BY IAN THORPE
It’s a final look back to local curling this week, catching up on year-end awards from senior and mixed leagues…
At the senior men’s 55-plus year-end banquet, a number of trophies were handed out for competition through the year. The season was divided into four squares, with new teams drawn from the hat for each square. From the first round of play, winner of the Nanaimo Chrysler Trophy was Darryl Graham along with teammates Rick Kerley, Wes Betz and Hiroshi Kawaguchi. The Branch 256 Legion Trophy went to skip Phil Chase and his team of Jim Boutillier, Ralph Webster and John Fisher.
Second square winners of the Royal LePage Trophy were Don Boudot, Dan Lutz, Wes Betz and Dan Hooper. The Joe Boudot Trophy was claimed by the combined entry of Ron Kulai, Bob Davies, Cliff King, Bill Boyko and Glen McCord.
The Howie Christopherson Trophy from third square was presented to skip Kyle Clifford and his team of Nic Rvachew, Wes Betz and Jim Patrick. Winners of the Mark’s Import Auto Trophy were Larry Oleskiw, Wayne Sutherland, Keith Cameron and McCord.
From the fourth square of competition, the Christensen Collision Trophy went to the team of Bob Larsen, George Duffell, Bernie Waatainen, Bernie Smith and Doug Hammermeister.
The senior men also operated a 16-team league for stick curlers playing two-aside, sponsored by Berwick on the Lake. From the first portion of the season, the top team was King and Brian Scorer, along with spare Jim Bond. The second square of play was won by the team of King and Merv Osler.
Also at the awards night, outgoing president Muir Meredith presented a special longevity award to Dave Scobie, still active in the stick league after starting to curl in 1959. As well, Barry Sparkes received the John Anderson Award in recognition of his contributions to the league.
In the Mid-Island Co-Op seniors’ rink of choice league this season, league champions were the team of Bob Chlan, Frank Voysey, Darryl Graham and Bob Franklin. League coordinator Mike Leduc reports that the Chlan foursome went undefeated in league play with a record of 14-0. Second place in league standings went to Ferdy Hobson, Kulai, Jim Forrester and Vic Brice.
Turning to mixed curling results, Tom and Janice Stromar were coordinators for the IG Wealth Management Friday Mixed League. Winners of the A square competition on the year were skip Mike Kenefick and his team of Michelle Plamondon, Dennis Plamondon and Elaine Cloutier. Second in A square went to the entry consisting of Dwain Black, Lorna Black, Paul Konyer, Mary Ellen Konyer, Dave Wright and Sharon Wright. In B square, top team was that of Kevin Franklin, Doreen Johnson, Dorina Medland and Larry Dudek. Second place was claimed by April Gale-Seixerio, Steve Seixeiro, Susan Chepil and Spencer Leakey.
From the Berwick Senior Open Mixed League, Pat Meehan sends word that the first square of the season was won by Fred Carter, Darlene Schofield, Don Mounce and Sonja Billard, with second place going to Don Hay, Sallie Atkinson, Marla Barnes and Adrian Hewitt. The second square resulted in a title for skip Don Varney and his teammates Bernie Craig, Marla Barnes and Steen Petersen. Runners-up were Boudot, Sheila Barrass, Gilles Parenteau and Neil McFarlane.
Attention now turns to planning for next season. To that end, the Nanaimo Curling Centre’s annual general meeting and election of officers will be held June 12 at 7 p.m. at the club.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.