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Ben Crawford, 11, of Catasauqua, gives Puttle
a bowling/golf hybrid a whirl at SportsFest.
Photo by Steve AndresBy STEVE ANDRES
Special to Lehigh Valley Source
Allentown, Pa.--For those who yearn for a little variety on their sports plate, Allentown SportsFest was the place to be July 16-19.
SportsFest, now in its 13th year, hosts 49 events with a wide range of activities for almost any sports fan. Where else can a scuba diver mingle with a kayaker or a martial artist? The walk down Cedar Beach featured a panoply of attractions that hearken to a day when activities such as barrel jumping and cliff diving were commonplace on Saturday afternoon TV. Sure, attendees were able to get their fill of traditional sports, such as basketball and volleyball, but the true flavor of SportsFest comes alive when spectators are treated to something unique, such as Puttle®.
Yes, Puttle. It’s fun to say and even more fun to do. Puttle is the brainchild of local inventor Ken Kleppert of Vera Cruz, who was struck by a bolt of inspiration while waiting for pictures to download. Art director of Armchair General magazine, Kleppert used the downtime to grab his putter and began to practice his stroke. When he glanced at a bookshelf and eyed his father’s bowling trophy, a bell went off, and the marriage of bowling and golf was born. Kleppert nurtured his idea and began the requisite work to get a patent. Meanwhile, he’s been introducing people to his sport through tournaments and online at iloveputtle.com, providing all would-be puttle enthusiasts a chance to become familiar with his creation.
As most of the mid-day crowd made its way to the basketball courts, Kleppert’s Puttle was like a respite from the drumbeats of team sports that have dominated the sporting landscape. At the Puttle area, kids were silently hovering over a golf ball trying to knock down three pins. It’s a game that incorporates a crucial aspect of golf, according to Kleppert.
“You learn the most important aspect of the game, which is putting,” said Kleppert.
Kleppert, who describes himself as an “average hacker golfer,” said that Puttle was first envisioned as an indoor activity but is adaptable to any environment. The 12-foot course can also be modified to fit a number of age groups and is scored like golf, with play consisting of varied numbered rounds according to preference. He also made the Puttle pins proportional to the golf ball, duplicating the bowling ball/bowling pin size ratio. He also knew that 10 pins would be too cumbersome and, therefore, settled on three, with the middle pin marked as the optimal prize.
Further up Cedar Beach, dogs took center stage as a number of breeds participated in the agility competition. The event features a series of jumps and tunnels that dogs must execute, while relying on their owners or handlers to guide the way. While some dogs probably possess a Zen-like focus while navigating the course, border collie EmmyLou wandered away every so often to enjoy a few scents along the track. Joyce Yaccarino, EmmyLou’s owner, says that she and EmmyLou simply like the exercise that the agility competition affords.
On the waterways, canoes and kayaks skirted across the surface as members of both the Lehigh Valley Canoe Club and Lehigh Valley Whitewater club offered boating demonstrations throughout the day.
On stage, dancers from Lehigh Valley Dance Alliance demonstrated a diverse mix of styles, under the watchful eye of their director, Jennifer Langensiepen. The organization’s goal is to unite dancers from multiple studios throughout the valley and to promote dance, said Langensiepen.
The man responsible for this assortment of sporting events is Raymond Atiyeh, who conceived the event in 1996 and serves as president and executive director. He has seen the event grow from a handful of sports to its present-day roster. He also oversees a small army of volunteers who help make the four-day event run smoothly over multiple locations across the Lehigh Valley.
Atiyeh originally saw SportsFest as a way to promote the city of Allentown. Coming from a business background, Atiyeh, who operates a printing company, saw the value of linking sports and commerce, with Allentown playing the role of host.
“A lot of ideas came to my mind, and this one [SportsFest] seemed like it would work,” said Atiyeh.
He proposed the idea to city leaders and was given the green light. What began as a way to highlight the city and its parks system has grown into a forum for athletes to showcase their ability, according to Atiyeh.
“When I can see all the smiling faces and people feeling good, that’s how I want it to be,” said Atiyeh. “And the appreciation from the athletes and the community also makes it worthwhile.”
Members of Dance Explosion kick off the dance
exhibition at SportsFest on Sunday afternoon. Members
include (left to right) Julie Rehrig, Chelsea Ritter,
Sara Callie, Alyssa Kresge, Marissa Kvacky, Abby
Guman, and Carly DeAngelo. The exhibition featured
a number of local dance groups, showcasing a wide
array of styles. Photo by Steve Andres
Joyce Yaccarino and her border collie, EmmyLou,
compete in the dog agility competition during the
final day of SportsFest. Photo by Steve Andres
Joseph Tedrow, 24, of Richmond, Va., channels his
inner “Arnold” as he competes in the log press during
the strongman competition. Athletes hoist a 220-pound
log above their head as often as possible in this
timed event. Photo by Steve Andres
Kelly Saylor of Daniel Boone High School unleashes a
corner jumper versus Northampton during Sunday
morning action at SportsFest. Photo by Steve Andres
Roller hockey was among the many team sports played
at this year’s SportsFest. Photo by Steve Andres
Fencers Ryan Gresh (left) of Warminster and Mark
Ritchie of Easton thrust and parry while engaged in
competition at SportsFest. Photo by Steve Andres
