ath

DAVE TAYLOR | -

SKEENA ANGLER ROB BROWN

Bad day fishing

n the twenty-ninth of August, with all the serious anglers heading for Skeena uplands in search of steel- head salmon, I rounded up my Thomhill Retriever, Pawsome, and set out in the opposite direction, I’ve been taking this tack since the day Webb and I did the old catch and release hoe down (allemande left and do-si-so, hook your partner by the jaw, then let ‘im go) with fifty harvest trout ina Skeena backchannel.

The lure of steelhead is strong in the Fall, to be sure, but you find cutthroat in surprising places. Besides, you get to fish them with the floating lines and light tackle, and you almost invariably find yourself fishing them in solitude. Cutthroat are more complex animals with more to teach a person than steelhead have.

The sky was full of broken cloud. It was warm. I drove towards Rupert until the pup Started to get antsy then stopped at the next fishy-looking body of water —- a small creek near the road. The stream was full of pinks. In this year of low returms, I was glad to see them digging and splashing. After suiting up and slip- ping polaroids over my glasses, I scanned the stream for the silver flashes of trout behind the milling pods. There were none. With small pink egg fly at the end of an eight pound tippet, I slipped into the flow. There was no room to back cast but fishing this way doesn’t require one. I flicked the egg up stream and watched the small, green egg-sized float come back at me,

_ Thad only to watch it for two casts before an ' hn uae SE Course told mie to 'ethikesl + was fast into a hefly silver;fish: a sally varden - char of perhaps three pounds which I was" as pleased to catch as a cutthroat For the next fifty yards I hooked dolly after dolly, all shiny and beautifully spotted with the small heads that dis- tinguish them from their cousins the bull trout.

The stout tippet enabled me to release even the bigger fish in minutes. I pulled hard on the four weight Sage. Some three hours later, as | fished back to the car, I tallied the strokes in my Duksbak notebook. I’d killed two and released twenty-seven char. In the process I’d snagged only two salmon. Thanks to the barbless hook they'd both quickly shaken free, but when I was almost at the truck I sunk the iron deep into the adipose fin of an ugly humped and hook-nosed | male. As I tried withoul success to shake the toothy fish loose, a mobile home pulled over across from me. A blond gentleman and his young son leapt out. OA Gawd, I groaned into my beard as the young fellow boisted his boy skyward so that the Jad could get a better view of the battle between man and fish.

As | winched the brute into shore Pawsome started acting as if she’d been dropped into a vat of cats, She thrust herself between my legs for a better look. The humpy made a short run caus- ing the line to wrap around the pooch’s back leg like an anchor line around the leg of an un- fortunate whaling sailor. The four hundred- dollar rod exploded spectacularly, in not one, but three pieces. The fly came free,

I gathered the bits in like kindling and quickly waded down stream leaving dad and the boy agog. The car wouldn’t start. Somchow I'd con- trived to leave the lights on. Instead of a merci- ful getaway I now had to ask the tourist for a” boost. With the shards of my rod and the dog in the car, I sheepishly walked up to dad and the boy and discovered they were, in fact vater und kind, Germans whose grasp of English was about as good as my slippery understanding of Deutsch. After a furry of gesticulations and in- ternational pidginspeak he understood. The Honda responded to the electro therapy. I said danke too many times then bid Aufweidersehen to the German Samaritans and headed for home.

I switched on the radio. It woulda’t work. [ love music; I love news; [ listen to both when I drive. Driving and listening is a cherished pleasure, now my radio/cassette player was kaput. ‘What next?’ [ asked the dog. Instead of answering she vomited all over the front seat Mercy,’’ 1 thought as the cab filled with the aroma of Humpy Jerky ‘‘my world is coming unraveled.” I threaded my way through the traffic looking about hawkishly for a truck with my name on its side Instead of Lomak or Excel.

When I arrived home I cleaned out the car, then entered the house to find a flickering ans- werlng machine. I pushed the gray button and

. listened to a recording of my dad's voice telling me my uncle Ed, the kind man who had taken me on my first troutings to Sheridan Lake some forty ycars ago, had died.

Dazed, I stumped before the TV and activated it. Lady Diana, said an American News anchor, over pictures of wreckage and” swarming paperazzi, had just died. 1 crawled into bed

that the worst day fishing isn’t neces- sarily better than the beat day at work.

‘ly helped speed them along

starting to

Coach of the year.

638-7283

alling all coaches!

We want to hear about the best Terrace has to offer

MAYBE SHE helped you per- fect a gymnastics routine, or sink a fade-away jumper.

Maybe he gave you the extra confidence needed to hit a home run, or score a hat-trick.

Or maybe he just taught you how have fun, win with style and lose with grace.

These are the people we want to hear about.

The Terrace Standard, along with sponsors Keenleyside Insur- ance and Cinaway Impressions are looking for nominees for our third annual Coach of the Year contest.

And once again, we are tuming to you, the reader, for the names of your favourite coaches.

Scott Armstrong

OACH Z ) —<—hihe

» YEAR

Last year’s winner was softball coach Vic Buteau, who coached in Terrace for 17 years. Buteau certainly deserved recognition for his dedication to the sport and io the youth of Terrace. Un- fortunately, his health was failing and he died a short time later.

Runners-up from Jast year’s con- test included ‘“‘tenacious”’’ Scott Anustrong and figure skater Jessica

_Lambright

The three winners were chosen from a field of 17 well-qualified candidates, And this year there’s probably just as many, if not more, deserving coaches.

When the judges comsider the nominees they'll be looking for many outstanding qualities includ- ing:

Wi Respect for players, officials

and parents, and promoting the phi- losophy of fair play.

i Concer for the all-around de- velopment of athletes and teaching guidelines for tesponsible conduct both on and off the playing field or surface.

WH Setting an example of positive coaching.

Hi Showing the ability to improve both individual and team per- formances.

Undoubtedly finding a winner in a sea of qualified nominees will be challenging, but our judges are up to the task.

The winning coach will be awarded with a beautiful jacket. Runners up will receive decorative plaques.

So start thinking about ali your favourite coaches now. Next week

Jessica Lambright

Vic Buteau

you'll find a big nomination form in the Standard.

Cut it out, fill it in and mail it or drop it off to 3210 Clinton St. V8G 5R2, Or you can fax us at 638-8432. You can even e-mail us at stan- dard@kermode.net

Deadline for nomination is Nov. 6. The winner will be announced in the Nov, 12 issue. ;

Nomination forms will be in- cluded in each issue unlil the dead- line. We'll also keep you posted as to who’s being nominated. ,

So tear out that nomination form © and filf it out, or photocopy it and pass it around to friends. It’s time to give something back to all the coaches who have sacrificed their time and energy to help others achicve.

Runners flock to half marathon. -

Pwscaid i

A NEW age group and a new 10 km race route were highlights of this year’s annual All Sea-

sons Half Marathon. The weather was not.

“The half-marathon started in a torrential downpour,”’ says organizer Jack Worobey. ‘‘It was really wet, but at least it Jet up for the five

and 10 ks.””

In total] 120 people turmed out for the event — the last of the season. The five km race fol- lowed the same route as last year, up on the bench near Northwest Community Coilege.

But the 10 km route was changed. being two loops of the five km course, runners had to jog down Kalum, through the horseshoe and then back up Lanfear Hill (ouch).

That left a lot of runners out of breath, but it added a whole new dimension to the race.

Also new this ycar was a Under-10 age group

for the five-km race,

‘That was really neat,’’ Worobey says. ‘“You should have seen these kids receiving their

awards. They were Just beaming,”’

Instead of

in the 16-19 group.

Some of those kids included seven-year-old Colin MeNicolls and his brother Andrew, nine, who finished first and second in the male Under-10 group, Haley Kuppers was the first female in that group to cross the line.

In the 11-12 group, Terrace’s Neill Kolterman put on the jets for a first-place finish. He was followed by Mark Billey. Teagon Descusa was the first girl in the group to cross the line.

Moving up to those feisty adolescents, 14- year-old Allen Wootton of Terrace handily took the 13-15 age group for the guys. Wootton also finished third overall in the five km event.

Kateri Clay of Hazelton was first for the girls 13-15s and Delaina Belisle was the first female

In the 20-39 age category, Matt Kitka of Smithers finished first and was first overall with a time of 18:44. Terrace’s Fernando Polanco wasn’t far behind at 18:59.

The first female in that age group was Ter- race’s Kathleen (Legs) Brandsma at 23:50, She finished second overall to Cynthia Cridge of

ber.

Kitimat, who was first in her 40-49 category. Dan Smith of Terrace was the first guy to fin- ish in that category. And Lillian Nelson of

Rupert was first in the 50-and-up group.

In the 10 km race, Sean Moran of Smithers. finished first overall at 35:32, Andy Peterson of Kitimat was the first male in the U-19 group, while Kate Eckfeldt was the first female. She was also the top female finisher.

In the 20-39 group, terrace’s Janine Hartley | was first, with Marsha Cater second. For the ; mea, it was Brian Fubr followed by Emic Hid-

Gail Sheasby was first in her 40-49 group and Bud Johason was first in the Over-50.

Finally,the 21 km winner was Dave Cater, 41,

group. . Michelle woman to

of Terrace, faster than second-placer Gord Buxton. Kevin | Kelly was third, and first in his 20-39 age

His time of 1:25:25 was one minute

Paulin of Kitimat was the first, finish the course, at 1:43:31. And

Shirley Halen, 29, won the 20-39 group.

Youths converge for cross country meet |

Golf club plays host

A COLD wind biting youth runners in the backside like-

the trails at the golf course last week.

More than 50 young mn- ners from around the north- west turned out for Ter- face’s cross country meet Oct. 9.

Both boys and gisls from grades six through 12 com- peted at the event.

“Is a good turnout,”’ says organizer and coach Allen Wootien. ‘“‘We’re just develop a

‘We're just starting to develop a_ cross country team in Ter- race. This is a good start?’

MORE THAN 50 youth runners from around the northwest converged at the Skeena Valley Golf Course last Thursday to take part in a cross ; Sountry mest The zone finals are in Smithers, Oct, 26. ;

—Allen Wootten dents did two, loops and And in the Junior Boys’ lowed by Laura Purvis and Hall take top female fin- crosscountry team in Ter- Seniors di tree Bove! category, first place went to ie Roach of Clarence isher. Evangeline Lincoln race, This is a good start.”” . é 5 nior Boys’ Nick Markowsky of Mount 0 wekest Gr deSe and Thelma Marsolein of The varied route took run- M ay ne al mol Blizabeth, was Christo he : sends urls Were second and ners up and down hills and spol. ™ Nok 19P Fastest Grade Eight girl Clarence Mishel” "Nel Oval Jaines McEwan of through pretty scenery a8 it Junior Girls’ saw Lindsay ws Lea Oulton and fastest Xojterman of Uplands was Veritas vas the winner in womnd arundel ened of Chutes Hye 70M" Bey Bey send and Lm Sot wat he Gade Si Boe students ran one loop of 2.5 Ip spot. But Pam ‘Park ‘was. athe first Grade. ; category, followed by Tyrel P Vandevelde of Centennial Grde Six rinners saw Orango and Michael Bell of

km while Junior High stu-

Christian wasn’t far r behind. ‘Seven girls. “She was fol-

Rachelle DeMonte of Cassie

Copper Mountain.