Here’s a rundown on some of the sports-related community events taking place in the North Whidbey area.
North Whidbey Little League
North Whidbey Junior (13- and 14-year-olds) and Senior (15- and 16-year-olds) Baseball evaluations take place Saturday, March 12, at 10 a.m. at Fort Nugent Park.
Registrations will be taken that day, and forms can still be found at Big 5 or on the league website.
For more information, visit eteamz.active.com/NWLLOH/ or call 679-1522.
Central Whidbey Sportsman’s Association
The CWSA has announced three Falling Plate Rifle Matches for March.
They are scheduled for Sunday, March 13; Sunday, March 20; and Saturday, March 26.
Registration is 9 a.m., and the competition from 9:30 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m.
Participants do not need to be a member of CWSA.
The matches will be held at the CWSA clubhouse and range located 2.5 miles south of Coupeville on Safari Street, which is just south of Highway 20 and Morris Road and just north of the Outlying Field. There is a sign on the highway.
For more information call Al at 360-678-0960.
The Central Whidbey Sportsman’s Association will hold a Bowling Pin Match Saturday, March 19.
Shooters must register at 9 the morning of the shoot.
The competition is open to all interested shooters, whether a club member or not. The match starts promptly at 9:30 a.m.
Only rim fire pistols are to be used.
The match will be held at the CWSA Clubhouse and Range located 2.5 miles south of Coupeville on Safari Street, which is just south of Highway 20 and Morris Road and just north of the Outlying Field. There is a sign on the highway.
For more information call Al at 360-678-0960.
Bike Race
The fourth annual “Cookin’ the Kettles” mountain bike race takes place Sunday, March 27.
The race, which will be in Fort Ebey State Park and Kettles County Park, will feature several divisions.
The beginner (seven miles) and sport (13 miles) division begin at 10 a.m. The expert race (16 miles on a more technical course) starts at noon.
A kids’ race is also planned after the experts take off.
Local sponsors include Skagit Bicycle Club, Bicycles Northwest of Oak Harbor and the Skagit Cycle Centers of Anacortes and Burlington. Proceeds go toward the Skagit Cycle Center MTB race team.
This race is also a part of BuDu Racing’s SingleTrack Cycles West Side Mountain Bike Series.
For more information, go to BuDuRacing.com or contact Marshall Will at 360-929-5003 or Cesiwill@msn.com.
Gallery Ladies Golf Association
Women golfers wanted.
It’s time for the Gallery Ladies Golf Association tee-off coffee, an informal meeting with refreshments Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at 10 a.m. in Duffer’s Deli at the Gallery Golf Course in Oak Harbor.
Attendees will meet the gals and find out about the group and the summer schedule.
The Association starts playing on Tuesday, April 5.
Contact club pro Mike Fields at 257-2178, call Elaine Young at 675-0638 or Jill Usher at 678-0641 for further information.
Fishing
Opportunities for anglers look good in Puget Sound, where coho and pink salmon runs are expected to be strong this year, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Forecasts for chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum salmon mark the starting point for developing 2011 salmon-fishing seasons in Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington coastal areas.
Fishery managers have scheduled a series of public meetings over the next few weeks to discuss potential fishing opportunities before finalizing seasons in mid-April.
A meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting process are available on WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/.
North Puget Sound area residents can discuss fish and wildlife issues with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Phil Anderson and regional WDFW staff in a roundtable meeting March 22 in Sedro-Woolley.
The public meeting, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sedro-Woolley Senior Center, 715 Pacific St., will be hosted by the Wildcat Steelhead Club.
“I enjoy visiting communities and talking with our stakeholders to get perspectives from as many people as possible about their fish and wildlife interests,” said Anderson.
The Sedro Woolley meeting will include discussion of WDFW budget challenges and resource-management issues. WDFW staff will answer questions and take comments on fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, habitat protection, enforcement and other fish- and wildlife-related issues.
Bob Everitt, WDFW’s North Puget Sound regional director, said, “I encourage area residents to take this opportunity to share their views on fish and wildlife management with WDFW’s director and local staff members.”
North Whidbey Soccer Club
North Whidbey Soccer Club is currently holding registration for spring recreational soccer.
The season runs from early April through June 4 and is open to players ages 4 to 17.
All games are played on Saturdays: U6-U8 play at Fort Nugent Park, and U10-U18 play Island-wide.
Registration is $85 by March 21.
For additional information and to register (to play or to coach), see www.nwhidbeysoccer.org.
Oak Harbor Yacht Club Sailing Classes
Registration for the 2011 Oak Harbor Yacht Club sailing classes have begun.
Registrations will be processed through the Oak Harbor Youth Sailing mailbox at P.O. Box 2876, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
Parents and/or adult participants will find the registration forms on the Oak Harbor Youth Sailing website at www.OHyouthsailing.org.
Youth classes are for children 9 to 15 with fees of $150, which include the U.S. Sailing textbook.
Adult class fee is $200, which also includes the U.S. Sailing textbook.
The adult sailing classes will be offered on six consecutive Tuesday evenings from 5:30 until 8 p.m. starting Tuesday, May 3, for adults 16 and older.
Youth Sail Camp No. 1 for Level 1 will be from July 11 to 15. Youth Sail Camp No. 2 for Level 1 youths will be offered from July 25 to 29. Youth Sail Camp No. 3 for Level 2 youths is slated for Aug. 1 to 5.
All classes are offered at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and the Oak Harbor Marina.
Adult students will learn how to sail on 14-foot Lido sailboats, while the youths will begin on either Optis or El Toros.
All sailors will learn the basics of rigging the boat, steering techniques, sailing rules, trimming sails, racing rules and boating safety.
All participants must be swimmers and must pass a swim test prior to being on the water.
For more information regarding the adult classes, email kbskubi@whidbey.net.
For youth sailing information, email Dave French at grins@whidbey.net.
Boating Safety Class
The Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer a one-day class, About Boating Safely, Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Anacortes Senior Center, 1701 22nd St.
This class will give attendees the knowledge needed to obtain a Washington Boater Education Card.
Topics include general information about boats and maintenance, navigation rules, aids to navigation and what to do in case of boating emergencies. Total cost is $30, including textbook. Many insurance companies offer boat insurance discounts to people who successfully complete this course.
For more information, contact Larry Walker at 293-3140 or boating.classes@gmail.com. A detailed course outline is available at www.a1300107.uscgaux.info.
Whidbey Wildcat Wrestling Club
The Whidbey Wildcat Wrestling Club’s freestyle season is under way.
The club is looking for new members and is open for children 5 to 18 years old.
Practices through May are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 at the Oak Harbor High School mat room.
Club spokesman Bethany Lamb said the club “teaches self-disciple, self-control, work ethic and perseverance.”
She added, “Our wrestlers learn the value of working hard as a team in a challenging and fun environment.”
To sign up or to get more information, visit whidbeywildcatwrestling.com or call 360-320-6511.
Whidbey Island Running Club
The Whidbey Island Running Club, sponsored by the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District, is looking for new members.
Interested participants can contact the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool at 675-7665 or head coach Catie Rodeheffer at 279-2196 to get information on practice times and locations.
North Whidbey Aquatic Club
The North Whidbey Aquatic Club is a competitive swimming program of the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District. It includes swimmers of all abilities and ages from 6 through college.
Tryouts occur Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the city pool from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. New swimmers should be able to swim a length of the pool in freestyle and backstroke.
The first two weeks are free.
For more information, please call the pool (675-7665) to speak with head coach Neil Romney or view the team’s website at www.teamunify.com/pnswznwac.
