Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Given the upsets and close encounters of this year’s Window Doctor Open Club Championship League playoffs, one almost expected all four of last Tuesday evening’s divisional finals to come down to the wire. True to form, the participating teams cooperated fully, providing “edge of your seat” action for all to enjoy!
Fittingly, the Club Championship (‘A’) battle, pitting Team Scott (Len Scott, Peter LeGallee, Denis Duchesne and Andy McMahon) against Team Monteith (Mark Monteith, Cyril Moss, Derek Stephens and Craig Pearce), turned out to be a last rock affair. Following an opening steal of one by Monteith, Scott rebounded with four points over the next two ends to lead 4-1. Not to be outdone, Monteith countered with five of his own to jump ahead 6-4 after five ends. With a score of two in the sixth, and a steal of another deuce in the seventh, Scott climbed back into an 8-6 lead entering the final frame. Lying one, but needing two to extend the match, Monteith’s attempted draw with his final stone slid just deep, resulting in an 8-7 victory and Club Championship title for Team Scott.
With Rotarians Clark Mitchell and John Kechnie curling overseas, Mike McCallum, Larry Creeden, Ross Dietrich and Bob Ernest faced off against a “modified” version of Team Mitchell in the ‘B’ final, with Jim Campbell (skip) and Jim Myers (second) joining regular members Roger Black and Jack Book. Campbell and company proved to be a significant challenge for eventual winner McCallum, blasting out of the gate to lead 3-0 after two ends. Following a McCallum score of four in the third, Campbell responded in kind over the succeeding two frames, only to have McCallum scramble back with five over the sixth and seventh to build a 9-7 lead coming home. With Team Campbell lying first and third, and their shot rock frozen to McCallum’s second shot, Campbell’s attempted tap on his own counter came up just short, sending the game to an extra end. With Campbell again lying shot, McCallum executed a perfect take out with his final stone to lock up an 11-9 victory.
The ‘C’ championship match between Team Bridges (Nancy Bridges, Melanie Hughes, Christine Hughes and Susan Rice) and Team Knight (Jerry Dillow, Elmer Dredge, Ron Knight and Marg Dillow) was one of the most intriguing contests of the evening. After surrendering an opening-end single, Bridges scored two in the second, then bordered on an eight-ender in the third, a situation avoided by Dillow’s last-rock draw which limited the damage to four. Dillow clawed back with four points over the next three ends to climb within one, with Bridges getting “back on the board” with a single in the seventh to lead by two entering the eighth. Despite Bridges’ attempt to play a clean final end, an opportunity to tie the game, in the form of a tough split for two, was available as the Team Knight skip settled in to throw his last rock. Unfortunately for Dillow, his attempted tap and roll over curled, securing a 7-6 ‘C’ title win for Team Bridges.
In the ‘D’ final, Hugh McDonald, Alex Robertson, Dave Nahrgang and Bob Hughes appeared to be in a stingy mood right from the first rock, yielding a mere single point to their five over the first six ends, then grabbing another four in the seventh to down Bob Callingham, Ray Black, Brian MacLachlan and Fred Knetsch 9-1.
Convenor Mike McCallum concluded a terrific evening by thanking statistician Megan Jentz, ice technician Todd Rau, the Club’s food and beverage staff, and the curlers for their contributions to another successful season.
SENIOR MEN
Jim Campbell successfully completed a “clean sweep” of the Senior Men’s competitive events at last Thursday’s league closing, adding the closing mini-spiel crown and top skip award to his list of accomplishments.
On the ice, eight five-player teams took part in two six-end games and a shoot-out, with Campbell, Bruce Crumback, Paul McCreadie, Tom Crozier and Ted Baxter defeating Pete James and Ross Dietrich to secure the Gord Adams Trophy as mini-spiel champions. Frank Kuttschrutter, Bob Neely, Bob McMullen, Roger Trites and Jim Hurley also picked up back-to-back wins to place a close second, with Ray Landry, Myron Rudiak, Peter Switzer, Bill Gerber and Chuck Richmond taking third, and Team Lewis (Barry Lewis, Dave Scott, Barrie Beech, Jeff Timmermans and Harry DeWys) topping all comers in the shoot-out.
Following play, the curlers and their guests enjoyed a wonderful buffet lunch, after which convenor Dave Hurley made a number of presentations. The Percy Way Trophy, for best performance by position, was awarded to Jim Campbell (skip), Bob McMullen, (vice), Henry Klooster (second) and Bryan Lapier (lead), while Barrie Beech and Phil Barnes were recognized as the most improved curlers in team play. Hurley concluded the proceedings by thanking mini-spiel organizers Barry Lewis and Myron Rudiak, Chef Kevin Hallman, and ice technician Todd Rau.
LEAGUE PLAY
Our Monday Ladies’ league wrapped up its season last week with a mini-spiel in which each of the four three-player teams played the other. By virtue of a draw to the button, Barb Dredge, Jane Killer and Sylvia Groenestege picked up first place honours, with Audrey Stares, Kathy McMahon and Karin Mussen placing second.
After suffering their first loss five games into Monday Men’s league third draw play, Tom Walden, Wayne Klooster, Dave Meldrum and George Schroeder “righted the ship” last week, shading Brian MacLachlan, Alex Robertson, Sandy Robertson and Calvin Jacobs 9-8 to clinch the draw title (10). Other final week results saw Ken Ketchum, Brent Webley, Bill Helmuth and Taylor Jantzi edge Tom Sainsbury 5-4 to vault into second (9), Jerry Dillow, Paul Siberry, Harry Farmer and Eric Bonn top Peter Roach 8-7 to grab a share of third with MacLachlan (8), and Ivan Buchan down Steve Rae 9-6.
The Wednesday Ladies’ league completed its final draw last week, with Marg Dillow, Kathy McMahon, Diane Mitchell and Kathleen Wyatt toppling Joan Neely, Lori Kirby, Wendy Anderson and Margaret Pryde in the championship final to grab the draw three hardware. Other games saw Sharon Eby shut down Melanie Hughes’ team, Jane Killer nip Adelinde Sacherow, and Nadine MacLachlan outscore Barb Dredge.
A small but enthusiastic group of Thursday Mixed league curlers took part in last week’s closing night, enjoying some game action then retiring to Bogey’s patio to enjoy some conversation and laughter on an unusually warm early spring evening.
Well, that about does it for this season’s columns. All the best for a great “off-season”!
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