14 - Wednesday, July 13, 1994 - North Shore News SIDELINES ATHLETICS... Middle dis- tance runner Charmaine Crooks finished a strong sec- ond in an 800m competition in Padova, Italy, last Saturday to Russian runner Lyubov Gurina. The North Vancouver run- ner is in training for the upcoming Victoria Commonwealth Games. BEACH VOLLEYBALL... North Vancouver's Becky Rose and teammate Monica Lueg won the second event of the Jose Cuervo Beach Volleyball Gold Cup last weekend at Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver, The B.C. team defeated Quebec’s Barbara Bercich and Guylaine Dumont 15-9 in the finals. TENNIS... Sonya Jeyaseelan added another milestone to her young tennis career last week- TENNIS PHENOM Sonya Jeyaseelan. end in Toronto when she teamed with Sarnia's Rene Simpson-Alter to win the women’s doubles event at the SunLife Nationals. The cross- country duo defeated Maureen Drake and Stephanie Tibbits 6-1, 6-1. The Noith Vancouver play- er, ranked fifth in singles, lost to number-three seed Drake in a tight quarter-final match, 6- 2, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6). SWIMMING... The Chena Swim Club finished an impressive 10th at the B.C. provincial age group champi- onships in Vancouver last weekend. Leading the way for Chena was 10-year-old Alexandra Oosterom, the girls’ overail champ for her age group. Oosterom, competing for the last time as a 10-year-old, won five gold medals during her weekend of domination. In addition to the five first- place finishes, she won silver in the 200m freestyle, was fourth in the 400m freestyle and 6th in the 50m freestyle. Also strong for the North Vancouver club was 13-year- old Melanie Patina, who won silver in the 100m freestyle. Je Park added two bronze medals (50m and 100m fly) to Chena’s record. The West Vancovver Otters also did well at the provincial championships, fin- ishing 1 !th out of the 30 swim clubs represented. Indians lose by one to Adanacs PAYING CUSTOMERS at Monday night’s Western Lacrosse Association game at Lonsdale Arena were treated to somewhat of a rarity in profes- sional sport — hard play by a team out of the playoff hunt. By A.P. McCredie Sports Reporter And though the North Shore Indians were again on the losing end of a one-goal decision (13-12), their dedicated play and never-give- up attitude against the Coquitlam Adanacs was 2 positive sign as their freshman season in the WLA wind: down. The Indians put a scare into the playoff-bound Adanacs, one of the biggest, strongest and fastest the league has to offer. After 20 minutes of play, the Indians field a solid 6-3 lead over Coquitiam. The opening period was highlighted for the home team by some great playmaking by Dean Ceeconi and Chris Driscoll. The play of the period came in the dying seconds as Cecconi came from behind to break up a Coquitlam breakaway. Todd Katanchik then scored with 35 sec- onds left in the first to give the Indians a 6-3 lead. The second period saw the Adanacs fight back. After five min- utes of play. the score was tied at six. But the home team soldiered on and regained their three-goal [ead on a great effort by Katanchik and two power-play goals. The final frame was one of the most exciting ZO minutes of lacrosse the Indians have played at home this year. The Adanacs outscored the Indians 4-1 in the period, but the pace and quality of play gave North Shore backers a taste of what the future holds for this talented team. The Indians host their final home game of the season on Monday, July 18, against the Victoria Shamrocks at 8 p.m. NEWS photo Nell Lucente KAMLOOPS IRONMAN Peter Lindlay ran tewards his fourth consecutive Knee Knackering North Shore trail run title last Saturday morning at Panorama Park. Lindlay blazed a fierce trail along the 48.6 km route, finishing the race just two minutes shy of his race record in a time of fous hours, 47 minutes. Vancouver's Mary Nicel won the women’s trail-run title. Life without Kent worse than a sunny night A.P NicCredie VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS WHAT IF you gave a great party and aobody came? Last Friday night. the B.C Lions roared into their 1994 sea- son with an exciting home-opener win over last year’s Grey Cup run- ners-up, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The problem wasn’t on the field — although when Lion pivol Kent Austin sat on the bench for the entire second quarter there was a definite problem — but rather in the stands. The announced attendance of 20.069 was eight grand less than last season's average. Sure, it was one of those post- card perfect West Coast summer nights. Sure, you hate to sit inside when the skies are clear. But, hey, Vancouver, this is the rejuvenated Canadian Football League! The place where well- heeled yanks pour their money to get a piece of, as one ESPN com- mentator is fond of saying, that “crazy Canajun game.” Friday night's game was, apart from the aforementioned second quarter, a classic CFL battle of the quarterbacks. Kent Austin vs. Matt Dunigan. Both players carry the fortunes of their teams on their padded shoulders, and both players relish that position. Dunigan is a confirmed super- star of the league, having led the Toronto Argonauts to a Grey Cup and bringing the Bombers to the brink last year. Austin, meanwhile, fills the shoes of a position that Lions’ fans haven't felt comfortable with since Doug Flutie headed to the oil patch after some typically slick dealings by former team owner Murray Pezini. ({ncidentally, Austin and Flutie have crossed paths before, sort of. In the 1990 season, Flutie’s first with the Lions, Austin, then of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was named to the CFL all-star team over the Boston College star.) At the half of last Friday night's game, the Lions trailed 15- 7. A late defensive touchdown on an interception by Leo linebacker Virgil Robertson in the second quarter was B.C.’s only score of the half. Austin sat out the second after getting sacked by Bomber line- backer Paul Randolph and his replacement, Danny McManus. gave fans a taste of life without Kent. The backup pivot went four for 12 for 38 yards and tossed one interception in his 15-minute 1994 debut. Thankfully, Austin shook off the cobwebs, and along with his talented corps of receivers, and some huge defensive stands by Angelo Snipes and company, the Lions stole a win from the highly- touted Blue Bombers. The Lions travel to Ottawa this Friday, then host Hamilton at B.C. Place on Thursday, July 21. Hopefully, it won't be a sunny evening.