Dean McNabb, seen here with his mother Jeannine, is pictured signing a standard player agreement with the Victoria Royals of the WHL on Aug. 29.
By Joel van der Veen
VICTORIA, B.C. — A hard week at training camp came with some great news for Davidson’s Dean McNabb.
The 16-year-old goalie signed a standard player agreement with the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League on Aug. 29.
He was scheduled to join the team on a road trip for its first three pre-season games this past weekend.
Dean is the youngest child of Kim and Jeannine McNabb of Davidson, measuring six feet, two inches, and weighing 174 lbs.
He was in Victoria in late August taking part in the Royals’ rookie camp when he received the news.
McNabb said he was happy to take the next step with the organization, having been selected by the Royals in last year’s WHL draft. He was a third-round pick, coming 61st overall.
He described the training camp as hard work, with practices, goaltending sessions and games each day.
“You’ve got to keep up and work hard,” he said, adding he’s building his skills and also working to develop patience and confidence.
As one of two rookie goalies, McNabb acknowledged that the next few games will be an uphill battle for him, as he seeks to prove he can compete at the WHL level.
“I am the youngest guy so I shouldn’t be expecting too much,” he said. “For a 16-year-old it’s a bit harder.”
For the full story, please see the Sept. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Canadian shot putter Taryn Suttie poses with the rings at the Olympic Village.
By Joel van der Veen
HANLEY — They huddled together, watching on smartphones, on tablets and computers, as a small-town girl made her mark at the Olympics.
Close to 30 family and friends gathered at Don and Deb Suttie’s home northeast of Hanley to watch their daughter Taryn compete in the women’s shot put event on Aug. 12.
Breakfast and coffee were on the table and lots of snacks were provided, including a fruit platter with berries, pineapple and melon arranged in the shape of the Olympic rings.
While the qualifying round wasn’t aired live on TV, it was available online as a streaming video via CBC.
All eyes were glued to screens of various sizes on Friday morning as 25-year-old Taryn made her throws.
“It’s amazing, it’s awesome,” said her sister Kelsey. “That’s been her goal for so long.”
Taryn completed all three throws in the qualifying round, with a top distance of 16.74 metres. She finished in 28th place out of 36 competitors and did not reach the finals.
She stayed in Rio for the rest of the Games and took part in the closing ceremonies with the other Team Canada athletes on Aug. 21.
Taryn was expected to arrive back in Cleveland, Ohio, her training base, on Wednesday.
Her mother Deb said they had exchanged a few short messages with her during her time in Rio.
“I think she’s feeling pretty good,” said Deb. “It’s been a long haul . . . She said it was quite an amazing experience.”
For the full story, please see the Aug. 29 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Family, friends and neighbours gathered at the home of Don and Deb Suttie northeast of Hanley on Friday morning to watch proudly as their daughter Taryn competed for Team Canada in the shot put event at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Taryn (shown in inset) made all three shots with a top throw of 16.74 metres, but did not qualify for the final round.
Lane Robertson takes part in the mutton bustin’ competition at the Findlater Ranch Rodeo presented by K+S Potash Canada on Aug. 6.
By Joel van der Veen
FINDLATER — Close to 1,200 people flocked to Findlater last weekend for a day of rodeo competition and fun for the whole family.
The Findlater Ranch Rodeo, presented by K + S Potash Canada, featured 10 teams competing in the main event on Aug. 6.
Taking home the championship buckles was the Guenther ranch team, consisting of captain Cheryl Guenther of Lanigan; Amber Guenther and Adam Siebold, both of Kelvington; and Tyrel Fousche, a former CCA champion who now lives in Regina.
The teams took part in five events, including team doctoring, team branding, the wild horse race, trailer loading and wild cow milking.
Organizer Shannon McArton said the last event in particular lives up to its name.
“These guys have to catch them and milk them,” she said. “It does get pretty crazy in the arena.”
McArton is one of six serving on the board of directors, which includes representatives from Findlater, Dilke, Holdfast and Bethune.
Beautiful weather on Saturday helped to ensure a strong turnout, she said, adding that some guests stumbled upon the rodeo after seeing the tents from the highway and wondering what the commotion was.
The rodeo is now in its eighth year and organizers seem to have hit upon a winning formula, as attendance has averaged around 1,000 people for the past five years.
The wild horse race was a new addition this year, but McArton said that generally the events stay the same from year to year.
Competitors have told them that the Findlater ranch rodeo draws the highest attendance in the province, she added.
For the full story, please see the Aug. 15 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Hanley native Taryn Suttie (centre) poses with her teammates following the announcement of Canada’s athletics team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Also shown are Elizabeth Gleadle, Brittany Crew, Heather Steacy and Tim Nedow, all of whom are competing in throwing events.
By Joel van der Veen
HANLEY — Brian Grest remembers the day a young Taryn Suttie set her first provincial track and field record.
Suttie, then a Grade 10 student at Hanley Composite School, had made her final throw in the midget girls shot put at the provincial meet in Regina.
It was a solid shot, but when she saw the judges gathering for a quick chat, she turned to her coach with a worried look.
Grest had words of reassurance for her: “I smiled and I said, ‘I think they’re measuring for a record.’”
He said the memory reflects the kind of athlete Suttie is: determined and ready to work hard, but also humble in her success.
“She was never a showoff, never a cocky person,” Grest said. “Everything that comes her way is deserved.”
Suttie, 25, learned Monday that she would be part of the team representing Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next month.
She will compete in the shot put event, as one of two competitors from Saskatchewan on the athletics team.
Suttie said Tuesday she felt relieved by the news, to have reached a goal she has worked towards for several years.
The athletes representing the Great White North were confirmed following the Canadian Championships and Selection Trials, held from July 7 to 10 at Foote Field in Edmonton.
Suttie said she didn’t perform as well as she’d hoped during trials, scoring a top throw of 16.71 metres in five attempts.
Even so, she finished in second place, more than a metre ahead of the third-place competitor, and earning herself a spot on the Olympic team.
“I was a little concerned,” she said. “Everything’s good. I’m on the team.”
The 65 members of Canada’s athletics team for the 2016 Olympic Games were announced on July 11.
Heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, a Humboldt native, is the sole other competitor from Saskatchewan. (Sprints and relays coach Carla Nicholls hails from Regina.)
Also competing in throwing events are Elizabeth Gleadle of Vancouver (javelin throw); Brittany Crew of East York, Ont. (shot put); Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta. (hammer throw) and Tim Nedow of Brockville, Ont. (shot put).
Last week, Taryn was visiting at her parents’ home north of Hanley, getting ready to head to Cleveland, Ohio to continue her training.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said her mother Deb. “She’s worked really hard for a long time.”
For the full story, please see the July 18 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Kade McConnell of Davidson is pictured riding Cheyanne, an 18-year-old Paint mare.
By Joel van der Veen
BIGGAR — A family tradition carried on to the next generation last weekend as Kade McConnell took part in his first rodeo.
The 12-year-old Davidson boy was among the contestants in the Biggar Rodeo, held July 1 and 2 and organized by the Kakeyow Cowboys Rodeo Association.
His mother Karen said Kade has been riding horseback for several years, joining his great-grandfather on the fair circuit and helping to drive and show his draft horses.
This past weekend was his first competitive event, as he took part in the junior team roping events on both Friday and Saturday.
“He was extremely excited,” said Karen, adding that several relatives, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, were also there for the occasion.
Kade was partnered with Virgil Kiefer, who was previously Karen’s rodeo partner and is now employed as a cowhand near Birch Hills.
He was riding Cheyanne, an 18-year-old Paint mare and a veteran of the rodeo circuit.
For the full story, please see the July 11 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
