The ice won’t be put in again until September, but it’s already time to start planning for the upcoming local curling season.
Nanaimo Curling Club president Tom Weinreich has announced that the organization’s annual general meeting is happening this Thursday, June 19, at the curling centre. All members are encouraged to attend and be part of the club’s future.
That said, we catch up now on some year-end highlights from the past curling season. As leagues concluded, award ceremonies saw a number of rinks recognized…
We’ll start with the Tuesday men’s league sponsored by Aarsen Gutters. Coordinator Brendon Plamondon reports that the league championship title was earned by the foursome of Keith Clarke, Darrell Knowles, Greg Norby and Bob Franklin. In second place came Jason White along with teammates Brandon Plamondon, Nick Mangano and Shawn Syring.
The Thursday men’s league was sponsored by Best on Top Roofing. My thanks to Paul Konyer for sending word that A division winners were skip Bob Cavezza and his team of Louis Cavezza, Tom Weinreich and Gary Howk. Runners-up were Ron Thompson, Kyle Habkirk, Steve Franklin and Owen Thompson. Claiming the B division title was Tony Steel, Rod Hanson, Travis Fritz and Lincoln Silk, with Trevor Dawydiuk, Karmen Yee, Don Putz, Matt Coulter and Thomas Nowak in second.
League volunteers Mike Carson and Ferdy Hobson passed along results from the men’s Sunday Hangover League, which closed out the season with a wind-up competition. Capturing the A division championship were skip Mac Pawliuk and teammates Tanner McQuarrie, Euan Wilson, Russ Pawliuk and George Acheson. B division winners were Neil Schott, Chris Nichol, Blair Schott, Mike Carson and Mike Kenefick. The C division title went to the entry of skip Ferdy Hobson together with Rod Edgeworthy, Jimmy Reynolds and Bill Porter. A special Outstanding Sportsman Award was presented to Rob Mitchell.
In other year-end results, Gary Nobel, Linda Nobel, Warren Paugh and Carla Montrose were declared the first-half winners of the Wednesday mixed league. Second-half champs were Joe Pugh, Katrina Barnes, Karen McDonald and Hans Lehrke. Meanwhile, winners of both the first and second sessions of a Sunday open triples league were Gloria Palinkas, Neil McFarlane and Colleen Leslie.
Turning to ladies’ leagues, coordinator Marla Guldbransen reports that the Tuesday Business League title along with the sponsor Baker Supply Trophy were awarded to skip Teri Palynchuk and her teammates Janice Stromar, Jodi Crawford, Kari Negrin and Donna Gannon. Runners-up were Anita Thomas, Diana Baker, Eleanor Voysey, Suzanna Lobregt, Amber Neuman-Brochez and Michelle Plamondon. Of special note this season was a rare eight-ender recorded by skip Ruth Thorpe and her team of Patty Rosacker, E.T. Mitton and Alina Abbott.
The Ladies Cottonwood Curling League competed on Thursdays, co-ordinated by Paula Ainsley. Winners of the Cottonwood Gold Trophy was the team of Pat Merkel, Cat Barratt, Joan Hall and April Mathers. Winners of the P&P Plumbing Trophy as league runners-up were skip Lorraine Jeffries together with Heather Lindsay Lecuyer, E.T. Mitton and Ruth Thorpe. Jeffries’s team also won the second round-robin portion of the season, while the Merkel team won the first round-robin.
From the NCC’s active junior program, congratulations to Dean Kuebris and Layton Schaffers for receiving year-end Most Improvement Awards and to Brody Knight and Grady Work for earning Most Sportsmanlike Awards.
And finally, a tip of the curling cap to Ferdy Hobson and Jim Beecroft, who teamed up to win the Pacific Coast Masters Curling Association stick curling title in year-end playdowns.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
