N.B. Sports Hall of Fame
Sports Hall of Fame to induct five new members (03/03/17)
NB 259
March 17, 2003
FREDERICTON (CNB) - The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame honour roll will grow by five with the addition of three athletes and two builders for 2003. The names of those elected were announced today by Howie Trainor of Saint John, chairman of the Sports Hall of Fame's board of governors. The dinner and induction ceremony will be held June 7 in Fredericton.
The inductees are Michael Barry of Saint John, a three-time Canadian wrestling champion and 1976 Olympian; Deborah Bryant of Moncton, 1981 Canadian senior rhythmic gymnastics champion and a 10-year member of the national team; John Estabrooks of Riverview, a golf builder who has been instrumental in the development of New Brunswick's successful junior programs; Daniel Macdonald of Moncton, who has devoted over 30 years to the growth and development of gymnastics in New Brunswick and Canada; and Christopher Skinner of Saint John, an eight-year veteran of the Canadian Football League and member of the 1987 Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos.
With the latest elections membership in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame now stands at 170.
Following is background information on the five inductees:
Michael Barry
In
the case of Saint John's Mike Barry, judo's loss was wrestling's gain.
Barry, along with his older brother Sean, was introduced to judo as a
six-year old and became a black belt by age 17. He won numerous local
and Maritime meets and showed sufficient promise to compete in the 1972
Olympic trials. However, he switched to wrestling at the urging of Pat
Bolger, a member of the national team, who spotted Barry's potential and
suggested he pursue that sport instead.
Barry relocated to Toronto to attend Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, and to work on perfecting his technique with top-level coaches. The move paid off as he captured the gold medal at the 1975 and 1977 Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union championships, and won silver at the 1975 and 1976 Canadian championships. Barry also earned a berth on the Canadian team to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and fought in the under 125-pound free style competition. While he lost both of his preliminary bouts, the second by a close 11-9 decision to a fighter from Korea, the Olympic experience proved to be a catalyst in Barry's career.
Michael Barry (Large photo.)
In 1977 he won the first of three consecutive Canadian championships in his weight class, and placed seventh at the world championships. At the 1979 Canadian championships, Barry won gold in the 62 kilogram weight class, and shared the outstanding wrestler award with his brother Sean. Barry also made his mark in international competitions. In 1978 he won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, and he won a bronze medal at both the 1980 and 1984 World Cup meets. He won gold medals at the Canada Cup competitions in 1981 and 1983, and was named the outstanding wrestler at both meets.
Throughout most of his career, Barry fought in the same weight class as his brother Sean, resulting in many head to head bouts, but according to Sean Barry, "the more we met head on the closer we became".
Mike Barry who retired in 1984, managed to successfully combine academics and the demands of his sport, obtaining a law degree from the University of Windsor. He now practices law in London, Ontario, where he lives with his wife Sharon and their four children. He was elected to the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Deborah Bryant
Moncton's
Deborah Bryant was a pioneer in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. A protégé
of coach Mariana Ardelean, who introduced the sport to New Brunswick,
Bryant was for a time the sport's only individual competitor in the province.
The demands of the sport, including mastery of the technical elements
of four apparatus as well as peak physical conditioning and artistry,
necessitated long hours of practice and training, which Bryant often did
alone.
Her perseverance paid off in 1975 when she was selected to the national team, the first athlete outside Ontario to be named to the team. Her selection helped pave the way for similar recognition of athletes from other parts of Canada. Bryant remained on the team for 10 years until her retirement in 1984. During that time she represented Canada at four world championships and at international events around the world.
Deborah Bryant (Large photo.)
During her career Bryant reigned as the New Brunswick senior champion for 11 years, and won the Canadian senior title in 1981. She also finished second at the 1980 championships and had third place finishes in 1979, 1982 and 1983.
In 1978 she won the senior all-round title at the prestigious Four Continents Championships and she also won the all-round gold medal at a competitions in Monaco in 1981 and at the China-Canada competition in 1982. At these and other competitions, Bryant won numerous medals in the four individual apparatus-ball, ribbon, hoop and clubs-which comprise the sport.
While competing, Bryant helped to coach other athletes and assisted with coaching and judging clinics conducted by Ardelean. She was a role model for other New Brunswick athletes, including Sports Hall of Fame member Lise Gautreau-Robichaud, who competed at the 1988 Olympic Games, and Rachel Boleyn, Louise Guerette and Michelle Crawford, all of whom made the national rhythmic gymnastics team.
She was the Université de Moncton female athlete of the year in 1977 and 1982, and Sport New Brunswick female athlete of the year in 1982. She was inducted into the Moncton Sports Wall of Fame in 1992. Bryant currently resides in Gloucester, Ontario.
John Estabrooks
As
a player, Saint John-born John Estabrooks proved he could compete with
the best. Between 1957 and 1969 he won one junior and two amateur New
Brunswick-Prince Edward Island golf championships and had the unique distinction
of representing the NB-PEI, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland golf associations
in Willingdon Cup competition. But his greatest legacy has been his commitment
to ensuring the future of the game in New Brunswick and Canada.
John Estabrooks (Large photo.)
Estabrooks' involvement with the administrative side of golf began in Newfoundland in the early 1960's when he served as the governor for the Grand Falls golf club, and assumed responsibility for the provincial junior development program for three years. Upon his return to New Brunswick he was appointed to chair the New Brunswick Golf Association's (NBGA) handicap and course rating committee, and subsequently was given the chairmanship of the junior development portfolio. In six years he transformed the program, creating the foundation upon which many of the association's current initiatives in the areas of team training and competitions are based. Success was seen as early as 1978 when the New Brunswick junior team finished second at the national championships, and in 1983 New Brunswick lost the team title in a play-off with British Columbia. Over the years New Brunswick players consistently proved they could compete on a national level, and one of those who credits the Estabrooks' program for his success is Darren Ritchie of Hampton, who won the 1992 Canadian Amateur championship. The program has continued to flourish, and New Brunswick won the national team title in 2000.
In 1984 Estabrooks was appointed governor to the Royal Canadian Golf Association, a position he held for ten years. As the provincial representative on the national body he consistently promoted and defended New Brunswick's interests and no more so than in the area of junior development. Estabrooks chaired the national committee for four years during which time the foundation for the successful Future Links program was established. The program introduces golf to young people by making the sport more accessible and affordable, and provides more competitive opportunities for junior players. He also served as chairman of four successful national tournaments held in New Brunswick, and his expertise in scoring and starting resulted in assignments to numerous provincial and national championships, as well as the Canadian Open.
Estabrooks was elected to the Moncton Sports Wall of Fame in 1992, and was named an Honourary Life Governor by the NBGA in 1994. To further acknowledge his lifetime contribution to golf, the NBGA established the annual Estabrooks Cup team competition in 1998. He and his wife Claire live in Riverview, NB.
Daniel Macdonald
A
native of Noranda, Quebec, Dan Macdonald arrived in New Brunswick in 1966
to pursue a physical education degree at the University of New Brunswick.
He never left, and sport in his adopted province and especially gymnastics,
has been the beneficiary.
Following graduation Macdonald accepted a position at the Université de Moncton, where he is currently a Professor of Physical Education. A former gymnast who competed for New Brunswick at the 1967 Canada Winter Games and who won two Atlantic Universities Athletic Association championships, Macdonald has, for the past 30 years, had a significant impact on the sport as an administrator, coach, official and educator.
Daniel Macdonald (Large photo.)
Macdonald founded the Moncton Gymnastics Club and introduced the sport at U de M, serving as instructor for the skills program and coach of the intercollegiate team. He also attracted national competitions to the city as a way of raising the sport's profile in the community and the province. He became involved with the provincial gymnastics association in 1972, combining a rare depth of technical and administrative knowledge at all levels within the sport. He conducted clinics throughout the province, worked in the area of coaching development, and as a nationally certified judge, officiated at numerous provincial and national events. He also served as president of the NB Gymnastics Association from 1975-80. Macdonald contributed to the development and enhancement of gymnastics programs in the French-speaking areas of the province, in part through his involvement with Jeux de l'Acadie. According to former executive director Lee Arthur, "His impact at the provincial level has been profound, and he has been a source of support through every step in the association's growth and development."
Nationally, Macdonald has served on the board of Gymnastics Canada for a total of 17 years, including a three-year term as vice-president. During this time he was instrumental in facilitating a major re-structuring of the federation, and he developed an athlete's agreement for the national team and an appeal policy for the national board. In addition to providing provincial representation at the national level, Macdonald worked to ensure quality programs and events for Canada's elite gymnasts. He served as the team manager to the 1976 Olympic Games and the 1979 World Championships.
Throughout his career Macdonald has been committed to fairness and to providing quality leadership and programs for participants at all levels. He received the Gymnastics Canada service award and a Life Membership Award from the NB Gymnastics Association in 1997. He and his wife Marilyn live in Moncton.
Christopher Skinner
Saint
John native Chris Skinner was destined for stardom from the time he laced
on his first pair of football cleats as a 12e-year old. A product of the
Simonds Minor Football Association, Skinner parlayed his talent into a
stellar eight year career in the Canadian Football League (CFL), becoming
one of only a handful of New Brunswick athletes to have his name inscribed
on the Grey Cup, emblematic of the league championship.
Mike Upward, his minor league and high school coach, credits Skinner's success to his talent, his work ethic, and "having the right attitude", especially when faced with adversity. Upward noted the fact that Skinner overcame serious injury, as well as circumstance when the football programs at Simonds High School and later the University of New Brunswick were cancelled, forcing him to transfer to other institutions to further his career.
Chris Skinner (Large photo.)
Skinner had a brilliant season with Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec in 1983. He led the Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (CIAU) in rushing, was selected to the all-star team, and was voted the outstanding player in the Ontario-Quebec conference.
In 1984, he was selected in the first round of the college draft by the Edmonton Eskimos. After two seasons on special teams, he earned a starting job as a running back in 1986. Skinner's play earned him a Schenley Award nomination as the CFL's top Canadian player as he accumulated over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. However, the season ended in disappointment when Edmonton lost the Grey Cup to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 39-15.
During the 1987 season Skinner teamed up with Milson Jones to comprise an all-Canadian backfield, a rarity in the CFL where American imports usually fill these positions. The Eskimos were the league's top offence averaging over 34 points per game and Skinner's 889 total yards was the best among the team's running backs. Edmonton once again qualified for the Grey Cup, this time defeating the Toronto Argonauts 38-36 in an exciting contest.
In 1989 Skinner was traded to the Ottawa Rough Riders where he played for one season before being dealt to the British Columbia Lions in 1990. The Lions, who were rebuilding their team, acquired the veteran Skinner to be their starting running back and to mentor their younger players. Skinner spent two seasons with British Columbia and retired at the end of the 1991 season.
During his eight-year career, Skinner scored 24 touchdowns, and accumulated 2,850 yards rushing and another 2,874 yards on pass receptions. He was elected to the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He and his wife Frances live in Florida with their three children.
03/03/17
MEDIA CONTACT: Kathy Meagher, executive director, NB Sports Hall of Fame, Fredericton, 506-453-8930 (work); 506-457-9111 (home); fax 506-459-0481; kathy.meagher@gnb.ca.
03/03/17