Ross Tarlton International, November 9-10
The Schenectady team of skip Dr. Jim Holmblad with Jon Pearson, Ed Kennelly, and Phil Falconer attended the Ross Tarlton International Bonspiel which was hosted at the Utica Curling Club in Whitesboro, NY on November 9 and 10, 2012.
The Ross Tarlton started in the 1960's and is an annual competition between the Grand National Curling Club (our regional organization) and the Ontario Curling Association. 16 teams represent each group and the host site alternates between the U.S. and Ontario. After four 6-end games, total stones scored for each association are counted. This year, Ontario captured the Ross Tarlton Shield with a score of 380 to 304.
Team Holmblad broke even with 2 wins, 1 tie, and 1 loss recorded. Next year's tournament will be held in Guelph, Onatrio.
North Key Construction Men's Open, November 9-11
Dean Wadland (skip), Jack Stopera, Mike Stefanik, and Brian Damon travelled to the Napanee and District Curling Club in Napanee, ON, to compete in the North Key Construction Men's Open. This event is on the Ontario Curling Tour and had 24 teams with $10,000 in prizes.
Team Wadland finished the event with a 0-3 record and used this as practice before competing together in the GNCC Club National Playdowns from December 6-9 at The Country Club in Brookline, MA.
Mount Lawn Gord Carroll Classic, November 1-4
Brian Damon and Mike Stefanik played in this cash event (the purse was $23,000 Canadian) with Chuck Skinner and Scott Parmelee. This team previously played together in the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard in Toronto, ON during the first weekend of October.
The Mount Lawn Gord Carroll Classic was part of the Ontario Curling Tour (OCT) and was hosted by the Whitby Curling Club, a 6 sheet facility located in Whitby, ON. The event had 31 teams in the men's event including famous names like reigning World Champion Glenn Howard, current U.S. Champion Heath McCormick and Niklas Edin's rink from Sweden, who Team Damon lost to in their first game.
Despite losing all three games, the team made the games close and they gained valuable experience played against some of the top rated teams today. The overall winner of the event has Team Howard who defeated Mark Kean's rink 6-3 in the final.
Team Damon attended this event as part of their season schedule to prepare for the U.S National Mens Challenge Round to be held January 2-6, 2013 in Hibbing, MN. You can see their game results at the event online.
40th Annual Jackie Caron Bonspiel, November 1-4
Nancy Wurth was a B event finalist in the 40th Annual Jackie Caron Bonspiel (women's spiel) at the Jacques Cartier Curling Club in Quebec City, Quebec. Her teammates were skip Elaine deRyk of Otterburn Memorial Legion CC, second Debra Ann Gorman out of Jacques Cartier CC, and lead Susan Reisenberg, who called the games, of Town of Mount Royal CC. They lost the final lost to a solid Dominion (provincial club championship) team from Sherbrooke. Instead of having pins, this bonspiel awards art objects and jewelry to the winners and finalists, so Nancy received a beautiful hand made wood and stone sculpture of a duck.
32 teams competed this year from 17 different clubs. Usually only 24 teams play but since because it was the 40th anniversary the field was increased. This was Nancy's 5th trip to this bonspiel, having won the first event and making a final each year in one of the four events. She said that this was a great spiel in a great city! Here are the full results.
Mixed Doubles Bonspiel, October 26-28
Jack Stopera and Nancy Wurth competed in the 6th Annual Mixed Doubles Bonspiel held at the Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland, MA. They were C event finalists in a close 5-4 game (8 ends) against the host club's Karen Kan and Adam Jacobson.
Together Jack and Nancy have been A event finalists and D event winners in prior seasons. Fred Mackintosh and Nancy won the B event in 2010.
