Last week was a full one for local curlers, with the Canadian men’s championship to watch on television and two bonspiels happening at the Nanaimo Curling Centre.
This year’s Brier wrapped up on Sunday after a full week of competition in Kamloops. In the final, the Alberta team skipped by Kevin Koe was just too good for John Morris, Jim Cotter and their rink representing British Columbia. Thanks to his 10-5 victory, Koe now advances to the world men’s championships starting March 29 in Beijing.
Meanwhile, the Canadian women’s championship team skipped by Rachel Homan will begin play this coming Saturday at the world women’s event in St. John, N.B.
Locally, last Monday through Wednesday at the Nanaimo club featured the annual Senior Ladies’ 50-plus Bonspiel. The competition had originally been planned for the previous week, but our late snowfall caused a hasty rescheduling by organizer Anne Marie Powell and her committee of Sallie Atkinson, Joanne Whiting, Norma Bewley and Penny Crossen. By all accounts, the 14 local teams that took part enjoyed themselves and had some fun with the comic book characters theme.
When the competition concluded, top team in the A event was that of skip Shirley Sloan, third Karen Hungar, second Moira Ryan and lead Sharon Wright. Second place went to skip Yvonne Wenaus and her teammates Liz Fraser, Judy Jones and Lovera Hawtin.
In B event, the winning team was skip Jill McGlenen, third Sharon Luttrell, second Carol Tromans and lead Lois Powell. Runners-up were the foursome of Kelly Meikle, Sandra Ostle, Kelly Mayer and Brenda Chaplin.
Tops in C event was the combination of Linda Olsen, Carolle MacIntosh, Penny Crossen and Corinne Jensen, with second place going to skip Sallie Atkinson and her team of Anne Marie Powell, Barbara Cox and Gayle Campbell.
Winners of the bonspiel’s D event were skip Joanne Phillips, third Marlene Griff, second Patty Pedersen and lead Susan Barber. In second place came the team of Ann McKenzie, Joan Hall, Susan Lobregt and Sylvia Johnson.
Last Thursday through Saturday at the curling club, pairs of senior curlers competed in a successful Stick Rules Bonspiel sponsored by Berwick on the Lake. Each team consisted of just two people, at least one of whom had to use a delivery stick when throwing their rocks. Bob Davies, Ron Kaneen and their helpers oversaw the unique event, which had 26 teams take part.
The pairing of Archie McIntosh and Roy Richmond claimed first place in the A event. In second place were Doug Wright and Don Boudot.
In the bonspiel’s C event, first place went to the Nanaimo team of Bob Franklin and Eric McKean. Runners-up were Nori Nishio and Joe Fort.
Nanaimo’s Wally Funk and Jake McGlenen placed second in D event.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
Ian Thorpe writes about sports Thursdays.
