A collection of news and notes from across Southwest Ontario’s sports scene:
CURLING COACH PRAISED: Jennifer Cuddie of the London Curling Club was one of 15 Ontario coaches who recently received the province’s Coaching Excellence Award to celebrate the ninth National Coaches Week. Cuddie has 18 years of coaching experience and received the award for her ability to “recognize and harness the talent of her athletes and turn underdogs into champions, as evidenced by her team’s recent two provincial titles.” The winning coaches are honored each year at a ceremony at the Rogers Center and receive a $500 prize that can be used toward purchases for their team, club or organization. “We are very happy to recognize (Jennifer) for this. . . “Unwavering commitment and support for athlete development,” said Jeremy Cross, executive director of the Coaches’ Association of Ontario. “Our communities are strengthened through the relationships created and fostered through sport, and coaches like Jennifer are leaders in creating these safe, fun and positive spaces for youth to thrive.”
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BLUE CHIP WIN: Bill Elliott’s Woodstock native Ucandoit Blue Chip bested fellow winner Zanatta Off a Perfect Pocket Trip at the Delaware County Fair in Ohio last week to win the $255,000 Jugette Final for three-year-old pacing fillies. Ucandoit Blue Chip delivered the win in 1:50.2 with Scott Zeron on board for trainer Linda Toscano and owner Elliott. The Keystone Velocity filly was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock and is out of the Camluck mare Molly Can Do It.
“I cannot say enough about the work that Linda and her entire crew did with this filly,” said Elliott. “It’s just breathtaking. I’m speechless.” Ucandoit Blue Chip has won six of 14 races this year with a lifetime record of 10-4-3 in 21 starts and a bankroll of $560,835.
BEEF SEATERS ROLLING: The London Beefeaters can secure second place in the Ontario Football Conference with a home win over the winless GTA Grizzlies on Saturday at 5 p.m. at City Wide Sports Park. The sixth-ranked Beefs (4-2) nationally put together another historic individual performance last week in Hamilton. LJ Dyer ran 36 times for 318 yards, which is the third most ever in a single conference game. His yardage was also the 11th best in Canadian Junior Football League history.
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