46 — Wednesday, April 1, 1992 — North Shore News Photo submitted , FLICKA’S APARNA Ray is the only 8.C. gymnast who can successfully perform a one-arm elbow stand. North Shore teen ranked highest gymnast in B.C. SHE LIFTS her body into the air with the grace of a - ballerina. Then, like a precision anti-gravity machine, she comes to rest on one arm. Her legs and other arm are outspread. Aparna Ray is the only “gymnast in B.C. who has mastered the one-arm elbow stand. . It is one of many moves that have distinguished the North Vancouver teenager and thrust her to the top level of Cana- ‘dian gymnastics. Ray, who is the B.C. Girls - National champion, has been * involved in gymnastics since the age of five. She has climbed through the ranks from recreational gym- nastics, through the Provincial A and B levels and into the National level. She has remain- ed in the top-ranking elite level for the past four years. Last spring, when Ray was 16, she placed first in every event (the beam, bars, floor and vault) in the 1991 provin- cial championships. “‘When I started at Flicka (Gymnastics Club) there were hundreds of girls at my level,’’ By Elizabeth Rains Contributing Writer Ray says. “But they come and go, and now I’m about the only one at my level. Not many girls make it that far.’” Flavia Toma, one of her three coaches at Flicka, says Ray works exreedingly hard compared with other gymnasts her age. “She is a very determined girl, and she likes the speort,’’ said Toma. Ray achieved second place overall in international com- pctition in Oregon this month. “She beat some very high- calibre gymnasts,” says Toma. Ray attributes her success to her strength, adding that some other gymnasts do better than her in flexibility.’ Strength helps her achieve a high altitude whca swinging her body through a myriad of moves and altitude scores points. Questioned about her grace- fulness, which is particularly evident in her floor and beam routines, Ray says she trains in modern dance or ballet every day. Her schedule includes five hours of training five days a week. This expands to six days during the competition season in winter. With such a tough schedule, © Ray says it helps that she is enrolled at Sentinel: Secondary, a West Vancouver school that runs a half-day program for competitive athletes. Ray’s goal is to land an athletic scholarship at Washington State University or the University of California. She will get a boost toward winning one if she repeats last year’s success in this year’s B.C. Gymnastics Champion- ships. The competition takes place at the Capilano College Sport- splex April 3 to 5. Tickets cost $3 Atom AAA Lightning strike again THE NORTH Shore Winter Club’s Atom AAA Light- ning hockey team came away from the 22nd Annual Coquitlam Pup Tournament as the A Champions in undefeated games. Teams from as far away as Alberta and Ontario took part in the tournament. In round-robin play, the Light- ning defeated their opponents by lopsided scores: 8-0 over Burnaby Winter Club, 7-2. over Nanaimo and 8-2 over Port Coquitlam. In semi-final play, the Light- ning tied the formidable North Delta Sun Devils 3-3 and then went on to win over Coquitlam by a score of 5-1. The final championship game pitted the Lightning against the Sun Devils and the Lightning were not about to take their opponents lightly. From the opening face-off, the Lightning pounced on the Sun Devils forcing the starting North Delta goalie to surrender the net to his back-up when the score was 5-0 after 10 minutes of play. At the completion of the first period the score was 7-1 and the outcome never in doubt as the Lightning won 9-4. The Lightning were presented with a plaque to represent the A Championship as were North Shore players Eric Peter-Kaiser as most outstanding goalie and Brett Mauer as most outstanding defenceman and tournament MVP. Bluedevils advance to finals J WEST VANCOUVER Bluedevils defeated the Island champions, Nanaimo Bombers, 3-0 in girls- under-1I soccer in Nanaimo March 22, and advanced to the provincial cup championship. Rosi Thomas scored two goals and Carly Dean scored one goal in the semifinal game. The provincial cup champion- ship takes place in Abbotsford this weekend. SPORTSLINE April 4: Seminar called ‘‘Working with the Difficult Athlete’’ will be conducted by sports psychologist Saul Miller from 9 a.m. to x 30 p.m. at Delbrook Recreation Centre. The purpose of the semi- nar is to help coaches and teachers increase their skills, maximize outputs from players and effec- tively deal with disruptive team members. B.C. Lions and West Vancouver alternate school coor- dinator John Blain and NHL veteran Glen Hanlon will also take part in the seminar. Cost is 345. Lunch and refreshments included. Group rates available by calling 983-6317. To register call 987- PLAY or visit any North Van- couver Recreation Centre. eee April 5 and April 12: Olympic soccer qualifying games will take place at Swangard Stadium. April § game is against Mexico and kicks off at 1:30 p.m. April 12 game is against Honduras arid kicks off at 1 p.m. Several North Shore residents play for Canada’s soccer team. Tickets cost $12 plus service charges. For tickets, phone 280-4400. eee April 5: North Shore Skeet Club’s first monthly competition will take place. Practice shooting began March ! and continues on Sun- days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The competition will take place at the top of Lillooet Road. For more information, call 984-7968 or 985-1926. eee April 6: Eighteen members of NorthWest Vancouver Ringette team were named to the all-star Lower Mainland teams and they will take part in the Canadian Ringette Championships to: be held at Port Coquitlam Recreation Centre ice rink and Coquitlam centre ice rink. For more ipforma- tion, call 222-5265. eee Aprit 14: The first-aid ski patrol will hold an information night for anyone interested in volunteer ski patrol during the summer for Seymour, Grouse, Cypress downhill. and Hollyburn Ridge. The information night will take place at 7 p.m. at Killarney Community Centre, 6260 Killarney (room 5). A valid first- aid ticket is required. For more information, call 253-7716 or 686-1864. eee April 17 - 19: West Vancouver Yacht Club’s Southern Straits Classic '92 entries must be mailed by April 11 or faxed by April 15. Entry fee is $70 for‘long and short courses and $27 for inshore course. Race will take place on Easter weekend starting at 10:30 a.m. at Dundarave Pier. For more information: 921-7575. . eee July 11: Participants or people in- terested in volunteering for the. Knee Knackering Trail Run which follows a 30-mile course along the’ Baden-Powell Trail to Deep: Cove’. are asked to phone Shane Collins — at 926-5934 or 689-0027. The run, © designed for endurance :runners, | will begin at Horseshoe Bay and is limited to 100 athletes. Volunteers - .are needed -for pre-race set-up: and to help at stations. Runners . pay $65 to take part:in the event : - which includes a pre-race. meal’ and T-shirt. The run is also a‘- fundraiser tor B.C. Children’ $s. Hospital. SPORTSLINE RUNS every. Wed nesday as space permits. If. yo are planning an event, submit details by preceding Friday to the’ North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., N. Van., V7M 2H4.:Priori- ty given to North Shore and fund raising events. 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