Parkers epitome of community

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Two of Dolphin Park's biggest supporters are on the move, but Henry and Margaret Parker vow they'll be back.

The couple have resided at south Richmond's Dolphin Avenue for as long as the four-on-four basketball tournament at Dolphin Park, at the end of the street, has been going on. As the 19th annual outdoor playground classic wrapped up Sunday, there they were, as usual, cheering the lads on.

Tournament organizers Bira Bindra and Taj Johal took time out before the final to present the Parkers, who are heading up the Coast, with a special plaque recognizing their ongoing support for the event and thanking them for an endless array of little things the couple has done for them.

"It's not just the tangible things like physically using their house and property and having access to power, water and tools," says Johal. "But it's intangibles that are worth just as much. Their dedication toward the tournament."

Henry PArker actually took time off work to personally weld the basketball rims, Johal notes.

"What family steps up like that for a community event anymore?" he asks.

"These are the ultimate community people and it's sad to say but they're probably a dying breed. This new generation is a me generation."

Johal says neighbours Ralph and Judy May have also been very supportive, allowing them to store items at their residence.

Community is what Richmond was founded on, and something original settlers like the Parker family, believed was very important.

The Parkers will be missed, but certainly not forgotten. And everyone at Dolphin Park will be anxious for their return.

Rip up the River draws record numbers

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

They ripped up the river Saturday. At least the middle arm of the Fraser River.

Last weekend marked the third year in a row that dragon boaters of all ages and abilities have paddled up the area along Richmond's River Road as part of the annual Richmond Dragon Boat Festival. Moreover, they came in record numbers.

Fourty-two teams competed in 31 categories, working out to nearly 1,000 participants. There were at least another 200 spectators. Last year's event attracted 22 teams.

"A lot of it's word of mouth," says Kirsten Hamara, who helped organize the event.

"The sport itself is growing incredibly fast and there are always people looking to try it because it's a good sport to take off from in the paddling world. The boats are large and stable and you can row with little previous experience."

The ultimate for dragon boaters is the world championships which are held annually in Hong Kong, but there are even rumours that it could be an Olympic sport by the time the Games are held in Beijing, China in 2008.

Now in her late 20s, Hamara has been dragon boating for "at least 10 years" and organized a team in her high school in Toronto. At one time a competitive swimmer, she has always loved being in the water and two years ago joined the rowing team at the University of B.C.

But Hamara remains active in dragon boating, and helped coach two of the teams in last weekend's festival. The Lunging Lulus, novice paddlers from Richmond who started dragon boating only in the last six weeks, placed fourth in the Yellow B Division final. And the Ship of Fools, another new team that has only had six practices, finished second in the corporate division.

"It's all about fun," Hamara says. "Our goal is ideally to build a premier summer dragon boating event that will draw crowds from the surrounding areas, as well as attract teams from the United States."

Mike Pearce, head coach of the University of B.C.'s men's rowing team, was also elated with the turnout last weekend. He says the event has grown 50 per cent in each year of its three-year history.

"The location is awesome and the ability to view (unsurpassed)," he says.

The UBC/Thunderbird Rowing Club is looking to establish a rowing centre to the north side of the Richmond Yacht Club at a city-owned water lot at 7411 River Road. In March, 2002, Richmond city council approved construction of the facility, but a lease agreement has yet to be signed. However, both city staff and Pearce expect that to happen in the near future. Pearce said he hoped construction could begin as early as October, with the facility open by next summer.

Athletic aces

Gold all around for Richmond track and field athletics

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Sometimes statistics don't tell the entire story. But in the case of three local athletes, the numbers speak volumes.

Trey Henderson, Angus Taylor and Evan Dunfee didn't just reach the podium at last week's B.C. Summer Games in Abbotsford-they were on the top step. Henderson won both the hammer throw and shot put and was second in the discus, Taylor was the gold medalist in the discus and earned silver in the hammer, and Dunfee placed first in the 1500 metre race walk.

Now to the numbers. Henderson, 14, threw the hammer 59.67 metres to shatter the previous mark set in 2000 by a full five metres, Taylor, also 14, threw the discus a personal best 45.59 metres, and Dunfee, 13, obliterated the old B.C. Games' race walk standard set in 2002 by 19 seconds, winning in a pesonal best seven minutes, 15.69 seconds.

Not bad, eh?

But wait, there's more.

The boys, all members of the Richmond Kajaks track and field club, have only been practising their craft for three years. And while they all enjoy, and excel, in athletics, they have many other sporting interests.

Henderson and Taylor both play high school football and basketball at Vancouver College, while Dunfee is a small, but dynamic forward in the Richmond Minor Hockey Association.

While he's a strong rebounder and reliable defensive player in basketball, and likely to play at least a bit of senior roundball in the upcoming season, Henderson's passion is football. He hopes to one day play in the National Football League, and those in the known say he's got a good shot at realizing his dream.

"I started playing flag football when I was six," explains Henderson, who as a fullback and linebacker was the most valuable player in the Vancouver College Junior Varsity team's march to the provincial championship last winter at B.C. Place Stadium.

He particularly enjoys playing linebacker because he welcomes the challenges it brings.

"It's where there's the most repsonsibility on you and the opportunity to make big plays and get big hits," he says.

Henderson, who is heading into Grade 10, is a student of the game, and is frequently complimented for it. He enjoys watching NFL games and even his older colleagues practice, paying special attention to those who play his position.

"I like to watch and compare," he says.

Also known for his leadership qualities, he attended his first football "camp" at Simon Fraser University last year and in June participated in a camp in Eastern Washington where he also showed his outstanding athleticism.

"I've been told I have good speed and vision on the field," he says. "And having gotten a lot of positive feedback, possibly I can get a scholarship. I want ot take (football) as far as I can."

Taylor is an equally gifted athlete, who was selected as the top lineman on his Grade 8 football team at Vancouver College last year and also MVP and a first team all-star in leading the Fighting Irish to fifth place at the provincials in basketball-which he admits is probably his "favourite" sport.

But modestly suggesting he's not yet sure how far he can go in the game, he is also focusing his energies on improving as a thrower.

"My favourite discipline is the hammer," he says. "It's physically demanding and you need to be strong enough to throw but fast enough to make it go far."

Taylor is also, as the saying goes, a bit of a throwback. He expects a lot from himself and sets the bar high.

"I havne't yet met my expectations," he says matter-of-factly. "I want to be able to throw 56 metres this year and by setting a high bar it pushes me to go further and harder."

While he says getting a scholarship through his efforts of athletics would be nice, his main motivation for competing is simply for the love of the sport.

It doesn't hurt either to have Henderson as a training partner. The two constantly push each other to reach new heights.

Dunfee, who is entering Grade 9 at Matthew McNair Secondary, followed his older brother Adam into race walking three years ago.

"I just really wanted to win a medal," deadpanned Dunfee, who may have a future as a stand-up comic thanks to an endless string of one-liners. "And it's really fun lapping people."

Seriously, he says race walking is a lot more difficult than many people might think. He says it takes focus and a consistent stride.

Dunfee hopes to be able to go far in the event, and has already met the A-level standard of seven minutes, 30 seconds to compete at the nationals next year.

Watsons keep shooting for more

Sibling basketball stars strive to improve their games

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Being the younger sibling of a well-known local athlete can be challenging, but Kyle Watson has never seen it as anything but a bonus.

While his older sister Breanne, 19, has blazed an impressive trail leading her to the University of Washington where she is about to start her second year on the Huskies' women's basketball team, Kyle, 16, has always been genuinely proud of her accomplishments. Now, he's finally being recognized as an elite athlete in his own right.

Like Breanne and their dad Brent, who was the B.C. high school MVP in 1961, leading Vancouver's Magee Lions to the provincial crown before going on to play for Washington State and Canada's national team, Kyle is a force in the roundball game. About to enter Grade 12 at Richmond's R.A. McMath Secondary, he was the Wildcats' leading scorer last season averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds per game--also a team high.

Kyle was named to numerous all-star teams during the 2003-04 season including the prestigious first all-star squad at the 16-team Lower Mainland tournament.

He was also the club's top scorer at the provincials (20 points per game) and netted seven three-pointers against eventual B.C. champion Argyle Pipers of North Vancouver.

Kyle was among 80 of the province's elite to try out for the provincial under-17 team, which he made. The team is playing in three tournaments in the U.S. this summer.

At 6-foot-6, Kyle's athletic profiency isn't limited to hoops, however. He also excels at soccer. A former provincial team player in the Metro Division at under-13), he led McMath to fourth in the province with a superb goaltending effort, registering two shutouts.

He has also shown an aptitude for golf. A five handicap, the Quichlena member's best score is 73 and he just missed qualifying the high school provincials last spring.

Although he's been selected McMath's male athlete of the year in Grades 9,10 and 11 and has been an honour roll student all through high school, Kyle remains very modest. He does admit though that the recent recognition he has received in basketball has boosted his confidence.

While that could be bad news for Wildcat opponents, Kyle is also very much a team player and quick to put his personal achievements to the side. His goal is to work hard and be the best player he can be, adding he is motivated by his sister's success at Washington.

"That motivates me to practice and work harder too," he says.

He's heard the comparisons before, but Kyle says he has never been influenced by others' expectations. He wants to succeed on his own merits.

"Kyle is his own person," father Brent says proudly. "He's multi-talented and could probably be a provincial soccer goalie if he wanted to be."

Kyle has been busy gaining some valuable experience playing for B.C.'s under-17 basketball team, currently in the Big Time tournament in Las Vegas. The tournament features more than 400 teams, with B.C. participating in the A Division, which is the tier just below the Open Division. Dwight Howard, the first overall draft pick in this year's NBA draft by Orlando, played for the winning team from Atlanta last year.

By all accounts Watson has been a steady contributor to the provincial squad's fortunes, which have included a first-place finish in a tournament in the Lincoln shootout last month in Tacoma, and a second-place showing at The Final ScoreTV.com classic in Portland. The team wraps up its schedule at the national juvenile championships in Regina starting Aug. 15.

While waiting for an eventual growth spurt, which happened last year, Kyle found himself playing a lot of point guard in Grades 8 and 9. He says it helped him develop good ball-handling skills which have led to a better all-around game as a small forward, and helped him get a step closer to realizing his dream of playing Division One ball in the NCAA.

Meanwhile, Breanne, who has already realized the dream, says her first year at the University of Washington was an "awesome experience." She says she expected the Huskies to be "big," but not to the extent the team is, enjoying a major following.

"I think I had a good season," she says. "I was lucky to get into the starting the lineup right away, which I didn't expect, and was able to take advantage of it."

But she hurt her shoulder and missed the last few games and the Pac-10 tournament, although she says she's fully recovered and anxious to play again. One of her goals remains to play in the WNBA, a goal she's had since she was 15. She says last year gave her a good taste of what it's going to take.

"Everybody wants it and they're there to win," she says, remembering playing against Ebony Hoffman (drafted eighth in the WNBA this year) who bowled her over in a game. While all her teammates cheered her on for taking the charge, Breanne's ears were ringing as she was helped up off the floor.

"She flattened me," she says. "But that's the way it is . Everybody wants it and they're there to win."

Breanne still dreams of playing in the WNBA herself, a goal she's had since she was 15. But she knows there's still a lot of work to be done.

"I want to develop my permiter skills and maybe become quicker so I can get my shots off better," she says, adding she expects to play even more than the 18 minutes she averaged as a Freshman last season.

"But my competivness is still the strongest part of my game."