Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020044
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Fall also means crisp days and sun-filled skies that are perfect for outdoor exploration, either by bicycle or on foot.
So, it should not be surprising that the New River Valley Bicycle Club will have nine rides in November. And the Blacksburg YMCA has a hike scheduled each of the next five Sundays.
CYCLING AROUND: With its river and rolling hills, this area is a great place to bicycle. That's why the New River Valley Bicycle Club has rides open to anyone interested.
All riders are required to wear helmets. Lights are required for night rides. And minors must have a waiver statement signed by a parent and be accompanied by a responsible adult.
The monthly meeting for the club will be Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. in the community room of the Blacksburg Branch Library. For more information about the club, call TIM MYERS, the club president, at 951-5285.
Club members have written a book, "Cycling the New River Valley." It is available at local bookstores or through Pocahontas Press of Blacksburg (951-0407 or (800) 445-0457). The cost is $8.25.
The November rides are listed below.
Saturday is "Spanos to Shawsville," a 35-mile trek from Blacksburg through Ellett Valley to Shawsville and return. Meet at the Virginia Tech Chapel in Blacksburg at 1 p.m. Call J.T. SPANOS at 951-1354 for more information.
Sunday is the "Big Falls Ride," a 30-mile ride down to the New River and back. Meet at the Tech Chapel at 1 p.m. Call DOW SCOTT at 552-4607 for more information.
Nov. 12 is the "Sandy Ridge Ride," a 30-mile loop around Blacksburg and Mt. Tabor. Meet at the Tech Chapel at 1 p.m. Call SCOTT RADCLIFFE at 552-7012 for more information.
Nov. 13 is the "Newport Ride," a 30-mile trip through southern Giles County. Meet at the Newport Community Center on Virginia 42 at 1 p.m. Call PAUL SMITH at 951-7825 for more information.
Nov. 18 brings the monthly "Moonlight Madness Ride," a nocturnal sojourn to the Christiansburg Waffle House. Meet at the Ellett Valley Food Time at 30 seconds before 11 p.m. Call TIM MYERS at 951-5285 for more information. The inclement weather date for this ride is Nov. 19.
Nov. 19 is "(Take Me) To the River," a brisk morning ride along the New River near McCoy. Meet at the Tech Chapel at 10 a.m. Call DAVE JENKINS at 552-3747 for more information.
Nov. 20 is the "Childress Ride" through the countryside and dairy farms of Southern Montgomery County. Meet at the Montgomery Museum in Christiansburg at 1:30 p.m. Call TIM MYERS at 951-5285 for more information.
Nov. 26 is the "Wolf Creek 40," a flat, 40-mile road ride. Meet at Wolf Creek Park in Narrows at 1 p.m . Call PAUL SMITH at 951-7825 for more information.
Nov. 27 is the "Merrimac Loop," an easy 15-mile circuit through Merrimac. Meet at the Tech Chapel at noon. Call PAUL SMITH at 951-7825 for more information.
A-HIKING WE WILL GO: The beauty of the outdoors can be experienced by foot, too. And one way to do that are the YMCA hikes.
Hikes leave the YMCA parking lot at 403 Washington St. in Blacksburg at 1:30 p.m. and return by 5. Hikers should dress appropriately, wear sturdy shoes, bring water and be willing to drive or provide gas money to drivers.
For general information about the hikes, call the YMCA office at 231-6860. Hikes are subject to change due to the weather.
The remaining fall hike schedule follows.
On Sunday, it's "Fall Ride and Hollow," a stroll on nearby Nature Conservatory land. Call DOTTIE ABASHIAN at 951-1990 for more information.
On Nov 13, it's "The Cascades," a trek along Little Stony Creek to the 60-foot waterfall. Call BEATE SCHMITTMANN at 231-6518 for more information.
On Nov. 20, it's "Indian Run Walk," an easy walk along a bridle path through woods near Blacksburg. Call DOTTIE ABASHIAN at 951-1990 for more information.
On Nov. 27, it's "Sinking Creek Mountain," a journey along the Appalachian Trail from Virginia 42 to the mountain's crest. Call BARRY ANDERSON at 639-1018 for more information.
On Dec. 4, it's "Pandapas Pond," a loop along the trail at the ridge of Brush Mountain. Call BILL HOHENBOKEN at 552-2817 for more information.
SWIM TIME: The SouthWest Aquatic Team won 13 individual events and four relays in a three-team meet Oct. 22 at Radford University's Dedmon Center.
The Capital Area-YMCA of Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and the Roanoke Gators were the other teams in the meet.
The double winners for SWAT were DAVID DARVALICS (25-meter freestyle and 100 individual medley in Boys 8-and-under); TOMMY EVANS (50 butterfly and 50 freestyle in Boys 9-10); GRANT THROCKMORTON (100 freestyle and 100 individual medley in Boys 9-10); and WHIT HUGHSTON (100 backstroke and 200 individual medley in Boys 15-and-over).
Other winners were YVONNE NG (Girls 8-and-under, 25 backstroke); BRIAN SCHEID and PAUL MOORE (tied for first in Boys 8-and-under, 25 breaststroke); WILLIAM NEWCOMB (Boys 9-10, 50 breaststroke); COLE THROCKMORTON (Boys 11-12, 50 breaststroke); and JACQUI McLAUGHLIN (Girls 15-and-over, 100 freestyle).
In the relays, SWAT won the Boys 8-and-under 100 freestyle, the Boys 8-and-under 100 medley, and the Boys 9-10 200 freestyle, and had two teams tie for first in the Boys 9-10 200 medley.
The team also had four seconds and five thirds.
KICKING THE BALL: Pulaski Top Gun and the Pulaski Hornets held on to win the Pulaski County Youth Soccer League titles.
The nearest thing Top Gun (11-0-1) had to a slip in the 10-and-under league was a 1-1 tie against the Pulaski Panthers. ELIZABETH HAGER scored Top Gun's lone goal in the match. ANDREW HODGES had the Panthers' score while goalie BRETT ADKINS recorded 10 saves.
Top Gun clinched the league title with a 5-2 win over the Pulaski Roadrunners as TYLER ASHWORTH scored twice, while Hager, CODY McVEY and STEPHANO BLAKLEY each added a goal.
Hager led the league in scoring with 20 goals. JOHN HEDGE of the second-place Pulaski Wildcats (8-2-2) was second with 18 goals. Hedge scored four goals in a match twice.
The Hornets (9-2-1) finished with two wins and a tie after losing twice to claim the 13-and-under league title.
The clincher was a 3-0 victory over the Strikers. ERIC RATCLIFFE, MATT BURTON and JOE SLOMKA each scored for the Hornets, while STEPHEN BRUBAKER and JASON DEAN combined for the shutout.
The Pulaski Counts (8-3-1) and the Draper Fury (7-3-1) had tightened the race with wins over the Hornets.
ANDY PRATT of the Fury led the league with 22 goals.
M.J. Dougherty covers community sports for the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.
by CNB