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Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary

by Clublinkinbio

Today marks a significant milestone in the history of the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. Since the first practice was held on April 25, 1974, led by head coach Bob Staveley and a team of dedicated individuals, the club has been a cornerstone of athletics in the Ottawa region for half a century.

In its inaugural year, the East Ottawa Lions, as they were initially known, held their first practice at the old Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe track. Under the leadership of Bob Staveley, the club welcomed athletes aged 12 and up, with a mission to provide opportunities for youth in track and field within the community. Originally sponsored by the East Ottawa Lions Club, the club’s membership was initially limited to athletes residing within specific boundaries north of the Queensway and east of the Rideau River.

Reflecting on the early days of the club, Staveley at the time remarked, “There was a need for a second track and field club in the city, and I’m proud to have been a part of establishing the Lions.” Assisted by a team of dedicated coaches including Owen Froggett, Ken Parker, Rae Ellen Desloges, Dick Cardill, and Greg Moses, the club quickly gained momentum, fostering talent and passion for athletics in the region.

The original Board of Directors, led by President Major Angus Read and Vice-President Bob Staveley, played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s direction and ensuring its success in the years to come.

Over the past five decades, the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club has grown from its humble beginnings to become a powerhouse in Canadian athletics, producing 22 Olympians, 17 Paralympians, nearly 200 international medals, over 1700 national championship medals, and in excess of 3600 provincial medals. The club’s legacy extends beyond the track, instilling values of dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship in generations of athletes.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we extend our gratitude to all past and present members, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who have contributed to the success and longevity of the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club. Here’s to the next fifty years of excellence in athletics!

1975 EOL Banquet

First Club practice held 47 years ago today

by linkinbioLocal

Like many of you, I have spent a fair amount of time cooped up in the house since the pandemic began. I’ve spent some of my time revamping sections of the website, making some big updates to Club stats (more on that to come in the next few weeks), and even complied a few top ten lists. While compiling the lists I began to research a fair bit about the Club’s history and one day, last fall, came across a pair of articles describing the first days of the East Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club, as the Club was known as for the first 15 plus years of its existence.

On April 25, 1974 the East Ottawa Lions held their first practice at the old Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe track. Scheduled for 6:15pm that Thursday night, under the leadership of head coach Bob Staveley, practice began for “boys  age 12 and up and girls 11 years of age or over” according to an article in The Ottawa Journal. Given the Club’s original sponsorship by the East Ottawa Lions Club, original membership in the Club was restricted to “athletes living within the boundaries north of the Queensway and east of the Rideau River.”

Staveley, who had long believed there had been a need for a second track and field club in the city, established the Lions after having served as the Head Coach of the Ottawa Kinsmen Harriers Track and Field Club for five years. According to The Journal, the original coaches included Owen Froggett, who would help Staveley oversee the field events. Ken Parker, who later founded the Ottawa Athletic Club Racing Team, was the Club’s original distance coach. He was assisted by Rae Ellen Desloges. The sprinters were coached by Dick Cardill, previously of the the Harriers, and his assistant – Greg Moses of Almonte.

The original Board of Directors was led by president Major Angus Read, with Staveley serving as vice-president. Yvon Lanctin was the original treasuer and Froggett the secretary with Paul Moxon sitting as a member at large.