Ontario

Ken “Nipper” Stevenson

Born in Cobourg on May 11^th, 1957, Ken Stevenson’s small stature has always been offset by a strong desire and drive to succeed, whether it be on a ball field, a hockey rink, or putting in the countless hours in the gym to become an elite level bodybuilder. “Nipper” first made his mark locally on the golf course in 1974 when he won the Dalewood Golf and Country Club’s Junior Championship. The very next year he was a part of the Sommerville’s Juvenile Fastball team that captured the Provincial Championship. Two years later he added another Provincial Championship to his sporting resume with the Grafton Junior Fastball team. In the fall of 1976, Ken joined the Cobourg Cougars and had what could only be termed as a “dream” season for the local hockey outfit. Scoring 40 goals as a rookie, in the 1976-77 season, Ken would not only claim the team’s Rookie-of-the-Year honors but would also be voted as the team’s most popular player, a tribute to his goal-scoring prowess and his hard work on the ice, which was evident to all those who saw him play. Unquestionably, the highlight of the year for Ken would come on the night of January 21^st in Frankford, when Ken tied a team record with six goals in a game and also added an assist. Later that year, Ken was rewarded for his achievements by being named as Cobourg’s Male Athlete of the Year. In 1991 Ken retuned to the local hockey scene as the head coach of the Cobourg Jr. Cougars Rep Novice team. Over the next eight years he would also do the same for the Rep Atom, Peewee, and Bantam teams. At the same time, Ken began the process of re-entering Athletic competition, this time in competitive bodybuilding. In 1999, he won the Men’s Master’s 40+ Division, and claimed the title of Mr. Ottawa. The very next year he placed third in the same competition. In 2005, Ken also placed third in the Men’s Master’s 40+ Fame Championships, only to follow that up with three straight first place finishes in that same competition in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Two years later, Ken would compete in the Men’s Master’s 40+ UFE Championship, again claiming first place, in all claiming four finishes at the top of the podium in 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2018; with a second-place finish in 2016. 

Sharyl Ann Milligan

Sharyl Ann Milligan has been a trailblazer in Lawn Bowling for over 50 years; as a national team player, official, coach and administrator. She has performed all of these roles, with much success and achievement, on the Local, Provincial, National, and International levels. Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s, while also serving as the Secretary for the Ladies Provincial Lawn Bowling Association/Ontario Lawn Bowls Association, Sharyl Ann was a fixture in District, Zone, and Provincial Lawn Bowling Competitions in both singles and team events. The Provincial Ladies Champion in 1990, she also was a valued member of the National team during this same time period, representing Canada in the 1st Atlantic Rim Championship in 1993 and capturing the North American Challenge in 1994. SAM, as she is known to family and friends alike, was a member of the 1995 Pacific Rim Bowls team that placed 4th in New Zealand. In addition to her playing commitments, in 1993 she was selected to the National Officiating team for the Mazda Pacific Bowls Championship as well as the 1994 Commonwealth Games, held in Victoria, B.C. In 2002, she was chosen as Canada’s only Technical Official in Lawn Bowling at the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, England and also began an eight-year tenure on the World Bowls Laws Committee. That same year after retiring from working with youth over 40 years, Sharyl Ann made it her task to revive the Cobourg Lawn Bowling Youth Club which had been shuttered years before. Beginning with the simple credo to give back to a sport that had already given her so much joy, Sharyl Ann soon arranged to go to local schools and arrange indoor orientation in the sport, in the hopes that some of the students would sign up for more at the Club in the summer. In time, this happened and Sharyl Ann introduced a new generation to Lawn Bowling. Thanks to Sharyl Ann’s guidance and coaching the club’s more advanced students have played in a number of open youth tournaments held across the province and throughout Canada and she has personally coached local youth who have medaled on the world stage. One of her pupils, Baylee van Steijn, the 2014 and 2015 Ontario youth bowler of the year, won the Gold Medal at the 2019 Ontario Youth Singles and represented Canada at the 2023 World Outdoor Bowls Championship. That same year, in recognition of her service and dedication to the sport Sharyl Ann was inducted as a ‘Builder’ into Ontario Lawn Bowls Sports Hall of Fame.

Chris Markle 

One would be unable to speak about the history of golf in our community without extolling the numerous accomplishments of Chris Markle. 1974 saw the opening of the Dalewood Golf and Country Club and Chris immediately made his mark capturing the Club’s Bantam championship. In the years since, at Dalewood alone, “Sparky” claimed 4 Club Junior Championships, 19 Club Men’s Championships, and 6 Club Senior Men’s Championships (and counting). Representing the Dalewood Club in 1996, alongside club pro Graham Gunn and Woman’s Champion, Jeanne Beaith, the trio won the CPGA of Ontario Championship. Beyond Dalewood, “Sparky” has won numerous regional championships, including the 1995 Pinecrest Open Championship, and most notably in 2002, when he bested 144 of the top male golfers in the province at the Kawartha Golf and Country Club to win the Ontario Mid-Amateur Championship. The next year in the same tournament he finished in second place and took home fifth place in 2005. Three years after that Chris claimed the 2008 Kawartha Golf and Country Club Men’s Invitational Championship. Beyond the golf course, Chris spent twelve behind the bench coaching a variety of boys’ and girls’ hockey teams, and was named Coach of the Year in 1999 helped guide the 2001/2002 OWHA Provincial Gold Medal Winners and the 2004/2005 Silver Medal Winners. Recognized early in 2024 as one of “nine” active 50-year members of the Dalewood Golf Club, that same year saw “Sparky” record his eighth “Hole in One”. Chris has long been considered an Ambassador by some and the Godfather by others when it comes to Golf in the local region and beyond. If there is a local competition, be it a Member Competition at Dalewood, a Lefty-Right Tournament with his buddy Dan O’Donoghue, a Regional or Provincial Qualifier, a Charity Event or even a competitive/fun outing with a group of friends, you can count on “Sparky” not only partaking, but usually at or near to the top of the leaderboard on most occasions. And afterwards he can often be found in the backyard of his home which conveniently sits behind the first hole at Dalewood.

John W. Hayden

Athlete, Teacher, Coach, Volunteer, Referee, Convenor, Executive Member … Visionary. John W. Hayden left a legacy to our local sporting community based on generosity, leadership, loyalty, and dedication. Born, raised, and devoted to all things Cobourg, John first made his mark on the local sporting scene as a standout Softball pitcher, leading from the mound as the Dairy Queen Juveniles and then Juniors captured back-to-back OASA Provincial Championships in 1970 and 1971, the first of which saw John named the Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament, and the latter of which saw John toss a two-hit shutout in the championship game. After that, John enjoyed a long career in local education, focusing on special needs, and finding fulfillment and pride in the lives of his students. But, he didn’t leave sports behind. In addition to coaching numerous school team sports through his teaching career, John immersed himself in the local sporting scene. At various points in his life, John served as a Basketball referee, and a Baseball Umpire, but his true love could be found in coaching. Beginning in 1971, as a Peewee House League Hockey coach in the CCHL, he added another pair of OASA provincial softball championships in 1977 and 1978, as the coach of the Red Wing Squirts. In 1982, John turned his attention to the Cobourg Angels program, where as a coach he added two more Provincial Championships in 1984 and 1985 and served on the Association’s Board of Directors. Also in 1985, John began coaching with the Cobourg Minor Soccer Club and over the next eight years he also served stints as the group’s Vice President and President, playing a pivotal role in growing the sport locally. But if John did have a favourite sport, it was undoubtedly Basketball. John was part of the trio that founded the Lakeshore Minor Basketball Association (now the Northumberland Minor Basketball Association). His administrative talents, knowledge, and local contacts were invaluable in establishing the league but almost as important was his calm and steady manner, and his unwavering focus on player development and team unity over politics. John’s organizational skills were recognized in 2010 when he was named the Chairman of a Feasibility Study for the future Cobourg Community Centre and in 2017, when he was named as one of the original Board of Directors for the Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame. 

Liz Basinger

A lifelong “Cobourger”, Liz Basinger has not only long been a fixture on the local Cobourg sporting scene, but she has also been a driving force whose countless volunteer efforts have fundamentally enriched the sporting life of our community. Liz began volunteering her time and skills with the Cobourg Community Hockey League (CCHL) in the 1970’s. This included coaching, most notably in 1977-78 when she coached the Cobourg Wholesaler Bantams, a team which featured fellow CDSHF inductee Steve Smith. In 1984, Liz made the jump from minor hockey to the Cobourg Junior C Cougars as a member of the community-based Board of Directors. A constant presence at the arena, often “running the gate” on game nights, Liz was a vital part of the Cougars transition to the Tier II Junior A ranks in 1992 and stayed on as the team transferred to being a privately owned entity. Based on her years of experience and involvement with all off-ice aspects of running the team, Liz was appointed head of "Game Day Operations". In addition to her work with the Cougars, Liz became the head statistician for the OHA's Central Jr. C. League in 1988; and the Pointstreak administrator inputting all roster details for the OHA's Central Jr. C. As league convener she traveled and facilitated league meetings, prepared league minutes, authored various reports and press releases; trained Pointstreak operators and maintained the League's web page amongst other duties. At the 2003 Cobourg Civic Awards ceremony, Liz was the recipient of a Distinguished Civic Award for Sports. In 2011, Liz was made a Cobourg Cougars Life Member. In 2015, Liz was awarded the Crystal Puck by the Ontario Hockey Association. This prestigious award recognizes an individual's outstanding achievements or contributions to the OHA. At the 2018 Cobourg Civic Awards ceremony, Liz was recipient of the Sportsmanship Award (currently called the “Leadership in Sport” Award) recognizing her outstanding leadership in contribution to Cobourg's sports and recreational community. Liz’s breadth of knowledge gained over the years from volunteering have made her a valued consultant and adviser to countless local sporting initiatives, most notably, the Dudley Hewitt Cup in 1996, the World Junior A Challenge in 2015 and the RBC Cup in 2017. That same year, Liz was announced as one of the inaugural Board of Directors of the Cobourg & District Sports Hall of Fame. 

One would be hard pressed to detail the history of the Cobourg Men's Town (Fastball) League without devoting a chapter (and probably two) to the accomplishments of Craig Minifie. Possessing a rare combination of power-hitting and defensive prowess, in the forty-eight-year history of the league he is the All-Time Leader in Hits (473), Runs (288), Home Runs (65), Doubles (68), and RBI's (274) while ranking third All-Time in Games Played (471). Adding 7 Cobourg Town League Championships along the way, Craig was awarded the league's Most Valuable Player Trophy on five separate occasions in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2000, all while playing for the Grafton Jays. Craig's talent and accomplishments were not limited to the Cobourg Town League – far from it. At the same time that Craig played in the Town League he also played in the Port Hope – Cobourg Industrial League and the Hamilton Township League, and one year in the Peterborough City League, where he won a Championship. 

With that schedule it often saw him play at least five Fastball games a week, and at multiple positions, from the pitching mound, to the infield and the outfield. In 1981 Craig was chosen by the Hamilton Township League as the player best combining sportsmanship and ability, and was given the Perc Baker Memorial Trophy. Beyond our area, Craig starred for the Rutherflo team that won the 1994 Men's Intermediate B Championship, the 1995 Men's Intermediate A Championship, the 1997 NAFA World Series AA Championship (where he was named to the All-World Team), the 1998 Eastern Canadian Intermediate B Championship, and the 1999 Eastern Canadian Men's Intermediate A Championship. With Colborne's Master Team, Craig added to his already extensive trophy case, winning the Canadian Master's Championship in 2004 and 2005 and the Provincial Master's Championship in 2006. 

He then joined the Cobourg Force and won the Ontario Master's Championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2014 he helped the Cobourg Force win the 2014 ISC World Over 50 Tournament. The Force also won the 2015 the ASA Master's Championship where Craig was named to the All-American team as well as leading the tournament in home runs. In 2017, three years later, Craig received the honour of being elected to the Ontario Master's (Fastball) Hall of Fame.

Chances are that if you played a competitive game of basketball in the last 5 decades either locally, provincially, or at the national level Bruce Covert refereed one of your games. After playing both football and basketball at C.D.C.I. East for 5 years, Bruce, a lifelong resident of our community, turned his sporting attentions to the officiating side of the game which has resulted in a distinguished 50-year career. Locally Bruce was one of the founding members of the Cobourg Board of Basketball Officials. Over the years he has not only officiated but served in a variety of executive roles as well. 

Provincially Bruce was member of the OUA Basketball Panel for 30 years; a designated crew chief for 24 of them. He refereed more than 600 OUA league and exhibition games, more than 75 OUA playoff games and 12 Wilson Cup games (OUA Men’s Provincial Championship). 

He has officiated for 40 years in the OCAA and worked 4 OCAA Men’s Provincial Championships. Bruce officiated 10 OFSAA High School Championships. Nationally Bruce officiated 16 Championship tournaments: 14 U Sport Men’s, 1 Premier Men, 1 Premier Women, officiating 4 Gold Medal Games and 2 Consolation Finals. As well from 2010-2016 he had a 6 year stint with the National Basketball League of Canada. Internationally Bruce was an official at the 1985 World Masters Games in Toronto. For 10 years he refereed games involving Canada vs other countries traveling throughout Ontario. 

As well he officiated the Iqaluit Aboriginal Games, the Barbados Invitational, and the Nassau Bombay Shootout. In 2012 he was only the 7th Canadian official to be awarded IAABO Life Membership. In addition to his on-court work Bruce has served as an OUA supervisor, a provincial and national evaluator, and most importantly, as a mentor to fellow officials. 

For 25 years Bruce was the director of all OABO summer camps, training more than 1000 OABO officials, including over 90% of the current OUA and OCAA officials in Ontario, plus countless other officials from outside of the province. Bruce has left an indelible imprint on the sport of Basketball in Ontario. In 2016, Bruce was the recipient of the John A. (Wink) Willox Award from the Canadian Association of Basketball Officials in recognition of “outstanding contributions made to basketball and basketball officiating”. He also received the Ontario Association of Basketball Officials Life Membership. The highest award the association can give.

Referred to by Ron MacLean as Cobourg’s “Ms. Everything”, Jen has devoted a large part of her life to sports in our community; first as a player, and then as coach, a teacher, an executive member, a trusted mentor to so many, and as a tireless volunteer to countless teams, sporting organizations and athletic events. Jennifer first distinguished herself on the local sporting scene when she joined an All-Star Fastball team sponsored by Cobourg Tony’s Pizza. In 1977, that team captured the Ontario Bantam B Championship. 

In 1980, Jen began her 11-year stint with the renowned Cobourg Angels, helping them to win 4 Ontario Championships. She started her rep hockey career in Cobourg and then joined the Rice Lake Rebels, winning 2 Provincial OWHA Championships with them during the 1980’s. After graduating from C.D.C.I. West in 1982, where she was valedictorian, Jennifer attended the University of Toronto where she graduated with both Physical and Health Education and Teaching Degrees. 

During her five years at U of T, Jen played Varsity Hockey with the Lady Blues and won four OUAA (Provincial) championships. She also rowed varsity in her first year. Since then, she has won 8 more Provincial OWHA hockey Championships with Cobourg teams (4 as player; 4 as coach). Jen has coached hockey for over 30 years, as well as many other sports including track & field, fastpitch, basketball and more. Her CCI girl’s team earned the OFSAA Sportsmanship Award in 2016 and finished 4th in the Province. In Master Sports, she has been a three-time Gold Medalist in Women’s Softball at the World Master Games with the Canadian Free Spirits (Australia, Italy, New Zealand), won an Ontario 55+ Provincial Hockey Championship, won 3 track and field golds at the 2024 Canada 55+ Games (shot put, discus, and javelin), was the 2024 Ontario Masters Throws Triathlon Champion, and won a Masters Women’s slo-pitch provincial championship. 

She has also competed provincially in broomball and volleyball. Jennifer has volunteered her time for countless events, initiatives, and executive boards. Some of her proudest moments have been her major volunteer roles at events like the Parapan Am Games, Invictus Games, World Jr. A Challenge, RBC Cup, 55+ Ontario Games, OFSAA officiating and more. In 2015, she was presented Cobourg’s “Layton Dodge Athletic Award” for her “contribution to Cobourg’s Athletic Community in terms of skill, sportsmanship, participation, and leadership”

Art Ravensdale was born on January 5^th, 1911 in Bolton, a town in Greater Manchester in England. At some point, Art made his way to Cobourg, attending the Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI), where he was an academic and athletic standout. His name appeared regularly in results from track meets at CCI and other schools. The Ravensdale Trophy was created in his honour and was presented to the top all-round male athlete each year until 1960. In 1929 Art won the 120-yard hurdles at the Canadian Championships in Banff. He won again in 1930 in Toronto, 1931 in Winnipeg, 1932 in Hamilton, 1933 in Fort William and 1934 in Montreal. 

Art's career was almost tragically derailed when he broke his hip while playing rugby at CCI, but with a combination of determination and hard work, he recovered completely. In 1930, in addition to winning the Provincial and Dominion Interscholastic Championships Art competed for Team Canada at the British Empire Games, held in Hamilton. Art graduated CCI in 1929 and took up studies at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Representing Marquette, he ran the 120-yard low hurdles in 13.2 seconds, giving him a share of the World Record. The Milwaukee Journal stated “Ravensdale, a hurdler… set municipal records that will probably stand for years.” He also set a new Canadian record at the Dominion Championships, beating the previous record by 4/10’s of a second in the 120-yard low hurdles. 

In 1932, Art took home first place at the Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials in the 100-meter hurdles and with that, he went on to represent Canada at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics later that year. In 1934, Art once again represented Canada at the British Empire Games in London, finishing fourth in the 120-yard hurdles. One year later, Art retired after being recognized as the Canadian Hurdling Champion for seven consecutive years (1928 to 1934) and returned to where it all began, CCI, where he coached the next generation of track and field youngsters. Years later, Art received a very special honour from the Town of Cobourg, when Ravensdale Road was named after him. 

In his 1990 induction to the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame Larry O’Connor was cited as “the outstanding hurdler in Canada during the 1930’s setting many Canadian records”. “Larry” was born in Toronto on September 22, 1916. When Larry was 13, his father was appointed to the bench as County Court Judge of Northumberland and the family moved to Cobourg where Larry enrolled at Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI). Larry’s reputation as an extremely talented athlete preceded him and he immediately began training with fellow Cobourg resident Art Ravensdale – a hurdler already setting records. Larry was chosen for further training at the Ontario Athletic Commission Camp on Lake Couchiching where he distinguished himself by being the first boy to swim to an island one mile away. He competed at track meets in the area. 

After graduating from CCI in 1934 Larry attended the University of Toronto. He joined the Toronto West End YMCA Club and the Varsity Blues Intercollegiate Track and Field Championship Team where he trained alongside Jim Worrall. Both competed at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Summer Games. In the 110m hurdles Olympic final Larry would finish in sixth-place establishing a personal best time of 14.8 seconds. After the Olympics, Larry’s career took off as he went on to set Canadian records in the 110-meter-high hurdles, the 120-yard-high hurdles, and the 220-yard low hurdles. In 1937, at the annual Maple Leaf Gardens Track Meet, Larry set a new world indoor record in the 60-yard-high hurdles. At the 1938 British Empire Games, held in Sydney, Australia, Larry was a gold-winning member of the 4x110 yard relay team and a silver medalist in the 120-yard-high hurdles with a time of 14.2 seconds, the third-fastest in the world that year and a Canadian record that stood until 1963. 

A year later, Larry raced to a time of 14.8 seconds in the 110-metre-high hurdles, setting a new Canadian record that stood until 1964. Larry was awarded the Norton Crow Memorial Trophy (for the Canadian Amateur Athlete of the Year) and the John W. Davies Trophy (for the Outstanding Track Athlete of the Year). He was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Athletic Hall of Fame in 1967, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1968, University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame in 2013.