TERRACE STANDARD. —SPorTS The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 31, 1994- C4 “SECTION c MALCOLM BAXTER 638-7283 _ SKEENA ANGLER. - ROB BROWN The right rhythm F SOMETHING is ‘‘good enough’’, if it ‘‘will do’', then it has not been done well. These phrases, to me, are expressions born of sloth or haste or both, symp- toms of a job poorly done, I find myself using them frequently. The problem is one of pace: it is 0 easy to un- Suspectingly become focused on the product and lose sight of the production —- so easy to slip into an unrealistic rhythm that allows speed to over- come progress and process. Tf the performance of an act becomes a Icdious ordeal because of the practitioner's zeal to reach his goal — whether it be a goal line, a piece of paperwork, a sonnet or a symphony — the result is sure to be unsatisfying. Common threads in the work of masters are an unswerving attention to process (and its basic principles) and the recognition that process and product are inseparable. Andres Segovia, who not only had to master his instrument, but convince the rest of the world that it had a legitimate place in classical music, prac- tised scales with religious devotion from the time he first took up the instrument until his death at ninety something. Like other great artisis, Segovia conslantly absorbed new works into his repertoire, but never stopped relearning — or | remastering, if you prefer —- the old repertoire. Tolstoy rewrote War and Peace a number of times without the benefit of a typewriter, much less a word processor. He too understood thal, in the end, the process of wiiling, with its constant revisions, is critical to the result. I can’t pound a nail, but I suspect the men who put together fine houses and cabinets not only take time to nail dewn the process of construc- lion, but are always re-evaluating their methods to find ways to make them more efficient. An article describing the meticulous attention to detail the superb Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins applies to his roics starled me thinking about pro- cess and practice earlier ihis week, I read the piece over breakfast on a day I'd set aside for an- gling. I thought aboul process and angling as the day heated up. The most satisfying way to angle a summer steelhead is with a fly rod and a floating line. I determined to do thal. That decision led smoothly to the next. The chance of bringing one of these fine fish to the top afler a fly is greatly diminished by bright sunlight, therefore the time to pursue them is when the sun had sunk behind the hills: about nine o’clock at this time of year, | This gave me iime to choose a spet and the con- sider an approach. Rawlins’ Run, since it has classic contours, and is out of reach of some dirty tributaries, was a natural choice. I dressed my linc, cleaned up the red, oiled the Teel, then sat dawn at the vice to dress the flies, I have hundreds of flies, many of them hastily tied io fit a hurried circumstance, but to do this thing properly something better was necded. Using the ' best materials, taking care to keep the wing and hackles sparse and perfectly praportioned, I dressed up three-elegant, slim flies in the classic low water style. ~ At the end of my labours I had three spare Thunder and: Lightnings, one built upon a heavy wire hook to penetrale the heavy water at the head of the run, one smaller version for the pull of the tail, and one smaller stilt to drift over the rocks lying in the middle of the pool. I held them up against a bluc background and scrutinized each one, The gold tinsel sparkled subtly under the blue body hackle, both were set off by the soft orange glow of the throat hackle. They were well mace, ideai for the job. : When the time was right I left, driving slowly, enjoying the scenery. The dust from the logging trucks had settled hours before. The trip is part of the process. My leisure was rewarded with a sighting of a jet black sow and two cubs. I killed the engine and, . wilh my binoculars, watched them until they dis- appeared over a bank some twenty minules later. I reached the run, rélaxed, a little ahead of schedule, I sat on a log, fastened on the wading staff and a new leader, took some time to stretch it well, knotted on {he largest of the flies and leaned back to watch.a pair of ravens glide over ‘the top of a rocky promontory as the rays of the ~ sun slowly left the water, When the time was right, I slid in. The water cooled my ankles, I concentrated on the manipulation of the line and the drift of the fly. Soon the fishing was effortless, almost dreamlike, In two spots J felt there must be fish, There were, ' They fought like new steelhead, I beached them both. . It was almost dark. The hills glowed. J poured a cup of eight-year-old single malt Scotch from my flask, distilled It. with river water. Then I sat down and drank to ajob well'done,’ =. -Kim cracks course record IT WAS the Kim Cowburn show at the Ladies’ Northern Open held at the Smithers Golf and Country Club on the Aug, 20-21 weekend. Cowburn, 26, instructor at the Skeena Valley club here, was clearly the class of the ficld as she cruised to victory. She set the tone on the first day of the 36-hole tournament with a blistering two-under 70, a new ladies course record. A 73 in Sunday’s final round completed the rout as she came home 32 strokes.clear of nearest rival, Heather Gallagher of Smithers, Cowburn also picked up one of two special prizes a birdie on the 200-yard 16th hole, “My short game was phenomenal,’ she said of her record-breaking round. ‘‘T hit 11 greens in regulation and was two under par. “T've played so little this year I really shouldn’t be playing this well,” she added with a laugh. Winner of last year’s tourna- ment as well, she scored her first Northern Open «victory ai the tender age of 14 years, “With that kind of talent, it was a natural she should eye a pro career in the sport. Recalling those days in Van- couver, Cowburn says she was at the course for close to cight hours a day during which she’d hit about 1,000 practice balls. Two years ago she joined the ranks of the pros, playing in Aus- © tralia “and on the Players West Golf Tour in the Western United “T’ve played so little this year | really shouldn't be playing this welil.”..1.....00000 vena GCOWBUARN From Kitimat, Cowburn moved to Vancouver one day after grad- ualing from high school to work on her golf game. There, she was taught the finer points of the game by | the legendary Jack Westover at Bumaby Mountain Golf Course and converted those lessons into two B.C. Ladies’? Amateur titles, in 1988 and 1990. Siates. And she continued to play well all the way to the LPGA Qualify- ing School. There, however, she ‘admits the wheels fell off her per- - sonal juggernaut. **T went to, the finals in Florida and just played awful.”’ She’s not tried for a lour card since and has no intention of doing so. That year spent touring taught her one thing: she just hated the lifestyle of a pro golfer. However, having spent just one year in the pro ranks, she’s no longer cligible to play in amateur tournaments. But she hopes one day lo be reinstaled as an amateur. oe While playing golf is no longer the main focus in her life, she says she still gets lots of enjoy- ment from the game. She was obviously enjoying herself at the Northern Open. _ THE THORNHILL course: will : sce lots of aclion over the next tree. weekends as Skeena Valley members.-vie for their respective club championship tiles... ~ Leading off the scason’s lourney finale are the Juniors who go this Saturday and Sunday. ©... ~ Sept. 10-11 it’s the Ladies’ turn and the Men finish it off the fol-. lowing weekend. ‘ Ssetunnonir ts aecee| feria ee game of tennis. part. Northwest Doubles there. The Terrace club courtesy move was to postpone ils own event for one week to accom- modate its Smithers counter- But the generosity ended when the Terrace racketcers Slepped on the court for the Open Leading the successful raid- ing pariy were Diane Cey and Renata Weber who put togeth- SHOWING THE net touches that earned him a share of the Smithers Men’s Doubles title, Richard Krieg! was one the many local players on the Halliwell courts for last weekend's Terrace club tournament. Only locals were allowed to enter this one. er a perfect 3 and 0 string in the round robin format to take the Ladies title. And on the Men’s_ side Richard Kriegl kept up the momentum, tcaming up with Smilthereen Kirk McRae. Kriegl and McCrae had to battle not only ihé pesky» Smithers pair of Matthew Cachia and Chris Simnett but also intermittent rain. However, neither was able to stop the duo, After splitting the opening sets 7-5 and 6-7, Kriegl and McRae slipped into Racketeers raid nets titles . COURTESY ONLY goes so far, even in the usually genteel high gear in the rubber. Frustrating their opponents with powerful serving and a solid return game which in- cluded a feather-like touch at the net, Kriegl and McRac wrapped it up with a 6-3 final stanza, Brad Holmberg and ° Matt Phillips surrendered third spot when they gave up on the weather and headed back for Terrace. The rain, however, did eventually stop leaving Smithereens Scott McNic and - Bob Mair with a default win, There was no problem with rain this past weekend as local players hit the Halliwell courts for the Terrace club's final tourney of the season, entry in this one being restricted to Ter- race residents. ‘But with all events adopting a round robin format, players were left hoping for al least a shower as they found them- selves in almost continuous ac- tion under a too-warm sun. See nexl week's Standard for results. Still king of t FOR THE third consecutive year, Peter Krause answered the chal- lenge, but the race record still eluded him. Leader of a large Smithers raid- ing party at the Sth annual Skeena River Challenge bike — race, Krause completed the 160km “Prince Rupert-Terrace course in 4:07.01. Although that was 15. scconds faster than his effort last year, it fell 17 seconds short of the time posted in 1991 by Kitimatian Chiron Kantakis, No question Krause, 25, is capable of faking. that record down. The problem is he’s left to race on his.own each year. and that makes ita tough task. © ~The. time’ ‘fe. came in a fal 5 minutes clear of his nearest rival, Guito Schnelzer who edged Rod Woodbeck by just five seconds, _ Dave Reniero and Dave Alfwood crossed fourth and fiflh a minute apart and completed the quintet able to break four and a half hours. Esther Bahen clocked — the fasiest female time with a 5:18:29, nine minutes clear of Tara Moran, 21 years her junior, Moran was one of five racers who, at 16 years, were.. the group finishing 10thoverall, At the other end of the scale, Jim Gordon, 57, had the distinc.’ tion of-being the most senior’ eniry. He crossed in 6:46:36, intermittent: Although ve the showers caused riders the an- noyance of having waler con- tinually splashing up from thelr wheels, racc publicist Josey Smart said it at least cooled them. And all were grateful not {o have to race in the hot, humid 7 conditions that had prevalled car- lier in (he week, The race line-up offered a puz- zling contradiction: although only “nine riders returned from the °93- event, the tolal entry was ay nine: _ to-44 racers. youngest riders in the. marathon. . - Justin Opal was the fastest of this “They were split into racers and 7 casual riders — the riders named what group they wanted to be in- . Cluded in before the race started, That’s likely going to change “next year, said Smart. a ‘and Graham. a Maclean. entered a a8. casuals While ~ Opal: - he river ride comfortably broke the five hour ; mark. Two other riders also got. > under that barrier. ae Smart sald organizers are con- ’ sidering a new mile which will mean any racer finishing in less... - than five hours will automatically . be lifted to the racer class,,.. >, That, she explained, would be- fairer to the recreational’ cyclists when it camie to the prizes, ae _. And” there . were. some: im-— pressive prizes to be won, includ- _ ing: cameras,. watches. and camp. : lounge: chairs, most donated by . local businesses. _ : All ° entrants, regnidiess of . where they: finished, Tecelved par- oo ticipation medals, « ~ eae oo. Anyone who ‘completed the course: more -than desetyed ‘that.