BY IAN THORPE
The coming month will see another season of curling come to a close, both locally and on the international stage.
This week features the men’s world championships held in Edmonton, where Brad Gushue and his Newfoundland and Labrador team are representing Canada following their emotional win at the Brier. Then the professional curling tour will wrap up later in the month with events such as the Players’ Championship Grand Slam of Curling.
Locally, men’s and women’s league play has now finished at the Nanaimo Curling Centre on Wall Street. Closing out each season at NCC is traditionally the Sleeman Spring Fling Bonspiel. The open mixed competition was held this past weekend at the club, featuring 18 teams of experienced curlers competing in three events, together with a special novice event involving 12 teams of two experienced curlers paired with two novice players. A dinner banquet, dancing and costumes added to the bonspiel experience, as participants had fun with the ‘Celebrate Canada 150’ theme.
Convenor for the bonspiel was Wes Belloch, assisted by a team of volunteers including Linda Torgerson, Susan Chepil, Chris Vanzandwyk, Carol Grainger, Joanne Phillips, Carol Belloch and Pam Donnelly. Another main organizer was Margie Blackley and my thanks goes to her for passing along results…
The Johnston Franklin Bishop law firm sponsored the A event, with the Sunday final involving the only two undefeated teams to that point. In an all-Nanaimo match-up, skip Jim Newlands and his team of third Tracey Newlands, second Deb Pulak and lead Joe Pulak prevailed 7-6 over Bruce Feltham, Leslie Shearer, Doug Shearer and Angela Wood.
Third place in A went to the entry of Ian Cook, Nicole Backe, Jerry Roy and Marg Obee.
The final of B event, sponsored by Christensen Collision, resulted in a 9-5 victory for Terry Johnson, Glynis Davis, Bruce Carrington and Paula Craig over skip Bert Grzesiczek and his team of Tammy Keir, Chris Bates and Arlene Rolston.
Claiming third place in B was the entry of Dave Shortill, Heather Shortill, Rod Schneider and Heather Schneider.
It was a close final in C event, which was sponsored by Laird Wheaton. Nanaimo ice-makers Al Jensen and Darren Horton teamed to skip players Jessica Pyett, Marla Guldbransen and Shannon Kirth. They edged Mike Kenefick and his team of Teri Palynchuk, Bob Palynchuk and Elaine Cloutier by a 7-6 score.
Also in the C event prizes was the third-place team of Anita Chambers, Bob Franklin, Sandra Vardy and Willy Van Kemenade.
As for the novice division, sponsored by MacDonald Environmental Sciences, the final resulted in a 6-5 win for the entry of Dave Perpeluk, Noell Philp, Laura Perryman and Art Cantelon. Runners-up were Dan Bailey, Michalle Loree, Adam Coronica and Gavin Vickery. Earning third in the novice event was the foursome of Pat Merkel, Earle Plain, Mike Donnelly and Lydia Kames.
With local curling now basically finished, all that remains is year-end award banquets. We’ll pass along results from those in the weeks ahead.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.