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Souris Ladies‘ Hockey Team (c.1903)

Back Row L—R: Laura Cox, Nellie Clarke, Rena McLean, Ella Matthew. Middle Row IrRI Adele Stems. Maude Morrow.

Bottom Row IrR: Ella Morrow, Maizie Duff.

Years later, Jack McQuaid, home from away, greeted Harry at the wharf with the ringing phrase: “Get out and walkl"9“

And so the game of hockey came to Eastern King's.

An item in the Patriot of March 17, 1883 indicates that horse races were held on the harbour ice for many years: “The Annual Trot took place today on Colville ice at Souris.” A course was laid out in the lee ofthe breakwater, in a curve to get a good length. The last race of the day was called a G0 As You Please Race. It was run for a small purse. Anyone could enter and the horse could gallop, trot or pace. For one such race, a driver unhitched the rear bob sleigh and prepared to go, another took a load of wood off his sleigh and entered with the rest. The starter gave the word and they were off. But one man went straight instead offollowing the curve. Naturally, he came in first but there was a dispute, He said it was a Go As You Please Race and that was the way he was pleased to go. The argument kept up all winter.

In 1890, the horsemen decided they wanted a summer race track. A meeting was held and, out of several locations, one on Souris River was chosen—the Flannigan farm. It was an ideal spot, on high level ground with a wonderful view ofthe surrounding country and conveniently close to the railway.”7

J.J. Hughes is given credit for being the guiding force behind the forma- tion of the Souris Driving Park Association. Shares were quickly sold. RE. Cox, Civil Engineer surveyed the land and the track was ready in the fall of 1891. Six cars of a special train from Charlottetown were filled to capacity when they arrived for the opening. Souris Town Band and a thousand