The Upper Valley Curling Club will host a free open house for people interested in learning about the game on Oct. 20 at Wendell A. Barwood Arena in White River Junction. (Courtesy photograph)
The Upper Valley Curling Club will host a free open house for people interested in learning about the game on Oct. 20 at Wendell A. Barwood Arena in White River Junction. (Courtesy photograph) Credit: Courtesy photograph

Lebanon — The River Valley Club has earned the United State Tennis Association New England’s Organization of the Year award and will be recognized for the achievement at a Nov. 17 luncheon in Boston as part of the USTA New England’s Tennis Weekend.

The USTANE award goes to “an organization that best exemplifies service to the community, service to its members through junior and adult programd and service to the game of tennis,” according to a news release. The regional honor makes RVC the New England nominee for a respective national award.

The Lebanon-based fitness center sponsors 17 USTA League teams, seven of which made at least the district championship level earlier this year. RVC will also be soon starting Buddy Up Tennis, a program that teaches the game to youths and teens with Down syndrome.

On the Ice

Free Curling Open House

White River Junction — With the ice to soon go down at Wendell A. Barwood Arena, the Upper Valley Curling Club has set a free season-starting open house for Oct. 20.

The session will run from 6-8 p.m. Experienced curlers will be on hand to show the basic elements of the game and will answer questions about play, strategy and the equipment involved. Participants are recommended to wear warm clothing, including hats and gloves, as well as clean shoes with non-skid soles.

Although there is no charge to participate, the UVCC asks would-be visitors to register for the clinic first at uppervalleycurling.org.

The UVCC hosts league competition at WABA through the winter. To learn more, visit the club website or email uppervalleycurling@gmail.com.

To the Hoop

New Referee Class

White River Junction — Vermont Board 105 of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials will hold classes for people interested in becoming high school referees this month.

The program is open to Vermont and New Hamsphire residents and will consist of Monday and Thursday night classes at Hartford High School beginning Oct. 29. There is a cost involved for materials as well as the referee exam required to begin working games.

For more information, contact Dan Pause at 802-683-9315 or danpause@gmail.com.

On the Pitch

U14 Storm Wins

Meriden — The Lightning Soccer Club’s U14 Storm boys lived up to their name over the weekend with a 4-2 win over Valeo FC on the new Pope Field turf surface at Kimball Union Academy.

Jack Stadheim got LSC on the board first on a pass from Nolan McMahon, who fed Carter Guerin for a second score before halftime. McMahon and Ryder Hayes added unassisted goals in the second half, enough to keep Valeo in the rear-view mirror.

U13 Fever in Wild Draw

Meriden — The LSC U13 Fever played Valeo FC Benfica to a wild 4-4 tie on Sunday.

Otto Bourne got the Fever going eight minutes into the match, only to have Valeo tie things up. Ian Press converted a penalty kick following a Valeo hand ball, but the opposition surged to a 3-2 halftime lead in response.

Max McColgin tied things up early in the second half, Valeo grabbed one last lead and Cabot McLaren secured the Fever’s half of the points with an 18-yard blast after Bourne flick-headed a Sixten Nowlan free kick his way. Henry Cotter and Zach Tracey also made major contributions for the Fever.

U12 Comets Net Shutout

Epping, n.h. — The LSC U12 Comets posted a 4-0 shutout victory over GPS Maine Phoenix this past weekend.

Thatcher Bacon scored twice for the Comets. Brady Donovan and Nate Solberg accounted for LSC’s other goals. The visitors had the best chance for a winner in the closing minutes of regulation, forcing a Cyclones goal-mouth clearance following a corner kick.

Wyatt Daigle and Sabastian Keen split the goalkeeping chores for LSC, and Ezra McGinley-Smith lead the defense.

U12 Cyclones Tie

Meriden — The Northern Strikers matched a Graham Thompson first-half goal with one of their own, and the LSC U12 Cyclones held on for a 1-1 tie with the Strikers at Carver Field on Saturday.

Thompson struck in the first half, with the Strikers answering just before halftime.

U12 Fury Girls Victorious

Meriden — The LSC U12 Fury girls dropped a 5-1 loss on the Hollis Brookline Cavaliers on Saturday.

Audrey Rupp put the Fury on the board first, cleaning up the rebound of a Braelyn Park corner kick. Another Park corner set up Reese Hamlin for a 2-0 lead. Park later added two goals to go with one from Rose Candon, while Hamlin and Sadie Ross contributed assists.

Ross and Juliana Masland earned the win with their play in goal.

U11 Surge Wins Again

Meriden — The LSC U11 Surge girls kept up their winning ways with a 2-1 decision over Goffstown United on Sunday at KUA.

Ainsley Smith’s scoring drive got the Surge on the board in the first half, and Cosima Torresani slooted a Smith pass minutes later to double the advantage. Goffstown scored a late consolation marker.

The Surge is now 2-0-0 on the young season, with the Nashua Columbus Day tournament coming up this weekend.

Other LSC girls results from the weekend:

■ The U15 Sparks dropped a 1-0 decision to Seacoast United in Epping, N.H .

■ The U13 Bugs were beaten by the Boston Bolts Green Lions, 3-1, at KUA.

On the Pitch, Part Deux

URVC Tops Burlington

Burlington — The Upper Valley Rugby Club’s Mountain Men won their first match of the New England Rugby Football Union Division III campaign on Saturday, holding off a late rally for a 36-30 win over Burlington Rugby.

The Mountain Men (1-3) built a 28-10 lead, getting two trys from Darius Long, single scores from Ian DeLaney and Peter DiMilia and three conversion kicks from Evan Dalton. The visitors seemed on their way to a rout only to have Burlington produce a second-half surge to close to within 31-30 with 10 minutes left. Matthew Landers locked down the win with UVRC’s final try in the 78th minute.

Dalton also added a second-half penalty goal. The Mountain Men visit MIT Rugby for a match on Saturday.

The UVRC women also played on Saturday, dropping a 77-0 road decision to Maine’s Portland Rugby. Lydia Wood and Zoe Keskey both had strong running and tackling days for the Valkyries, who host Providence Rugby on Saturday at the former Lebanon Junior High School field at 1 p.m.

On the Tee

Hartford Hockey Open

Randolph — The Hartford High hockey program will hold the 19th edition of its annual Greater Hartford Hockey Open Golf Classic on Oct. 6 at Montague Golf Club in Randolph.

The tournament consists of four-member teams playing an 18-hole scramble competition. All levels of golf experience are welcome, and players are invited to create their own foursomes for the event. The team entry fee of $240 includes greens fees and carts for each player along with an opportunity to win prizes followed by a post-tournament dinner.

A shotgun start of noon kicks off the action, with dinner and prizes to follow at 4:30 p.m. The tournament will be held rain or shine. Proceeds from the day will go toward the Hartford hockey program.

For more information or to get a signup sheet, contact Hartford High boys hockey coach Todd Bebeau at 802-296-6068 or todd.bebeau@dresden.us.

On the Diamond

Hartford Softball Tourney For Scholarships

White River Junction — The Hartford Parks and Recreation Department is calling on all adult softball teams to join in its inaugural Softball for Scholarships tournament the weekend of Oct. 13-14.

Games will be played at the Maxfield Sports Complex from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. The team fee is $160, and all proceeds will go toward the department for use in school sports registration, equipment purchase and summer program registration.

A concession stand will be on hand at the tournament, which will also include a 50-50 raffle and merchandise sales. Tournament champion T-shirts also will be available.

Teams can register for the tourney online at the Hartford Recreation website. For more information, contact tournament organizers Brandon Dyke at 802-738-6827 or teamfreakyfish1010@gmail.com or Jessica Dyke at 802-738-6762 or bswifey84@gmail.com.

On the Run

Gory Days Run

White River Junction — The Hartford Dismas House and the Main Street Museum will host its Halloween-themed Gory Daze 5K road race on Oct. 27.

The race begins at 10 a.m. at the Dothan Brook School. Halloween costumes are encouraged for all participants, and runners and walkers are both welcome. The day includes face painting, food and music for all.

The $20 race fee will benefit Dismas House, a facility for men and women transitioning from incarceration to the community. For more information, email jeff@dismasofvt.org or call 802-698-8661.

Indian River Run

Enfield — The Indian River School’s track and cross country programs will host the Tiger Run 12K and 5K on Oct. 28 at the Shaker Village Recreation Field.

The run is a fundraiser for the two IRS programs, which receive no school district funding. The 12K route closely follows that of the annual Shaker 7 Road Race, while the day will include a 5K for those seeking a shorter distance. Both events start at 10 a.m.

The cost for the 12K for ages 16 and older is $35 through the end of September, $40 from Oct. 1-26 and $45 on race day. The fee for ages 15 and younger is $5 less in all cases.

The 5K fee for ages 16 and older is $20 through Sept. 30, $25 from Oct. 1-26 and $30 on race day. The fee for ages 15 and younger is $5 in all cases as well.

The day also will include a kids fun run, which costs $2 through Oct. 26 and $5 on race day.

Online registration is available via the Mascoma Valley Parks and Recreation page on Facebook or at https://register.chronotrack.com/r/42535.

On the Ice

HHA Learn-to-Play

West Lebanon — The Hanover Hockey Association has scheduled its first learn-to-play youth hockey clinics for the new skating season.

HHA will hold a weekend of free clinics at Campion on Oct. 13-14 for boys and girls ages 4-8. The events start at 10:30 a.m. both days, and registration is open at www.hanoverhockey.org.

Beyond that, HHA has three six-week learn-to-play clinics scheduled for later in the season. Operating on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:10 a.m. and beginning on Oct. 27, the winter season clinics cost $100 for each six-week session.

For more information on HHA’s learn-to-play offerings, contact coordinator Tracy Purcell at tapurcell80@gmail.com.

Campion Rink SeeksPlayers for Leagues

West Lebanon — Campion Rink is seeking players interested in joining its B and C hockey leagues for the coming winter season.

Campion’s C league will play on Saturday nights and is geared toward players more interested in a fun and team-oriented atmosphere. The season starts before the end of the month and continues through next March. The rink plans to field four teams, each of which will play a 21-game regular-season schedule along with playoffs. C league is a co-ed activity.

B league is targeted for athletes with hockey experience seeking a competitive atmosphere. Campion Rink plans to have eight teams in its B League, also with a 21-game season and playoffs, with the bulk of games played on Sunday nights.

The cost to play for the season is $425 for B league and $350 for C league. Prospective players can sign up online or download a registration form from www.campionrink.org.

For more information, contact the rink at 603-643-1222.