Rivers pleased with response to curling championship
- Details
- Published on Thursday, January 14, 2016
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
It was two years ago that Les Wedderburn suggested to Rivers Curling Club members that they consider hosting the annual junior men’s and women’s provincial championship. A pitch was made to Curl Manitoba and the hosting request was granted; planning has been ongoing for more than a year. The big event was promoted as Jan. 6-10 at Riverdale Community Centre but it actually began Tuesday evening, Jan. 5 with a banquet for participants.
A total of 32 teams from 20 different clubs and seven regions throughout Manitoba curled for their chance to win the title. Round robin play began Wednesday morning at 8:30 with another game around noon and a third at 4 p.m. This allowed just enough time for a rushed supper break before all teams assembled for the team recognition ceremony that evening. Following the 45-minute official opening, one more game was played. Four more draws were held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Sunday reserved for semi-finals (morning) and finals (afternoon).
More than 300 people cheered from the stands on the skating rink side, and many more watched from inside, during the opening ceremony. As teams were dropped from the pool leading to the finals, one might expect the spectator crowds to decrease yet there were still more than 300 people watching the final games, which saw Matt Dunstone of Winnipeg defeated Granite Club mate Derek Oryniak 7-4 and Abby Ackland from Fort Rouge (Winnipeg) upset the undefeated run of Assiniboine Memorial’s (also Winnipeg) Laura Burtnyk, 7-5.
The team recognition event was an impressive opening ceremony, which was led by Jamie McFadden who played his bagpipes as more than 220 people filed onto carpeted aisles on the skating ice. He was followed by junior curlers Jayden Bridgeman and MaKenna Scott who carried national and provincial flags. Soloist Kristen Scott was next in line (she led the crowd in O Canada), then emcee Resby Coutts and the dignitaries. Resby is a governor of Curling Canada so brought greetings from that board and expressed congratulations to Rivers for their “initiative to host this event on hockey ice. Rivers will knock it out of the park for this spectacular, clearly successful event.” Also bringing greetings were mayor Todd Gill, Greg Nesbitt on behalf of MLA Leanne Rowat, Curl Manitoba board member Darren Oryniak, Lindsey Kyle of Sport Manitoba who expressed the groups “pride to provide support and resources to this event” and Ron Krahn of Rivers. Manitoba Canola Growers has been the junior curling competition sponsor since 2011; Ron extended greetings from the 9,000 Manitoba canola farmers. Host committee chairman Les Wedderburn delivered the longest speech, whose comments included how “humbling it is to see all the people and curlers.” He thanked the many volunteers “whose help is really appreciated,” sponsors in general because to list all 68 as printed in the program would take too much time, and regular users of Riverdale Community Centre for holding hockey and dance practices elsewhere; “we really owe them.”
Members of Rivers’ junior curling league and community children aged six to 16 identified each team by carrying placards with the skip’s name. After the speeches Resby spent 15 minutes calling out each participant and coach by name; they stepped forward and waved to the fans. Then it was time for the ceremonial rock. Donna Veitch began her curling career in Bradwardine in 1952 and the octogenarian still curls twice a week in Rivers; she threw a near perfect rock. Junior curler Nathan Krahn assisted her delivery by some sweeping and as the rock neared the hog line, “skip” Gordon Hammond also swept. Gordon began his curling days in Bradwardine in 1950 and at nearly 82, he too, curls twice a week in Rivers.
This competition was unique because it is the first time in Manitoba, and perhaps all of Canada, that a junior championship has been held on skating and curling ice. While Riverdale Community Centre is home to the four-sheet curling club, the skating ice was converted to another four sheets so eight games were in play at one time. Among the players were Kahli Wedderburn of Tarbolton district, who skipped a team affiliated with Rivers; her teammates came from Hamiota, Souris and Gladstone. Another local player was Donovan Hickson from Forrest area, who curled with a Brandon team. Former Chimo Beach Resort residents Duane and Theresa Payette (who worked at Rivers and Elton Collegiates) coached two Brandon teams; the couple won the Asham Coaching Awards, as selected by other coaches at the event. The award recognizes excellence in coaching and dedication to the sport and their team’s success both on and off the ice.
Volunteers worked selling day/event passes at the door, manning the elevator, preparing and selling food in the canteen, supplying drinks from the bar, making ice, keeping scores, recording times, selling 50/50 tickets and more. The volunteer pool was large, with assistance being offered from people in Rivers, Newdale, Hamiota, Brandon, Kenton, Cardale, Oak River, Souris, Minnedosa, Brookdale and Rapid City. The farthest volunteer came from Saskatoon; Kerry Kunka was an ice maker here in the 1980s and he returned to once again assist in this area. Winners of 50/50 draws were many as one was held following each game: Marg Burt, $116.50; Wanda Huculak, $96; Gwen Hoffman, $166.50; Cory Gill, $139; Louis Vaschan, $151; Jim Irvine, $164.50; Craig Allison, $158.50;Russ Bevan, $87.50; Brenda Froese, $198.50; Roberta Paddock, $207.50; Shauna Tait, $275; Dave Rystephanuk, $90;Tamara Bratko, $233.50; Grant Gill, $121.50; Tracy Schmidt, $150.50; Willie Wilson, $75; Jeff Worth, $175.50; $186 remains unclaimed so if you are ticket holder 88027 call Betty MacDonald at 204-328-7903 to collect your cash. The largest win was $1,255 which went to Doug Gorley and curling’s future. This progressive draw raised money for Curl Manitoba’s Endowment Fund which is used to support their scholarships, development programs and promotional initiatives.
