I love the saying that something is “As American as apple pie.” I love apple pie and would have some for breakfast every day if I could. But oddly enough, apples are not native to the United States. They came from Kazakhstan, in central Asia east of the Caspian Sea.
I recently received a review copy of a great book about apples, Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates, by Bob Osborne with lots of fabulous photos by Beth Powning and published by Firefly Books (hardback, $35). It covers how to grow apples, and also has 140 pages of photos and descriptions of the best apples we can grow.
I spoke to Bob Osborne by phone at his home in New Brunswick, Canada. Bob has been planting apple trees in his orchard for over 40 years, mainly for scions (shoots) used for grafting by other orchardists. That required him to grow many, many different cultivars (varieties) of apples.
Bob is an organic grower and has paid attention to his soil as the key to healthy growth. In his book he gives a fine explanation of the soils that best support healthy apple trees. He recommends doing a soil test before planting apples.
A soil pH lower than 6.3, he notes, will not allow a tree to access the nutrients necessary for optimal growth and fruit quality. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus can be bound up and unavailable even if present in the soil. He writes that in areas with naturally acidic soils, it is good to add lime every six years to keep the soil pH in the correct range.
Chemical fertilizer, he writes, provides nitrogen that when dissolved in water is highly acidic and can destroy much of the soil life that provides nitrogen naturally. Instead he recommends adding compost, blood meal, feather meal, fish meal or bone meal. He explains that you should not use fresh manures even though they are good sources of nitrogen. They can carry disease-carrying bacteria that can sicken you if you pick up dropped apples.
Potassium is important for good-quality fruit. Low potassium “may result in small fruit size, low sugar content and poor storability.” A soil test from your local state extension service or a commercial lab will tell you if you have adequate potassium, but if your fruit size is small, you may need to add some. Wood ash, he writes, is a good source of potassium, having about six percent potassium. I have read elsewhere that ash from charcoal grills should not be used in the garden.
Choosing a good site for your apple trees is important. For the home orchardist, apples will grow most anywhere, but full sun is best. Late spring frosts can damage blossoms and reduce fruit yields, so planting on a hillside is best. Cold air flows downhill and settles in low spots, which should be avoided. A hillside generally drains water better, which promotes healthy roots. Roots can rot in areas with year-round soggy soils.
Apple tree size is determined by the rootstock a scion is grafted to. There are four basic sizes: dwarf, semi-dwarf, semi-standard and standard. A few apples come on their own roots and tend to be full-sized trees. Bob recommends semi-dwarf or semi-standard for the home gardener. Dwarf trees, he told me, need support all their lives as the root systems are not adequate to hold them up in a storm.
I asked Bob for his recommendations for the best apples to grow in a home garden. The best, he said, is Liberty. It is resistant to many common diseases, tastes great and stores well. But he warned, you need to pick it when it is ready, not too early or too late. He picks his on Oct. 6, but farther south picking is earlier.
Next he recommended Novamac. It is resistant to scab, fireblight and cedar apple rust; it does not attract codling moths. It is tasty, it keeps well, and its form is open and easy to prune. It can be picked early if you like a tart apple. Other apples he likes include Sandow, Greensleeves and Pristine. See his book for more details on them and many others.
It’s not too late to plant an apple tree this year if you find one in a pot that you like. Or you can start planting next spring. In any case, having Bob Osborne’s book will guide you through the process.
• The Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester) will hold a storytime and craft on Saturday, Oct. 8, beginning at 11:30 a.m. featuring the book A Spoonful of Frogs and a fun science experiment about frogs. The event is free, but registration is encouraged. Visit bookerymht.com to reserve tickets.
• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen) is holding a free make and take craft session on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. Drop by and make a fall hedgehog out of autumn leaves, according to a press release. The gallery is providing everything needed to make this craft. Visit TwiggsGallery.WordPress.com.
Festival fun
• The annual Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia) Pumpkin Festival continues this Saturday, Oct. 8, through Monday, Oct. 10, with time slots starting at 10 a.m. Ride down to the pumpkin patch on either a tractor train or a horse-drawn wagon, or pick up the decorative squash at the market stand. In addition to the pumpkin picking, there will be pony rides, a cow milking contest, pumpkin art and animal visits. Ticket costs start at $22. Visit visitthefarm.com.
• The seventh annual scarecrow festival is back this year at the Concord Free Public Library (129 Main St.) starting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and running through Halloween. There will be scarecrows made by a number of local organizations, including Appleton Design Group, Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, Concord Family Network, Concord Rec, Joy Street life + home and West Concord Green Thumbs. The festival runs all day long and there is no registration required. Visit concordlibrary.assabetinteractive.com for more details about the festival.
• The Pembroke Town Library (313 Pembroke St.) is holding a fall festival on Wednesday, Oct. 12, starting at 4 p.m. This is the inaugural fall festival for the library and activities include trick-or-treating around the library, apple cider and doughnuts, a screening of the movie Halloweentown (1998) and a pumpkin light up viewing. The event is free to attend and registration is not required. Visit pembroke-nh.com/pembroke-town-library for more information.
Showtime
The Palace Youth Theatre is putting on a production of Freaky Friday at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. The show is about what happens when an organized mother and a rebellious daughter switch bodies and spend a day in each other’s shoes. Ticket prices start at $12.
Save the date
• The Girl Scout expo will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford. Purchase tickets, which are $5, online in advance at bit.ly/GirlExpo2022 or at the door. The expo will have events including giveaways for the girls, live performances, hands-on exhibits and more. The program is appropriate for girls in grades kindergarten through grade 12 and adults, and they do not need to be members of the Girl Scouts to participate.
The Milford Pumpkin Festival is back for the 33rd year of celebrating everything autumn.
Wade Campbell, the president of the festival committee, said he was thrilled to bring the festival back in its full glory.
“[The festival] brings people in and lets people know we’re Milford,” Campbell said. “To me, we have the best pumpkin festival.”
This year, there will be more than 200 vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to delicious foods (including one of Campbell’s favorites, a specialty soda truck that does nothing but different flavors of root beer.) The vendors are across the five locations that the fair takes over each year in the downtown area.
Booths will also be set up from local nonprofits, like fundraisers for the local schools and historical society.
The opening night ceremonies on Friday are extravagant, Campbell said, including the pumpkin runner, someone who will run a path through town to get to town hall and “light” it up for the festivities. Campbell said that it was the festival’s take on the Olympic runner, followed by the usual induction ceremony activities.
Each of the locations offers different activities, said Campbell. There is live music and entertainment at three of the locations; a beer, wine, and spirits tasting; the pumpkin weigh-off at the Community House Lawn; a rubber duck race (water levels permitting) at Middle Street and town hall, and the haunted trail at Emerson Park.
All of the locations are within walking distance of each other, and there will be free parking locations at several locations in town with buses shuttling people back and forth.
Campbell said it’s important to him and his organization to not forget about the town that they are in and the local businesses that are in the area. He said that, because they close every road besides Route 13, he encourages businesses to remain open and take advantage of the foot traffic.
While the festival has grown over the years, back when the fair was initially started, it was not much more than a small festival surrounding the pumpkin weigh-off, Campbell said. The festival was begun by a group trying to raise money for building a new town hall.
Campbell said he’d only attended one festival, in 1996, and had never been to another, until his team took over the fair
“We came in not knowing anything about it … honestly we didn’t have any idea what we were doing,” Campbell said. “We’ve taken it from what they had and accelerated it to the next level.”
Even with the size of the festival right now, Campbell said he would love to find a way to grow it even larger. His biggest issue is finding more space.
For right now, he’s just excited to be having another great festival.
“Honestly, watching how much fun people have, that’s my favorite part of the festival,” Campbell said. “The community spirit, people coming down to enjoy it and everyone that gets involved, there’s nothing like it.”
Milford Pumpkin Festival Where: Downtown Milford, 1 Union Square, Milford When: Friday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Price: Admission is free Visit: milfordpumpkinfestival.org
Featured photo: Scarecrows from the Milford Pumpkin Festival. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Irish tenor concert: St. Joseph Cathedral (145 Lowell St., Manchester) will host a concert featuring world-acclaimed Irish tenor Emmet Cahill on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m, the first public performance there since the cathedral’s renovation. The concert will include Irish songs, sacred hymns and popular standards. Cahill recently made his sold-out debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall. His Irish album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard World Music Charts. Recent appearances include NBC’s Today show, New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Pentagon, and Atlanta Symphony Hall. Admission is $35 at the door, or $50 at 6:15 p.m., which includes a pre-concert meet-and-greet with the artist. Tickets are available at emmetcahill.com.
• Stone walls at Shaker Village: Canterbury Shaker Village’s popular two-day Stone Wall Workshop series returns on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Oct. 30. Led by master stone artisan and mason Kevin Fife, this hands-on workshop introduces participants to the engineering and aesthetics of the Shakers’ stone wall-building skills through the restoration of a wall section at the Village. Tuition for returning participants is $150; for new participants it’s $250. For more information and to register, visit shakers.org.
• Dancing about New Hampshire: New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC) will present The Shire, a performance by NSquared Dance, on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester). The Shire is a bioregional exploration of the state of New Hampshire through the lenses of location, economics, historical references, agriculture, nature and the region’s culture. Admission is free. See nhdancecollaborative.com.
• Autumn art exhibit: The Franklin Gallery at RiverStones Custom Framing (33 N. Main St., Rochester) will host an exhibit during the month of October called “Change of Seasons.” An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend. “Change of Seasons” is a multi-artist exhibit centered around fall. RiverStones Custom Framing and the Franklin Gallery are open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See riverstonescustomframing.com.
• Light and dark: The New Hampshire Art Association will host its newest showcase, Light and Dark II, at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) Oct. 5 through Oct. 30. The works center around ideas of light and dark and black and white, as well as Halloween themed works, according to a press release. The opening reception, a Black and White gala, will take place on Friday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear creative black and white or vintage costumes and there will be refreshments. See nhartassociation.org.
• Fiction contest: Monadnock Writers’ Group is hosting its regional Three-Minute Fiction Slam on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 9:45 a.m. at the Peterborough Town Library, (2 Concord St., Peterborough). Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners. The first-place winner will advance to the statewide finals and a chance to win $250. Everyone is invited to take part in the free competition by either participating or observing the fun. The competition challenges writers to perform original pieces of fiction in three minutes or less before an audience and a panel of judges. The regional event is part of an annual competition sponsored by the New Hampshire Writers’ Project. See monadnockwriters.org.
— Hannah Turtle
ART
Opening
• “THE WOODS WRAP AROUND YOU” Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford, creativeventuresfineart.com) will have an exhibition, “The Woods Wrap Around You,” on display during October, featuring hand-colored monoprints by Loretta CR Hubley. A reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 14, with wine and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation by the artist and a live piano performance inspired by the exhibition.
• “FROM THE HIPPIE TRAIL TO THE SILK ROAD” exhibit fromTwo Villages Art Society will run at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) Oct. 21 through Nov. 12. This is an exhibition by Kathleen Dustin that includes her original artwork, inspired by and juxtaposed with jewelry and textiles from around the world that Dustin has collected during her travels. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 2 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.
Exhibits
• “OUT OF THE WOODS” fromTwo Villages Art Society at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) is on display through Oct. 8 and features a series of collaborative vignettes paying tribute to the seasonal changes of New Hampshire, created by a group of five local artists known as the 9th State Artisans. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.
• “STORIED IN CLAY” The New Hampshire Potters Guild presents its biennial exhibition “Storied in Clay” at the exhibition gallery at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord) through Oct. 27. Visit nhpottersguild.org.
• “STILL: THE ART OF STILL LIFE,” a contemporary art exhibit at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; twiggsgallery.wordpress.com, 975-0015), will feature work by artists Caleb Brown, Shela Cunningham, Bess French, Marcia Wood Mertinooke, Barbara Morse, Shawne Randlett and Marlene Zychowski and will run through Saturday, Oct. 29.
Workshops and classes
• ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.
• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org or email [email protected] more information.
• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.
THEATRE
Shows
• MURDER FOR TWO The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) runs through Oct. 9; tickets cost $25 to $42. Showtimes are on various dates and times, Tuesday through Sunday.
• THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) will present The Government Inspector, presented by Phylloxera Productions, Oct. 7 through Oct. 23. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.
• FREAKY FRIDAY Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presents Freaky Friday on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.
• THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS The Community Players of Concord present The Wind in the Willows at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $15.
• DISNEY’S THE ARISTOCRATS KIDS The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, peacockplayers.org) youth theater company presents Disney’s The Aristocrats Kids Oct. 14 through Oct. 23. Showtimes are on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
• RED RIDING HOOD Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presents Red Riding Hood on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.
• TITANIC THE MUSICAL The Manchester Community Theatre Players present Titanic the Musical at the Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester). Showtimes are on Fridays, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Saturdays, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, and Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at manchestercommunitytheatre.com.
• GREASE The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) presents Grease Oct. 21 through Nov. 12. Showtimes are on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., with one Thursday-at-7:30 p.m. show for each production ( Nov. 10 for Grease). Tickets cost $25 to $46.
• SHREK THE MUSICAL The Epping Community Theater will present Shrek the Musical Oct. 21 through Oct. 30 at the Epping Playhouse (38c Ladd’s Lane, Epping). Visit eppingtheater.org.
• TUCK EVERLASTING The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) youth theater presents Tuck Everlasting running Oct. 27 through Nov. 6, with showtimes Thursday through Sunday. Tickets cost $11 to $17 for students and $14 to $20 for adults.
• ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) youth theater presents Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, running Oct. 27 through Nov. 6, with showtimes Thursday through Sunday. Tickets cost $11 to $17 for students and $14 to $20 for adults.
• ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) and Lend Me a Theatre present Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Nov. 4 through Nov. 20. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.
• SWEENEY TODD The Actorsingers present the musical thriller Sweeney Todd at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua) Friday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 6. Ticket sales are TBA. Visit actorsingers.org.
• JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at The Village Players Theatre (51 Glendon St. in Wolfeboro; village-players.com) Friday, Nov. 4, through Sunday, Nov. 6, and Friday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 13.
• THE DROWSY CHAPERONE The Riverbend Youth Company presentsThe Drowsy Chaperoneat the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford) on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2:30 p.m. Ticket sales are TBA. Visit svbgc.org/amato-center.
Classical
Events
• ORCHESTRAL SHOWCASE “NATURE & MYTH” at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sun., Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Sat., Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring sounds from Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.
• NATURE & MYTH The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra opens its 118th year with an orchestral showcase, “Nature & Myth,” featuring music by Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius, on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem). Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for kids. Visit nhphil.org.
• BEETHOVEN AND FRIENDS The Nashua Chamber Orchestra presents its fall concert “Beethoven and Friends,” with performances on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St., Nashua) and Sunday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. at Milford Town Hall (1 Union Square, Milford). The program will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F, as well as Symphony No. 1 in G by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges; Impromptu Op. 5 by Jean Sibelius; and Andante and Rondo ongarese, Op. 35 by Carl Maria von Weber. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors age 65 and up, military and college students. Admission is free for youth under age 18. Visit nco-music.org.
• CHRISTMAS WITH THE CROONERS Tickets are on sale now for the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra’s production of “Christmas with the Crooners,” happening at The Colonial Theatre (609 Main St. in Laconia) on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. The show features a mix of traditional carols and modern holiday tunes by crooners Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams and more. Tickets range from $22 to $32 for adults and from $12 to $22 for students. Visit coloniallaconia.com or call 1-800-657-8774 to purchase tickets.
Since it began in 1947, the Warner Fall Foliage Festival has been a mainstay for the small New Hampshire town, attracting guests from all over the area. After two years of absence, locals are all the more excited for this year’s festivities.
“This started 75 years ago as a community organization to promote Warner and to raise funds for various town organizations,” said Ray Martin, the festival’s president. “It’s a great festival. We usually see about five or six thousand people over the weekend.”
For a town with a population under 3,000, it’s a big affair. The festival hosts many activities over the weekend, including midway amusement rides, over 70 craftsmen selling their wares, a 5K road race, live musicians, a lobster and chicken barbecue and more.
A highlight is the annual grand parade, held on Sunday at 1 p.m., featuring many town organizations and groups. The theme for this year’s parade is “Fantastical Tales of All Time.” Martin said he’s “looking forward to seeing what people do with it.”
“We usually have about 10 or 12 floats,” Martin said of the parade. “Since it’s all about fall foliage, the more leaves you can incorporate, the better off you are.”
Musical acts will include The Not Fade Away Band, a Grateful Dead tribute; bagpipe performers; a jazz big band; Annie and the Natural Wonder Band, which celebrates nature through song, and many more. The performance stage will also host a kids’ dance party on Sunday morning.
In addition to all the classic festival fare, the festival will feature some more unique attractions. There will be an oxen pulling competition, an ice cream eating contest hosted by local ice cream shop The Velvet Moose, pony rides and face painting. All events are kid-friendly. A children’s parade is set for Saturday afternoon.
For those looking forward to the craftsmen and vendors, this year’s lineup will also include some unique options, including handmade dolls clothes, eggshell jewelry, chainmail jewelry, lawn art, beef chips, gemstone crowns and more.
For an event of its size, the Warner Fall Foliage Festival requires a lot of hands to put on.
“It’s an all-volunteer outfit. Nobody’s paid to do anything. We usually have about 200 volunteers from all over town,” said Martin. “That — the volunteering — that’s my favorite part. Everybody in town gets into it. It’s nice to see.”
Warner Fall Foliage Festival Where: Along Main Street, Warner When: Friday, Oct. 7, 6 to 9 p.m. (midway); Saturday, Oct. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets: free admission More information: wfff.org
Find the local roller derby or kickball team to root for, local boxing matches with crowd appeal and the high school and college teams to inspire your young athletes
The thrill of watching a live sporting event does not require a long drive and a big payout.
If you want that “Friday night lights” experience, you can check out a team at your local high school — Hippo sports writer Dave Long has some suggestions for football and men and women’s soccer games worth saving the date for. Or head to a local college to introduce your budding athlete to big-kid basketball, ice hockey and lacrosse games. And remind yourself that sports aren’t just for students by checking out amateur adult competition, from high energy roller derby bouts to an upcoming disc golf tournament.
Time to find your team and start cheering.
Cheer on the home team
Dave Long recommends high school games to delight sports fans & inspire the kids
One of the great things about the local high school sports season is that it gives those who love to sit outside and watch a game all sorts of options. You can watch a game in the daylight on a beautiful afternoon, or watch under the lights on a Friday night.
Ditto for kids at the beginning of their sports journey. Fall schedules give ample opportunities for them to watch and learn from the big kids — who likely seem like grown-up stars to them — while also giving them room to throw or kick a ball around while the game is going on or at halftime.
Here are some upcoming local games where high schoolers will be competing.
Football — Bishop Guertin at Londonderry, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. (Londonderry High School, LHS Stadium Field, 295 Mammoth Road in Londonderry)
It’s the defending D1 state champion Lancers taking on the perennially contending Cardinals on a Friday night in Londonderry. The competition for entertainment would have to be pretty good for football fans to pass on this one.
Girls Soccer — Portsmouth at Goffstown, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. (Goffstown High School, 27 Wallace Road in Goffstown, the field behind the school)
This offers a chance to see top-ranked-in-Division 1 Portsmouth in their last local game of 2022.
Boys Soccer — Memorial at Nashua North, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. (Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way in Nashua)
Our second great boys’ match-up, where two of the top teams in Division 1 square off for the second straight week in Nashua.
Girls Soccer — Oyster River at Hollis-Brookline Saturday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. (Hollis Brookline High School, 24 Cavalier Court in Hollis)
This must be the year for teams from the coast, as the visitors from Durham sit atop the D2 standings. This game features teams with only one loss between them as they entered October. While the drive out west is nice, out-of-towners may need the GPS to find the field once they get there.
Football — Bedford at Bishop Guertin Saturday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m. (Bishop Guertin High School plays its varsity football games at Stellos Stadium, 7 Stadium Drive in Nashua)
If the first three weeks of 2022 are any indication, this will be an offense-vs.-defense battle. Bedford takes Route 3 to Nashua after giving up just 29 points in its three games, while the Cardinals scored 128 in three wins, which included a 68-3 thumping of Goffstown.
Boys Soccer — Central at Nashua North, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m. (Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way in Nashua)
For the third week in a row we’re in Nashua, this time for Manchester Central’s clash with Nash North.
Boys Soccer — Bedford at Bishop Guertin, Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m. (Bishop Guertin High School plays its varsity soccer games at Stellos Stadium, 7 Stadium Drive in Nashua)
Finally a game outside the Gate City, but it does include one team traveling from there. Given the high level of talent in D-1 it’s hard to say who’ll have the upper hand in the standings. But each team will be trying to cement its seeding for the playoffs ahead.
Girls Soccer — Bishop Guertin at Bedford, Friday, Oct. 21, 4 p.m. (Bedford High School, 47 Nashua Road in Bedford)Arivalry game where both teams are in the thick of the playoff race. Given that, it may not be the last time they see each other, so it could be a playoff preview.
Football — Central at Pinkerton, Friday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. (at the Pinkerton Academy campus, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; the game is played at Memorial Field)
Are you a fan of uniforms? These teams have the two best in the state. At first glance the Astros make you think for a second you’re in Columbus, Ohio, watching RyanDay’s Buckeyes, while the silver and green of Central just look cool. Then there’s the familiar feeling that it seems like these teams have played each other a million times, many in big games, and this could be another.
Girls Soccer — Playoffs start the week of Thursday, Oct. 27, to Thursday, Nov. 3 at the site of the higher seed.
Boys Soccer— Playoffs start the week of Thursday, Oct. 27, to Thursday, Nov. 3 at the site of the higher seed. With Memorial, Nashua South and Concord looking strong entering November there will likely be action in the three major southern New Hampshire cities.
Football — Souhegan at John Stark, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. (John Stark Regional High School, JSR Football Field, 618 North Stark Highway in Weare) This is a game for folks who like high-scoring football, as if the trend continues for the Sabers after scoring 60, 41 and 41 in their 3-0 start that’s what could be in store in each team’s regular season final.
Football—Playoffs in all divisions of football will be getting started Friday, Nov. 4, and end on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Thanksgiving Day football— Not quite the draw it once was, when 10,000 spectators would pack Gill Stadium for the unofficial Manchester city championship contest between the schools with the two best regular season records. But the tradition continues as there are festive mid-morning rivalry games played all over southern New Hampshire on the big day. All offer fun for returning alumni and regular team followers before they scatter to be on time to enjoy turkey and the fixings with family and friends.
Then it’s on to the winter sports season.
Be part of the crowd cheering for student athletes
New Hampshire’s colleges offer inspiration for the next generation of players
You don’t have to go to a college to be a fan of its teams.
“For the student athletes, they absolutely love playing in front of a larger crowd,” said Eric Coplin, director of athletics communications at Southern New Hampshire University. All regular season Penmen games on campus are free to attend, he said, and most of the teams participate in youth programs, such as camps, that help to connect the Penmen athletes to kids who play those sports in the community. The men’s soccer team, for example, has designated youth soccer nights at most home games — the Oct. 8 game is Manchester North soccer night (find the complete schedule at snhupenmen.com). The kids from those sports programs get to accompany the SNHU players onto the field, Coplin said. The little kids get to see where they could be in 10 or so years and the Penmen get to remember where they came from, he said.
“Our guys feed off that energy,” Coplin said.
Karen Pinkos, head women’s basketball coach for the SNHU Penmen, runs camps in the summer for girls in grades 2 through 9. Penmen players work at the camp, which gives them an opportunity to give back to the community and gives the girls strong confident women to look up to, she said.
When kids come to a women’s basketball game, “they’re going to see [the Penmen team] work hard … work hard in terms of teamwork, working together,” Pinkos said. And, especially for girls watching the women’s team, they get to see these young women being strong.
SNHU women’s basketball. Courtesy photo.
Many SNHU basketball games are played as double headers, with the men’s games following the women’s games. Pinkos said that over the years some in the crowd have started to come for both games. In the days before Covid, the games also often featured youth groups who would come and play the court at halftime or act as ball girls, which offered more opportunities for players and young fans to interact.
New Hampshire has two NCAA Division I schools — Dartmouth College in Hanover and the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester competes at the Division II level, and New England College in Henniker competes at the Division III level.
“It means everything for [student athletes] to represent the state and university and to have fans backing them,” said Mike Murphy, associate athletic director of marketing and communications for UNH. “It’s a real fun time to be out on a college campus and experience what UNH sports are all about.”
New sporting events such as esports (short for electronic sports) have cropped up in recent years for schools to battle each other in various multiplayer video games. Games between schools and tournaments are not usually held in person but can be streamed online via Twitch. To view esports schedules and stream games for SNHU, visit twitch.tv/snhuesports, and for NEC, visit twitch.tv/necesports.
Katelyn Sahagian, Amy Diaz and Matt Ingersoll contributed to this story.
Southern New Hampshire University
Regular season games for Penmen teams on campus are free to attend. See snhupenmen.com
Ice hockey The SNHU Penmen hold home games at the Ice Den Arena (600 Quality Drive, Hooksett). • Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Post University • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 1:40 p.m. vs. Tufts University
Men’s basketball SNHU holds home games at the Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Saturday, Dec. 31, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Assumption University
Women’s basketball SNHU holds home games at the Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. vs. Dominican University of New York • Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Friday, Dec. 9, 5:30 at p.m. vs. Post University • Sunday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Dec. 31, at 1:30 p.m. vs. Assumption University
Women’s field hockey SNHU holds home games at the Dr. George J. Larkin Field (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. vs. Mercy College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. University of New Haven • Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. vs. St. Michael’s College • Saturday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College • Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. vs. American International College
Men’s soccer SNHU holds home games at Penmen Stadium (Victory Lane, Hooksett) • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. vs. American International College
Women’s soccer SNHU holds home games at Penmen Stadium (Victory Lane, Hooksett) • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. vs. The College of Saint Rose • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. vs. University of New Haven • Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. vs. Pace University
Women’s volleyball SNHU holds home games at the Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. American International College • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. vs. Le Moyne College • Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. vs. The College of St. Rose
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Men’s baseball The season typically runs from February or early March through early June. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Women’s softball The season typically runs from February or early March through early May. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Saint Anselm College
Tickets for Saint Anselm Hawks sporting events are $10 each and available online or at the door. For more information, visit saintanselmhawks.com. Stay tuned for announcements regarding their basketball seasons for the year.
Men’s football Saint Anselm hosts its football games at Grappone Stadium (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Nov. 5, at noon vs. Assumption University
Men’s ice hockey Saint Anselm hosts its hockey games at the Sullivan Arena (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. vs. University of Southern Maine • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. vs. Assumption University • Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University
Men’s basketball Saint Anselm hosts its basketball games at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road, Manchester). • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. vs. Jefferson University • Monday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. vs. University of Bridgeport
Women’s basketball Saint Anselm hosts its basketball games at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road, Manchester). • Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University • Sunday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. vs. Dominican College • Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Friday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Le Moyne College • Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Sunday, Dec. 18, at noon vs. Daemen University
Women’s field hockey Saint Anselm hosts its field hockey games at Grappone Stadium (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University • Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. vs. Molloy College • Monday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. vs. Assumption University • Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University
Women’s ice hockey Saint Anselm hosts its hockey games at the Sullivan Arena (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Friday, Oct. 7, at 3 p.m. vs. Quinnipiac University • Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart University • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 3 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart University • Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. vs. Long Island University • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. vs. Long Island University • Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. vs. Stonehill College • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. vs. Dartmouth College • Saturday, Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. vs. Merrimack College
Men’s soccer Saint Anselm hosts its soccer games at Melucci Field (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at noon vs. Adelphi University • Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University
Women’s soccer Saint Anselm hosts its soccer games at Melucci Field (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. vs. American International College • Saturday, Oct. 15, at noon vs. Adelphi University • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Rivier University
Tickets to Rivier Raiders events cost $3 for adults (free for children). See rivierathletics.com.
Men’s ice hockey Hockey games take place at the Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua). • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. vs. SUNY Canton • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:10 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University • Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. SUNY Morrisville • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. vs. Framingham State University • Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7:10 p.m. vs. Westfield State University
Women’s ice hockey Hockey games take place at the Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua). • Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. vs. Curry College • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3:40 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 6:20 p.m. vs. Assumption University
Men’s basketball Basketball games take place at the Muldoon Fitness Center (440 Main St., Nashua). • Thursday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. vs. Lesley University • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Plymouth State University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. vs. UMass Boston • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. vs. Dean College • Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. vs. Norwich University
Women’s basketball Basketball games take place at the Muldoon Fitness Center (440 Main St., Nashua). • Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. vs. Framingham State University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Dean College • Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. vs. Norwich University
Men’s soccer Soccer games take place at Joanne Merrill Field (420 S. Main St., Nashua). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. vs. Anna Maria College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 3:30 p.m. vs. University of St. Joseph • Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m. vs. University of Maine at Presque Isle • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Lasell University
Women’s soccer Soccer games take place at Joanne Merrill Field (420 S. Main St., Nashua). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Albertus Magnus College • Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Emmanuel College • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. vs. Lasell University
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April or early May. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
New England College
Visit athletics.nec.edu for details on New England College Pilgrims teams.
Men’s ice hockey Hockey games take place inside the Lee Clement Arena (38 Grove St., Henniker). • Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. vs. Stonehill College • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. vs. Skidmore College • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. vs. Castleton University • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Anna Maria College • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4:40 p.m. vs. UMass Dartmouth
Women’s ice hockey Hockey games take place inside the Lee Clement Arena (38 Grove St., Henniker). • Friday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. vs. Neumann University • Friday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m., vs. UMass Boston • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. vs. Worcester State University • Friday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. vs. University of Southern Maine • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. vs. Salem State University • Friday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m. vs. Chatham University
Men’s basketball Basketball games take place inside the Bridges Gym (14 Grove St., Henniker). • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. vs. Lasell University • Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. vs. Clark University • Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. vs. Rivier University • Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Colby-Sawyer College
Women’s basketball Basketball games take place inside the Bridges Gym (14 Grove St., Henniker). • Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Husson University • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. vs. NVU Johnson • Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Westfield State University • Thursday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Plymouth State University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Mount Holyoke College
Men’s rugby Rugby games take place at Laurie Cox Memorial Field (121 Western Ave., Henniker). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. Merrimack College • Saturday, Oct. 29, vs. Curry College; time TBA
Women’s field hockey Field hockey games take place at New England College’s Field House (64 Grove St., Henniker). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at noon vs. University of Maine Farmington • Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. vs. Husson University • Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. vs. Thomas College
Men’s wrestling • Friday, Dec. 2 (time TBA) and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 9 a.m., New Standard Corporation Invitational (location TBA)
Women’s rugby No more home games remain for the 2022 season. Check back on the website for updates.
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April or early May. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
University of New Hampshire
Wildcats hockey home games take place at the Whittemore Center Arena (128 Main St., Durham), while football, soccer and lacrosse games all take place at Wildcat Stadium (155 Main St.). Basketball games take place inside the school’s Lundholm Gymnasium. Tickets vary in priceby sport. To reserve tickets for games, visit unh.edu.
Football • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Stony Brook University • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. Elon University • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. vs. University of Rhode Island
Men’s hockey • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Boston College • Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. vs. Army at West Point • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Harvard University • Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. UMass Amherst • Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. vs. Boston University
Women’s hockey • Friday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. vs. Boston University • Friday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. vs. Providence College • Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. vs. College of the Holy Cross • Friday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. vs. Northeastern University • Friday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. vs. Merrimack College • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. vs. Boston College • Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. vs. UConn
Men’s basketball • Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Brandeis University • Sunday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. vs. Boston University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart University • Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. vs. St. Joseph’s College of Maine • Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. vs. College of the Holy Cross
Women’s basketball • Monday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. vs. Colby-Sawyer College • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. vs. Northeastern University • Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. vs. Boston University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Stonehill College • Monday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. vs. Wagner College
Play on
Amateur sports offer just as much fun as professional sports
With the advent of fall comes the beginning of several competitive sports seasons. Basketball, football and soccer games, as well as baseball playoffs, will consume fans’ attention. But while these most popular sports have plenty of spectators, there are other sports that are growing in New Hampshire. One of those sports is roller derby.
New Hampshire Roller Derby game play. Photo by Todd Grzywacz.
“[It] started out as the [World Wrestling Entertainment] of women’s contact sports,” said Lily Fritz, a member of the Concord-based Granite State Roller Derby, who has been playing the sport for 10 years. “It was an overly exaggerated production.”
Fritz got her start playing roller derby in California after watching a bout. She said that after the event, she got to talking to some of the players.
When Fritz said she wanted to start, one of the players brushed her off, implying that Fritz’s short stature and slight build would make her a bad player. It was those words, she said, that motivated her to be involved even more.
When Fritz started in 2012, roller derby was still a somewhat cliquey experience, she recalls. But today, she said, the sport is anything but; it’s more inclusive than it’s ever been. There are groups including transgender and nonbinary players as well as co-ed teams, men’s teams and youth teams.
“There’s no judgment,” Fritz said. “You come in [how] you are … and let everything go when you’re out on the track.”
Fritz, whose derby name is “Nor’Eastah,” started playing in Boston but later moved to the West Coast and kept at the sport. In California, she said, it’s hard to visit any town and not find at least one bout going on.
While roller derby is not that pervasive in New Hampshire, it has been around here for a couple decades, and it’s growing in popularity thanks to organizations like Granite State Roller Derby and the Manchester-based New Hampshire Roller Derby.
Jena McClary — known as “Pixie Bruiser” with the New Hampshire Roller Derby — met her husband through roller derby. McClary has been playing for 15 years.
“It’s not just a hobby anymore. It’s become a part of my life,” said McClary, adding that her husband and stepchildren also play, the family always heading out to practice or play in bouts. “Every weekend is something derby.”
McClary said that back in the 1970s and ’80s roller derby was more like professional wrestling as a sport. Often the action would be for show and there would be a predetermined winner. Now the sport has official rules, hits and scoring.
According to Fritz, the goal of a team is for their jammer to lap the blockers and jammer on the other team. Fritz is a jammer on her team and said that it’s common for her to get hit hard, but that’s one of her favorite parts of playing.
McClary advises people new to the sport to do some research. There’s a lot of action at a fast pace; she said it can get confusing for people who are new. Today’s roller derby is “based on the old roller derby of the ’70s when that was popular,” she said, “but they took basics from that and turned it into a real sport,”
“Watch some YouTube videos before you head out,” McClary said.
Fritz said a good way to learn the sport is to talk with players when teams go out for beers and pizza or burgers after a bout.
Another sport in its popularity infancy in New Hampshire is boxing. Julio Peña runs the only golden gloves boxing gym in the state, Thrive Boxing & Martial Arts Center, in Londonderry.
Peña said that he’s one of the few people running any type of boxing shows in the state. His first show, five years ago, was a struggle to get off the ground.
But since then Peña has hosted shows with amateur teens and adults as well as semi-professional matches. One of his students, Jaydell Pazmino, who won his weight class in the New England Golden Gloves competition in 2020, has decided to become a professional.
“Jaydell started his career and in his mind he wants to be a world champ. He came to me when he was 15, and he just turned 21 and has won pretty much everything in New England,” said Peña, adding that the matches are better between amateurs because they are passionate about the sport.
While boxers will throw punches to win rounds, there are strict rules in place to protect a fighter during a match. According to the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, boxers will be penalized for intentionally or unintentionally injuring their opponents, and if a match is stopped after the fourth round, the boxer causing the foul will be declared the loser of the match.
Peña said that he wants people to realize that boxing isn’t just about fighting, throwing punches, and knocking heads together. He believes the sport teaches discipline, respect and confidence.
“Sometimes people look at boxing as some low type of sport where you’re just doing violence,” Peña said. “It’s way more than that. The more you know in boxing, the less you fight in the street. Your level of self-confidence goes up because you don’t have to prove anything anymore.”
Pick your team
Find a local team to cheer on at these area amateur sports. Know of a sport that welcomes a cheering crowd not mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected].
Basketball • New England Sports Center’s Men’s Basketball League Where: 7 A St., Derry When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 11 p.m. Visit: nesportscenter.com
Bowling • My Social Sports Co-Ed Bowling League Where: Yankee Lanes, 216 Maple St., Manchester When: Mondays; games typically start at either 7 or 8 p.m. Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Boxing • Thrive Boxing & Martial Arts Center Where: 109 Hillside Ave, Unit J, Londonderry When: An amateur night match is coming up at the end of October. More information about it will be posted on the website closer to the event. Visit: thriveboxinggym.com
Cornhole • Manchester Sports and Social Club Cornhole League Where: Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with match start times from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com
• My Social Sports Cornhole League Where: Chunky’s Cinema & Pub, 707 Huse Road, Manchester When: Tuesdays, starting at 6:30 p.m. Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Football • New England Sports Center’s Men’s Flag Football League Where: 7 A St., Derry When: Sundays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit: nesportscenter.com
Hockey • Power Play Hockey Southern New Hampshire Men’s League Where: Locations vary; see website for full schedule When: Games vary throughout the week, with the regular season running through December Visit: powerphockey.com • Power Play Hockey New Hampshire Women’s League Where: Locations vary; see website for full schedule When: The season ended in August. The 2023 season will start next May. Visit: powerphockey.com
Kickball • Manchester Sports and Social Club Kickball League Where: Brown & Mitchell Field, 229 W. Mitchell St., Manchester When: Wednesdays; games start at either 7 or 8 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com
• My Social Sports Co-Ed Kickball League Where: New Hampshire Sportsdome, 10A Tower Lane, Goffstown When: Tuesdays starting at 6 p.m. Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Roller Derby • Granite State Roller Derby Where: Douglas N. Everett Arena, 15 Loudon Road, Concord When: Right now, the team is holding rookie training. The roller derby season starts in April. Visit: granitestaterollerderby.org • New Hampshire Roller Derby When: Contact the team through the form on the website. Right now, the team is not having any bouts. The roller derby season starts in the spring Visit: nhrollerderby.com
Soccer • New England Sports Center Co-Ed Soccer Where: 7 A St., Derry When: Thursdays, 6 to 11 p.m. Visit: nesportscenter.com
Softball • Manchester Sports and Social Club Softball League Where: New Hampshire Sportsdome, 10A Tower Lane, Goffstown When: Thursdays, game start times are between 7 and 8 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com • My Social Sports Co-Ed Softball League Where: West Junior Deb Field, 1 Electric St., Manchester When: Mondays; times TBA Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Volleyball • Manchester Sports and Social Club Volleyball League Where: New Hampshire Sportsplex, 68 Technology Drive, Bedford When: Wednesdays; game start times are between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com
