tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27568995346095029052024-03-18T21:19:06.688-07:00Wheelchair Curling BlogThis blog complemented the news and articles on wheelchaircurling.com. It was my contribution to the attempt to make curling the winter recreation of choice for Canadian wheelchair users..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.comBlogger968125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-51255625991040188692017-09-27T14:25:00.001-07:002017-09-27T14:25:17.803-07:00I have now taken down the wheelchaircurling.com website for reasons reflected in these blog posts.<br />
<br />
I remain the owner of the domain, but would consider transferring it to someone who will continue to pursue my mission to make wheelchair curling the winter activity of choice for wheelchair users.<br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:ericwebsite@shaw.ca" target="_blank">Eric</a>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-80262206698173575642012-01-07T18:52:00.000-08:002014-10-15T10:48:43.022-07:00Thank youI'd like to thank those who took the time to thank me for the website and blog.<br />
<br />
Chis Daw has begun a new wheelchair curling blog that deserves support. I will certainly post comments there as they occur to me.<br />
<br />
You can find it at <a href="http://wheelchaircurler.blogspot.com/">http://wheelchaircurler.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
I will also endeavour to keep the <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/calendar.htm" target="_blank">wheelchaircurling.com calendar</a> updated.<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/WheelChairCurl"></a><br />
<br />
All the best<br />
Eric.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-54705045021980405922011-12-31T11:44:00.000-08:002011-12-31T14:08:22.389-08:00And so it goesThe wheelchaircurling.com website, and later this blog which allowed me to add photos to posts, grew from a desire to promote curling as a viable winter recreation choice for wheelchair users. I also hoped to influence the direction of the sport's development, by sharing my ideas on how the game might be played and how it might be organised.<br />
<br />
Since 2005 I have been the sport's unofficial archivist, reporting what would otherwise have gone unrecorded; understanding that a sport grows from its history. But it was never intended to be a lifetime commitment and I am drawing it to a close before it becomes a chore rather than an enthusiasm. <br />
<br />
I will keep the website and blog open, the articles and records available. Anyone who has read the articles and blog post comments will know my opinions. They have never been a secret and do not need a valedictory.<br />
<br />
My thanks to those who have supported my efforts over the years. I have made many friends through my involvement in wheelchair curling, and I will continue to follow the sport with interest. If I have one regret it is that I lacked the physical skill to play competitively. I hope that my contributions in other areas have made a difference..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-62562751997219114202011-12-27T22:17:00.000-08:002011-12-29T10:08:26.407-08:00Answers to the 2011 Christmas Quiz<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here are the answers to our 2010 <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,";">C<span style="color: #274e13;">H</span>R<span style="color: #274e13;">I</span>S<span style="color: #274e13;">T</span>M<span style="color: #274e13;">A</span>S <span style="color: #274e13;">Q</span>U<span style="color: #274e13;">I</span>Z</span></span></span></b>. Maximum score 20 points. The questions are in a <a href="http://wheelchaircurlingblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011-christmas-quiz.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, or you can just read the answers and make up your own questions.<br />
<br />
I. Cate's answer was they are all blondes, but I cannily did not admit to having noticed. The official answer is they are all featured in the <a href="http://micalendardemo.com/woc/" target="_blank">2012 Women of Curling Calendar</a>.<br />
<br />
2. Sweden's Jalle Jungnell <a href="http://wheelchaircurlingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/shared-happiness-is-doubled-happiness.html" target="_blank">cut his 2010 Paralympic Bronze medal in half</a>, and used the two halves to make new medals. He gave one to his 3rd, Glenn Ikonen who failed a drug test just before the playoffs and thus was not awarded his own medal.<br />
<br />
3. Michael McCreadie represented Scotland and was the only wheelchair user at the<a href="http://skipcottagecurling.blogspot.com/2011/01/last-post-from-fentons.html" target="_blank"> 4 Nations Tournament at Fenton's CC</a> in Kent, England last January, winning the Tom Ballantyne trophy - a five match competition between Scotland and England.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
4. Sheila Swan coached the Scottish side at the 2011 Worlds in Prague because newly appointed British National Coach Tony Zummack was still waiting to receive his work permit.<br />
<br />
5.Russia were 4th at the 2011 Worlds, losing the bronze medal game to Norway.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">6.Norway's <a href="http://wheelchaircurlingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/norways-tone-edvardsen-first-to-use.html" target="_blank">Tone Edvardsen</a> was the first power-chair user to compete at a World Championship<br />
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7. Sweden, Germany and the host Czech Republic finished the 2011 Worlds tied with a 2-7 record. After tie-breaks, Sweden qualified for 2012 as the 8th place finisher.<br />
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8. Aileen Neilson was the first female skip at a World Championship, though in 2010 she had thrown 4th stones for Great Britain on a team skipped by Michael McCreadie.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
9. Jalle Jungnell of Sweden switched from skip in 2010 to coach in 2011, and is expected to revert back to skip in 2012.<br />
<br />
10. Japan cancelled their national championships scheduled to begin shortly after the earthquake and tsunami that destroyed much of the infrastructure where Japan's curling is based.<br />
<br />
11. The $1,000 prize was offered by R. Vallee Home Rentals at the 2011 Nationals in Edmonton for a shot that covered the pin during the pre-game throws to decide hammer.<br />
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12.Although no one covered the pin, Manitoba skip Chris Sobkowicz threw a stone that finished within 4cm, winning him the $200 consolation prize<br />
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13. In 2011 Manitoba broke BC's streak of National Championship titles from 2007 - 2010. Prior to then, Team Canada were National Champions.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">14. Jimmy Joseph is the only survivor of the four ever-present Team USA members from 2008 through 2011. Goose Perez, Jim Pierce and Jacqui Kapinowski all retired this year.<br />
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15. Slovakia will be the only rookie team at the 2012 Worlds in South Korea.<br />
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16. Norway won the 7th Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial, playing without skip Rune Lorentsen, who did not travel with the team.<br />
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17. Quebec's Team Lessard won the 6th US Open in Utica the week before the Cathy Kerr, going undefeated during an 8 team round robin.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
18. The South Lanarkshire WCC used a donated haggis as a target at a fun spiel, possibly as an alternative to having to eat it.</div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-56487954612845226332011-12-24T10:30:00.000-08:002011-12-24T10:30:34.561-08:00The 2011 CHRISTMAS QUIZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LJHNVhKtn86Bq2gHhsNfmXlPiX5j03kZTgPjfNj0d1yhXUXMQy6q7H_Ye6Go0vpC31FeuJkI6AF6v2niGjl7NgaPiHHGC1HyB-_uQAKysX1paslUAL4Zd3NcEQQ4irusF-NM8llW0Q/s320/christmas+tree.jpg" width="195" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please consider a donation to support this blog</div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" /><br />
<input name="encrypted" type="hidden" value="-----BEGIN PKCS7-----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-----END PKCS7-----
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<div style="text-align: center;"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" type="image" /></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></form><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,";">C<span style="color: #274e13;">H</span>R<span style="color: #274e13;">I</span>S<span style="color: #274e13;">T</span>M<span style="color: #274e13;">A</span>S <span style="color: #274e13;">Q</span>U<span style="color: #274e13;">I</span>Z</span></span></span></b></div><br />
Welcome to this year's Christmas Quiz. The questions have all been taken from posts written during the course of 2011 and reflect our international readership. Good luck. The 20 answers will appear in a couple of days.<br />
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1. What do Canada's Sonja Gaudet and Heather Smith-Dacey have in common with Scotland's Eve Muirhead and Sweden's Anette Norberg?<br />
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2. Who cut his Paralympic medal in half? Why?<br />
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3. Which wheelchair user represented his country in an international curling tournament at which all the other players were able-bodied?<br />
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4. Who coached Scotland at the 2011 World Championships?<br />
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5. Canada repeated as World champions in 2011 - which play-off team failed to win a medal?<br />
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6. The 2011 Worlds allowed powerchair users to compete for the first time. Who was the first athlete to compete using a powerchair?<br />
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7. Which of the 3 national teams teams involved in relegation tie-breaks avoided having to re-qualify for the 2012 Worlds?<br />
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8. Who was the first female to skip at a World Wheelchair Curling Championship?<br />
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9. Who was the first wheelchair user to coach a national team at a World Wheelchair Curling Championship?<br />
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10. Which country had to cancel their national championships in the face of natural disaster?<br />
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11. At what event did a sponsor offer a $1,000 sponsors prize for a hammer-deciding throw that covered the pin?<br />
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12. The $1,000 prize was not won, but someone won a consolation $200 for a shot that ended less than 4 cms from the pin? Who made that throw?<br />
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13. Which province broke BC's stranglehold on Canadian national titles?<br />
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14. Four Americans were ever-present on Team USA for the 4 years from 2008 through 2011. Of the four, who's been chosen compete in 2012?<br />
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15. Nine of the ten teams at the 2012 World Championships will have competed at that level before. Who's the tenth?<br />
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16. Norway travelled to Canada to compete at the 7th Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial Spiel. How did they do? Who was missing from their team?<br />
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17. Team Lessard from Quebec were beaten finalists at the Cathy Kerr. What event did they win the previous week?<br />
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18. The South Lanarkshire WCC changed the rules at a recent fun event. What Scottish delicacy was used as the target?<br />
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A very Happy Christmas to you all from Eric and Cate..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-9592548699026365892011-12-21T16:25:00.000-08:002011-12-21T16:38:07.436-08:00Michael McCreadie quits international stage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhUkBKI_sA0/TvJ4il7lVOI/AAAAAAAABjQ/n_0g3OmJvfc/s1600/D6FC4D1E-155D-2B90-037950A4017E4AFA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhUkBKI_sA0/TvJ4il7lVOI/AAAAAAAABjQ/n_0g3OmJvfc/s320/D6FC4D1E-155D-2B90-037950A4017E4AFA.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo - <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&biw=1060&bih=863&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=t1pmBs2czEjRiM:&imgrefurl=http://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds/index.cfm/sport/athlete-profiles/athlete-profile-michael-mccreadie/&docid=8wQVP98oBqs-uM&imgurl=http://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds/cache/file/D6FC4D1E-155D-2B90-037950A4017E4AFA.jpg&w=379&h=495&ei=xHryTrGWO6iLiALQtsiMDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=434&vpy=159&dur=293&hovh=257&hovw=196&tx=119&ty=88&sig=105794899100698762587&page=1&tbnh=157&tbnw=119&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0" target="_blank">scottishdisabilitysport.com</a>]<br />
.</span> </div>Scotland's Michael McCreadie has announced his resignation from international competition.<br />
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"I am no longer a member of the World Class Performance Squad," he told me. "Since the summer, although playing reasonably well and achieving some good results in International competitions, my heart wasn't in it any more - the enjoyment had gone. It was not an easy decision to make. I had to do what was best for me and ultimately the squad.<br />
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"I wish the coach and the squad every success in the future." <br />
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Tony Zummack, the national coach, responded: "I do feel that Michael McCreadie will continue to be involved and support wheelchair curling in the future. I respect his decision to retire from international competition and also respect the time and commitment he made to the National Program."<br />
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Michael, 65, was a member of the Scottish team that contested the first World Championship in Switzerland, 2002, where he won a bronze medal playing 2nd under Frank Duffy. He won gold medals playing 3rd at the 2004 and 2005 Worlds, and was the British flag bearer in Torino in 2006 where he won silver.<br />
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He followed Duffy into retirement after the crushing last rock Torino defeat, but was soon back and skipped his country to bronze at the 2007 Worlds, a success that eluded his teams the following 3 years.<br />
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After the Vancouver Paralympics, where he skipped but threw 3rd stones, he announced he would take a year off. He returned this season, but with the Scottish team committed to his partner Eileen Neilson at skip after her silver medal at the 2011 Worlds, his role was to skip Scotland's B team. That is the position he has now quit.<br />
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Zummack is not immediately replacing him. "I am keeping the National Squad at 7 athletes and have had some of our development athletes come in to train and play with us and will have someone in place for the Lanarkshire International." (Jan 17-18)<br />
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Michael McCreadie played in 72 World Curling Federation events, ending with a 45-27 record, 2 gold and 2 bronze Worlds medals and a Paralympic silver medal..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-27553490540056596442011-12-19T18:17:00.000-08:002011-12-21T16:21:51.320-08:00Nova Scotia has new champions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbyG0SkMLPSqxzClPVQLxshG0SUskOKDhnWbvV9Ks0jRZgsq_yPtXOJrcbIUuqLcSINXbPEeapwxlqOMi_Km4nPEqsus_pQPun1woZHP5eliCpa0Nkr79loOjOTok9sFFqvFCHUtmnQ/s1600/brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbyG0SkMLPSqxzClPVQLxshG0SUskOKDhnWbvV9Ks0jRZgsq_yPtXOJrcbIUuqLcSINXbPEeapwxlqOMi_Km4nPEqsus_pQPun1woZHP5eliCpa0Nkr79loOjOTok9sFFqvFCHUtmnQ/s400/brown.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Team Brown - Nova Scotia Champions coached by Bill Fletcher</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Richard Brown, Terry Cousineau, Steve Parfitt and Paige Fougere</span></div><br />
Richard Brown, Nova Scotia wheelchair curling's other skip, finally broke through to win his first provincial championship over the 5 time champions Team Rutt at the Lakeshore CC this weekend.<br />
<br />
Brown, who skipped the winless <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/Nationals/Nationals2009/Host%20Province.htm" target="_blank">NS Host team</a> at the 2009 Nationals, faced opponents missing the services of skip Mike Fitzgerald who had relocated to New Brunswick, but as the best of five series began, his team of Terry Cousineau, Steve Parfitt and Paige Fougere could have been forgiven for thinking little had changed. Laughie Rutt, stepping up to skip but throwing 3rd stones in favour of Trendal Hubley-Bolivar, led his title defenders to a 10-2 opening night victory.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Game 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rutt * 1 0 1 1 3 1 3 x 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Brown 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x 2</span><br />
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Team Brown regrouped Saturday to steal the first 4 points of Game 2, and then hang on as Rutt, down 7-4 after 7, fell just a point short of forcing an extra end.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Game 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rutt * 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 - 6</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Brown 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 - 7</span><br />
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It was deja vu in Game 3, as Brown again stole 3 in the 1st and added another in the 2nd before surrendering a 4 spot in the 7th to fall behind 7-6. Brown took one with hammer to force an extra and then stole 2 to lead the series 2-1.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Game 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rutt * 0 0 1 2 0 0 4 0 0 - 7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Brown 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 - 9</span><br />
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Sunday saw Team Rutt return to the form they showed in the opener as they posted 8 unanswered points to level the series at 2-2, after again giving up an opening end steal.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Game 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rutt * 0 2 4 1 1 x x x - 8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Brown 1 0 0 0 0 x x x - 1</span><br />
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The series decider returned to the pattern of Saturday as Team Brown, despite never earning the hammer, stole 2 in the 1st, added a single in the 2nd and stole 2 more in the 5th, finishing 8-3 winners and Nova Scotia Champions.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Game 5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rutt * 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 x - 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Brown 2 1 0 2 2 0 1 x - 8</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-61135373217365787072011-12-18T17:24:00.000-08:002011-12-18T17:24:52.972-08:00Scots put haggis to good use<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJR11YuhcsvBw1v5tv_qOvetuIEzKM9FxEhQULS6tFWn22CpzkWYKj-fsA7bYDvPafHyV7_ZFpjVfgdWrcXyRYX845l1-M2dVxjfrXbaLvPjLgmwHuNERgMeNwqXwB6Y__CI4X7R84g/s1600/19593-haggis-curling-in-south-lanarkshire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJR11YuhcsvBw1v5tv_qOvetuIEzKM9FxEhQULS6tFWn22CpzkWYKj-fsA7bYDvPafHyV7_ZFpjVfgdWrcXyRYX845l1-M2dVxjfrXbaLvPjLgmwHuNERgMeNwqXwB6Y__CI4X7R84g/s400/19593-haggis-curling-in-south-lanarkshire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bill Masterton, Gary Marshall, Jan Drife and Steve Sutherland</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo - Paul Webster]</span></div><br />
The STV website reports that <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.co.uk/" target="_blank">South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club</a> marked St Andrew's Day (November 30) with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis" target="_blank">haggis</a> curling competition.<br />
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The huge haggis, donated by sponsors Damn Delicious of Lanark. was used as the target in the competition that drew over 30 curlers to the Hamilton Ice Rink.<br />
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Bill Masterton, Gary Marshall, Steve Sutherland and individual winner Jan Drife secured the inaugural title. (photo on blog)<br />
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South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club chairman Arthur Bell described the day as "filled with lots of skill, sometimes a bit of luck as the beastie was whacked away, and always lots of fun. That's what amateur sport should be about.".http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-32655883848166593342011-12-18T16:32:00.000-08:002011-12-18T16:32:04.141-08:00Learn To Coach course in Greenock (SCO) January 8thThe Royal Caledonian CC, guardian of curling in Britain, is offering a workshop introducing coaches to wheelchair curling. The session costs £15 and will cover the basic delivery styles and skills used when teaching wheelchair curling.<br />
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<a href="http://royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/080112-Wheelchair-Module-Course-information.pdf" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for details and a registration form..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-74322753033743789882011-12-16T23:00:00.000-08:002011-12-16T23:00:17.462-08:00Slovakia catches the attention of the IPC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0oM6fi_KDe_kzlZbWFaUr-DDPEnH0sLnjOYvAb5aMhCtRC75Nmn0JqpVPLDylTXAodT_WOEOSwLIaeX0YnmSr6HxXl93EBtrKj1Kgv6c5xDeU_zr7VbW6J0atfZxELrHyCbqWigUuw/s1600/Team+Slovakia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0oM6fi_KDe_kzlZbWFaUr-DDPEnH0sLnjOYvAb5aMhCtRC75Nmn0JqpVPLDylTXAodT_WOEOSwLIaeX0YnmSr6HxXl93EBtrKj1Kgv6c5xDeU_zr7VbW6J0atfZxELrHyCbqWigUuw/s400/Team+Slovakia.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Radoslav Duriš, Branislav Jakubec, Dušan Pitoňák, Monika Kunkelová</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div>Slovakia, surprise <a href="http://wheelchaircurlingblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/slovakia-and-italy-prevail-at-worlds.html" target="_blank">winners</a> of the recent Qualifying Tournament for entry to the 2012 Worlds in Korea, were featured on the International Paralympic Committee website.<br />
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Curling began in Slovakia ten years ago and wheelchair curling five years ago, but progress has been swift. The skip, Radoslav Duris, was formerly a swimmer and hockey player a car accident in high school.<br />
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“All of our players were sportsmen before, so they all have the hearts of sportsmen,” team coach Milan Kalis said.<br />
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Read the whole article <a href="http://www.paralympic.org/Media_Centre/News/Sport_News/2011_12_16_a.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-7769826285785470712011-12-16T22:26:00.000-08:002011-12-16T22:26:06.530-08:00Team Rutt off to strong start in Game 1 Nova Scotia ProvincialsTeam Rutt took an early one game lead against Team Brown in their best of 5 provincial championship at the Lakeshore CC in Nova Scotia.<br />
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Rutt * 1 0 1 1 3 1 3 x 10<br />
Brown 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x 2<br />
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Games 2 and 3 at 2.30 and 6.30 Saturday 17th..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-60560269480300267682011-12-15T18:50:00.000-08:002011-12-18T23:49:19.004-08:00Nova Scotia Provincials begin December 16-18Two teams will compete at the Lakeshore CC in a best of 5 match for the right to represent Nova Scotia at the 2012 Nationals in Thunder Bay, March 18-25.<br />
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With Nova Scotia stalwart Michael Fitzgerald decamped to New Brunswick, his championship defending team will be skipped by Laughie Rutt, who will continue to throw 3rd stones. Trendal Hubley-Bolivar will throw 4th, with lead Debbie Earle and a returning Keith Williams, back from a year off preparing for basketball at the Canada Games.<br />
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They will face perennial challengers Team Brown: Richard Brown at skip, 3rd Terry Cousineau, 2nd Steve Parfait and Paige Fougere at lead.<br />
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First game is Friday 16th at 8.30, with Saturday games at 2.30 and 6.30 plus Sunday games at 3 and 7pm if necessary..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-37883304262598329972011-12-15T18:20:00.000-08:002011-12-15T18:20:49.422-08:00BC Provincials scheduled February 2-5 in KamloopsBC's Provincial Championship will be held at McArthur Island (Kamloops) from February 2-5, though as only two teams submitted entries by the December 9 deadline, that schedule may be compressed.<br />
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<a href="http://wheelchaircurlingblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/national-champ-cormack-adds-bc.html" target="_blank">Team Cormack</a>, last year's surprise winners over a Jim Armstrong team featuring Darryl Neighbour and Chris Daw, will defend their title over a team skipped by Darryl Neighbour. Details when available will be published here and on <a href="http://playdowns.com/">playdowns.com</a>.<br />
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BC were slow to adopt a playoff format for the Provincial team, but had 4 teams registered in 2009, and 3 in 2010 and 2011. This year's entry is very disappointing, considering how BC athletes have dominated the national team since 2007. Success at the national and international level is clearly no spur, at least in BC, to increased grassroots participation..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-56980640983004626982011-12-15T17:32:00.000-08:002011-12-15T17:34:06.135-08:00Team Canada miss out on IPC Best Team AwardThe final round of awards from the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics was held in Beijing last Saturday: the International Paralympic Committee's <a href="http://www.paralympic.org/Media_Centre/News/General_News/2011_12_14_a.html" target="_blank">Best Team Award</a> went not to Canada, but to Japan's silver medal sledge hockey team. While it is possible that scandal may have influenced the Committee's decision, the citation emphasised that Japan's team had not been expected to medal before the Games began.<br />
<br />
Team Canada have kept a very low profile this year. Rather than repeatedly traveling to compete internationally, much of the budget has been spent bringing in new people either to training camp or domestic competition to work with the six currently carded team members.<br />
<br />
Team Canada 2012 has not been officially announced but Jim, who has now moved to Ontario, Darryl, Ina and Sonja will be in Richmond BC this weekend for one of two scheduled training camps prior to the 2012 Worlds in Korea, February 18-25. A January training camp has yet to be scheduled, though the team will compete in a Mixed Cashspiel in Prince George January 16-18..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-53325216364026883232011-12-07T15:16:00.000-08:002011-12-07T15:16:35.946-08:00Wes Smith, USA Paralympian, 1940-2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO084wqIPAsYZSo214CxT1jRvx-uNeoZdmXnpOVBfsUct5JGhyHWxnWLXNa2l1czWPczHJ1TXHNSPdyY7FUSykWC2RMvD92O9G6XpGiYpWDRfyo2lqKWnzvrS0hrOVw5913bLM4GhwXA/s1600/SmithSetup_JoeKusumoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO084wqIPAsYZSo214CxT1jRvx-uNeoZdmXnpOVBfsUct5JGhyHWxnWLXNa2l1czWPczHJ1TXHNSPdyY7FUSykWC2RMvD92O9G6XpGiYpWDRfyo2lqKWnzvrS0hrOVw5913bLM4GhwXA/s400/SmithSetup_JoeKusumoto.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Wes Smith at the Torino Paralympics 2006</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo: Joe Kusumoto]</span> </div><br />
<a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/07/sports/former-paralympian-weston-smith-dies-at-71/" target="_blank">The Bangor Daily News</a> reports that Wes Smith died on Monday in Florida. Wes played in the inaugural Wheelchair Curling World Championships in Sursee SUI in 2002. He was also, at 65, the oldest competitor at the 2006 Torino Paralympics, a record overtaken by Japan's Takashi Hidai who was 75 when he curled at the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-61077023284591957822011-12-05T20:06:00.000-08:002011-12-05T20:06:00.942-08:00USA selects team for 2012 World ChampionshipsThe five athletes who will represent USA at the 2012 World Championships in South Korea next February 18-25, have been announced though playing positions have not yet been decided.<br />
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The players are:<br />
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Patrick McDonald (Madison, Wis.)<br />
James Joseph (New Hartford, N.Y.)<br />
Penny Greely (Green Bay, Wis.)<br />
David Palmer (Mashpee, Mass.)<br />
and Tim Kelly (Rockford, Ill.) chosen as alternate.<br />
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Players were chosen based on their performance at an open-call training camp and at the US Open and Cathy Kerr Spiel.<br />
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USA lost their skip Augusto Pérez, 3rd Jim Pierce and lead Jacqueline Kapinowski to retirement after a tough 2011 Worlds campaign that saw them finish just one win above the relegation zone. This season they'll be led by Patrick McDonald who returns from shoulder surgery that kept him out of last year's championships. Experienced Jimmy Joseph and Penny Greely, last year's rookie alternate, return to the squad which has two newcomers; David Palmer and Tim Kelly.<br />
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Rockford's Channel 13 TV station interviewed Kelly after he made the team. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOPmgLZ-urUEFK5jCuuyyxd22FKgsA7aP8WUzIFEXoDRFGu3CycBQcmueDbEGig0XzIX1UNO2uN529JZc94w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-65924980674900362392011-12-03T18:14:00.000-08:002011-12-03T18:14:47.829-08:00wheelchair curling thriving at Ilderton CCFor those not beholden to national fundraisers like Own The Podium, wheelchair curling is about enjoyment - something easily forgotten amidst reporting's natural emphasis on competition and drama.<br />
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Ilderton Ontario's program has been rebuilt on that firm foundation. The coach, Ernie Comerford, after relocating to London Ontario and looking to recreate the success he helped biuld in Calgary, saw Ilderton CC had the closest accessible ice. It also had a storied history, hanging three Canadian Championship banners plus the Torino Paralympic Gold Banner; a leagcy of Chris Daw's early involvement at the club. But participation had collapsed post Torino, and it took a whole winter to encourage the first two wheelchair users to enter the ice in the Spring of 2008. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Since then there has been a steady growth in participation at the recreational level, while two teams played in this year's Cathy Kerr, one reaching the semis. Two players, Mark Ideson and Mike Munro, attended the National Training program and participated on Team Canada II in Richmond in November. <br />
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This season the recreational group meets on Sundays from 11 am until 1 pm. The competitive group plays in a regular mixed league weekly and attends separate practices during the week. The Club intends to enter two teams in the January 2012 Provincials near Ottawa, with the hope that will expand to three in the future.<br />
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The Club belives in outreach, and owns a set of demonstrations rocks to promote the game and recruit newcomers at local malls.<br />
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Here is a video af highlights from the 2010-2011 season that gives a taste of the positive energy that motivates the club. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="237" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dhvIS9yGYvM" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Wheelchair Curling is alive and well in the London area and it keeps getting better, says Ernie. Anyone interested should contact Ernie Comerford at 519-203-0087 or by email at <a href="mailto:erniecomerford@rogers.com">erniecomerford@rogers.com</a>..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-78988955006308121682011-12-03T16:18:00.000-08:002011-12-03T16:18:59.573-08:00Calgary's curlers facing challengesCalgary's wheelchair curlers lost their Ogden CC home when the curling club disbanded over the summer, and have struggled to find viable alternatives to their old fully accessible venue. They have been playing in an able-bodied league at the Calgary CC, and that club have been very supportive, going so far as to purchase an expensive (and heavy) ramp to allow side door ice access.<br />
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Getting suitable practice time at what may be Canada's busiest club, however, has proven impossible. The Garrison CC has provided practice ice late Sunday afternoon; an awkward time that has meant a drop off of attendance especially among the recreational players.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qfL_Pyi1M4yIs7M1sLwWHT724SVPEP7lZny-vF3VXrvm2EySqaxgbq88Up4EUZDtAf4QbqQCsg6OqqNaENfo74KYeMxf0EG7M450wjHeLU7zP8lgs5b-rXW20pP5wTEUNiilDnuavA/s1600/screenshot.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qfL_Pyi1M4yIs7M1sLwWHT724SVPEP7lZny-vF3VXrvm2EySqaxgbq88Up4EUZDtAf4QbqQCsg6OqqNaENfo74KYeMxf0EG7M450wjHeLU7zP8lgs5b-rXW20pP5wTEUNiilDnuavA/s320/screenshot.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Bridget Wilson - founder and 6-time Alberta champion</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">at the 2011 Nationals in Edmonton</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> .</div>The team itself. together for over seven years, is adjusting to the absence of a founding member. Bridget Wilson. Bridget got wheelchair curling started in Alberta but always found traveling a strain. She spends most of the winter in Arizona and decided to step back for a year at the conclusion of last season; spending more time with her family and not concerning herself with being match ready come the 2012 Nationals.<br />
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Bridget remains part of the team and is playing in a fun league while in Phoenix, though Martin Purvis will play front end at this season's competitions. Martin joined the team in 2009, winning silver at the 2009 and 2011 Nationals while playing 2nd, and also made the All-Star roster in 2010.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuNAMuWZkTOv_6gI0WU59SxVqUSZarTg7bbb_LWWze9-TeSANHPC9gMvPykrEE2PJF_300_LhrHo5U7xez0N5LmfIhDQqZX7bsI4Hrmkvsrpk9n_hWNybAfXRyV7Tv6QNmKe2dVV4PA/s1600/purvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuNAMuWZkTOv_6gI0WU59SxVqUSZarTg7bbb_LWWze9-TeSANHPC9gMvPykrEE2PJF_300_LhrHo5U7xez0N5LmfIhDQqZX7bsI4Hrmkvsrpk9n_hWNybAfXRyV7Tv6QNmKe2dVV4PA/s320/purvis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Martin Purvis steps up to front end</span></div><br />
There is a possibility that Calgary will be challenged for the southern Alberta slot at Provincials by a team from Lethbridge, who recently brought six players to Calgary for an afternoon pof curling. Medicine Hat is also rumoured to be preparing a team..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-47793234793858239502011-11-30T09:49:00.000-08:002011-12-04T13:04:59.898-08:00Russia wins 6th Czech Open<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpM1jp7I-nPOq6gZ5SaRKZjeV7xvI0a1g3p3f6Wy0H0oiafoj9WFER_LXCg5oFkGdqzkqm-kH9lRVU6YKwcEZmmE0MmEYtYy8VunZXGZOUWT7aF-aJSoFIgLRuPvvz32aPF5A0BN30w/s1600/Russia111127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpM1jp7I-nPOq6gZ5SaRKZjeV7xvI0a1g3p3f6Wy0H0oiafoj9WFER_LXCg5oFkGdqzkqm-kH9lRVU6YKwcEZmmE0MmEYtYy8VunZXGZOUWT7aF-aJSoFIgLRuPvvz32aPF5A0BN30w/s400/Russia111127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Russia - 1st place<br />
[photo - Pavla Vrbova]</span></div><br />
Russia topped the seven team field at the 6th Czech Open last weekend in Prague, dropping just one point in a 5-5 tie with the Italian Trentino team. Poland finished second and Sweden third.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhNHUANgzloOlhPf6s9AybSVw2Vg1NOta9k2qgkV_zvi28dGtYvEDgpqAQM6_bDIOf_TNIVWkQB79s3SO2MgLdVr3qc_3_HtEcrR4KuFvKxijT7wnfKmJBpGpTiO11fsdz52K4p7vXg/s1600/Poland111127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhNHUANgzloOlhPf6s9AybSVw2Vg1NOta9k2qgkV_zvi28dGtYvEDgpqAQM6_bDIOf_TNIVWkQB79s3SO2MgLdVr3qc_3_HtEcrR4KuFvKxijT7wnfKmJBpGpTiO11fsdz52K4p7vXg/s400/Poland111127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Poland - 2nd place</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo - Pavla Vrbova]</span><br />
.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEinJzBaIfYsws_TFGVTeHG_0nhzU5c40gNSv_VnOxhdM-5UR1NmiiqnFpXUwReETwr8gyRmNz5a3uYDh7jMNZ_QBVpnBHm_5S3qkThp_7GCghSrYIR7dbSw7i-ZbX9HiJWgfsodgUZg/s1600/Sweden111127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEinJzBaIfYsws_TFGVTeHG_0nhzU5c40gNSv_VnOxhdM-5UR1NmiiqnFpXUwReETwr8gyRmNz5a3uYDh7jMNZ_QBVpnBHm_5S3qkThp_7GCghSrYIR7dbSw7i-ZbX9HiJWgfsodgUZg/s400/Sweden111127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweden - 3rd place</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo - Pavla Vrbova]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div>Two Czech teams and Slovakia also competed. Slovakia, with three of the four players who won promotion to the 2012 Worlds from the Qualifying Tournament, finished 6th with four losses and a tie.<br />
<br />
Full event details including line scores and team members can be downloaded <a href="http://ge.tt/8MUpUaA/v/0" target="_blank">HERE</a>..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-30938620872993932782011-11-29T19:36:00.000-08:002011-11-29T19:36:01.787-08:00Sweden's Patrik Burman, Paralypic bronze medalist, profiled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNgzG4_9FQbMaNClzH8wFd-l1BaownRm13Y8wqKIRdLT5pS0fp-uqufV2DoNdnDz_jZQdJ54hSR22Sfn2C1rki2bgkWExK0F1SracjohoC2VeF6_8N3BHJgz-q71MLnmsH9xV_MjrDg/s1600/screenshot.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNgzG4_9FQbMaNClzH8wFd-l1BaownRm13Y8wqKIRdLT5pS0fp-uqufV2DoNdnDz_jZQdJ54hSR22Sfn2C1rki2bgkWExK0F1SracjohoC2VeF6_8N3BHJgz-q71MLnmsH9xV_MjrDg/s400/screenshot.29.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Patrik Burman at 2011 Worlds</span><br />
.</div>Patrik Burman, who started at second on Sweden's 2010 Paralympic team before stepping up to 3rd to replace Glenn Ikonen in the playoffs, is profiled <a href="http://www.handikappidrott.se/templates/NewsPage.aspx?id=6991" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
Patrick played 3rd on the 2011 Worlds team that narrowly escaped relegation, but suffered a shoulder injury in the summer and will miss this season, his place taken on the reconstituted Paralympic team likely to compete at the 2012 Worlds in Korea, by namesake Patrik Kallin..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-28446578368937797032011-11-27T20:07:00.000-08:002011-11-27T20:07:31.408-08:00English team looking for some support<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLI6X9I7vcgFZ1OwRqLlnzxOedSChtRzlYFm9tEc2G3jfcAOex0RiUWL0PVqJcZjpM8J1tIQ12o5wH7v57g_Use2e7CeX4szQo97FutAyj_YF2W8l-kK3aIcm0kxLjwH2Bp717J7ACg/s1600/Stephen+McGarry%252C+Jeff+Ward%252C+Stewart+Pimblett+and+Paula+Longrigg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLI6X9I7vcgFZ1OwRqLlnzxOedSChtRzlYFm9tEc2G3jfcAOex0RiUWL0PVqJcZjpM8J1tIQ12o5wH7v57g_Use2e7CeX4szQo97FutAyj_YF2W8l-kK3aIcm0kxLjwH2Bp717J7ACg/s400/Stephen+McGarry%252C+Jeff+Ward%252C+Stewart+Pimblett+and+Paula+Longrigg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Stephen McGarry, Jeff Ward, Stewart Pimblett and Paula Longrigg<br />
as featured on <a href="http://skipcottagecurling.blogspot.com/2011/11/two-rink-day.html" target="_blank">Bob Cowan's blog</a></div><br />
Four avid wheelchair curlers, fairly new to the ice but experienced in other sports, are looking for coaching support and sponsorship towards their goal of becoming a competitive team worthy of representing England.<br />
<br />
Stephen McGarry, Jeff Ward, Stewart Pimblett and Paula Longrigg live in the north of England, and travel to Kelso for their curling. They competed at the 2011 British Championships, finishing with a 2-2 record after a narrow 6-5 defeat by pool leader Rosemary Lenton in the final round robin draw.<br />
<br />
At present Scotland dominates British curling because they have the curling ice. Though England and Wales have competed at World events in the past, Team Scotland inevitably becomes Team Great Britain, and indeed any Paralympic qualification points that might be earned in Britain outside of Scotland are by agreement ceded to the Scots.<br />
<br />
As an ex-pat Englishman I'm cheered to see a challenge to this hegemony and I hope there are people left in England who can provide these pioneers with some much needed support..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-83616031565683009002011-11-27T19:38:00.000-08:002011-11-27T19:38:20.043-08:00Team Ewan take 2011 British Championship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5_AINENHS0p5U-ANwCs3S6W-9KkOa6US7HuUE07p-jlXt_TV5O_U5RgKt0eH3rhU0Emp9EzsHwSZv5ogGsgf3QPXJUVV_oBw5fw7dgLsw2yYj0cO4zxe7ywf9ESHL-Cl_YM9BIDLHg/s1600/EwanGault111125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5_AINENHS0p5U-ANwCs3S6W-9KkOa6US7HuUE07p-jlXt_TV5O_U5RgKt0eH3rhU0Emp9EzsHwSZv5ogGsgf3QPXJUVV_oBw5fw7dgLsw2yYj0cO4zxe7ywf9ESHL-Cl_YM9BIDLHg/s400/EwanGault111125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ewan and Gault weren't singing the blues at the 2011 British Cahmpionships</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo courtesy <a href="http://skipcottagecurling.blogspot.com/2011/11/two-rink-day.html" target="_blank">Bob Cowan's Skip Cottage Blog</a>]</span><br />
.</div>Gregor Ewan skipped his team of Jim Gault, Ian Donaldson and Gil Keith to victory at the 2011 British Wheelchair Curling Championship at The Galleon Ice Rink, Kilmarnock SCO. this weekend.<br />
<br />
Twelve teams competed in 2 pools, with crossover semi-finals for the top two in each pool. Pool A leader Rosemary Lenton gave up a steal in the 6th (final) end of her semi against Paul Webster to lose 5-3.<br />
<br />
Ewan saw off National teammate Aileen Neilson 11-2 with a series of big end steals in the other semi. He then went one better in a repeat performance, dispatching Webster 12-1 in the final. Neilson beat Lenton 6-3 to take bronze.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ewan 0 3 1 3 5 x - 12</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Webster 1 0 0 0 0 x - 1</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Neilson 0 2 1 0 3 0 - 6</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Lenton 1 0 0 1 0 1 - 3</span><br />
<br />
Line scores for all the matches are presently available <a href="http://royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/competitions/scottish-wheelchair-championship/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and a digest of the final day is available <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/docs/2011Scottish.jpg" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Team members are <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/docs/2011ScottishTeams.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
Bob Cowan has some excellent photos from the event on his <a href="http://skipcottagecurling.blogspot.com/2011/11/two-rink-day.html" target="_blank">Skip Cottage Blog</a>..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-56925997967225592812011-11-24T12:23:00.000-08:002011-11-24T12:23:02.035-08:00Anne Hibberd is CCA's featured athlete of the week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdaCyJAJlwWG53bfvvcLXJVupMgDSFFU-Cj0ephRKjE6xWqImy98BcWmDrCmNAvfQNI2ivCm-lu1cNO22n80lBv3ProMlBbqkpDh14TBF2bmu54NAb1E_25JDZxjT6KfuyX2CkL1Y3Q/s1600/screenshot.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdaCyJAJlwWG53bfvvcLXJVupMgDSFFU-Cj0ephRKjE6xWqImy98BcWmDrCmNAvfQNI2ivCm-lu1cNO22n80lBv3ProMlBbqkpDh14TBF2bmu54NAb1E_25JDZxjT6KfuyX2CkL1Y3Q/s400/screenshot.20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Team Alberta 2nd Anne Hibberd in action at 2011 Nationals</span></div>.<br />
Aussie transplant Anne Hibberd, an integral part of Team Alberta for the past 6 years, is featured in the CCA's continuing promotion of wheelchair curling through their "featured athlete of the week."<br />
<br />
In addition to earning two silver medals at National championships, and recently playing in the Team Canada squad, Anne has served as president of the Calgary Wheelchair Curling Association since 2005.<br />
<br />
See what she has to say about her life in and out of curling, <a href="http://www.curling.ca/2011/11/24/featured-curling-athlete-anne-hibberd/" target="_blank">HERE</a>..http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-11871923854326559342011-11-20T17:25:00.000-08:002011-12-23T17:37:06.651-08:00Norway takes Cathy Kerr final over Quebec as USA I fades<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36vyfO8FP2hnwjJeVjxsOHFT2h1DwqNsv0_TvXHagAB5ZbBbRqzngM4IJemZbFB4936MGl_OHoIlNINzwLz8vXwgYpnNLLVT4hC3ETzTIhcXWbUaaAjibsk1R9jc07L8NKlLsX-bLQA/s1600/Norway111120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36vyfO8FP2hnwjJeVjxsOHFT2h1DwqNsv0_TvXHagAB5ZbBbRqzngM4IJemZbFB4936MGl_OHoIlNINzwLz8vXwgYpnNLLVT4hC3ETzTIhcXWbUaaAjibsk1R9jc07L8NKlLsX-bLQA/s400/Norway111120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1st - Team Norway <br />
Jostein Stordahl, Terje Rafdal, Per Fagerhøi, Sissel Løchen, Ole Fredrik Syversen<br />
with coach Thoralf Hognestad<br />
.</span> </div>Norway, playing without skip Rune Lorentsen who did not travel, took the $400 first prize at the 7th Cathy Kerr Memorial Spiel at the RA in Ottawa. They beat Chris Sobkowicz's national champions Team Cancade 7-3 in the pool cross-over semi-final, then faced Quebec, who handed USA I their first defeat 13-3 in the other semi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOOByrRFSbqGHZlZiCJS_9UgTqkje58X-cJpOOkhfkeGmJcWUB1Xof5XcWCsqaYlYNMu1VBBVnA3-5NVE0a9I-Eog1ug0-aN6OLfZBiIZuiSy67ArFVBLYUk5y76C-KUhp8P0yCN-vA/s1600/Quebec111120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOOByrRFSbqGHZlZiCJS_9UgTqkje58X-cJpOOkhfkeGmJcWUB1Xof5XcWCsqaYlYNMu1VBBVnA3-5NVE0a9I-Eog1ug0-aN6OLfZBiIZuiSy67ArFVBLYUk5y76C-KUhp8P0yCN-vA/s400/Quebec111120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2nd - Team Quebec <br />
Johanne Daly, Sebastien Boisvert, Carl Marquis, Benoit Lessard<br />
with coach Germain Tremblay</span></div><br />
The final went 9-5 to Norway; the margin, two in the 7th and a steal of two in the 8th.<br />
<br />
<br />
Team Cancade edged USA I 6-5 for 3rd place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZQTZ2Q4AogzlknOV7nPMizjVgQRn_VAlVe3QNZwBuTFKYl2Z-GJ-46PU1ddtnao8g7myAx2keAyINmXbi0BDJJjrFRNeG-IiOst7hQbSBl8qGXrqQ3G_gBc9QjAAQiq-C5denFy7uQ/s1600/manitiobaCancade111120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZQTZ2Q4AogzlknOV7nPMizjVgQRn_VAlVe3QNZwBuTFKYl2Z-GJ-46PU1ddtnao8g7myAx2keAyINmXbi0BDJJjrFRNeG-IiOst7hQbSBl8qGXrqQ3G_gBc9QjAAQiq-C5denFy7uQ/s400/manitiobaCancade111120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3rd - Team Cancade<br />
George Horning, Chris Sobkowicz, Melissa Lecyer and Mark Wherrett<br />
with coach Rob Lamb</span></div><br />
Scores from the other cross-over games and results from all draws, plus team members, can be viewed <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/docs/CathKerr111118.txt" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Final standings</span><br />
<br />
Norway - gold<br />
Quebec - silver<br />
Cancade - bronze<br />
USA1<br />
USA2<br />
Nfld & Lab<br />
Cameron<br />
Ilderton<br />
Toronto<br />
Sudbury<br />
Bradford<br />
Fraser<br />
<br />
In the recreational division Quebec visitors Lenoxville prevailed over Michel with Simpson 3rd.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx7q70V3JDOdJeUbHhyphenhyphenROuCfLt3fEn_abqCvHdI71gRY_ebLBoppaldck5pJAD_q8WlZC7w49HVY-v-Ckf1-TfTIz8cKTDmN7MgoYjLp8SWiSS0xtWKTbNGjHERgyO_hKZa5ChMwCdA/s1600/Lennoxville111120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx7q70V3JDOdJeUbHhyphenhyphenROuCfLt3fEn_abqCvHdI71gRY_ebLBoppaldck5pJAD_q8WlZC7w49HVY-v-Ckf1-TfTIz8cKTDmN7MgoYjLp8SWiSS0xtWKTbNGjHERgyO_hKZa5ChMwCdA/s400/Lennoxville111120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lennoxville with coach/mentor Al Whittier</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Winners of Recreational Division 2011 Cathy Kerr</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photos courtesy of Katie Paialunga's iPhone</div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756899534609502905.post-8838983700286728162011-11-19T18:15:00.000-08:002011-11-20T14:45:32.899-08:00USA 1 & Norway top their pools after round robin at Cathy KerrUSA I, playing with just three members after Dave Palmer had to return home for a family emergency, went 5-0 in round robin play at the end of Day 2 of the 7th Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial Spiel at the RA in Ottawa, Ontario. They beat Ken Gregory's Bradford 6-3 and Newfoundland/Labrador 6-5.<br />
<br />
Norway also went undefeated, topping their pool after dropping only a point in yesterday's tie with Toronto. Today they inflicted Quebec's only defeat, 8-5, and finished with a 7-5 defeat of Sudbury. In the absence of skip Rune Lorentsen, who did not travel with the team but who will lead them in Korea, Jostein Stordahl has proved an effective replacement. The other members of the team have rotated positions but tomorrow will play Sissel Løchen at lead, Per Fagerhøi at 2nd and Terje Rafdal at 3rd.<br />
<br />
Chris Sobkowicz's Manitoban Team Cancade, with recent implant Mark Wherrett playing 2nd, beat Ilderton 9-3 in the morning then piled on winless Team Fraser, 18-0 after 6 ends. Their alternate, George Horning, played on the Newfoundland/Labrador team replacing a player who fell ill.<br />
<br />
Quebec rebounded from their morning loss by beating USA II 6-5 in the afternoon.<br />
<br />
That set up top of the table cross pool match-ups of USA I vs Quebec and Norway vs Cancade at 9am, the winners playing for the $400 1st prize, and the losers playing for 3rd, at 2.15pm.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Tables after Round Robin</span></b><br />
<b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: red;">Pool A</span> <span style="color: red;">Pool B</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Norway 4-0-1</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> USA I 5-0</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Quebec 4-1 </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Cancade 4-1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">USA II 3-2 Ilderton 3-2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Cameron 2-3 </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Newfld/Lab 2-3</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Toronto 1-3-1 </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Bradford 1-4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sudbury 0-5 Fraser 0-5</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
Results from each draw can be viewed <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/docs/CathKerr111118.txt" target="_blank">HERE</a>. The schedule is available <a href="http://wheelchaircurling.com/docs/CathyKerr2011.rtf" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
<br />
In the recreational division, visiting Lennoxville (3-1) from Quebec won both their games to top the table over Michel (2-2) Wong-Sing (2-2) and Simpson (1-3).</div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16977271452654335000noreply@blogger.com0