Big 10 for Berwick sports hall of famers

BY SARA KEDDY

kings County Register

The 2008 induction into Berwick’s Sports Hall of Fame will mark 10 years of recognition for local sports heritage.

“Unbelievable,” says hall of fame committee chairman Mike Trinacty on the project’s longevity.

In that time 21 athletes, 20 teams, 15 builders and three special recognition recipients have been inducted.

“Nominations are still coming in - we have a dozen now to consider,” Trinacty says. “We absolutely love, too, our unique sporting heritage,” referring to past inductions of horse pulling champions and tug or war teams.

Nominations for the 2008 event, set for June 7 at the Berwick school, are available on the town’s website (along with past inductees’ biographies), and are accepted for any athlete, team or sports supporter - a builder - from Berwick and district. Trinacty says applications are thoroughly reviewed and new information the committee finds for an inductee’s profile adds to any nomination a person feels may be “incomplete.

“We do a lot of research.”

Berwick recreation director Craig Burgess also encourages people to nominate more recent achievements. The hall of fame has spent a lot of time “catching up” on some of Berwick’s older athletes and builders.

“Don’t be afraid to nominate someone from more cent times - they only have to be a retired athlete for five years, and some builders never leave a sport,” Burgess says.

The hall of fame continues, as well, to track annual achievements by athletes, teams and sports supporters for recognition at the induction ceremony. Holes-in-one, provincial championships, coaching recognition and more are all collected by the recreation department from June to June.

As for this 10th anniversary induction, Trinacty says there are ideas being considered of how to make it unique.

“We’ve been thinking of a cake or a guest speaker, a special ceremony - but it’s always a challenge not to take away from the induction of our new people,” Trinacty says.

WEBLINKS:

www.town.berwick.ns.ca