Canada I sweeps to victory at Richmond International

Jim Armstrong's World Champion Canada I team of Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forest and Sonja Gaudet completed their round robin with a seventh win, gently over RCD 6-2, while second place Cancade pounded Alberta 10 - 1, stealing the last seven points.

USA took 3 in the  5th in a  6-2 win over BC, enough to lift them above Canada II who lost to Quebec 4-2 with just 5 ends played.

In the playoff, Canada I faced Manitoban Team Cancade for the $1,000 first prize and got off to a fast start, taking 3 with hammer. Cancade held them close the rest of the way but lost 7-5, earning the $600 second prize.

Quebec blanked USA 10-0 to take home $400 for third. Teams also earned  $50 for each round robin win.  

Standings after Draw 7

Canada I   7 - 0
Cancade    5 - 2
Quebec     5 - 2
USA        4 - 3
Canada II  3 - 4
Alberta    2 - 5
BC         2 - 5
RCD        0 - 7

Draw and rosters are available HERE

Draw 7 line scores are available HERE and playoff line scores are available HERE

Richmond International Day 3

Canada I continued their cruise through the field on the third day of the Richmond International, stealing four ends against USA in the morning before allowing a two in the 6th and final end of a 10-2 win. In the afternoon they beat BC 9-2, padding the score with a steal of 4 in the 7th; the only game of the eight played past the 6th end.

Quebec, lying 2nd in the table at start of play, started strong against Alberta, stealing 3 in the 1st, the winning margin of the 7-4 result.  In the afternoon they met Manitoba's Cancade team and lost 6-4. Chris Sobkowicz's side had earlier beaten Canada II 7-2 and their double put them in second place at the end of play. Alberta slumped to a second defeat, losing to Canada II 7-6 in a game where multiple points were scored 5 of the 6 ends.

The pick-up team representing the RCD hosts took another beating in the morning 12-0 defeat by BC, but regrouped in the afternoon though still losing 5-4 to USA on a stolen final point.

Standings after Draw 6

Canada I  6 - 0
Cancade   4 - 2
Quebec    4 - 2
Canada II 3 - 3
USA       3 - 3
Alberta   2 - 4
BC        2 - 4
RCD       0 - 6

Draw and rosters are available HERE

Draw 5 line scores are available HERE and Draw 6 line scores are available HERE

Richmond International Day 1

The first of four days of very competitive wheelchair curling began this morning at the Richmond CC as 8 teams started a full round robin to decide who will playoff for the $1,000 1st prize next Saturday.

The event, sponsored by the Richmond Committee For Disability (RCD) saw Canada bring their World Champion team, as well as a neophyte Canada II team, while BC, Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba (Cancade) all fielded strong established teams with lots of competitive experience. USA featured only one player from 2010, skip Patrick MacDonald, while a mixture of players from Richmond and Portland (OR) represented the RCD hosts.

Canada I crushed Canada II in the opening draw and more significantly took out Bruno Yizek's Alberta 9-3 in Draw II.

Gary Cormack's BC were edged 6-3 by Alberta in the opener but rebounded to hand Canada II their second loss, 9-5 in the afternoon.

Quebec handled USA 5-1 and blanked RCD 9-0, while Chris Sobkowicz's Cancade team also blanked RCD but were then beaten by USA, 7-4 in Draw 2.

Play was generally slow, with most games ending in 6 ends, a couple managing just 5, and only one game lasting 7 ends.

Standings after Draw 2

Canada I  2 - 0
Quebec    2 - 0
Alberta   1 - 1
BC        1 - 1
Cancade   1 - 1
USA       1 - 1
Canada II 0 - 2
RCD       0 - 2

Draw, Scores and rosters are available HERE

Richmond Centre for Disability hosts 5th International Nov 2-5

The 5th Annual International Bonspiel organised by the Richmond Centre For Disability begins Wednesday November 2nd at the Richmond CC, with a full 8 team round robin ending with the playoff round Saturday November 5th.

Team Canada will be fielding its World Champion team in their final competitive appearance before they defend their title in South Korea, Feb. 18-25.

Also competing for the $1,000 first prize will be the 2011 Quebec champions, the Manitoban and Albertan finalists at the 2011 Nationals, 2010 National Champions BC's Team Cormack, Team USA, a mixed US and Canadian RCD team, and a Canada II team tba.

The event boasts the most compettive fireld outside of the natonal championship, and viewing is free. Teams can practice Tuesday afternoon, and Draw One begins Wednesday at 9.30am.

Full information is HERE