History of the Kincardine Kippers
as appeared in The Kincardine News in 1998
by Kelly Young
There are many and varied sports teams available in the town of Kincardine for it's youth to participate in. Leagues abound for hockey, baseball, soccer, ringette, bowling and more, but few are the teams that can be called "the town's". The Kincardine Kippers is one such team. This team of young people travels each summer to Walkerton, Elmira, Hanover, Guelph, and Fergus to swim for it's town, representing it with pride and style.
The Kippers were founded in 1965 by Mrs. Ann Sharr of Texas. Sharr, a former competitive swimmer, recruited Mrs. Barbara Anne Eggleton, another former competitive swimmer, to be the fledgeling team's coach. Training was carried out at the harbour from the north pier and the adjacent beach and it is certain the chilly waters encouraged speed on the part of the swimmers. In fact, the diving boards and access ladders are in place on that pier thanks to that intrepid team of early swimmers.
In 1973, with the realization that swimmers needed a pool to be able to develop technical skills such as starts and turns, the team began practising at the pool of Mr. Sam McGregor near Boiler Beach. In 1976 the team moved to their present home at the Davidson Centre pool and began charging swimmers to join the team to make up for the cost.
The original league in which the Kippers participated was the Lake Huron Zone Recreation Association. The swimming section of this group was dissolved in 1982 due to lack of a governing body, prompting several area swim teams to organize into the current association, SWORSA. The South Western Ontario Recreational Swimming Association once consisted of two tiers, dependant on the size and facilities of the towns, with Kincardine in Tier one.
Cathy McCabe, former president of the organisation, said the tiers were set up when Walkerton, Kincardine and Fergus were all planning indoor pools. Those plans put them into tier one along with Elmira. However, only Kincardine built the indoor pool. The other two towns remained in the tier. Smaller towns throughout south western Ontario, including Palmerston and Atwood, were organised into tier two. However, in 2002 SWORSA's Tier two folded while Guelph joined the group, making up only one tier.
"It gives the volunteers a break," she said. "The coaches deserve a lot of recognition" McCabe stressed. "They do the on deck work - training, setting up the program, attending the meets." Indeed, without the volunteer coaches there would be no team.
McCabe said the Kippers organisation is always "trying to foster a lifetime interest in swimming" and said the emphasis has always been on the kids enjoying themselves, not winning.
"We have done well with that strategy," she said, adding the swimmers often win because they are having fun. "We've won the (SWORSA) championship at least a dozen times," she said proudly.
McCabe said there has been discussion of changing the team to compete at the provincial level, where the Port Elgin and Hanover teams compete. But she said such teams do emphasize winning, and the basic team philosophy of enjoying the sport won out in the end. She said swimmers can go swim with the Port Elgin team if they like, but added "It's rare to have kids go."
During the spring and summer competitive season, an average of 65 to 70 boys and girls join the Kippers team. Of those about half compete, McCabe said. The fall, non-competitive session sees an average of 40 to 45 swimmers register. Many of these swimmers return year after year to swim with the team.
"It turns into a life long thing," she said. "The team inspires loyalty in the swimmers." McCabe said a few swimmers have gone on to swim with their university swim teams and some have returned to Kincardine to help coach in the summers.
Any parents interested in getting their children involved in the Kincardine Kippers should check the seasonal recreation flyer for details.
The Kippers were founded in 1965 by Mrs. Ann Sharr of Texas. Sharr, a former competitive swimmer, recruited Mrs. Barbara Anne Eggleton, another former competitive swimmer, to be the fledgeling team's coach. Training was carried out at the harbour from the north pier and the adjacent beach and it is certain the chilly waters encouraged speed on the part of the swimmers. In fact, the diving boards and access ladders are in place on that pier thanks to that intrepid team of early swimmers.
In 1973, with the realization that swimmers needed a pool to be able to develop technical skills such as starts and turns, the team began practising at the pool of Mr. Sam McGregor near Boiler Beach. In 1976 the team moved to their present home at the Davidson Centre pool and began charging swimmers to join the team to make up for the cost.
The original league in which the Kippers participated was the Lake Huron Zone Recreation Association. The swimming section of this group was dissolved in 1982 due to lack of a governing body, prompting several area swim teams to organize into the current association, SWORSA. The South Western Ontario Recreational Swimming Association once consisted of two tiers, dependant on the size and facilities of the towns, with Kincardine in Tier one.
Cathy McCabe, former president of the organisation, said the tiers were set up when Walkerton, Kincardine and Fergus were all planning indoor pools. Those plans put them into tier one along with Elmira. However, only Kincardine built the indoor pool. The other two towns remained in the tier. Smaller towns throughout south western Ontario, including Palmerston and Atwood, were organised into tier two. However, in 2002 SWORSA's Tier two folded while Guelph joined the group, making up only one tier.
"It gives the volunteers a break," she said. "The coaches deserve a lot of recognition" McCabe stressed. "They do the on deck work - training, setting up the program, attending the meets." Indeed, without the volunteer coaches there would be no team.
McCabe said the Kippers organisation is always "trying to foster a lifetime interest in swimming" and said the emphasis has always been on the kids enjoying themselves, not winning.
"We have done well with that strategy," she said, adding the swimmers often win because they are having fun. "We've won the (SWORSA) championship at least a dozen times," she said proudly.
McCabe said there has been discussion of changing the team to compete at the provincial level, where the Port Elgin and Hanover teams compete. But she said such teams do emphasize winning, and the basic team philosophy of enjoying the sport won out in the end. She said swimmers can go swim with the Port Elgin team if they like, but added "It's rare to have kids go."
During the spring and summer competitive season, an average of 65 to 70 boys and girls join the Kippers team. Of those about half compete, McCabe said. The fall, non-competitive session sees an average of 40 to 45 swimmers register. Many of these swimmers return year after year to swim with the team.
"It turns into a life long thing," she said. "The team inspires loyalty in the swimmers." McCabe said a few swimmers have gone on to swim with their university swim teams and some have returned to Kincardine to help coach in the summers.
Any parents interested in getting their children involved in the Kincardine Kippers should check the seasonal recreation flyer for details.
