A Halifax Chronicle-Herald story the other day referred to Lesley Hawker as 'Mrs. Jamie Doherty,' a reference to the fine young Kanata lad she married back in June.
While such a term might seem just a trifle (or more) old fashioned in this day and age, Hawker admits to being a 'traditional' lady. And she didn't mind it one bit.
“It doesn't bother me at all,” said 25-year-old favourite of us media types (hey, how could you not like her?) from Barrie, smiling as usual.
(Lesley reports that Mr. Doherty got quite the kick out of it when he read it online).
Canadians this week offers a rare treat for Hawker — quality time with her new hubby at a skating event. They don't see a lot of each other during the season: Hawker trains in Detroit with coach Richard Callaghan, while Doherty is doing stem cell research at the University of Toronto (she thinks the 'scientist and skater' thing is a rather perfect match, by the way).
Basically, it's weekends together and that's about it, which isn't exactly the ideal way to begin a marriage. But Hawker calls her husband “a super supporter” of her skating dreams, which are far from done yet even though her age might suggest otherwise to some (worth noting: She was asking yesterday if anyone knew yet where next year's Canadians are. Yes, she plans to be there. And yes, as a competitor).
While Hawker admits the figure skating world she inhabits “is not his world in the least,” Doherty will no doubt be her No. 1 fan in the Metro Centre later this week when the women's event gets going for real (with all due respect to her parents, of course, who are also making the trip).
And for those of you who were all out of sorts about the nasty weather you had to fight through to get here on Monday, the other side of the story: Hawker flew from Detroit to Toronto on her way here, but her flight to Halifax got cancelled until Tuesday. So she got to spend a precious extra night with Jamie in Toronto before leaving.
Now, doesn't that newlywed thought make you all feel a little bit better?
Showing posts with label Kanata. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kanata. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Clouds Have Lifted
As I sit here at the first Canadians of a new quadrennial, I can't help thinking about how far this sport has moved beyond its darkest moment.
I refer, specifically, to the chill that surrounded the 2003 nationals in Saskatoon — and I'm not just talking about the -30C temperatures that greeted us on the Prairies for most of that week. It was the first Canadians after Salt Lake City 2002 and the worst judging scandal figure skating had ever seen (we'll spare you a recounting of the details of the Jamie Sale-David Pelletier mess, which has been told more than enough).
Anyways, let's just say not a lot of positive feeling was floating around Saskatoon that week.
Fast forward to this week and Halifax, where Canadians is getting a bright new makeover in terms of presentation. There's a flashy new logo and lots of buzz already about Vancouver 2010, which will be our first 'home' Olympics in 22 years.
Oh, yeah ... more spots for the world championships are at stake this week then we've seen in years. Three of everything except the women's discipline, which gets two. In other worlds, almost the largest team possible that will wear the red and white maple leaf in Tokyo in March.
Now that's something to shout about. And in a very good way, too.
NEWS AND NOTES
As a top 12 finisher last year, Ashton Tessier of the Minto Skating Club was exempt from the qualifying round.
***Skate Canada will announce the site of the 2008 Canadian championships on Sunday, after the conclusion of this event. Expect a western venue, given that the last three nationals have been held in London (2005), Ottawa (2006) and Halifax.
I refer, specifically, to the chill that surrounded the 2003 nationals in Saskatoon — and I'm not just talking about the -30C temperatures that greeted us on the Prairies for most of that week. It was the first Canadians after Salt Lake City 2002 and the worst judging scandal figure skating had ever seen (we'll spare you a recounting of the details of the Jamie Sale-David Pelletier mess, which has been told more than enough).
Anyways, let's just say not a lot of positive feeling was floating around Saskatoon that week.
Fast forward to this week and Halifax, where Canadians is getting a bright new makeover in terms of presentation. There's a flashy new logo and lots of buzz already about Vancouver 2010, which will be our first 'home' Olympics in 22 years.
Oh, yeah ... more spots for the world championships are at stake this week then we've seen in years. Three of everything except the women's discipline, which gets two. In other worlds, almost the largest team possible that will wear the red and white maple leaf in Tokyo in March.
Now that's something to shout about. And in a very good way, too.
NEWS AND NOTES
***Amelie Lacoste of Delson, Que., who finished fifth in the senior women's event a year ago, withdrew on the weekend. Lacoste has been battling a foot ailment for much of the season, which led to her dropping out of a scheduled Junior Grand Prix assignment in the Czech Republic in October. A few weeks before Christmas, she was hopeful she'd skate here in Halifax, but the injury clearly didn't respond in time.
***Kanata's Mandy Valentine, a former Canadian novice women's champ who's been battling injuries for much of the past two seasons, also dropped out of the senior event. She has been training in Vancouver with coach Joanne McLeod for much of this season.As a top 12 finisher last year, Ashton Tessier of the Minto Skating Club was exempt from the qualifying round.
***Skate Canada will announce the site of the 2008 Canadian championships on Sunday, after the conclusion of this event. Expect a western venue, given that the last three nationals have been held in London (2005), Ottawa (2006) and Halifax.
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