McAulay rink receives a hero's welcome

David Allan Weir, MetroValley sports

If Burnaby's Bryan Miki wasn't already a hometown hero, he likely is now.

Monday evening, Miki along with teammates Brent Pierce, Jody Sveistrup and Greg McAulay returned to a hero's welcome at Vancouver International Airport after the Royal City Curling Club rink claimed its first world title, the third by a B.C. rink this year.

"It's starting to settle in right now," said Miki."I'm sure in a few days it will really be settled in. It's just overwhelming right now with the people and the media. It's great coming back to a place that supports you."

About 200 friends, family and curling enthusiasts carrying signs and flowers were on hand Monday to great the new men's and women's world curling champions as they arrived home in Vancouver.

The McAulay foursome won their first world curling title by defeating Peter Lindholm's rink from Sweden 9-4 on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland.

The win came one day after Kelley Law, who lives in Coquitlam but curls out of Richmond, took gold with a 7-6 win against Sweden, also in Glasgow.

B.C.'s golden landslide began in March when a rink from Kelowna, skipped by Brad Kuhn of Vernon, won the junior men's title in Geising, Germany.

Not since 1980 has Canada claimed both the men's and women's world titles in the same year - Canada is the only country to ever do that. And it's not only the first time a single province has been home to three world champions in one year, but also the first time one city - greater Vancouver - has been able to claim both the men's and women'stitles in the same year.

"It's just as good as when I won the Canadian championship," said McAulay after arriving home. "Winning the Brier was the most amazing thing in my life. And now winning the worlds just caps off such a great year. It's just amazing - another rush. This gold medal says it all to me."

The world championship win tops on a spectacular season for the New Westminster rink, first winning the B.C. title, then the Brier (Canadian title) and now the world title.

"We've got such a solid team, it was pretty easy to skip these guys," said McAulay, who resides in Richmond. "They don't miss much so it makes my job easier - that's why we're standing here today."

And for the 30-year-old Miki, it caps off what began with him and Pierce listening to their fathers, Fuji Miki and Glen Pierce, talk about their days curling. The fathers reached the Brier, but never won. Now the younger Miki and Pierce are world champions.

Fuji Miki, who was in Glasgow as coach of the Japanese men's team, said it was great to see his son's hard work pay off with a world title. The elder Miki has been part of his son's curling career from the beginning, including coaching Bryan Miki and Brent Pierce to a third-place finish at the Canadian juniors in 1987.

"I saw them coming around in the last couple of years," Fuji Miki said. "Once they got rolling - it takes until about 25, 26, 27 until they mature and once that came around, you could see that they were going to be a good solid guiding team."

Both Fuji Miki and Glen Pierce, who served as coach to the McAulay rink, were in Scotland and were among the first to congratulate their sons on the ice.

"I just gave him a big hug," Fuji Miki said. "I just leaped over the boards and ran down to the other end and it was nice."

Added Bryan Miki: "I don't think we even said anything."

For Brent Pierce, having his dad in Scotland as team coach was "right where he should be."

"It feels really good," Pierce said. "They've been a big part of it. It's a lot bigger than the four or five of us as players.

Asked what was said between his father and himself, Pierce replied: "I just said: 'How do you like being a world champ.' "

PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE

The world is coming to Richmond, at least to the Winter Club.

Eight teams from Alaska, Yukon, Washington, Oregon and Taiwan (Chinese-Taipei) will compete with eight championship teams from throughout B.C. in the first Pacific International Challenge. This exclusive bonspiel will be held Thursday through Sunday (April 13 to 16) using a round-robin concept to determine the finalists.

The Alaskan teams, from Anchorage and Fairbanks, have won state championships several times and both have qualified for the Olympic trials. Their Yukon counterparts are equally impressive, having played in the Canadian Brier and been Yukon Super League champs several times.

The two Washington entries have also won their club titles on numerous occasions, while the California entry includes former American mixed champion David Peck who has also qualified for the national men’s finals.

The Taiwanese have just taken up curling so their credentials hardly compare with those of the other countries. However, they have worked hard to learn the game and are looking at this event as an introduction to competitive curling. This will be the first time a team has represented Taipei in any major bonspiel.

The B.C. teams have had to qualify by winning their local club championships. Then they had to compete against other clubs champions to win a berth in this event.

There will be four teams representing the Interior: Osoyoos, Kamloops, North Kamloops and Salmon Arm. They will challenge three Mainland teams from Abbotsford, North Van and Coquitlam and Island rep, Victoria.

The idea of the “Challenge” goes back to 1998 when an enthusiastic group of curlers got together and decided a competition involving club champions would benefit grass roots curling. They recognized there were many opportunities for competitive curlers in cash spiels, Brier playdowns and Super Leagues but there was an opportunity to focus on club champs who would otherwise not advance or participate in the cashspeils or Brier events. The group, which included Ken Watson, Jim Mann, Bob Black, and Al Campbell, came up with the Pacific Challenge last spring at Royal City featured 16 club champs in the Pacific Coast region.

First draw at the first “international” challenge is at 9 a.m. with draw two at 2 p.m. Friday’s draws are at 10, 2 and 7 and Saturday at 9 and 1. The semifinals go at noon Sunday and the final at 4 p.m.

WOMEN’S FASTBALL

The Ice-Breaker traditionally signals the start of another women’s fastball season, and last weekend’s version at McNair field gave every indication the 2000 campaign will be one of great parity.

Hosted by the Richmond Nissan Pathfinders, defending B.C. Junior “C” champions, the tournament also featured two other local entries: Trapa Tigers coached by Gary Rosval and the Sluggers under the guidance of Peter Kozak and Rob Laing, along with entries from Port Moody, North Van, Coquitlam, North Delta, Ridge Meadows and Langley.

The league has expanded in its second season to 16 teams from 12 a year ago. But Pathfinders’ coach Carl Moldowan, assisted by Jeff Snowdon and Ron Straight, says that despite that all of the teams he’s seen appear to be notably stronger.

Last year’s silver medalists, Coquitlam Rebels, for example, have all the ingredients to make another run at the title while two new North Van entries have strong pitching.

The Tigers, coming up from the midget division, are also solid and the Sluggers have also bolstered their lineup with the addition of three previous midget rep players.

The Pathfinders themselves have had quite a turnover from last season. Seven new players will wear the red, white and blue, but the most noticeable difference may well be the team’s increased speed on the base paths which was lacking in 1999.

The season officially gets underway April 16.

Making his Mark

The word “quit” simply isn’t part of Mark Miyashita’s vernacular.

His athletic and academic achievements are impressive, but a determination to never settle for anything less than his best make him a leader among his peers.

“I believe Mark’s willingness to contribute back to the sports that have provided him with so many opportunities, along with his maturity and vision, is what elevates him above many of his peers,” said Hugh Boyd Secondary Athletic Director Lisa Metheral.

These qualities, and more, have earned Miyashita special recognition as co-winner of the Richmond Sportsperson of the Year Award.

Prior to graduating from Boyd last year, Miyashita was a volunteer staff member at West Richmond Community Centre where he taught children various sports skills. As always, he demonstrated a remarkable maturity and poise, well beyond his 18 years. And he emphasized the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. For him, these ideals come before winning.

While in high school, Miyashita played - and excelled - in many sports including basketball and football. He was captain and MVP of the senior boys’ hoops team and role model to both teammates and younger athletes and also served as assistant coach for the junior team. On the gridiron he was selected a provincial all-star and was the Trojans’ MVP both on defence and offence. He also won the Ken Hermann Memorial Award for dedication both on the field and in the classroom.

His greatest love though in lacrosse. He has made significant contributions to the community program as an athlete, official and coach and received many accolades. Last season he became one of the youngest members on the Canadian junior national team and emerged as its most valuable players at the world championships in Sydney, Australia.

Miyashita is currently tearing up the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men’s Field Lacrosse Association as a freshman with the Canisius College Golden Griffins in Buffalo, NY. Third in the nation in ground balls with 66, he also sports a team-best 13 goals and eight assists and has won 52 per cent of his faceoffs. Last Saturday he had a great game with three goals and two assists against Manhattan, although the Griffins lost 11-6.

“I’m realizing a dream (playing here),” Miyashita said.

“I always wanted to play in the States and it’s turned out to be better than I expected.”

Miyashita said he’s enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends, and being able to come in and be a starting player has been very rewarding.

“If I develop as a player well enough I might be able to make a living playing (as a pro). Being with the national team last year, with the best young players in Canada pushing each other, really helped me develop not only on the field but mentally as well.”

But Miyashita takes nothing for granted. Every game he attempts to duplicate his previous performance, if not better it.

“I strive to do as well as can in everything,” he admits. “You have to open minded to gain a better understanding not only of your surroundings but others as well.”

Ellis Miyashita, Mark’s dad, says his son has always been a determined individual.

“He’s focused when he wants something and is prepared to work hard to get it.”

It seems appropriate, especially considering his obvious leadership skills, that Miyashita’s career aspirations including becoming a teacher. He’d certainly be a welcome addition to any staff.

Taunton stands tall as athlete and individual

When Richmond’s Lauren McLean made the Canadian junior women’s field hockey team, she was asked to fill out a standard bio. One of the questions asked her to name her favourite female athlete. She listed Kristen Taunton.

It’s a noteworthy tribute to Taunton, not because she isn’t worthy but because she’s only a few years older than McLean herself. Further, it speaks volumes about Taunton’s personality never mind her exceptional athleticism as a member of the Canadian senior women’s field hockey team, and why she was selected as a co-winner of the Richmond Sportsperson of the Year.

“(Kristen) has always been a very determined person,” says her mom, Cheryl, who played on the inaugural women’s hoops team at SFU.

“She was really active as a small child. She just loved to run and was very competitive too. You couldn’t walk down the stairs in front of her. She had to finish dinner first too and she liked to run little races with some of her friends.”

That energy and determination convinced her parents to her in sports almost as soon as she could walk. She participated in gymnastics and figure skating and also took swimming lessons, activities that clearly benefited her motor skills. Not long after she began playing soccer and competed at a high level, including many metro and gold teams, through Grade 12 at Richmond High.

When she was 11, Lance and Nancy Carey, whose daughter Amanda was a friend of Kristen’s, kept suggesting Kristen give field hockey a go. She didn’t really know anything about the game, but her dad, Jack, who was a medical doctor for the national men’s and women’s teams, thought it was a great idea. One April day in 1989, immediately after a playoff soccer game, she headed over to the field hockey pitch and became instantly hooked.

Quickly advancing through the ranks, she joined the junior nationals in 1995 and three years ago the senior team. One of the highlights was playing for Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia last season. She also earned, as a member of the University of Victoria Vikes, the prestigious Gail Wilson Award as the top university players in the country. The award recognized her contributions in a variety of areas including leadership.

“She wasn’t really a leader as young athlete, quietly going about her job,” suggests Cheryl. “But now she’s developed into a leader and is very caring. She particularly worries about and for the young athletes.”

When she’s not busy practicing or training for her own tournaments, she can usually be found giving back to the game that’s been so good to her. And she does so with great enthusiasm.

Looking into the crystal ball, Taunton says she’d like to stick around another four years and hopefully help Canada qualify for the next Olympics. In the meantime, she also intends to continue to pursue a career in medicine.

Hayden, Johns dominate nats

They’re not yet out of high school and already Ryan Hayden and Brian Johns are two of Canada’s top Olympic prospects.

Hayden, a member of the Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club, is one of the country’s top young middle distance runners earning numerous titles in 1999 including the Canadian Junior Men’s 1500 metres. He was second at the Pan Am Juniors at the same distance.

Johns, a swimmer with the Rapids, won 11 golds at the B.C. championships and broke three B.C. age group records. He was later named Swimmer of the Meet at the Canadian Youth Championships and is the youngest member of the national team.

Also nominated:

• Dean Twiss, baseball

• Mark Miyashita, lacrosse

• Brandon Janes, ice hockey

Disbrow dean of coaching fraternity

The dean of high school boys’ basketball coaches, Disbrow has coached for 27 seasons during which the Richmond Colts have consistently challenged for the provincial championship, winning five times.

But Disbrow insists that while winning is rewarding, his main objective has always been to help each of his players realize their full potential trying to instill in them courage, honesty, leadership and love of the game.

Also nominated:

• Jeff Lochbaum, Coach

• Gayle Guest, Administrator

• Kelly Sutherland, Official

• Mike Charlton, Coach

• Yik Seon Choi, Coach

• Marek Jedrzejek, Coach

• Jacqueline Roy, Administrator

Pretty makes impact with hockey nationals

Don Fennell, sports reporter

Dana Pretty turned a lot of heads when she made the Canadian under-22 women’s ice hockey team last season at the tender age of 17.

But Pretty is no ordinary player. She moves the puck well, has a good, hard shot, and above all understands the game.

“She’s like a sponge and is hungry to learn,” said Canadian coach Julie Healy.

“For a young player she not only brings great skills to the game and a good physical presence but she’s very mature.”

Pretty made her first select team (Team B.C.) when she was just 12.

Also nominated:

• Elizabeth Miyashita, Judo

• Brownwyn Rees-Thomas, Skating

• Kari-Jean McKenzie, Kayaking

Archie Kelly was one of kind

Anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting Archie Kelly was irrevocably moved. One of Richmond’s most respected pioneers and sporting figures, he always put others other before himself.

Kelly died at end of February, leaving behind a legacy of service to sport others can only hope to emulate.

He was particularly well known in soccer circles, coaching for many seasons and always a lifelong fan of the game. He also dedicated many years to helping promote the Special Olympics movement. The Richmond Sports Awards committee opted this year to dedicate the Athlete With A Disability Award in his honour.

Also nominated:

* Lance Carey, Field Hockey

* Jim Lamond, Soccer

* Barb Mathias, Aquatics

Woods a power at the plate

It’s a long way from Richmond, B.C. to Sydney, Australia but Erin Woods is determined to make the trip to this year’s Olympic Games as a member of the Canadian women’s fastball team.

An integral member the last two seasons, her talents are as varied as they are impressive. After capping a brilliant university career at Iowa State where she was the club’s MVP and was named to the All-Midwest team, she rejoined the nats last summer playing both behind the plate and in the field.

“Erin is one of the players we look up to,” says national team head coach Ron Clarke. “She’s very energized and that rubs off on the teammates.”

Also nominated:

• Alexa Loo, snowboarding • Karyn Trombley, squash

• Kristen Taunton, field hockey

Sprinter Shane Niemi is but a blur

Shane Niemi celebrated his 21st birthday a few weeks late, but certainly in style, setting a Canadian record in the men’s 400 metres (45.52) at the national track and field championships last June.

Niemi’s impressive run was one-tenth of a second better than Atlee Mahorn’s old mark at the nationals.

The Richmond Kajak sprinter was later selected, along with three of his teammates, to represent Canada at the Pan-American Games.

Delecki pure gold on track

Andrew Delecki strode to three gold medals at the B.C. Masters championships last July in Kamloops, winning the 200, 400 and 800 metre events.

He also participated in the prestigious Seattle Masters Classic in July where he was second in the 800 metres. In another major achievement, he ran a personal bests of 2:17 in the 800 metres, 59.1 at 400 metres and 27.1 at 200 metres during the summer track series and also

He is currently preparing to race in the Masters World Championships in Brisbane, Australia next season.

Also nominated:

• Rick Whiting, road runner

Richmond Eagles soar to great heights

The Richmond Eagles capped their youth field hockey careers in style in 1999 winning the under-18 B.C. girls’ crown for an unprecedented sixth straight provincial club title.

Coached by the legendary husband and wife team of Lance and Nancy Carey, who also founded the Richmond Field Hockey Association, the Eagles (Leah Stack, Jocelyn McGowan, Lauren MacLean, Alisa Carey, Cynthia Weizman, Jaime O’Pray, Paula Shuto, Dara Storey, Mindy Cohen, Natasha Osipov, Courtney McKenzie, Christine Wang, Suzanne Jackson, Mary Rendell, Lindsey Gosse and Carla Taunton) were undefeated in preliminary-round play (5-0) and then defeated Victoria in the semifinals and Rossland 2-0 in the final.

Also nominated:

• Richmond Colts senior high school boys’ hoops team

• Cambie Crusaders senior high school badminton team

• McRoberts Strikers senior high school boys’ hoops team

Stoddard, Mosher top pro prospects

Jamie Stoddard and Craig Mosher have more in common that just being university athletes from Richmond. They’re also two highly-regarded pro prospects.

Stoddard, who just capped an outstanding career as a wide receiver for the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team where he was named the team’s MVP and the university’s outstanding male athlete, has just inked a contract to play this season with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Mosher, meanwhile, has twice been a draft choice of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. The local lefty is currently in the starting rotation for the University of Florida Gators after last year turning in a stellar campaign at the College of Southern Idaho and starring for Canada’s national team.

Also nominated:

• Pasha Bains, Clemson

• Garrett Collier, Berkeley • Mike Strilesky, Boston U

Drew-McKinstry combines academics with athletics

A top academic student, an incredible athlete and a model citizen at York House, Meghan Drew-McKinstry excelled in many areas in 1999.

Athletically, she qualified for B.C. championships in all four sports she plays: volleyball, basketball, swimming and track and field. The highlight was winning MVP honours at the AA Mainland high school girls’ hoop finals.

The Grade 12 student is heavily involved in several school activities and also gives up much of her time as a volunteer while maintaining a very high grade point average in her university prep program.

Also nominated:

• Breanne Watson,

McMath

• Stephanie Bennett, London

Maeko’s determination model for others

Last year’s winner of the Richmond Sportsperson of the Year Award, Atnas was the most valuable player for the Richmond Colts’ B.C. high school championship football team and was later selected an all-star at the provincial boys’ hoops final leading his team to third place.

Currently attending a prep school in Quebec, which is affiliated with Bishop’s University, his personal story is one of remarkable courage and determination. He was forced to flee his native Mozambique when guerilla rebels set fire to his home and killed his parents during civil war.

Also nominated: • Amil Alidina, St. Georges • Cyrille Bang, McRoberts • Jimmy Ostrand, McMath

Joyce rewriting record book

Jennifer Joyce continues to “hammer” home a point: she’s not about to let up in her pursuit of becoming the best she can be.

The Canadian champion in the hammer throw, she set a personal best of 58.84 metres at the Pac-10 championships as a

freshman at the University of California-Berkeley last season and as a junior broke the Canadian record on five different occasions. This year she pulled to within eight millimetres of 60 metres throwing 59.92 metres at the NCAA’s.

Also nominated:

• Adrienne Sankey,

Fresno State

• Coleen Jackson, UBC

• Caludia Tom, Queens

• Carrie Rogers,

Douglas College

• Kristina Laffling, Washington

Gabour all-around sportsman

Since joining Richmond Special Olympics in 1984, Kenny has participated in just about every sport possible including soccer, track and field and softball. And he’s excelled in all of them.

He won a silver medal in cross country at the Canadian Special Olympics in 1988 and his first gold medal in figure skating at the B.C. Games in 1994, becoming world champion in his category in 1997. In 1999 he also won gold in figure skating.

Figure skaters have ‘Monopoly’ on fun

The Connaught Figure Skating Club cornered the market on fun last weekend, presenting their bi-annual skating spectacular at Minoru Arenas.

Several months in the making, Monopoly...An Ice Extravaganza, gave Richmond’s young skaters the opportunity to express their individuality and team spirit in a variety of colourful production numbers. Many of the numbers were choreographed by long-time coach Marilyn Grubb, along with fellow coaches Michelle Popoff, Charlene Darbyshire, Kelly-Lynn Champagne, Sandra Forrington, Shannon Deacon and Judy Peckinpaugh.

Among the most anticipated appearances was by national competitor Bronwyn Rees-Thomas. A 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Hugh Boyd Secondary, she began skating with Connaught at age six in Pre-Patch with Peckinpaugh, where she developed a passion for skating. She passed the final of three Gold Patch tests last season enabling her fully focus on the competitive side of the sport, and this last January skated to second at in Novice Ladies at the national championships.

Rees-Thomas skated to a stirring rendition of the popular Latin tune Mambo No. 5, a pop favourite by Lou Bega. She also performed her swan song version of the Celtic classic Riverdance and took part in the Test/Competitive Group’s version of Luxury Tax.

The Special Olympics skaters, led by Ken Gabour, Natasha Harewood, Rachelle Ammer, Elizabeth Etmanski, Mercedeh Khatami and Daniel Chang, also drew much applause for their efforts. Gabour has received numerous awards for his skating including gold at the 1998 World Special Olympics Winter Games.

“The kids all really enjoy this event,” said show organizer Rita Eng. “It’s also an opportunity for the club to give back to the community which supports us and to allow the public to see what the kids can do.”

Local doctor honoured for efforts in sport

In his own words, Jack Taunton’s continuing passion for sports medicine has been the result of a hobby gone wild.

Recently appointed Canada’s chief medical officer for the Sydney Olympics, the Richmond man has been at the forefront of a medical field that, in many respects, is still in its infancy. Two of his proudest achievements are helping to establish the provincial sports medicine council and, along with Dr. Doug Clement, the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Clinic at UBC which is now visited by 1200 to 1500 patients every week.

Taunton continues to be very active in the sports medicine field, both as a physician and researcher and his work has been widely applauded. Last week he received another honour by being named this year’s recipient of the national Sports Medicine and Science Award.

Presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to Canadian athletics through sport medicine and science, the award recognizes his direct efforts to aid national athletes and coaches in a variety of capacities including serving as team doctor for Canada’s men’s and women’s field hockey teams, making significant accomplishments in sports medicine that benefit athletes in performance, health and safety, and outstanding achievements under exceptional circumstances.

“We were thrilled to see him get the award; it was more than well deserved and overdue,” said Clement, Taunton’s long-time friend and colleague.

“He’s done the complete rounds including serving on numerous boards, producing text books, and researching a variety of topics - most recently exercise in the elderly.”

Clement said it seems like yesterday that the pair began their long-time association. Taunton was a grad student at SFU when he became part of the Kajaks track and field club (of which Clement founded).

While Taunton, who also showed a keen interest in physiology and athletic therapy, was taking kinesiology at SFU his advisors (doctors Bill Trapp and Eric Bannister along with Clement) encouraged him to go into medicine.

“Doug already had a practice here in Richmond and was one of the earliest physiotherapists in the country,” explained Taunton. “While I was doing my masters we would meet every Tuesday night after (track) practice and we’d have our own little seminar.”

Upon completing his masters, he joined Clement as a partner in the Terra Nova Sports Medicine Clinic at Gilbert Road and Westminster Highway - Canada’s first sports medicine clinic. A few years later the pair, along with newcomer Don MacKenzie, were lured out to UBC to establish the Allan McGavin Sports Clinic which has grown to a staff or more than 50 specializing in rehabilitation, surgery and primary sports medicine.

Taunton’s dedicated service to Canadian high performance athletes has been lengthy and rewarding. Since 1978 he has been a physician for numerous Canadian athletes as well as providing coverage for national teams or team members training locally (for example diving, swimming, basketball, athletic, cycling). In 1995 he became team doctor for the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies. He has also served as a medical officer for the World Student Games in Mexico, Romania and Zagreb and Pan Am Games in Cuba and Venezuela; the Olympic Games Organizing Committee at the 1988 Calgary Olympics; and medical officer for Victoria Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee as well as the Pan Am Games Society Medical Committee consultant.

It was during the World Student Games at Zagreb that Taunton would find himself in a particularly memorable position that helped save the life of a British athlete.

They were running the 10k during a particularly hot July day in the former Yugoslavia when Andy Bristow suddenly collapsed on the last mile and started to have a seizure.

“The British physician was covering another event and I was there watching our Canadian athletes,” Taunton recalled. “I knew they didn’t have any water or ice on the track so I’d come prepared. But when I tried to get out on the track the officials wouldn’t let me go one way so I managed to run over the edge of the track where there weren’t any guards and get over to him.”

By this time though Bristow was being placed on a stretcher and was about to be taken into the medical area.

“They thought he epilepsy. When I tried to explain that it was very hot and we needed to get his temperature cooled down they went to get dry ice from the concession. I’d forgotten my ice in my medical bag and sent someone from the British team to go and get it. We got his temperature down to 43 degrees Celsius (normal is 37) but he was still unconscious so I wanted to started intravenous.”

With time of the essence, Taunton ran up against more obstacles when the intravenous needs didn’t fit the connector to the bag. Fortunately, he had three intravenous sets with him an was able to lower Bristow’s blood pressure.

Incredibly, host officials were still trying to throw Taunton out of the make-shift medical room when the head of the International Track and Field Medical Association (Dr. Brown of Seattle) and a distance runner himself came down. He was able to convince the officials that Taunton knew what he was doing.

Eventually they got Bristow to a hospital where they were able to stabilize his condition.

Even after that officials still tried to have Taunton deported, but fortunately delegates from several countries stepped in at a subsequent meeting and explained that had Taunton being on the scene had helped save Bristow’s life.

The fallout from the near-tragedy reverberated throughout the international sports community. Ultimately it led to there being eight water stations on the track at every international 10k race.

Richmond rider has sights set on 2004 Olympic Games

Shannon Thompson is riding high in England.

A recent winner of a Foxwood Hill Farms Rider Development scholarship, the Richmond girl has been training there with world-renowned European champion Pippa Funnell since May, 1999, and is placing well in many of her events.

“Shannon is going into advanced events now for the first time,” said her mother, Marsha. “She’s been going intermediate and getting used to it, as well as getting her horse in shape,”

Thompson will be hitting all of the events on the circut this summer throughout England, Scotland and France, but will be back for a short visit in June.

“She comes home every six months because of the visa requirements,” said Marsha. “She visits like crazy and spends time giving advice and watching riding lessons. She is really required in England with her training and for Pippa though.”

Besides riding in the events she attends, Thompson is also acting as groom for Funnell.

“She really wanted to go to the 2000 Olympics but with only two people allowed to go, there’s no way a young rider like her is going to be one of them,” Marsha said. “Pippa is going to the Olympics and Shannon was hoping to be her groom but missed that too.”

Thompson first started taking riding lessons at age five but got on a horse at two.

“She just grabbed the mane and the horse started to walk off without anyone holding the bridle. Here she was, only two years old. I was having fits and Shannon was laughing her head off. Horses just grabbed her heart right from the start,” said Marsha.

Since then, Thompson has won many awards and went to two North American Young Rider’s Championships. Her first championship was at age 15 and her second one the next year.

“She’s really driven. Shannon’s up every day at 6 a.m. and goes to bed at midnight. She’s very focused,” said Marsha.

Thompson has always been a very positive person and believes in positive visualization.

“Her room is covered in riding awards and ribbons, there’s a miniature track on the floor in masking tape and there are little sticky notes with inspiration thoughts on them everywhere,” Marsha noted. “She’s got them on the ceiling, in her cupboard, on her lamp, over her bed, everywhere.”

“She’s had lots of setbacks but she always thinks positively and I think that’s probably her most unique quality.”

Thompson will be training in England for another six months to a year and will continue to strive towards her dreams. Her goals and dreams are still focused in the riding arena. She’s ultimately looking toward the 2004 Olympics.