[caption id="attachment_2381" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Team Holmblad: Dave Longbreak, Fred Mackintosh, Doc Holmblad, Phil Falconer, Dan Navratil"][/caption]

Congratulations to Team Holmblad who competed for the Gordon International Medal March 15th and 16th and helped the US take the prize - US gained 369 points over Canada's 324. This event pits 20 American teams (2 games per team) and 40 Canadian teams (one game per team) against each other for the coveted Gordon Medal. This event is hosted every other year in Canada and the USA with it being held at various clubs in the Montreal area this year. The outcome of the match is determined by the total number of stones scored by each side in the two Gordon medal games. Over the years the Canadians have won this event almost 4 times as many times as the US but not this year!

SCC was represented by five man team Doc Holmblad, Fred Mackintosh, Phil Falconer, Dave Longbreak and Dan Navratil. Team Holmblad won an award for the two highest scores during the “friendly” matches that took place on the 15th. Their stones during the competitive matches on Saturday helped nudge the US to victory in this event.

This is a very historic event. On January 25th 1884, Mr Robert Gordon of New York City presented a handsome gold medal to the curlers of the United States and Canada to be played for in an annual competition. The first match for the Medal was played in Montreal on February 8th 1884 and was won by the Milwaukee Curling Club. The first match in the United States (as it was decided to alternate between having the event in Canada and the US) was at the Albany City Curling Club on February 22nd, 1890. Records indicate that over the 117 year period, matches were postponed due to smallpox, lack of ice and wars.

The actual format changes based on the venue. When the medal is played for in the US there are usually 20 Canadian teams and 20 American teams playing two 10 end games. When the medal is played for in Canada there are usually 40 Canadian teams playing 1 game and 20 American teams playing 2 games. (This was the format for 2013.) The outcome is determined by the total number of stones scored by each country in the two games.

In addition to the Gordon International Medal there are other competitions played for at the same time. The Add Hastings International Bowl is awarded to the rink (on either the US or Canada side) that has the largest score in any single game during the Gordon International Medal competitive games. In addition to the competitive matches for the Gordon International there are also “Friendly” matches that take place the day prior. The team with the three highest scoring games win the James C Stevens Memorial Shield. In addition, teams with the two highest scoring games receives an award, and this is what Team Holmblad won this year.

We were so proud that Team Holmblad was part of this historic event!

[caption id="attachment_2376" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="8th Event Winners: Dean Wadland, Mike Stefanik, Charlie Brown, Rob Klees"][/caption]

Congratulations to SCC’s Team Wadland in winning the 8th Event at the Alexander Keith’s City of Ottawa Bonspiel which was held in clubs around Ottawa March 13th through 17th. This huge event took place among fourteen clubs with 128 rinks participating. Dean Wadland led his rink of Mike Stefanik, Rob Klees, and Charlie Brown to victory over Team Jamieson of Metcalfe in the 8th Event finals on Sunday. Wadland ended with a record of 7-2 after playing games in Navy, Rideau, Manotick, Carleton Heights, Ottawa Curling Club, RA Centre and Ottawa Hunt.

This was the first time both Wadland and Klees played in this event with Stefanik and Brown attending previously. Overall, all of the matches were very tight and well curled. Team Wadland battled against teams from Shawville, Pointe Claire, Peterborough and then the Ottawa area. Every one of them were great competitors and a lot of fun off the ice.

There were three other SCC teams who made the trek up to Ottawa including:

Team Brooks: Tim Brooks, Dan Machold, Ted Kreutz (of Plainfield), Jim Jordan
Team Fitzgerald: Pat Fitzgerald, Art Merkely, Kirk Wallace, Jeff Mayott
Team Rzonca: Marek Rzonca, Dion Warr, Dave Hooper, Jeff Muha

And with 128 teams involved…amazingly Team Brooks and Team Rzonca played each other! (Brooks prevailed)

Congratulations Team Wadland!

[caption id="attachment_2357" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="2013 Childs D Event Winners: Christina Hall, Peggy O'Connor, Laura Dolins, Amy Machold"][/caption]

Congratulations to SCC’s Team Hall for winning the Shelley Dropkin (D event) Event at the GNCC Childs Challenge Bonspiel. This event, for women with 5 years curling experience or less, is named in honor of Elisabeth Childs and was held at the Rochester Curling Club March 15th through 17th 2013. 2nd Year Curler Christina Hall led her team of Peggy O'Connor, Laura Dolins, and Amy Machold to an 11-0 victory over Potomac 1 in the D Event finals. Hall ended with an notable record of 3-2. Team Hall battled teams from Albany, Chesapeake, Ardsley and two from Potomac during their path to D Event victory!

Nicole Ladopoulos also led a rink of Sara Marchand, Mary-Sue Reed, and Roberta Feiden at this highly anticipated yearly event. This year the Childs drew a field of 21 contenders from clubs all throughout the GNCC.

Worth noting, Christina Hall and Peggy O’Connor were also on the Kayser Bonspiel (Mixed 5 and Under) winning team this year (Team Klees). Very impressive ladies! Do you need help carrying around all that bling?

Great job Team Hall!