Sports by Mare Davis The Review At the end of a hard day’s work, 45-year-old Monty Holding drives home, puts on a pair of runners and hits the pavement for a long run — covering 10-20 miles in 90-180 minutes. As the world’s top tnathlete in the 45-49 year-old age group, Holding likes to keep on his toes and stay in peak physical condi- tion. When most middle-aged men have their feet up in front of the television set, Holding often has his feet striding up the steep hills of the Malahat. His grueling training schedule, begins at about 6 a.m. each day with a 60- to 90-minute bicycle ride, covering up to 20 miles. At lunch time, he takes a break from his job as recreation manager at the Panorama Leisure Centre to swim about 3,000 metres, about 120 lengths of the facility’s swim- ming pool. A 90-180 minute run in the evening rounds off training for the day, he said. Come Saturday the Ironman champion usually doubles up on his rigorous training regime. Then, on Sunday, he has “a rest,” limit- ing his workout to only about two hours. His efforts have paid off. Hold- ing holds three course records in major international Ironman tri- athlon competitions, including the record for being the fastest man in the world in his age group. Last October, he won the 45-49 year-old Masters Division at the Ironman World Triathlon Champi- onship in Kona, Hawaii. Two Peninsula teams baiile in big tourney Two Peninsula teams were battling it out Monday after- noon for the right to advance to Slowpitch National’s Recrea- tional Division national cham- pionship. Rock “N’ Roll Express and Ron’s Disposal-Mixed Nuts squared off in the final of the Tenth Sidney Mixed Slowpitch League’s Labor Day tourna- ment. The championship show- down was still in progress when The Review went to press. The winner will travel to Beause- jour, Man., just outside of Win- nipeg, for the national champi- onships next year. A league spokesman said Mixed Nuts swept through to the final round with four conse- cutive wins. Taking the longer route, Rock ‘N’ Roll Express posted six wins and one loss to advance to the last pair in the 22-team tournament. The Peninsula team clinched its shot at the playoffs title by knocking out Victoria’s National Tire 13-9 after playing two extra innings. About 300 people were at Blue Heron Park in ideal sunny conditions for the final game of the tournament. In earlier action, Energy N Motion edged Victoria’s The Highlands by 7-6 to win the consolation round. Complete results will be pub- lished next week. “Hawaii is a difficult course, mostly because of the heat. So, I guess posting the fastest time in the world for a triathlete in my age group is pretty good,” he said. Beating Holding’s time of 9 hours, 33 minutes, eight seconds has now become the elusive goal of rivals throughout the world, perhaps for many years to come. A triathlon typically involves a 140-mile cycling race, followed by a 2.4-mile swim and climaxing’ with a 26.2-mile marathon. Ironically, Holding says he showed no interest in competitive sports when he decided to get into shape seven years ago. Weighing in at a hefty 210 pounds, he said he was spending too much time in the bar and decided to start running to lose weight. But in 1983, he decided to enter the Victoria Ironman triathlon for fun. “T decided to try a triathlon and found I liked it,” Holding said. “Placing seventh overall among a field of about 600 competitors was really motivational.” The following year he bought an expensive racing bicycle and began training and competing in emest. “T’ve always been an endurance athlete. I used to be a competitive swimmer at university. And I find I do best in the longer events, which is why I think I’m successful at triathlons,” he said. Only a few days ago, Holding set a new course record of 10:02:50 in his division at the Ironman Can- ~ ada tace in Penticton. A supportive wife and a job in the recreation business are positive factors, but the key to his success as a competitor is self discipline and commitment. He seldom drnks and has to maintain a low fat, high carbohy- drate diet just to keep his body firing on all cylinders, he said. And his weekly 25-30 hour training regime leaves little time for socializing, going to the cin- ema or any other leisure activities. Nonetheless, the rewards of the sport are manifold. “It’s a tough TheReview expenence to do an Ironman race but I think I get as many mental benefits as I do physical ones. “It’s a great way to ease frustra- tion from the workplace. It’s a great release. Some people go out and have a cigarette. Some people go to the bar. I go out and mun, ride or Swim.” His overall level of confidence is also boosted by his drive to stay the world’s number one Ironman in his age group, he said. But one of the most rewarding aspects of the sport is the camara- derie among the athletes and the nobility of the competition, he said. “It’s like how the Olympics used to be and like how its sup- posed to be,” he said. “There’s no political interference. It’s just peo- ple involved in the sport doing it purely out of a love for it.” Rather than defend his Masters Division title in Hawaii this fall, Holding said he plans to compete in the short-course world tnathlon Continued on Page B7 Wednesday, September 5,1990 — B Holding sets the mark for Mastertriathletes 9; -===k Revival Revival Revival Services at Truth Tabernacle Pentecostal =~ Church 10345 Bowerbank Rd. (old white school building + q Nightly: 7:00 p.m. Starting: Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 Sept. 4 to Sept. 9 Gospel Singing Gospel Preaching Prayer for the Sick Everyoue Welcome Pastor: Gabor Czinger 655-7029 DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH PARKS COMMISSION i The District of North Saanich is accepting applications from persons © interested in serving on the Parks Commission. The Parks Commis- sion advises Council on matters relating to parks and trails in the District. Three appointments for two-year terms will be made at the September 17, 1990 regular Council meeting: Interested persons should forward) their names to: Mrs. Joan E. Schill, Municipal Clerk District of North Saanich, 1620 Mills Road (mailing address: PO. Box 2639 Sidney, B-C. V8L 4C1) by Thursday, September 13, 1990. SIDNEY CLASS: Starts Sept. 18th Tues & Thurs TAOIST TAI CHI SOCIETY OF CANADA a registered charitable Society founded by Master Moy Lin-Shin oe y 2 2 > O. © o, : Z ay 73; Gn 7:30 - 8:30 PM Sidney Elem. School SWINGING THROUGH THE ball, the pitcher of the Stelly’s A‘s slowpitch team solidly connects with the ball, driving it into the outfield in the Tenth Annual Sidney Mixed Slowpitch League tournament at Blue Heron Park, Satur- 281 Henry Ave. BRENTWOOD INFO: | [eee at eet day. MOUSENAPPING Continued from Page Al mayor and then the New York State governor into the fray. Messages demanding the return of the mouse poured into New York Emergency Medical Services by letter, phone and facsimile, tying up communication. “At one point you could not get a fax into emergency medical ser- vices,” Maniscalco said. Other emergency service depart- ments from around the world joined in, chastising the New York Service. The Orlando, Florida service sent a message demanding Medic Mouse’s release on behalf of cou- sins Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Afraid something would happen to the stuffed mascot before a return could be negotiated, Manis- calco began taking Medic Mouse to work. Called to a fire at the Empire State Building, he left the mouse propped against the window of the control cab — but had to move the rodent after gaping New Yorkers gathered to exclaim over the cute mouse, hampering the evacuation of the building. Co-workers promised to raise up to $2,000 for bail money before Afaniecalco left New York to return the mouse to B.C. B.C. Stena Lines provided com- plimentary transportation from Seattle to Victoria, where Klein had arranged with customs to detain Maniscalco for questioning. The customs officials joined in the joke, threatening to slit open the stuffed mouse to check for drugs. In Sidney, the mouse and Manis- calco were met by the mayor, representatives from the Sidney Ambulance Service, Air Ambul- ance Service, the Provincial B.C. Ambulance Service and children who had graduated from the Sid- ney Safety Course arranged by fire inspector Larry Buchanan. The local Thrifty Foods pro- vided cheese, sandwiches and a cheese-shaped cake, all decorated with mice made out of icing, radishes or kiwi fruit. During his nine-day visit to B.C. Maniscalco is touring ambulance service operations. The B.C. and New York departments are already exchanging information. Maniscalco said contacts have improved between all the depart- ments who joined in the mousen- apping caper, leading to more exchanges of information. FOR MORE INFORMATION Classes Starting Sept. 19th, Wed. 7:00 - 9:00 PM Keating Elementary School Gym 6843 Central Saanich Rd. AND COURSE REGISTRATION CALL? 383-4103 $5 Fivedollars off regular beginner's membership with Ad i] ° 6 e ¢ (i Sidney Community Music School wil 9843 2nd St, Sidney (Peninsula Dance School) Music education for the hand, the ear, and the heart \ Principal Ann-Marie Thompson BMus AVCM Kodaly Classes for young children up to & years old With a large repertoire of folk and nursery Songs and games, children learn to sing and play music in an atmosphere _ of playful enjoyment. With emphasis on partici- pation and building security in the individual, children are taught skills and literacy in music. Classes begin Sept. 12th For more information call 477-9701