Hamilton recreation news

The Village Recreation program has been in full swing for two weeks now and over 140 children are enjoying a wealth of activities at the Colgate pool, the Eaton Street sports complex, on the tennis courts, and at the Seven Oaks Golf Course.

The Colgate pool is the site of the Hamilton Swim Team, under the direction of Amanda Fuller. More than twenty-five swimmers raced in our first meet, held Thursday, July 13, versus Sherrill. The team swam against Oneida and Norwich on Tuesday and Thursday of this week. In addition to the swim team, children at all swim levels are learning new skills in the swim lesson program, which is taught by a staff of ten swim teachers and aides, led by Hamilton student Tom Zombek, a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor. All pool operations are supervised by Sherburne Physical Education teacher Jeff Beaver.

The action is fast and furious out at the Eaton Street Fields, where Meredith Chapman supervises a staff of crafts and sports leaders. Children are having a great time playing dodgeball with rules that change by the minute, water balloon relays, playing in the sand, and making various arts and crafts. Color wars and field Olympics are among the special events planned for the weeks ahead. In addition to these ongoing activities, Hamilton field hockey coaches Debby Welsh and Hope Hanson ran a very successful field hockey clinic for seventeen aspiring players, assisted by Colgate and Hamilton varsity players. Hamilton teaching legends Sue Trueworthy and Joan Prindle also came by with the new Hamilton Bookmobile, to provide reading materials as a quiet alternative to the frenzied action, or unbearable heat.

Hamilton varsity tennis coach Rob Poznar and his crack team of tennis instructors inaugurated the freshly resurfaced Colgate tennis courts, giving lessons to aspiring Wimbleton aces. The weather has alternated between broiling hot, tropically steamy, and rainforest downpour, but lessons have been on more than off, and spirits are high.

Last, but not least, Colgate pro Marion Blaine provides golf lessons to beginners and continuing players on Wednesday mornings. Last week’s lesson was a rain-out, but a very eager group of players anxiously awaits their next chance to get out on the links. We’ll have more news in the weeks to come, so keep your eyes peeled, or better yet, come out to the pool or fields any morning, or the tennis courts after lunch Monday through Thursday, and see the fun for yourself!