Canada

Cricket like most other sports was brought to North America. The earliest record of a cricket match being played in Canada, by civilians, appears in the form of a reference to a game played at Ile-Ste-Helene, near Montreal, in 1785. Cricket is one of the oldest sports played in Cobourg. It was popular well into the 1890s.

The Colonel’s game of cricket had much in its early favour. Youth from around Ontario, educated at Upper Canada College and themselves member of the colony’s conservative ruling class, brought the game back to their small towns where they in turn assumed leading positions as members of the judiciary, local government and the medical profession. Cricket was their informal means of maintaining the social cohesion of a local ruling class as well as providing opportunities to meet with the elite of Upper Canada.

The Cobourg Star in July 1843, as reported in the book ‘Sixty Years of Canadian Cricket’ says that " These are just our opinions, and we feel proud in witnessing the introduction into this province of those fine manly sports of Old England. We love every recollection of our early home; and we are fully convinced that the more frequently these recollections are called up, the more we will admire and the more firmly we will cling to that glorious country. The sports of the people have much to do with the formation of national character and the time occupied by a game of cricket is far better spent than in political meetings or party brawling."

And from the same book “On the 28th day of August, 1843, a match was played between Toronto and Cobourg on the grounds of the former club. The scores were: Toronto, 72 and 36; Cobourg, 30 and 23; the home team winning by 53 runs. The principal scorer for the losers, Dr. Goldstone, was the only player to make double figures, with 10, not out, and 0, to his credit. The bowling of Buck and Bourne for Cobourg, and Winckworth and Maddock for Toronto, was excellent.”

A minute book from 1846 of this earliest known cricket club in Cobourg contains printed rules of cricket with “Practical Hints To The Young Cricketer” by G.A. Barber, a member of the Toronto Cricket Club.

On May 9, 1846, the first meeting that year of the Cobourg Cricket Club was held at the Globe Hotel. R.H. Throop was the Chairman and the following Officers were elected:
President:          Dr. Goldstone
Vice President:  George Daintry
Treasurer:          H.J. Ruttan
Secretary:          W.C. Crofton
Committee:        Messrs. Tremaine, Buck and J. Bunbury

There were two categories of members; Playing and Honourary. A Playing Member was liable to be called on to play in any match. A fine of 7½ D was levied against anyone who failed to appear when the wickets were pitched, or left before a match ended.

Matches were played during the season of 1846. Among them one at Bowmanville which is fully reported in the Minute Book under June 8th. The Cobourg club was invited to play a friendly match against the Bowmanville club on the 17th. It was suggested that the Cobourg players should come up to Bowmanville by the “America” on Wednesday evening as there were no railways in Ontario at the time. Travel would have to be either by steamer or by stage coach.

Bowmanville beat Cobourg by 24 runs. A month later Cobourg hosted Bowmanville. For Cobourg, Bunbury made 12 and 7, Corrigal 20 and 8, Burnham 12 and 1. After a heavy shower fell between innings, Bailey for Bowmanville tumbled head first on his wicket in running. The umpires could not agree as to whether he was out or not, and it was agreed by both elevens to leave the decision to the Toronto Cricket Club, who decided against Bailey, and 20 runs were deducted from his score. Bowmanville still won 38 and 91, Cobourg, 64 and 40.

Trinity College and Port Hope also had cricket teams. At a match in June 1878 Port Hope had 91 and 50 for 5 wickets and Cobourg had 89 and 52. For Cobourg, Osier made 45. For Port Hope, H. Ward made 15 and 15, Weston 14 and 5 (not out), H. Read 14 (not out), G. F. Hall 5 and 14, Butcher 1 and 13 (not out).

A Cobourg cricket team in the 1880s toured the United States with success and played many matches in Cobourg with visiting clubs. Members of the touring team included J.D. Hayden, Fred Smith, J.H. Munson, Douglas Armour, Alex Hargraft, John Hargraft, Albert Woods and Lyman Kennedy.

The New York Times of August 11, 1880 reported that the Longwood Club of Boston would be playing at the Cobourg club after playing matches in Hamilton and Toronto.

Cricket continued to be popular for a number of years. A meeting to organize the sport for 1894 was described in the Sentinel Star on April 13, 1894: “One of the most successful cricket meetings ever held in Cobourg took place in the Dominion Bank last Monday evening. Over 30 members were present, and regrets were read from a number who were unable to be present. The membership fee was fixed at $2.00 and no doubt all lovers of the game will join the Cobourg club.”

One of the earliest references to a Grafton team occurs in 1867 when The Cobourg World reported a match between Grafton and the Brighton Cricket Club. The 1868 Grafton Cricket team included players Alex Godard, Jock Willoughby, Dr. William Willoughby, F.J. Bingley, John Johnston Jr., E.G. Tremain, J. Charles Rogers, Robert Z. Rogers, W. Standly, A.W.C. Bruce, James Barnum, F. Burnett, S.W. Cummings, and Alex Patterson. Local matches were played on the Roger’s field, west of Grafton’s Anglican church where the Haldimand arena stands today.

In “Sporting Notes” of the June 7, 1907 edition of the Cobourg Sentinel Star “The cricket club are arranging home games with Peterboro, Trinity College School of Port Hope, and Grace Church, Toronto. Tomorrow’s game between Port Hope and Cobourg should be a hot one. Port Hope defeated Cobourg in Port Hope last Saturday and Cobourg will have to win to keep at the head of the league. Cobourg’s home brews can be depended to win tomorrow against Port Hope Imports. Game called at 3 o’clock. Admission 25c, ladies and children 10c, ladies will be admitted free to the grandstand but gentlemen will be charged 10c extra”

The fate of cricket and baseball was inevitably tied up in the changing nature of Ontario society. Cricket began to decline as it and lacrosse were gradually supplanted by baseball’s growing popular appeal.

Sources:
“Cobourg 1798-1948” – E.C. Guillet, author
“Memories of Haldimand Township: When the Lakes Roared” – Haldimand’s History Committee, author
“Bowmanville: A Small Town at the Edge” – William Humber, author
“Sixty Years of Canadian Cricket” – Hall & McCulloch

Updated August 2020

Lynn Bottoms was born July 2, 1933 in Calgary Alberta. Lynn attended the University of Washington playing with the Huskies football team in the Pacific Coast Conference. Following graduation Lynn signed with his hometown Calgary Stampeders in 1954.

He played both offensive and defensive halfback. In his rookie year Bottoms had 379 yards rushing and caught 30 passes for another 368 yards. He also had one interception. Besides playing offense and defense, Bottoms saw action returning kicks, and was normally among the division leaders in punt returns. In that first year he won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Best Canadian Rookie in the West.

In 1955 he had 402 yards rushing to lead the Stamps. In 1956 he had 332 yards rushing. And in 1957 he had 326 yards rushing. In 1955 Lynn had 252 yards returning kickoffs, punts and missed field goals. In 1956 he had 248 yards and in 1957 he had 113 yards. He had the honour of representing the Western Canadian Football League in three Shrine All Star Games.

In 1960 Lynn was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. He played in 40 games as a defensive half plus 5 playoff games. In 1961 he had 251 yards returned on punts and kickoffs and missed field goals. In 1962 he had 319 yards. In 1963 he had 156 yards. Lynn retired after the 1963 season. Over his ten-year career with Calgary and Toronto, Lynn rushed for 1,560 yards, caught 96 passes and had 12 interceptions.

After retiring from football, Lynn and his family moved to the Cobourg area and Lynn became a welding/tech teacher at Cobourg District Collegiate East from the mid-1960s until the late 1980s. He was a much loved and respected teacher while at the school and of course, was heavily involved as a coach in their football program.

“Lynn Bottoms...he would show us video of himself when he played for the Calgary Stampeders and the Toronto Argos. He knew how to relate to the class which was made up of mostly guys that really didn't want to be in school and for the most part caused a bit of trouble whenever possible. He was tough but fair and he had our respect. He had a go kart track near Grafton and he barred me for life after I wrecked one of his karts.” (Former student on Tree52)

Lynn also became very involved in local sports, playing fastball, old timers’ hockey and golf. He had only one speed in any of his athletic endeavours - “Full Out”. He was fun to be around.

Lynn Bottoms died of a heart infection on December 22, 1995.

Lynn Bottoms was a small man by football standards but was oh so rugged, by any standard.

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Memories About a Legend

I first met Lynn in January 1976 when I became Vice Principal at Cobourg East.

January is an unusual time to move into this position. September is more a reality. The staff was guarded in their welcome as they thought someone from Cobourg was going to get the position. Lynn broke the ice by coming to me at the office to welcome me and offer his support. He engaged me in his conversation and made me feel a part of the team. This was a special talent that he had. It was appreciated by me. 

I recall one occasion when Lynn came into my office to say he would be late for school the next day as he had to go to the Cobourg hospital to have his big toes broken and straightened out. This was a result of pro football injuries. I could not imagine anyone even thinking about coming in to teach right after that morning procedure even if there was freezing. 

I told him to take time off until the pain subsided. He would have none of that and so at about 9:15 in came Lynn with bandaged toes and slippers on, to start teaching. It was not a pretty sight but he persevered and taught for the whole day. He had immense pain tolerance!

Lynn, naturally, coached the school football team. His assistant coaches mentioned that they would be watching their players performing in the game. Not Lynn. He would be focused on the opposing team, looking for weaknesses and when he spotted one, he focused on his team exploiting it until the other team adjusted. Perhaps that is why he had great success as a coach. That, and his ability to make every player feel a vital part of the team.

Athletic banquets, at the East, were always interesting. Lynn would get as guest speakers retired Argo players like Danny Nykoluk or NHLers like Bobby Hull. These former athletes wanted to be there with Lynn.

Lynn came late to the game of hockey but that never stopped him from entering the fray full bore. He decided he needed to improve his shot so he made metal pucks and set up a plywood sheet at the shed at his home with the outline of a net and practiced his shot.

He played whatever position the team wanted him to - forward, defence or goalie. He was the heart and spirit of any team he was on. He only knew one way to play - full out and with a great big smile.

One of the staff told me of Lynn playing basketball in the town league and literally tackling the opposing player with the ball. His comment was starkly “well, he had the ball” and then, a roar of laughter!

One of the funniest memories of Lynn was his organization of having the male staff at the East attend a Blue Jay game. Lynn had an old school bus which was painted light blue and this was to be our transportation up to Toronto. Lynn had taken all the seats out and replaced them with tables and chairs so we could play cards. He also had put in a bbq with a vent coming out the back.

Most of the fellows got on board at Lynn’s home in Grafton but Lynn said he would pick me up at my house. Being new to the staff I had no concept about the bus but assumed it was a coach. When it arrived in front of our house on Hamilton Ave our four young children and Suzanne came to the door to see us off. Lynn, in the driver’s seat, opened the school bus door and waved at me to get on board. My son John said to Suzanne “look mom at all the beer cases beside the bus driver! “ 

Anyways, off we went to the game, playing cards and hoping Lynn did not have to apply the brakes too harshly. There were problems with the motor but nothing major. Upon arriving at the stadium parking lot, on came the bbq and we feasted on hamburgers, etc. I am not sure if the Blue Jays won but after the game off we went up the Don Valley Expressway. 

Halfway up, the motor conked out and there we were in the right lane, stalled! Cars were swerving around us and, thankfully a Toronto police cruiser arrived to assist us. By this time Lynn had the hood up and with the assistance of others was trying to unclog the gas line. The police officer said he would put flares out on the DVP to save us from a rear-ender. He risked his life setting them out. 

Little did he know that Lynn had fixed the problem and had started driving away. We looked out the back window to see the officer fading in the distance, looking up at us and bolting to his car. When he caught up to us with all his lights glowing, he was not happy and told us so in no uncertain words and to get the bus off the DVP ASAP. We approached the Don Mills exit and Lynn said “Everyone out and push”. We finally got to a garage, got the bus fixed and arrived back in Cobourg very late but safe!

On another occasion, Lynn invited all the male staff out to his house for cards, etc. We were having a great time but as eleven o’clock came we were getting ready to call it a night. It was then that Lynn announced that he had flood lights in the back yard and we were going to finish off the evening with a touch football game. Needless to say, Lynn’s idea of touch was different than most. It was well after twelve that the game gratefully ended. 

I am sure there are literally hundreds of other funny tales that others could tell. There are probably many stories of how he helped kids at school. He was loved by all. He was someone you were lucky to know. He was kind, he was generous of thought and deed. He knew only one way to tackle life - full on and with abandonment. He was a LEGEND!

by Peter Delanty

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Just a Couple of Many Fond Memories

One summer evening I got a phone call from Lynn Bottoms asking if I would like to play 9 holes of golf the next morning. I told him I was sorry but I had to work the next morning. He replied “So do I.” 

“Well” I asked, “how are we going to play 9 holes of golf and still get to work on time?” “That’s easy” he replied, “Just bring 4 clubs – a driver, a couple of irons and a putter. We’ll each hit 2 balls and then run down the fairway to our respective balls, hit them again and then run again.”

We proceeded to do this for every hole on the old 9 hole golf course at the corner of Division and Elgin Streets. We started at 6:00 am and were finished at about 7:20 am. There was time to go home, have a shower and off to work on time.

There was only one “Bot”. He was an absolute bundle of energy and so much fun to be around.

*************

This story also took place in the warmer months. We had a fastball team that played in Grafton. There were a few Cobourg guys but it was mostly made up of Grafton players such as Tony Beauchamp, John Eagleson, Jim Helps, Mike and Rick Hall and others. One of the unique customs of the team was to return to different homes after each game to sip a few coolies and partake in some fun stuff like horseshoes, swimming, etc. 

Well, the night we went to Lynn’s house he had 2 basketball nets set up and we picked teams for a little competition. Well into the wee hours of the morning Len “Pancho” Bazay drove to the basket for a layup. Lynn being Lynn went up aggressively to block him. Pancho’s head caught Lynn right on the cheekbone and badly cut him. Game over?? No way!! “Bot” went into the house and found a large box of gauze. We wrapped it around his head several times and then held it in place with electrical tape. The game went on for another hour or so. Everyone went home. The “Bot” went to the hospital, got 8 stitches in his cheek and then went off to teach his classes. What a man!! And as tough as they come!!

by Ross Quigley

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Lynn Bottoms - One Of A Kind

December 9, 1996 in Cobourg Daily Star

I wrote this article a few days after Lynn Bottoms’ death on December 22nd, 1995, and just filed it away. But a year has passed and, as we approach the first anniversary of his passing, please consider this my memorial tribute to a unique character and a devoted lover of life.

Many of you knew Lynn Bottoms much better than I. But I’ll wager that few knew him any longer.

I first met Lynn in the early ‘60s when he was an MBA student at the U of T and a Toronto Argonauts star. Within minutes of our introduction, I knew instinctively that this was one warm and affable human being – entirely devoid of pretension. A first impression that endured.

In those early years, I was often a fourth for euchre in the little semi in west Toronto that the young Bottoms family called home. I remember Lynn’s endless energy and how mere mortals were cajoled into playing long after any reasonable person would succumb to fatigue.

Lynn was of average stature – but ox strong. I’ll never forget the arm wrestle to the finish - a brief break in one of those interminable euchre tournaments. Bottles and playing cards flew in all directions. It ended when Lynn’s adversary extricated his hand from the death grip to display an oddly contorted, less-than-mint-condition index finger. No matter. A mere diversion. The cards continued until first light. 

Shortly after that, Lynn retired from football and moved to Cobourg. A couple of months later, three of his “old buddies” visited for a weekend and a little R and R. Some R and R! By contrast, the Ironman Triathlon is for sissies. 

We went almost nonstop for the entire time. From one athletic competition to another. Touch football, two on two basketball, ball hockey, baseball. 

Then the cycle would repeat itself again and again. Of course, Lynn would let us do just well enough to save face, but it was obvious who the real athlete was. 
After dark – euchre, euchre, euchre. Finally – sleep. But scarcely had we closed our eyes when daylight and Lynn returned. Raring to go.

Some of you may remember the old go-cart track which once occupied the field opposite Lynn’s house on Highway 2 east of town. Sunday morning business at the track was slow and Lynn decided that this would be a fine opportunity to take on the little old lady who ran the place. 

He rode his dirt bike across the road and issued the challenge. I will always remember the sight of that grandmother in her cart and Lynn on his bike, neck and neck, careening wildly around the track. And the sound of Lynn’s maniacal laughter audible above the roar of the air-cooled engines. That was the last I was to see of Lynn for years.

In the mid “70s, I moved to this area and renewed my acquaintanceship with Lynn. But we usually only crossed paths on the street or at some education-related function. Still, he remained the same gregarious, ebullient character I had met years earlier. He never knew how to be unfriendly or how to slow down.

About 15 months ago, Lynn had his first brush with illness. When I last saw him back in June, he looked great. I wondered if anyone had ever been less compromised by heart problems. But now he is gone. It is hard to believe that this incredible bundle of energy will never play another game of old-timer hockey, laugh madly at some crazy prank or crush my hand in an enthusiastic greeting.

We can be sure of one thing though. If a zest for life and a love of people count for anything, Lynn Bottoms is sitting up on a cloud at this very moment – a big smile on that broad face of his as he plans his next game of five-a-side football. And once the whistle blows, even the angels had better keep their heads up.

by George Smith

Reviewed August 2020

Jeremiah Brown was born November 25, 1985 in Cobourg. He was the middle child, Julia younger and Jenny older. He and his family spent part of his youth living in Port Hope across the road from the Ganaraska River. In his late teens, in Cobourg, he tried to pull off a prank that landed him in jail for several days. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and 1 year of probation.

Jeremiah attended high school in Cobourg where his sport of choice was hockey. Because of the prank he had to change schools and drop hockey. He graduated and attended McMaster University in Hamilton. They didn’t have a varsity hockey team so he decided to learn how to play football. In his sophomore year he put on 40 pounds but only made the service team. In his third year he got to 255 pounds, could bench press 225 eleven times and earned a position on the Marauders Varsity Team as an offensive tackle. A shoulder injury half way through the season shut him down and though he played his final year, the shoulder injury became aggravated and he began looking for other sports opportunities.

In 2004 Jeremiah and his girlfriend Amy had an unexpected pregnancy and Ethan was born in May, 2005. It was a busy time with classes and child care for both Amy and Jeremiah and football for Jeremiah. When Jeremiah started looking for another sport, he recalled seeing an article in his youth about a Canadian world champion in single sculls working hard to win gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. By chance he entered a rowing fundraiser and then followed up with a look-see. He thought he could teach himself how to row! How wrong he was!

He borrowed a single scull for his first rowing venture and headed for Rice Lake. His first mistake was putting on the oar locks backwards causing him to fall into the lake after a mere 10 strokes. Undaunted and determined, he got himself back into the boat and tried again. He would experience many such dunkings into the water but he craved the challenge to excel. He would have to lose that weight but rowing would be easier on his shoulder. The day he saw on TV the Canadian Men's Eight Rowing Team win Gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Jeremiah set himself the “impossible” goal of winning Gold at the 2012 Olympics in London England, just 4 short years away.

Jeremiah and Amy and 3-year-old Ethan moved to British Columbia where he started working for a TD bank in Victoria. Victoria was where the national men’s eight rowing team trained. He met Doug White who agreed to be his rowing coach. He started a learn-to-row program in the Canadian national program and spent some 1700 hours in training. By the fall of 2009 he was able to row 200 metres and was able to represent British Columbia in the Nationals.

In 2010 he earned a silver medal at the national championships in the single sculls. In January 2011 he was named to the national rowing team. He began working with renowned coach Mike Spracklen. Spracklen was a polarizing figure as Jeremiah expressed in his feelings “I felt a lot of rage towards him (yes, RAGE) at various times in the two years leading  up to the Olympics...Mike was the only person around who had coached athletes to Olympic medals...he was my ticket to the podium”.

In further describing those months of grueling training Jeremiah provides insight into what drives an elite athlete despite injury and other obstacles: “There is not a clear answer to why we willingly suffer on a daily basis. Before I began training at this level, I thought it had to be the ego and even vanity that pushed athletes on in the pursuit of an Olympic gold medal. But the ego gets broken down in those first 2 months of training and vanity is overshadowed by fatigue and, at times, despair.

At some primitive level we all have a disposition towards fighting or fleeing. The elite athlete is a fighter. When tested, he or she will feel the same symptoms as their fleeing counterpart; fear, nervousness, tension, anxiety, etc, the difference being that something irrational will compel the elite athlete to fight and overcome these symptoms just because it's in their nature. That's why I suffer. I don't have a choice.  I'm a fighter and I can't turn it off. (Jeremiahspeaks.com).

Jeremiah won bronze at the World Championships as part of the men’s eight. 3 weeks before the 2012 Olympics he was named to the men’s eight team. All that hard work paid off for Jeremiah and the dream of standing on the podium at London was realized. After a potentially disastrous preparatory heat, the Canadians fought off the British and Australians in an exciting final, almost catching the Germans, but thrilled to be second and silver!

Following the Olympics Jeremiah had three herniated discs and had ruptured tendons in his fingers. And mentally he had had enough of rowing. Jeremiah counts himself lucky that he was spared the post-Olympic depression that afflicts many other athletes. Part of the way forward was to throw himself into one of his other passions, music. He plays the drums He was named an Honourary Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2013 for his advocacy for the arts.

In the summer of 2014 Jeremiah and family moved to Peterborough to be closer to his parents in Cobourg and Amy’s business, West Pines Park Resort, north of Bancroft. Several months later Jeremiah was selected by the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national manager of Game Plan, the COC's program to help elite athletes make the transition to the next chapter of their lives. “A lot of athletes find it difficult, I found it difficult coming from the Olympics.

There is a transition that needs to happen and an identity shift that needs to happen, there is an ego check that needs to happen ... it’s a really tough time for Olympic athletes and athletes who identify (with the Olympics). That’s their life. Here I was, I was someone who played different sports, I had my degree, I even had marketable skills in finance that I could still presumably find a job fairly easily compared to my peers and I still found it challenging and to this day it is challenging”.

Jeremiah’s accomplishments include developing the Game Plan Education Network, which saw Canada’s leading universities sign on to provide more flexibility and support for Canada’s national team athletes; the Game Plan Employer Network, a brand new recruiting resource connecting Canada’s top companies with Canada’s top athletes; developing a partnership with Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, which will provide over $11 million in direct scholarship to retired Olympians and Paralympians.

The work of Jeremiah and his team has been featured by major news outlets including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CTV, CBC, Radio Canada, and Al Jazeera. Jeremiah has been consulted by the International Olympic Committee for his expertise while continuing to support the development of athlete welfare programs around the world.

After the Olympics Jeremiah also began writing. His plan was to self-publish an e-book for college rowers – part memoir, part how-to. Feedback from rowers he sent a draft to was they wanted to hear more about his story and the motivations that drove him. In total it took Jeremiah 5 years to write the book. In early 2018 The 4 Year Olympian, was published by Dundurn Press. It spent five weeks as the #1 bestselling sport memoir in Canada, and has achieved a cult-like following in Canada and the USA. The book has transcended the sport memoir genre with its raw honesty and appeal to anyone chasing a big dream.

Following the release of his bestselling book Jeremiah recreated his amazing journey into an emotionally captivating experience. Consistently ranked as one of the top speakers on transformation, resilience, teamwork, and leadership, Jeremiah brings an engaging warmth and humour while delivering powerful, inspiring keynotes. Through his talks, Jeremiah has inspired thousands of people around the world.

Jeremiah Brown spent his life harnessing the power of resilience to adapt to new environments and overcome setbacks.

Updated August 2020