Page 20, June 6, 1979 - North Shore News es by Jim Kearne y hebigkid — from West V an COURTENAY - If they were ‘handing out” individual merit awards at the B.C. Lions’ training the he gob has belonged mainly ~ camp here the last 10 days, Mark Houghton of. _ West Vancouver would win the prize as the best muscled athlete on the premises. However, being the twice- a-day Hercules of Lewis Park, where the Lions are going through the annual torture of preparing for the new Canadian Football League season, won't win the rookie pro steady em- ployment. - For that, he'll have to learn how to run precise pass routes, find the seams in Opposing zone defences and catch the ball in traffic when it’s delivered to him. For Houghton, it’s all a trifle strange. He’s never played a slotback before. “It’s a brand new ex- perience for me,” he was saying here the other day. “It’s a real adjustment being a rookie at a pro camp, quite apart from having to learn a new position. CATCHING NO PROBLEM “Catching the ball is no problem. I worked with Jerry Tagge-on that quite a bit before we left for camp. But there’s the matter of reading defences and being in the right place when the ball arrives. When that starts to come more naturally, when I'm not having to concentrate so much on this- one aspect, then I should be able to catch the ball bet- teri : The transition is from runnine back, from tucking ball under his arm bell d the line of scrimmage and heading for the tackle © hole. That has been his entire football background, his specific job training, since his high school days at Hillside. And, before that, since he started out as an 11- year-old on the bottom rung of Gordon Sturtridge League play. It continued with North Shore Cougars in junior play, then at Siskiyou Junior College in Weed, Calif., and two years at the University — of California in Berkley. From tailback at high school and with the Cougars, he moved to fullback at California. Now, from lining up directly behind the quarterback, he has moved into that area just back of the gap between tackle and end. | ‘teams. But if he comes along there should be regular football employment in his future. And, he says, he’s getting lots of help, | par- Heplarly from Young. "The north side of the Inlet, has produced’ several Lions over the course of the team’s 25 years in business, from - Sonny Homer in the 1950s and through the Grey Cup years, to John Blain of the current edition. " Now there’s Houghton, ~‘who grew up in Caulfeild For the past four seasons ~ imon Fraser grad Terry Bailey and that veteran handyman at all receiving positions, Jim Young-Y oung turned 36 today and, while he'll certainly be around for this season, doesn’t figure in coach Vic Rapp’s longterm ‘plans. . Therein lies opportunity for Houghton. If he sticks, he may see much. of’ this season from the bench and on kickoff and punt return THE WEST VAN SQUASH im & RACQUETBALL CENTRE Now Available Corporate and Group Memberships The West Vancouver Squash and Racquetball Centre is an imaginative concept designed for those who want to keep fit and have tun doing it Join us now tor a smashing good time Membership Single $300 Opening date Courts Facilities - pro shop Location \nquiriea on request - unrestricted guest privileges. Mid - Summer - 6 Racquetball - 3 International Squash - Hand bail - Glassed view courfs - exercise room - whirl pool -supervised nursery - 21st and Marine, West Vancouver - Brochures are available and will be sent Contact our answering servicd at 925-1331 tor complete details or write P © tox 91105, West Vancouver, V7V 3N3 Couples $450 -3 saunas -games room -lounges -dining ‘ and, until he finished high school, was headed in three different athletic directions. Besides football, he went in for ski racing and hockey. “I played hockey for a long time,” he was saying. “I went to that. Okanagan hockey school at Penticton, the one Larry: Hale runs, for four years. He seemed to I might have had a ‘future in the game. He really tried to talk e into con- tinuing. ; FOOTBALL'S THE GAME “But football was the game I really liked, so when it came time to make a decision, that’s the way I went.” All the way to Siskiyou, a six-foot}one, 190-pound high school grad who loved to run with the ball. but sorely lacked the fundamentals 18- year-old Americatis bring with them to college. That, he remembers, was the toughest part -of making his way on the college scene -- catching up on the basics Canadian youngsters just don’t get at the high school level. He must have caught up in fine- style because two years Jater he was at California on an athletic scholarship. For two seasons he shared the Bears’ starting fullback position with a chap named. Paul Jones. In 1978, his senior year, he rushed 73 - times for 335 yards. At Cal he also discovered that a little more size and strength can be helpful when running in heavy traffic; also that it can provide added protection. So he got onto a weight program and the guy who was a 190-pounder when he went south is back home asa 215-pounder. . - He carries the extra . pounds in his shoulders, eck, arms and legs> In his ‘final year at Cal, bench pressing 410 pounds,he was chosen to the All-American Strength Team. With the other members, chosen from college football all over the U.S., he was supposed to go to Miami for a televised strength com- petition. But for reasons he hasn’t yet found out, the show was cancelled. While that was a disap- pointment, being the Lions’ first pick im the Canadian player draft’ last winter helped ‘stroke his ego. Now all he has to do is win a job. Who can resist a little Baby Duck? This bubbly blend of a rich red wine and a sparkling white - has a refreshing taste you'll really take to. ‘Beautiful. No wonder at any. get-together, a little Baby Duck. . is right at home. 30S, ANDRES VINTNERS OF FINE WINES