Area athletes receive bursaries

Hydro Quebec recently announced the names of 37 athletes from across the province that will share a total of $87,000 in the company’s 11th edition of its Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence bursary program, and two West Islanders were included. Pointe Claire resident Ashley McGregor, a 15-year-old swimmer who competes for the Pointe Claire Swim Club, picked up $1,500, while Pierrefonds resident Elladj Baldé, a 17-year-old figure skater who competes for the Pierrefonds Figure Skating Club, was picked up $3,000.

McGregor, who attends a Sports Étude program at John Rennie High School in Pointe Claire, captured gold in the 50- 100- and 200-metre breaststroke and silver in the 100- and 400-metre individual medley races at this year’s age group nationals as well as bronze in the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke at this year’s senior nationals. Baldé, born in Moscow and considered by knowledgeable observers as an Olympic hopeful, finished 21st at last year’s junior world championships in Bulgaria and seventh at a Grand Prix event in Sheffield, England.

The mission of the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence is to support and encourage student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence and to promote athletes as role models in Québec society. By the end of 2008, through its various bursary programs, the Foundation will have handed out over $625,000

In what appears to be a statement game, the Quebec Midget AAA Football League North Shore Mustangs will take their perfect 6-0 regular-season record into St. Leonard this Friday night for a showdown with the second-place Cougars. Head coach Justin McHugh’s troops had an easy time of it on Saturday in Richelieu, winning 38-0 over the Pirates. The defending provincial champions Mustangs head into Friday night’s contest - the biggest game of the season so far - boasting the league’s stingiest defence, having surrendered only 73 points while scoring 211. Anybody who has followed a McHugh-led squad should not be surprised at these statistics, knowing defence always come first in his coaching philosophy. This year’s edition has been no exception.