Sports | DrumhellerMail

Ladies are champions, for now...

It was a close contest that leaves the men of Drumheller to listen to a year of gloating.
   The ladies have beaten the gents in the 2012 Battle of the Sexes competition. The men had won their first victory last year and raised the bar for the ladies.
   “Oh yeah, I wanted to win this year,” said Audrey DeBona, who did an impressive 700 lengths.
   Last week, the competition heated up. The men were behind, but catching up. Alas, it was not meant to be this year.
   “We were trying, but there was one day when the ladies swam 1000 lengths and us 400,” said Tyson Anderson. “That’s when they won. Next year we’ll get them.”
   In the end, the ladies won with 14,538 (363 km) compared to the 13,144 (329 km) swam by the men, a difference of 1394 (34 km) lengths.
   The number of participants for the ladies was up this year. The ladies had an army of 69, up by six from last year, whereas the men were the same with 51.
   It was this difference that was the deciding factor.
   “They won it, they deserve the victory. We were pretty close, but we had a couple of swimmers who were away,” said John Sparling “Statistically, we could have won it, but numbers count and they’ve got them.”
   “I’m glad to see such a great turnout. The new ladies definitely tipped the scales in our favour,” said Bev Cole. “I really hope we attract more men and women next year.”
   There was one lucky gent though. David Lloyd, who swam the maximum 700 lengths in the competition, was the recipient of the free three month pass. For the ladies, Shelly Blanchett won the three month pass.
   The swimmers who made the herculean effort to swim 700 lengths were, for the ladies, Cole, DeBona, Ann Wade, and Eileen Woods.
   For the men, Duane Bolin, Dave Eberth, Lloyd, Bink Losoncy, Sparling, Morgan Syversten, Scott Toews, and Mike Yavis.
   Sadly, Terry Bilson, who had participated for many years, passed away during the competition. In his memory, friends completed his 700 lengths.
   “He was a great guy and we’ll miss him,” said Sparling.
   The men are ready to take back the championship next year.
   “We’ll be back and we’re going to take it next year,” said Sparling. “Ladies, savour the victory while you can.”

Dynos out of hunt for league trophy

The DVSS senior boys Dynos basketball team hopes to make it back to the Golden Hills League Championship were dashed by the Acme Redmen Wednesday night.
   The Golden Hills League could be one of the toughest in the province. Currently the DVSS Dynos are ranked number one in the province at the 2A level, the Acme Redmen are number one at the 1A level and Prairie Christian Academy (PCA) is ranked fourth in 2A.
   It was a dogfight to the end of the season, and the Dynos needed a win to advance. Instead the Redmen won 76-54.
   The Dynos trailed by only two baskets after the first quarter, and matched Acme in the second, going into the half with a score of 30-26. The Redmen lit it up in the third quarter and were up 60-40.The Dynos won the fourth quarter 18-16, but it wasn’t enough.
   Kyle Smith led the Dynos with 17 points, and Jordon Britton had 12. Brock Boyd had eight boards and two steals.
   This season the Redmen came out in first place in the league. They will play PCA for the league championship. The Dynos split with PCA in league play, however PCA had more total points.
   While league play is coming to an end, the post season is just beginning.
   The Dynos are still top of the 2A provincial standings and will be hosting zones.

Pool players win Western Canada Championship

    Two area pool sharks were in the money and took home the Valley National Eight Ball Association (VNCA) Western Canada Championship.
   Shawn Bulechowsky, who plays on the local BCA team High Octane, and Shane Best who plays for the River Rats, both play on a team in Calgary called Working Stiffs. The team competed in the tournament in Edmonton over last weekend.
   The team played in the advanced division and for their effort won a cash prize of $2,600 and bragging rights.
Bulechowsky said they found themselves in the position where they beat the other team twice. Because there would be a delay, they agreed to play a 10 game set. By the end of the ninth game the Working Stiffs were up by 11 balls, and there was no need to play the tenth.
   Last year the team placed 33 out of 800 teams in Las Vegas.
   By winning the advanced level in Edmonton they are able to move up to the masters level.
   The BCA league in Drumheller continues along with its year-end tournament slated for April 13-15.

More Articles ...