Category Archives: Loreburn

Davidson, Loreburn, Sports

RaiTec claims regional title at Arcola tournament

The Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec coaches and players pose following their win at regional playoffs in Arcola on Nov. 14.
The Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec coaches and players pose following their win at regional playoffs in Arcola on Nov. 14.

By Joel van der Veen

ARCOLA — A tight win over some close friends was enough to give the RaiTec the title at south-east regional playoffs in Arcola last weekend.

The Davidson/Loreburn senior girls volleyball team defeated Kahkewistahaw in a best-of-three match to finish on top on Nov. 14.

The RaiTec girls lost in the first set (25-15), but recovered to claim the two following sets (25-23 and 25-20) and thus the victory.

While pleased with the win, coach Tony Baldwin said he believed the team had fallen out of its groove after defeating Hanley in the semi-final (25-8 and 25-14).

“We kind of lost our focus after the provincial qualifier game,” he said, adding that it wasn’t until the third set against Kahkewistahaw that the team got “rolling” again.

In round-robin play, the RaiTec defeated Wolseley (25-16 and 25-15) before playing Milestone, winning the first set 25-17 and then posting a 25-2 win in the second, in what Baldwin called a highlight of the day.

“The girls were just perfect,” he said of their performance in the second set, noting that such scores are generally “unheard of at that level of competition.”

The RaiTec were headed to 2A provincial championships in Porcupine Plain on Nov. 20 and 21, along with teams from Langham, Invermay, St. Walburg, Pierceland, Kerrobert, Foam Lake, Asquith and Kahkewistahaw.

Baldwin said he was optimistic about their chances, noting that they had faced several of those teams earlier in the season and had not lost to any of them.

If the girls could keep up the level of play they have maintained this season, he said he expected they would go “deep, deep, deep into the playoffs.”

Baldwin, who coaches the team along with Karen McConnell and Hallie Vollmer, said he continues to be amazed by the girls’ record of achievement. Since last year, the RaiTec has won 15 out of the last 16 tournaments or similar events in which the team has played.

The coach said this is especially impressive given the increased level of play in Saskatchewan volleyball over the last several years, which he attributed to a growth in both club ball and school programs.

Baldwin has high praise for the players themselves, saying he and the other coaches are lucky to have them and they’re lucky to have each other.

He added that the team’s camaraderie is genuine and that the girls stay away from social drama, allowing them to concentrate on playing the best game they can.

“They’re a real focused group of kids,” he said, adding with a laugh, “I can’t stop talking about them.”

For the full story, please see the Nov. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Loreburn, Sports

Loreburn native impresses with strong showing at U18 nationals

Jasey Book is seen in action during the 2015 National Women's U18 Championship.
Jasey Book is seen in action during the 2015 National Women’s U18 Championship.

By Joel van der Veen

LOREBURN — It’s been a year of big opportunities and achievements for Loreburn’s Jasey Book, and 2015 isn’t over yet.

Book, 17, was part of the provincial hockey team that headed to Huntsville, Ont., earlier this month to compete in the 2015 National Women’s U18 Championship.

“Saskatchewan’s usually the underdog coming into this type of tournament,” she said, adding that she enjoyed playing fast-paced hockey with some of the province’s top players.

The experience added to an already exciting year that saw Book playing on the provincial team at the 2015 Canada Winter Games and also learning she’d been accepted to play for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies next season.

Jasey is the daughter of Brian and Carol Book, who farm near Loreburn. She previously went to school there but now attends Grade 12 at Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

Book was one of five players from the Swift Current AAA Diamond Energy Wildcats to make the provincial team, along with Kayla Kirwan, Merissa Zerr, Chloe Smith and Mikayla Swallow.

As one of two goalies, she was in the net for half of the four games played by Team Saskatchewan over the course of the tournament, which ran from Nov. 4 to 8.

Book’s performance was a highlight of the team’s opening game against Manitoba on Nov. 4, which resulted in a narrow 2-1 loss after going to a shootout.

She stopped 35 out of 36 shots on net during regulation play, earning her the title of player of the game.

The team endured two more losses in preliminary games, losing 5-1 to Ontario Red and then losing 3-2 to Quebec. Team Saskatchewan ended the tournament on a high note, shutting out the Alberta team 4-0 on Nov. 7 to finish in seventh place overall.

Ontario Red went on to defeat Manitoba 2-1 in the gold medal game, while Ontario Blue bested British Columbia 4-3 to grab the bronze.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson, Elbow, Kenaston, Loreburn

New era dawning for area grazing pastures

Jan Ludwig herds cattle belonging to Siroski Farms from the corrals to the pasture in this 2012 file photo.
Jan Ludwig herds cattle belonging to Siroski Farms from the corrals to the pasture in this 2012 file photo.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — After more than 75 years, the sun has set on an era for the former PFRA pastures at Willner and Elbow.

The cattle were brought off the fields last month, and now patrons are preparing for the first season under new management — themselves.

Despite a new Liberal government in Ottawa and calls to halt the transfer of the former PFRA grasslands, Ian McCreary said last week there’s little hope that the course will change at this point.

“Our sense is it’s going to be very difficult for them to change anything for our year,” he said. “It’s unlikely that we can avoid the transfer process . . . Governments tend to move not entirely quickly.”

McCreary sits on the board of directors elected last spring to oversee the Willner-Elbow Grazing Corporation, which is leasing the two pastures that had been operated by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration dating back to the early 1940s.

This will allow ranchers to continue using the land that has been available to them for generations, but not without a steep increase in the fees they must pay.

Such is the new reality facing ranchers, three years after the Conservative government announced its plans to end the Community Pasture Program.

This involved divesting the 85 pastures that were operated through the program — 62 of which were in Saskatchewan — on a gradual basis between 2013 and 2018.

The McCraney pasture was part of the first group of 10 to be transferred to the provincial government for the 2014 season.

This year, the Willner-Elbow pastures — with a combined total area of 36,200 acres, enough room for about 2,100 cattle and another 70 bulls — began the transition. The province takes over the pastures in March and will then lease them to the corporation.

McCreary said that existing patrons have paid their deposits and that the pastures are already expected to be about 75 per cent filled with existing cattle for the 2016 season.

The corporation has advertised that it will accept additional cattle, though current patrons will have first dibs on available capacity.

McCreary said the interest received so far indicates that the need for the pasture land is evident. He added that the “cattle cycle” is currently at a peak phase, with the average calf price last year reaching over $1,500.

“There’s a lot more interest in livestock now than there was when the process started,” he said, noting that cattle prices cycle through peaks and valleys.

He also said the corporation is optimistic that the current manager, Ross Sigfusson, will return for the 2016 season.

Lease fees are a new part of the equation for patrons. The province will charge around $135,000 for the season, representing about a third of the corporation’s total annual budget. As a result, McCreary estimated, grazing fees will increase by 30 to 40 per cent over what patrons paid last year.

The corporation also continues to grapple with the presence of leafy spurge, an invasive plant that displaces native vegetation in fields.

McCreary estimated that between 9,000 and 12,000 acres on the two pastures are affected by the spurge, making it a significant concern.

An existing sheep grazing program has helped address the problem on a short-term basis, as sheep will eat the spurge and leave the grass behind, but McCreary said a long-term solution is needed.

With the shift in Ottawa resulting from the Oct. 19 election, several nature groups, including Nature Saskatchewan, have called on the federal government to put an immediate pause on the transfer of former PFRA grasslands.

A news release issued Oct. 29 said a plan is needed to sustain the ecological values of sites like the Govenlock community pasture, protecting species at risk while allowing for ongoing use by cattle ranchers.

Nature Saskatchewan excutive director Jordan Ignatiuk said all signs have indicated the process is unlikely to stop, despite the change in power.

“We don’t expect that there’s going to be a reversal,” he said, noting that his organization is still encouraged by the Liberal government’s apparent commitment to the environment.

While it’s been difficult for Nature Saskatchewan to monitor the situation closely due to the sheer number of pastures, Ignatiuk added, “To some degree we’ve got an idea of what’s happening.”

The McCraney pasture began the transition process two years earlier and has been operated under a patron-directed corporation since then. McCreary said the Willner-Elbow patrons have been able to watch and learn from that transition.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 9 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson, Loreburn, Sports

RaiTec winning streak reaches seven in a row

Pictured above are the members of the Davidson-Loreburn RaiTec senior girls volleyball team. Seen, from left, are Jamie Sarich, Brianna Jess, Emily Read, Lynzey Sanden, Kaitlyn Baldwin, Karissa Rendall, Jackie Losie, Tori Rendall, Jacey Sanden, Madelyn Vollmer, Miranda Farrell, Gracie Allan, Kaitlyn Glubis, Breanna Shaw and Jessica Matheson.
Pictured above are the members of the Davidson-Loreburn RaiTec senior girls volleyball team. Seen, from left, are Jamie Sarich, Brianna Jess, Emily Read, Lynzey Sanden, Kaitlyn Baldwin, Karissa Rendall, Jackie Losie, Tori Rendall, Jacey Sanden, Madelyn Vollmer, Miranda Farrell, Gracie Allan, Kaitlyn Glubis, Breanna Shaw and Jessica Matheson.

 

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — It’s seven in a row for the RaiTec senior girls volleyball team, but don’t think of calling it a lucky streak.

Rather, said manager Sandra Baldwin, it’s a combination of skill, consistency and commitment that has helped the team achieve so much success this season.

“We are able to set the pace for a game, and then maintain that pace,” she said. “They’re willing to work hard and stay focused.”

The RaiTec team — a co-op between Davidson and Loreburn — has won seven tournaments in a row, starting with a home tournament held the weekend of Sept. 11 and 12.

This was followed by wins in Porcupine Plain, Beechy, Assiniboia, Hanley and Humboldt, and culminated with a victory at a tournament in Outlook on the weekend of Oct. 23 and 24.

The RaiTec team includes six Grade 10 players, three from Grade 11 and five Grade 12s. Baldwin said the mix of ages has contributed to a healthy balance.

She also said the girls have stood firm even when falling behind, continuing to play their game, chipping away and, more often than not, coming out with a win.

The older players have brought strong leadership, while Baldwin said the team has a “deep bench” with all players displaying strengths.

Tony Baldwin, who coaches the team along with teacher Karen McConnell and intern Hallie Vollmer, said he’s excited about the team’s success for several reasons.

“These girls are at least as strong as they were last year,” he said, adding that he’s pleased to see the two schools coming together co-operatively.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 2 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson, Loreburn, Sports

RaiTec comes out on top in home tournament

Madelyn Vollmer (6) of the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec delivers a jump serve during the team’s home tournament, held Sept. 11 and 12 in Davidson.
Madelyn Vollmer (6) of the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec delivers a jump serve during the team’s home tournament, held Sept. 11 and 12 in Davidson.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A weekend of spikes, smashes and serves ended in victory for the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec.

The local senior girls volleyball team hosted five opponents in a weekend tournament at Davidson School on Sept. 11 and 12, defeating Porcupine Plain in the final to claim first place overall.

Also taking part in the tournament were teams from Allan, Biggar, Beechy and Vonda. The teams faced off against each other one by one with the top two schools competing in the final on Saturday.

Coach Karen McConnell said the event was a success and noted that the girls are playing together well, even at this early point in the year. She predicted a “very exciting season” ahead.

“Our Grade 10 girls are fitting in perfectly,” she noted. “The girls are all super hard-working … I’m excited to see how much they grow over the season.”

The RaiTec visited Outlook High School on Wednesday to take on the senior girls there, winning in all five sets. In one set, Loreburn’s Karissa Rendall made 19 consecutive serves.

The team was scheduled to face a couple of recent opponents again over the weekend as the girls visited both Beechy and Porcupine Plain.

In other local volleyball action, Kenaston’s senior girls hosted Outlook’s Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute on Wednesday. LCBI won three sets while the home team won the remaining two.

Loreburn, Sports

Rain results in big crowds for Loreburn RAVE tournament

Gracie Allan (7) of the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec dives for the ball during a game in the RAVE tournament held at Loreburn last weekend.
Gracie Allan (7) of the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec dives for the ball during a game in the RAVE tournament held at Loreburn last weekend.

By Joel van der Veen

LOREBURN — Few would have welcomed the prospect of a rainy Labour Day weekend, but it proved a boon for organizers of Loreburn’s annual senior girls volleyball tournament.

The rain may have put farmers behind schedule, but it also brought piles of spectators and volunteers to the Loreburn rink, said Brandy Losie.

“The place was packed all Friday night and all day Saturday,” said the village administrator. “The rain really helped.”

A total of 15 teams competed in the senior RAVE (Really Amazing Volleyball Event) tournament, held Sept. 4 and 5 and organized by the Loreburn Recreation Board and Loreburn Central School (LCS).

The North West Central School Wildcats from Plenty were the winners of the event, coming out on top in the championship pool that also included the Assiniboia Rockets, the Eston Mustangs and the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec B.

Other competitors included the Hanley Sabers, the Kenaston Kodiaks, the LCBI Bisons, the Frontier Raiders, the Outlook Blues, the Dinsmore Wildcats, the Beechy/Lucky Lake Blazers, the Marengo/Westcliff High Warriors, the Eatonia Spartans and the St. Walburg Saints.

Losie said planning for the event hit a snag as the new gym floor at LCS wasn’t yet ready for use, forcing organizers to hold all the matches in the Loreburn rink.

However, two teams subsequently dropped out of the event, and with players from the Davidson/Loreburn RaiTec splitting into two teams, the tournament went ahead smoothly.

Losie said the weekend went well from an organizational standpoint. The school and recreation board have combined forces to run the tournament, with lots of help from students and others.

The teams were divided into three pools for round robin games on Friday night and Saturday morning. They were then split up again based on their performance, with the winner declared from the championship pool.

The Davidson/Loreburn B team won all eight of its matches in the round robin section, finishing first in the C pool, but ended up fourth in the championship pool with just one win out of six matches.

Kenaston won five matches and lost three in the round robin, coming second in the B pool, and then finished third in the X pool with three wins and three losses.

Hanley had four wins and four losses in the round robin section, coming third in pool C, but then won five out of six matches in the X pool to take first place there.

The Davidson/Loreburn A team won three and lost five in the round robin section, giving them fourth place in the A pool. They then finished in second place in the Y pool with three wins and three losses.

Loreburn’s junior volleyball tournament was scheduled for this past weekend, featuring a total of 16 entries, evenly divided between boys’ and girls’ teams.

Losie said the gym floor was ready to go as of last Tuesday, so both the school and the rink were expected to be busy over the weekend. Details will follow in an upcoming edition of the Leader.