When Pauline Russell was asked about the future of the Labrador Winter Games, this is what she had to say:

• To be quite honest, with the Labrador Winter Games, I’m sure there’s room for improvement in some things, but for the most part, I think these games is as good as they’re going to get. You might be able to add a few extra or different sports or more components to the northern games, or something like that. But looking back, and especially looking back at these games, they went so well. Every event, every sport event, went off without a hitch. People say, ‘Oh, you had a protest.’ Protest is part of sports. No matter where you go. They have that in the Olympics, so that’s not a big deal. Having a protest don’t mean that you weren’t successful. And like, I got to go back with the committee chairs. The first meeting I went to with them guys, I saw how organized they were. I said, ‘Man, there’s no way that this can’t work out because they’re so dedicated.’ There’s might be a few things that you can tweak and make a little better, but you’ll do that for 2029. But overall, I think these games is one of the best that I’ve ever been to.They says, ‘it takes a community to raise a child.’ Well, it takes a whole lot of people to pull off the Labrador Winter Games. Hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and dedication and commitment and we were fortunate this year. We had a great games director. We had a great sports director come on board, and with facilities, everything just fell in place. Looking forward, I think it will be bigger, probably, and better.

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Have you every heard of the Labrador Public School football cup? It was first played in 1922 between two teams, Groswater Bay and Sandwich Bay. In 1922, the Groswater Bay team won two out of three games, making them the trophy holders for the year. As per the rules, the first team to win three years get to permanently keep the trophy.

The excitement for the tournament the next year built up quickly. The referee of the previous tournament, Mr. Gordon, was absent for this years (1923) games, so Dr. Paddon, a visiting doctor and school inspector extended his spring visit to referee and allow the boys to compete in light of good sport. The football field was a clear space among an otherwise snow covered arena in front of the school, and the crowd was bustling with excitement. The first half of the first game went scoreless, but in the second half, Henry Voisey of Groswater Bay scored a brace, ending the game 2-0.

The following morning, in spite of a snowstorm, continued with the second game. Although having a mountain to climb after losing the first game, the Sandwich Bay team didn’t lose any of their spirit. Their captain, Henry Heard scored before the half, bringing the score at halftime 1-0 in favor of Sandwich Bay. After the half, Groswater came back stronger than before and put two past the Sandwich Bay team through their captain, Jack Williams and Henry Voisey, solidifying their dominance in the tournament for the second year and winning the trophy. The real winners though, were the fans, who had the privilege to watch two blockbuster games of football. A huge thanks was given to Dr. Paddon, who these moments would not have happened without.

See the original article below

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Mary Winters of North West River recorded a level of dominance in high school track & field competitions comparable to Usian Bolt, winning 8/10 races she competed in, as we can see in an excerpt taken from an interview done with her last year:

Aimee: So Aunt Mary all those ribbons over there for your, from your school years. What kinds of things were those for?

Aimee: Oh, you were a runner. You’re track & field, yeah. 100 yards – First place. Quarter mile – First place. Broad jump – first place. 220 yards – 1st place. Your poor knees. Three legged race – First place, yes. Senior girls distance – First Place. Broad jump – first place. Sack race – First place. 100 yards – third place. and then the 220

Yards – third place. Mary – I went the wrong way on the third, on the third one. I almost caught them too. Aimee -So you’re a runner? Mary – Yep, never hurt my knees dancing.

Photo credit to Marlene Winters Wheeler

See photos below relating to her track and field achievements, as well as her time spent involved with softball in the community:

4 of Mary’s first place ribbons along with a medal, framed.

Photo credit to Aimee Chaulk

Happy Valley-Goose Bay ’50 years of softball’ swag owned by Mary

Photo credit to Aimee Chaulk

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• Find a story about the L’Anse au Loup hockey team.

Vol. 46, No. 2 – Them Days – An issue about the early days in Happy Valley and Goose bay, with stories of sea monsters as well!

• Find a story about Labradors first dog derby.

Vol. 32, No. 2 – Them Days – Stories of birch island, the summer of 42′ and more!

• Find a story about a hockey game between RAF and RCAF.

Vol. 22, No. 1 – Them Days – Stories of old Labrador.

• Find a story about the Labrador Regatta.

Vol. 20, No. 2 – Them Days – An issue containing stories of deer hunting, dog team racing, and more.

• Find a story about a Rigolet dog sled race.

Photo credit to Marion and Melvin Roberts.

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