BY IAN THORPE
With the curling season now finished, we used this space two weeks ago to credit top men’s teams. So we’ll look to the ladies this week and catch up on year-end awards.
The pros wrapped up their season with the final Grand Slam of Curling event, held this year in Calgary. There, the Ottawa foursome skipped by Rachel Homan edged Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson 7-6 in the final, successfully defending their Champions Cup title. After a major disappointment at the Olympic Games, it was a strong finish to the year for the Homan team.
Locally, top teams from the Nanaimo Curling Club’s ladies’ leagues were recognized at a year-end banquet recently. My thanks first of all to women’s division secretary-treasurer Jessie Whittam for passing along news from the awards night.
In the Monday night league, the top team in the first square of competition was that of Kesa Van Osch, Kalia Van Osch, Marika Van Osch, Cindy Van Osch and Megan Blake. Runners-up were Gloria Palinkas, Teri Palinchuk, Debbie Pulak and Linda Torgerson. The results were reversed in the second square, with the Palinkas team finishing first and the Van Osch squad second. In the third square, the Van Osch team finished first and second place went to Zorka Smith and her team of Wanda Cullen, Kelsey Blake, Monica McKinnon and Genya Stevens. Receiving the Able Recognition Trophy based on total points for the entire season was the Van Osch team, while the Palinkas team took home the P&P Plumbing Trophy as aggregate runners-up.
From the Tuesday Alina Abbott Images Business Women’s League, top team in the round robin portion of the season was that of Capri Koster, Noreen Martin, Heather Chase and Janelle Michell. During the season, the Koster team also accomplished the rare feat of scoring an eight-ender. Runners-up in the round robin were skip Ruth Thorpe and her teammates Carol Ramey, Patricia Stapleton and Naomi Adams. Taking third place was the entry of Teri Palynchuk, Donna Gannon, Jodi Crawford, Kari Negrin and Jody Bath. Winners of a wind-up square were Susan Chepil, Joan Hall, Evelyn Aines and Kim Aines, with second place going to Maria Guldbransen, Kelsey Brown, Shannon Frith and Jessica Pyett. The Island Curb Appeal Painting Trophy as league aggregate winners was awarded to the Guldbransen team, while the Chepil foursome received the Baker Supply Trophy as aggregate runners-up.
Turning to the Thursday Afternoon Ladies’ League, the top team this past season consisted of skip Heather Lindsay-Lecuyer and her teammates Angela Wood, Sharon Wright, Lois Russell and Carol Dorman. The Lindsay-Lecuyer group were winners of the round robin portion of the season, won the first A square competition, tied as top team in the second A square and also claimed the overall aggregate league title. Placing second in aggregate points, receiving the Island Timberlands Trophy, were Leslie Shearer, Lorraine Jeffries, Susie Grundison and Billie Chang. The Shearer foursome also tied with Lindsay-Lecuyer for top spot in the second A square. Also recognized was the team of Pat Merkel, Bobbie Mawdsley and Cate Barrett for winning the first B square and the team of Mary-Ellen Konyer, Moira Ryan, Karen Hungar and Maureen Pearse for finishing first in the second B square.
This season’s Ladies’ Club Championship was won by the team of skip Teri Palynchuk, third Debbie Pulak, second Darcy Dreger and lead Linda Torgerson. An excellent final featured four blanked ends before Palynchuk emerged with a 3-1 victory over runners-up Lindsay-Lecuyer, Wood, Wright, Russell and Dorman.
For previously published men’s league winners, follow this link.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
