JGHNSTONE HOPS THE POND Returning Capilano RFC rugby player Ron Johnstone, who spent the past two seasons training with the Pacific Pride development side in Victoria, has heen selected to head to Italy in November as part of Rugby Canada’s senior men’s team. Johnstone. who plays lock, was a reserve member of the Rugby Canada squad that battled Tonga in Epson Cup action earlier in May. NEWS phote Cindy Goodman AB.C. team player gets tackled by her Quebec counterpart during the National Women’s Rugby final at Klahanie Park on Monday. Quebec captured its first-ever Canadian title with a 30-13 victory over the host team. NS field hockey five Jan-Christian Sorensen Sports Reporter povensen@nsnews.com THERE must be something ‘in the water over here. Not one, not two, but five North Shore field hockey players will represent Canada at the Sydney Summer Games starting next week. All five — Ian Bird, Peter Milkovich, Chris Gifford, Mike Mahood and Paul Wettlaufer — have their roots planted firmly in the West Vancouver Field Hockey club. Three of the players — Bird, Milkovich and Wettlaufer — are Handsworth alumni, while Mahood hails from Sentinel. A Lower Mainland import, Gifferd began playing on the North Shore after he graduated. Mahood and Wertlaufer still call team, while Wettlaufer and Gifford play wing. Mahood minds the net and Milkovich patrols the midfield. The national team enjoyed a sendoff party at the Point Grey Golf and Country Club Saturday night before hopping a flight for the Olympic village Sunday after- noon. it’s been a year of intense prepa- ration for the five players since the team qualified for the Games last September. Year 2000 for the team began with training tours of Spain and Malaysia in January and February. The team’s hectic touring and training schedule during the spring and summer afforded its players a valuable opportunity to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, said team vice-captain Bird. “We realized that we had to open up our game a little bir and get some more attack in,” he said. Wednesday, September 6, 2000 - North Shore News —- 39 MURDY RIAKES IT TWO FOR THE CAPS Capilano RFC Rugby men’s team coach Tim Murdy wilt join former Pacific Pride and current Cap RFC player Ron Johnstone as part of Ie Rugby Canada senior men’s team that will travel to Italy for a tour later this November. Murdy. whio has been head coach for Capilano for four years, wilf assume the assistant coaching duties for the National team. istory Quebec takes first-ever national title at Kiahanie QUEBEC defeated the B.C. rep team 30-13 to claim the crown at the Canadian Women’s Rugby Championships at Klahanie Park on Monday afternoon. The Quebee reps — who dropped a first- round tilt to the host province 7-2 on Saturday — ended a four-year win streak by Ontario with their victory. “I think the team showed an incredible amount of heart ... because they lost to B.C. two days ago,” said Quebec coach Matthew Stephens. “They made the decision a couple of days ago that they wanted to win it. They came together when it counted and just played fabu- fous rugby.” B.C. was ranked third in the country heading into the tourney. One North Shore resident — UBC's Sabrina Celms — was part of the B.C. rep team roster that ended its run with the silver medal. In the bronze medal matchup, Alberta claimed third place honours by edging out Ontario 17-16 after the defending champs missed a convert attempt late in the game. Meanwhile, the Manitoba rep team blanked Saskatchewan 10-0 to secure fitth place in the tourncy on Sunday afternoon. Manitoba winger Lisa Koresmaros, who played last season for the Capilano RFC women’s squad, scored the game-winning try near the end of the first half. In Saturday’s first round action, it was: Alberta 12, Saskatchewan 0; B.C. 36, Manitoba 0; Ontario 15, Alberta 0; Quebec 43, Manitoba 3; Ontario 8, Saskatchewan 0; B.C. 7, Quebec 2. On Sunday, Quebec posted a 7-3 victory over Ontario in semi-final action to gain a berth in the Monday afternoon final against the host province after B.C. toppled Alberta 21-7 in its semi-final tilt. This year’s event attracted 140 players on six provincial sides to Klahanie Park. The last time Vancouver hosted the nationals was in 1991, the same year B.C. claimed its first de. — Jan-Christian Sorensen, with files from Cam McNaughtor. Rugby tourney set for UBC CAPILANO REC rug- gers will try their luck at the North American Chalienge Cup (NACC) competition this week- end at UBC. The 94-year-old competi- tion — dubbed the “Stanky Cup of Rugby” — is set for this Saturday and Sunday at the UBC rugby grounds and Thunderbird Stadium. Teams from across the world will travel to Vancouver to tackle competitors in six divisions: premier — men; women; men’s first division; men’s social; old boys; and youth. While prizes are up for grabs in all divisions, the men’s premier category carries with it a $5,000 reward for top spot. Coach Tim Murdy and the North Shore Capilano RFC men’s team will go head-to- head against seven other rep teams for bragging rights — and the cash. The Capilano Club is also sending rep teams for play in the men’s social, under-18 and women’s divisions. The NACC represents the official kickoff for the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia Rugby Union (BCRU) fall season schedules. Vancouver has previously won a pair of NACC competi- tions, in 1907 and 1909. Defending 1999 champion Victoria (Pacific Pride) also claimed the Cup in 1911. The Cup was not contested from 1912 to 1997. Other 1999 champs include the Emerald City Mudhens from Seattle, which claimed the women’s crown; and the Billings, Montana RFC side, which clawed its way to the men’s open division trophy. For more information on the NACC and the event 3g} schedule, phone the BCRU at 737-3065 or visit . — Jan-Christian Sorensen Jlympics-bound — oe NEWS photo Julle tverson the North Shore home. Bird, “We actually took some lumps in Gifford and team captain Milkovich January and then in February in FOUR of the five North Shore players named to the national team were on hand at the Olympic have since moved across the water, team announcement two weeks ago. From left: Chris Gifford, Mike Mahood, team vice-captain lan Bird, 30, is a sweeper for the Bird and team captain Peter Milkovich. : . s wee . . a haw sear : Lo bos “i 7 Te my ge ee me tt Te ee ane te Lt a ae ag