tive who should coach any team. If they want that privilege let them become elected executive members. 3. It has always been an accepted fact in Richmond Hill that a tawn representa- tive coach should have the first opportunity to coach the team in the following year unless there is some major reason why this should not be so. We feel that Mr. Black deserved to coach this team but the undesirable pre- cedent has now been estab- lished that little considera- tion need be given to any previous coach. Good coaches are much too hard to find. H Rice's Flowers CENTRE 884-1812 Phone 889-1812 - At All Hours - For All. Occasions RICHMOND HEIGHTS DON DOYLE, (Diamond Controller) Wired Anywhere We Deliver E to Toronto 8: . Surrounding Districts r AND OTHERS In the matter of the estate of Emerson Pickering Mc- Quarrie. All persons having claims against the estate of Emer- son Pickering McQuarrie, de- ceased, late of the Town of Richmond Hill, in the Reg- ional Municipality of York, who died On or about the 5th day of April, 1974, are hereby notified to send them to the undersigned, duly verified, on or before the let day of May, 1974. After which date, the as- sets of the above-mentioned estate will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to claims of which the exec- utors shall then have notice. Dated this 19th day of April. 1974. It’s the sweet smell of victory for the above members of the ‘Richmond Hill Tournaments Incorporated Minor Ban- tams Hockey Team. They’re fresh from downing Chatham 6â€"3 in the foin'th game of their best-ofâ€"five OMHA Champ- ionship Finals in Chatham. Front row (left to right) are: Steve Madden, Jamie Gropp, Warren Nye (kneeling) stick- boy; Dino Capotosto, Steven Bowers; Steve Price, Frank' Nigro, Chris Nye, Danny Girard, Rick Donnelly, manager. Back row, Mike Muirhead, coach, Blair Lewis, Phil Wood, NOTICE TO CREDITORS THERE ARE BIG ADVANTAGES TO BEING SMALL. SQUIRTS â€" Age 9 and 10 years as of January 1, 1974 â€" Saturday, April 27th, 10 am, at Crosby Park . â€" Coach - Mr. Bob Davies - 884-7888 PEEWEE â€" Age 11 and 12 years as of January 1, 1974 â€"â€" Saturday, April 27th, 12 noon at Crosby Park â€" Coach Mr. P. Tipold - 884-6910 BANTAM â€" Age 13 and 14 years, as of January 1, 1974 â€" Saturday, April 27th, 2 pm, at Crosby Park -â€" Coach - Mr. Con Thompson - 884-5003 MIDGETS â€" Age 15 and 16 years as of January 1, 1974 â€" Saturday, April 27th, 4 pm, at Crosby Park â€" Coach - Mr. Karl Brimblecombe - 884-8087 TRY- UUIS RICHMOND HILL MINOR BALL TOWN Ia: Representative William H. C. Bailey, 33 Victoria Street, Aurora. Ontario, Solicitor for the Executors. DON VALLEY NORTH TOYOTA TEAM STEELES AVE. JUST EAST OF WOODBINE 495-0722 : MAPLE DOWNS GOLFCLUB :CADDIES I“: ‘_“_“:‘ :2 ‘2‘: WE WELCOME BACK ALL OUR OLDI CADDIES AND OTHER BOYS AND GIRLS I 13 AND OVER TO ENJOY A HEALTHY ' SUMMER AND EARN GOOD MONEY TO HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR NEXT SCHOOL TERM. ‘ Please Phone 889-4772 Pro Shop for registration n“““““““‘ Situated North Dufferin Street OFF MAPLE SIDEROAD Newer & Higher Caddie Rates They're The Champ: * Small purchase price (from $2499.00) * Small depreciation * Small maintenance costs And Many Many More So come on over to Don Valley North Toyota and ask us about the big ad- vantages of being small. After all, ' we’ve been building small cars for 40 years, and thinking small has made us big. Jerry Legere, Stan Norman, Gary Gentry, Tom Peden, and Peter Halliday. Richmond Hill opened the series with a win in Chat- ham, dropped the next game 4-2 in Richmond Hill, and then won a 5-2 contest in Chatham. They took a 54 loss in Richmond Hill before going back to Chatham and winning all the laurels. The jubilant boys took time out for the above photo enroute to Winnipeg and a hockey tournament in that city. 1973 CRICKET 2 Door Hardtop, 4 speed, 1973 DART SPORT 2 Door Coupe, automatic, big six engine, radio, power steering. Lic. No. HFA 194. $2895.00 1971 1973 DODGE CHELLENEE'R 2 Door Hira- top, V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio. Lic. No. AXN 436,. radio. Lic. No. EYM 603. "$229500 1972 VOLKSWAGEN Station W a g on, 4 speed, radio. Lic. No. FUE 702. ’ $2595.00 1972 RENAULT 12TL 4 Door Sedan, 4 speed. Lic. No. ALU 855. $1895.00 1972 CHRYSLER NEWPORT 4 Door Sedan, 1969 1969 1968 matic, radio. radio.’ Lie. No. DYA 155. $2295.00 DODGE POLARA 2 Door Hardtop, V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio, defogger. Lic. No. AXH 77729. 7 _ DODGE CORONET 500 4 Door Sedan, V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio, etc. Lic. No. AJL {123: 7 V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio, etc. Lic. No. AWD 2867. A FURY RAMBLER REBEL 4 Door Sedan, auto- matic, radio. Lic. No. AWH 915. $1395.00 III 4 Door Hardtop, V8, auto- power stegljing, powng brakes! (Photo by Susan Samlla) $3495.00 $2495.00 $1995.00