JOHN A. MONTGOMERIE
FOR SALTWIRE.COM
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY
BRIDGETOWN, NS - For the 10th year, on Nov. 16, a capacity crowd at the Royal Canadian Legion celebrated the achievements of a number of athletes from the Bridgetown area. The occasion highlights the passion and dedication of these athletes: a notable theme that emerged during the evening was the parental support given to the athletes, as well as the support these athletes give to their own children.
Debra Ryan, Annapolis County recreation manager, now located in Bridgetown, commented on the ongoing progress in the provision of leaders and facilities in so many aspects of the Bridgetown community, despite the many changes that occur: one example she quoted is the transformation of the BRHS grounds into a state-of-the art track and soccer field. In his remarks, Tim Jackson, chair of the Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame board, commented that the honour concerns not only what the athlete has achieved, but also how the honour was achieved.
LEAH NIXON
The first athlete to be inducted was Leah Nixon, a unique athlete in the field of lifesaving and lifeguarding, whose interest was stimulated by summers at the Bridgetown Centennial Pool. In 1984 she attained National Lifeguard Pool and Surf certification. In 1986, as member of a New Brunswick team, she competed in Vancouver during the first Lifesaving World Championships, placing fourth in the Canadian competition in the pool and seventh overall in the international competition. She would return to competition in 2013 at the National Lifesaving Championship level; in 2014, she joined a New Brunswick team at the World Lifesaving World Championships. In 2018 Leah joined the Women’s Masters Lifesaving Team from Ontario for the World Championships in Australia: Leah won a gold medal in the Line Throw event. She has recently completed Paddle Canada courses en route to becoming a Standup Paddleboard instructor.
SCOTT CURRIE
The second athlete to be inducted was Scott Currie, whose athletic prowess emerged in the sprint events of track and field. In 1989, competing in the Intermediate Boys’ Class, at both the District and Regional meets, he placed first in the 100-meter and second in the 200-meter dashes: at the provincial level, he won silver in the 100-meter and bronze in the 200-meter dashes. In 1990 at the District meet, he won the 400-meter run, setting a record which still stands. At the Regional meet, he placed first in the 400-meter run and second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes; at the Provincial meet he won the 400-meter race. In 1991, he placed third in the 400-meter run at the provincial meet. In the summer of 1991, Scott was a member of the Nova Scotia Track and Field team for the Atlantic Coast Games involving 1400 international athletes in various sports. Scott was a member of the 4 x 400-meter relay team from Nova Scotia which would win a gold medal.
PHILIP AGOMBAR
The third athlete to be inducted was Philip Agombar, who excelled in both swimming and hockey. In the pool, Philip was named the top male swimmer for the Bridgetown Sea Kings for eight years. In 1996, at the 13-14 age level, he was seeded in five events, winning gold in all five: he was named to the provincial all-star team, receiving the Provincial Championship High Point Male Swimmer award. In 1997, he made the list of all-time top 10 male performers aged 15-16, winning three top medals in four events. His hockey career was shared with two teams: the Valley Wildcats of the Nova Scotia Midget division and the BRHS Trojans team. He was a leading scorer with the Western Valley Bantam team that won the 1996-7 provincial Bantam AAA championship. This team represented Nova Scotia at the Atlantic Challenge Cup for AAA Bantams, winning the bronze medal. Philip and the team would be inducted into the Berwick Hall of Fame in 2017.
MIKE PARKER
In the Volunteer category, Mike Parker was the sole inductee. Mike’s active participation in the Bridgetown sport scene began with the Bridgetown Triathlon. In 2007, Mike joined Jason Lawton in assisting Jason in running the event. With Jason’s departure in 2009, Mike would take over its leadership. Under Mike’s guidance the Triathlon has grown in registration and popularity, acknowledged to be one of the best triathlons in Nova Scotia due to its excellent organization and venue. Triathlon Nova Scotia uses the Bridgetown event as a provincial championship in some divisions as well as national and world qualifiers for a higher level of competition. In the offseason, he organized the Bridgetown Triathlon Club for local athletes. Mike’s volunteering has extended to coaching BRHS girls’ basketball and boys’ volleyball teams. He helped organize a Men’s Senior Basketball league; the Dragon Boat and canoe races for the Bridgetown Riverfest have received his support.
KRISTA-LYNN CALDWELL
The first coach to be inducted was Krista-Lynn Caldwell, who had an amazing career as both player and coach of senior girls’ soccer teams. Her desire to be a coach came after her graduation when she realized how much she missed playing. Finally, in 2000, she took over the coaching helm of the BRHS girls’ soccer team from Mike Stewart. In her 11 years as coach, her teams compiled an enviable record of 89 wins, 49 losses and nine ties. Her teams’ crowning achievements were the 2002 regional and provincial championships, a 2003 regional championship and provincial runner-up, and, in 2005, to cap off an incredible four-year run, another set of regional and provincial titles.
GLEN MELANSON
The second coach to be inducted, Glen Melanson, began coaching track and field at BRHS in 1995. In that year, he was part of the coaching crew that helped the senior boys capture a provincial track and field title. Once he transitioned to the javelin, several throwers won provincial medals. For 15 years, ending in 2019, he was head coach, manager, and district coordinator for the Annapolis-Digby track meets. Glen also coached senior boys’ volleyball: in 2002, the boys won the Division 3 provincial title. Coaching senior girls’ volleyball, the team won a silver medal in Division 3 in 2008; in 2009 the team won the gold medal against Dalbrae Academy of Mabou. Glen’s achievements as volleyball coach are significant in that he has won provincial titles with both girls’ and boys’ teams.
BRIDGETOWN HAWKS
The first team to be inducted was the 2001 Bridgetown Hawks Midget “A” Hockey team, a true Cinderella story of a team overcoming obstacles. The core of this team consisted of players from the previous year’s victorious Bridgetown Bantam AA team. Several players, however, were not able to play the next year, requiring much recruiting to field a team of 12 players. The team would be composed of players drawn from an area extending from Bear River to Hants Border. As the season progressed, the team came together, winning four tournaments as well as the provincial championship before a home-team crowd, defeating Glace Bay 7-5. The boys had triumphed because they believed in themselves and each other.
The members of this team were Evan Aldred, Cory Bent, Billy Busey, Billy Campbell, Will Fewer, Shane Freeman, Justin Gauthier (c), Andrew George, Robbie Gillis(a), Chris Harvey, Craig Hirtle, Ryan Luknowsky(a), Ian MacDonald, Brian Mumford, Brennon Robinson, Ryan Smith, Jeff Todd, Scott Toole, Aidan Ward(a), Oliver Woods. Coaching staff consisted of Derek Cameron, Phillip Clayton, Bruce Gillis.
TRACK TEAMS
The evening’s presentations came to a fitting climax perhaps with presentations to 16 phenomenal women who were part of a five-year stretch of consecutive provincial championships in track and field: 1971 and 1972 intermediate girls’ teams and 1973, 1974, 1975 senior girls’ teams. The points obtained by each girl in individual events contributed to the overall string of championships. Following are the members of these winning teams: Elaine McNeil (100- and 200- meter dashes, 100-meter hurdles, 4 x 100- and 4 x 400-meter relays, long jump), Debbie Morrison (100-, 200-, 400-meter dashes, long jump, high jump, 4 x 100- and 4 x 400-meter relays), Joanne Verran (400- and 800-meter runs, 4 x 100- and 4 x 400-relays), Janis DeMone (mile run, 3000-meter run, 1500-meter run, 800-meter run), Sally Phelan (100- and 200- meter runs, 4 x 400-meter relay), Opal Paris (400-, 800-, 1500-meter runs, 4 x 400-meter relay), Cathy Verran (400- and 800-meter runs), Polly Zwicker (100-meter dash, long jump, 4 x 100-meter relay), Marilou Weidhaas (100-meter hurdles, sprints, relays),Connie Floris (discus, shot put, javelin), Donna Jackson (shot put, discus, javelin), Sherry Smith (javelin, shot put, discus), Marcia Longley (shot put, discus, javelin), Winnie Shaw (shot put, discus, javelin), Lori Fash (high jump), Debbie Durling (competitor, manager).
In 1975, the girls’ relay teams finished their running careers with two outstanding performances: the 4 x 100-meter relay team of Elaine McNeil, Debbie Morrison, Sally Phelan, and Joanne Verran won, setting a provincial record; the 4 x 400-meter relay team of Elaine McNeil, Debbie Morrison, Opal Paris, and Joanne Verran also won, setting another provincial record. It was fitting for these two teams to set records in their final year of competition. The coaches who worked with these young women were Dick Campbell, Chris Jackson, Art Marshall, Duff Montgomerie, Doug Oldford, and Aubrey Price.
Nomination forms for the 2020 induction can be obtained by accessing the Hall’s web site at www.bridgetownsporthalloffame.org. Nominations should be submitted by June 30, 2020.
Photos of all induction ceremonies can be viewed on the web site following the links to the picture gallery. The permanent location of the Hall is in the Bridgetown Development Centre on Bay Road. To support the work of the Hall, purchase a ticket from any board member for the Club 200 lottery: draws take place monthly between July and December on the last Thursday of the month at the End of the Line Pub.
