Draw 6 - World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2009

Sheet A   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

GER       0   2  0  2  1  0  2  x       7

SWE       3   0  4  0  0  5  0  x       12
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Sheet B   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

ITA       1   3  0  0  1  0  2  x       7 

SUI       0   0  1  1  0  2  0  x       4

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Sheet C   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

KOR       2   0  0  1  0  2  0  0       5

CHN       0   1  2  0  1  0  2  1       7

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Sheet D   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

CAN       0   0  1  0  1  0  1  0       3

USA       1   1  0  1  0  1  0  2       6     

Day 3 Canada preview

It's far too early for Canadian fans to panic. Having said that, this is a team built around Jim Armstrong, and when he struggles there is no one there to pick him up. It's not Jim's team, it's the team that he has been given, and while it may well be the team that he himself would have chosen, it is not a national team forged in adversity, with a personal history.

Jim is calling a great game, and it was fascinating to watch him attempt to put the pieces back together down four in the final end of their last two games. Had he been able to execute his own shots, Canada may well have come back from the dead and be sharing top of the table.

But his teammates are deferential. They talk and encourage each other while he is sitting alone at the other end, and they listen attentively to him during the break. But who's going to be the one to say "COME ON Jim, you can do it! Let's go!"

Jim had said before the championship that we would be impressed by how accurately the team would play, that wheelchair curling was moving away from being a game of misses. His game plan has always left Canada with a makeable last shot. But it remains extraordinarily difficult to throw a stone into the rings, period, let alone to a particular spot under pressure.

Jim has has decades of experience facing adversity. He'll find his touch, but throwing from a chair under this type of pressure is new for him. He's thrown as many and probably more rocks than anyone on the ice this past year. He has exprience at 3rd and the tournament's only soft opponent in Switzerland this afternoon. Look to Canada to rebuild their confidence before their USA grudge match this evening.

Draw 5 - Scroll Down For Line Scores

Draw 5 - World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2009

Sheet A   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

SUI       1   0  2  0  0  1  0  X       4

CAN       0   1  0  1  4  0  5  X      11
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Sheet B   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

USA       2   0  0  0  1  0  0  X       3

KOR       0   2  1  4  0  3  1  X      11

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Sheet C   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

SWE       1   0  5  0  3  0  2  X      11

SCO       0   1  0  2  0  2  0  X       5

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Sheet D   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

NOR       1   0  2  0  1  3  1  X       8

CHN       0   1  0  2  0  0  0  X       3

Day 2 at the Worlds - a bad day for favourites

It was a bad day for the favoured sides, though the in form team, Germany, kept winning. They may have used a whole week's worth of good fortune in scoring four in the final end to overcome a two point deficit to beat USA 10-8.

You can review a recap of the game as we reported it live below this post but in short USA played well enough to win, but missed takeouts with their last four stones, gifting Germany a fourth win to stay top of the table.

Scotland finally found their form after struggling painfully in their first two outings. They fell behind 6-2 to Norway at the break, but then scored 7 unanswered points. Norway coach Thoralf Hognestad was in constant motion, jumping up and down, imploring his side to pull their game together but to no avail. If it had been a soccer match he probably would have been banished from the sidelines. It's refreshing to see some animation from a coach. Most have gone to coach stoicism school, and betray no emotion.

Sweden pricked the China bubble, stealing singles in three of the ends in a 6-5 victory, and Italy continued their momentum from their morning win over Canada by swamping Korea 7-1. There was a lengthy delay a the third end when an official incorrectly moved a stone. After much deliberation it was decided to replay the end. Korea, who had given up two singles, were unable to regain their composure, giving up a further three steals before getting on the board.

Tomorrow morning Canada face Switzerland, who are still looking for their first win. The Swiss team has been completely reworked with long-time skip Manfred Bollinger leading a team with very little experience. USA play Korea in a game that will test who can better rebound from frustrating Draw 4 losses. Sweden play Scotland and Norway take on China.

See you online as we live blog the Canadian game. Go to wheelchaircurling.com to see standings and a full results table.

Draw 4 - Scroll Down for Line Scores

Draw 4 - World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2009

Sheet A   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

SWE       2   1  0  1  1  1  0  0       6

CHN       0   0  2  0  0  0  2  1       5
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Sheet B   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

SCO       1   0  1  0  3  3  1  0       9

NOR       0   3  0  3  0  0  0  2       8

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Sheet C   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

USA       0   0  2  3  0  0  3  0       8

GER       1   1  0  0  3  1  0  4       10

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Sheet D   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

ITA       1   1  3  1  1  0  0  x       7

KOR       0   0  0  0  0  1  0  x       1

Quick impressions of Draw 3

As goes the skip, so goes the team.  That's true for any curling team but especially so with this one.  Jim Armstrong is the powerful personality on the team and the player that the rest of the side look up to.  And he is calling a great game.  Today's problemswere that even though he gave himself a chance to bail his team out every end, too often he failed to execute.

Italy were very pumped for this game and even though their front end struggled, Tabanelli at skip remained calm and out shot Jim Armstrong.  That said, Italy nearly made the same mistake as China in the final end.  Canada threw a corner guard and Italy, rather than throwing through, chose to challenge Canada with draws.  Jim still had a chance to save the day if he could have made his first stone of the final end count.  But he came up short and Canada were out of rocks.

In other games, Scotland continued their erratic play in a 10-6 loss to USA.  Tom Killin and Michael McCreadie both struggled with weight control and the score would have been much worse than 10 -6 had Aileen Neilson not bailed them out a couple of times.

Norway's coach chewed out his team at the fourth end break.  Norway took 2 in the first but then gave up steals in the third and the fourth to go into the break down 4 - 2.  The Swiss team have a very experienced skip but are otherwise new to wheelchair curling, and Norway Coach Thoralf Hognestad was not happy to see his defending champions behind.

"I told the team I was angry at them.  They were not focusing.  I told them they had to visualize the path of the rock before every rock and not be looking into the stands."

His words took effect as Norway scored three in the fifth and had single steals in each of the last three ends.

Germany took on favoured Korea and beat them decisively 8 - 3.  Germany started with a 3, gave up 2, but finished with steals in the 6th and 7th ends for a decisive victory.  Germany lead the table at 3 - 0 and take on the USA this evening.  See you there!

Jottings frm my (mental) notebook - Day 2

The rocks are "fresh out the box" new, a fact that pleases no-one, least of all the icemakers who are having to balance the extreme curl of new rocks against the need for fast ice.

Canada feel they have spotted a couple of "bad" rocks. What happens to them? Lead Chris Sobkowicz gets to throw them.

Coach Rea felt that China were allowed to get too comfortable throwing the same shots down down the same path. In Canada's one good end, where they scored 3,  Armstrong came in behind China's centre  line guard. He said as the team left for their hotel, "I've had better games." 

China will have learned how quickly a 4 shot lead can be threatened if you ignore corner guards and the other team executes as Canada did in the 8th end.

Team USA had brought software to do live audio broadcasts of their games. They were not allowed internet access, so had to abandon their plan. I spoke to a couple of Bell technicians who didn't think available bandwidth should be an issue. Obviously there is more at work here than meets the eye, but it is a shame when any opportunity to publicise the game and involve fans, is spurned.

Team USA Coach Brown told me this morning "Everyone in the curling world emphasizes the importance of all athletes following the 'Spirit of Curling.'


"In the same vein, only common sense would tell you in the "Spirit of the game," and for the promotion of Paralympic Sports and wheelchair curling, the WCF and VANOC should allow something as simple as a webcast.


"If they can't iron this out, they are clearly putting politics ahead of the Spirit of sport."


This won't be the last word, as I intend to see what can be done to allow this free publicity.

Italy, Canada's draw 3 opponents, arrived late the day before practice and skipped the social to catch up on rest. The looked flat in an opening loss to Germany, but scored a 5 ender against a very experienced Swedish skip in a 10-7 win.

That's it for now. See you live at 12.30 - the live blogging window is below this post.

Draw 3 - Scroll Down for Line Scores

Draw 3 - World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2009

Sheet A   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

SCO       0   0  1  0  2  0  3  X      6

USA       1   3  0  2  0  4  0  X     10
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Sheet B   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

KOR       0   2  0  1  0  0  0  X       3

GER       3   0  1  0  2  1  1  X       8

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Sheet C   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

ITA       1   0  1  3  0  3  1  X       9

CAN       0   2  0  0  3  0  0  X       5

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Sheet D   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

SUI       0   1  1  2  0  0  0  0       8

NOR       2   0  0  0  3  1  1  1       4

Day 1 at the Worlds, or how I spent my 60th birthday

Having somewhat optimistically suggested that we would be updating the blog an hour after play ended, I am writing this 2 hours late. Most of that time was spent standing outside an arena at an address that completely befuddled Vancouver's taxi service. We were eventually rescued by two phone technicians who offered us a lift rather than assuming that we'd probably be all right despite the lateness of the hour.

Of course the liquor store was closed by the time we got back here and so was the bar.  The bathroom doesn't have a door on it so that I can get my wheelchair in, and the shower sets off the fire alarm.

Happy Birthday to me.

The morning started much better.  The teams were led in by the RCMP pipers and the trophy was carried in by an RCMP officer with jaw that jutted in the best comic book tradition.  It was a stirring sight for a disappointingly small crowd.  I'm sure it was more trouble than it was worth to collect the five dollars they were charging at the door.  Pass checkers outnumbered people lacking passes.

Scottish coach Tom Pendrieigh told me that he was hoping for a good start to Scotland's campaign as they had the toughest early draws of any of the teams.  "I hope there's a lot of rocks in play," he said, "and that we provide some entertainment for the crowd." 

Both Canada and Scotland struggled in the first couple of ends.  Canada managed to get three rocks in the rings in the first end and they all counted.  They followed up with a steal of two and the game was pretty much over as a spectacle as Scotland struggled at all positions.  Scotland were throwing from behind the tee line in the near rings for draws and moving up to the hogline for hits, but were never able to get going.  Michael McCreadie struggled to make the rings towards the end of the game.  The final score tells it all: Canada 10 - Scotland 2 although Michael had to be told by an official that he had been run out of rocks in the eighth end and had to leave the ice.  Now that is a never-say-die spirit.

USA played China and the game was very close with a rare blank end.  USA's problem was that they played the first end with lots of rocks in the rings and gave up three.  Coach Brown was philosophical in defeat.  "We just have to make more shots," he said.

Swedish skip Jalle pointed out to me at the end of the evening that I'd been wrong in suggesting that the qualifiers, Germany and China, might struggle with an increase in the standard of competition at the Worlds. 

China gave Canada a spanking through seven ends although inexperience at skip nearly cost them a four-ender in the final end. The game started slowly.  China without the hammer threw centre line guards.  Canada threw to the wings.  China hit and rolled.  Canada hit and rolled.  Canada missed first, and China stole singles in the first three ends. 

In the fourth end Jim Armstrong changed tactics when China's centre line guard was further from the rings.  He came in first and scored three with lots of play around the four foot but  Canada failed to build on that momentum and in the last end were down 7 - 3.

They threw a hopeful corner guard and China missed their peel and then forgot about the guard.  Canada tucked three rocks behind it and were sitting three when China threw their last rock, a fully buried come around back of the four foot.  Coach Joe Rea said, "You can't be unhappy if you're down four and have a chance to tie the game with your last rock," and Jim had a legitimate chance to tap the Chinese shot stone  back to score four.  It wasn't to be. 

"I was too tentative," he told me afterwards.  "I should have gone for it."  His rock clipped the guard and China scored one for an 8 - 3  win.

Norway and Korea, two of the favoured teams, went to an extra end tied at 5 after Korea stole singles in the seventh and eighth ends.  Norway had an open hit to win the game with their last rock but crashed a guard and lost 6- 5.

In other results, Germany crushed a very inexperienced Swiss team 10 - 2 to go 2 - 0.  Sweden scored often but not often enough to overcome a five-ender in the third, losing to Italy 10 -7.

That's all for tonight.  See you Sunday in the live blogging when Canada play Italy at 12:30 PM Pacific time.

Draw 2 - Scroll Down for Line Scores

Quick impressions of the Canada - Scotland game

For those of you who didn't follow our rock-by-rock live blogging of the game, both teams started very, very slowly, throwing mostly 0's in the first end. Candad got three rocks into the house and those were the three rocks that scored.

A steal of two in the second end put the game away as a competitive match.

The Scottish coach felt that the ice was tricky and the combination of new rocks, new ice, and nerves meant that neither side performed particularly well in the early going. "Canada got their game together before we did."

We are hoping to sort out some of the technical difficulties with the live blogging. Pauses were down to the internet connection, which we hope will improve.

Coach Joe Rea just stopped by and said that he was satisfied with the performance overall. He said that the plan was to not have any rocks out in front of the house, and that's certainly what happened. What misses there were were heavy, and that wasn't accidental. Rea said, "We play to ice conditions. We have different game plans for different ice conditions, "

Hope to see you at 6:00 PM Pacific this evening for Canada vs China, who walloped the USA 6 - 3 this afternoon.

-Eric

Draw 2 - World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2009

Sheet A   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

NOR       0   1  2  0  1  1  0  0  0    5

KOR       1   0  0  2  0  0  1  1  1    6
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Sheet B   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

CHN       1   1  1  0  2  1  1  1       8

CAN       0   0  0  3  0  0  0  0       3

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Sheet C   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

GER       0   0  1  3  3  2  1  X       10

SUI       1   1  0  0  0  0  0  X        2

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Sheet D   1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Total

SWE       0   1  0  2  2  0  2  X       10

ITA       2   0  5  0  0  2  0  X        7

Draw 1 - Scroll Down for Line Scores

Live! 2009 Wheelchair Curling Worlds - Opening Ceremonies

Draw 1 - World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2009

Sheet A   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

ITA       0  0  0  2  0  0  3  0       5

GER       1  1  1  0  1  3  0  2       9
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Sheet B   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

SUI       1  1  0  1  1  0  0  0       4

SWE       0  0  1  0  0  3  4  1       9

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Sheet C   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

CHN       3  1  0  0  0  1  1  0       6

USA       0  0  1  0  1  0  0  1       3

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Sheet D   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final

SCO       0  0  1  1  0  0  0  X      10

CAN       3  2  0  0  3  1  1  X       2

2009 Worlds preview

The first thing you notice as you approach the brand new Olympic/Paralympic Curling Centre, site of the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships is that it is still a work in progress. You are entering a building site and this championship is the venue's first event.

A friendly lady handed over a media credential courtesy of the CCA. and pointed to an elevator festooned with sticky tape over buttons yet to be programmed, The "wheelchair media' table, up a ramp to the coaches area, afforded a view of only 5 of the 8 rings across the 4 sheets, so tomorrow I hope to report from the regular press area if I can find someone to pull my chair up the 11 scaffolded steps.

Each team had a couple of 45 minute practice sessions broken into 15 minute segments on different sheets. Attitudes to practice, and the practice teams had at practicing, showed in how efficiently they used their allotted time. Chairs were allowed to enter the ice a couple of minutes before the practice, to cool their tires. Then an official with a microphone announced "You may begin."

Team Korea already had their rocks ready, and had gone through a full rotation before other teams had sorted out who was doing what. Korea probably threw twice as many rocks as any other team, and looked a very efficient unit. I clocked several 7 second takeouts and it would be a brave team who challenges them to a hitting game. Their rotation over, the skip, third and coach took stopwatches and scouted the other teams,

The Scots entered the ice wearing shades; small ones for Michael McCreadie, and a pair that covered the entire top half of Jim Sellars' face. The Scots were throwing from behind the tee line in the near rings, and both team coaches spent a lot of time writing things down. It will be interesting to see how that works for them. Everybody I spoke to was skeptical about their chances.

Team Canada looked very focused. Coach Rea held the broom while Jim Armstrong sat beside him chatting. There seemed to be as much chatting as throwing. Somebody suggested they were trying to psych out the competition. I wonder if anybody was paying attention enough to be psyched.

There were a variety of delivery styles on display. Jim Pearce, USA third, used a two-handed delivery. The Chinese had their chins almost at the level of the rock handles. Team Canada has moved from a pendulum to a piston delivery, while Scotland's Tom Killin continues to use a three-quarter side delivery that lines up head, arm, hand, rock and broom through the length of delivery. I wonder why it is not more widely used.

Team USA were in an ebullient mood. They have a new and very high energy assistant coach and through Coach Steve Brown would not be drawn into a prediction, the players I spoke to felt confident that they could maintain or improve upon last year's success.

Many of the championship's teams draw from very small player pools. Germany have perhaps a dozen wheelchair curlers in the whole country and receive very little financial support. "Before we qualified for this tournament, we were having to pay our own expenses," said Jens Jäger, the German skip.

Jalle Jungell, the Swedish skip, said there were maybe two dozen wheelchair curlers in Sweden, though this year they had a four team playoff to decide who would represent Sweden at the Worlds. Three of the Swedish team won bronze in Torino but they only brought four players to Vancouver as one player was too ill to travel. "We'll just have to stay healthy," he said, adding the refreshing comment, 'but we are also here to enjoy ourselves. It has to be fun." Both Jalle and Jens thought Canada should be considered tournament favourites, though Jalle reminded me that Norway were a very strong team, "Rune (Norway's skip) is a very cool person; he has no nerves at all.'

The icemakers spent the day experimenting with different pebble and temperatures on each of the four sheets, balancing the need for fast ice and a manageable amount of curl. "The rocks are brand new," explained Swiss ic maker Peter Luk, who with Denmark's Jorgen Larsen made ice at Torino and tha lat twoWorlds. "New rocks curl a lot. The keener we make the ice the more the rocks will curl, and we're still trying to find a balance." Hog-to-hog tee line draw times were between 12 and 13 seconds, and the ice makers hope to get that to 14 or 14.5 seconds.

So, who's going to win? I didn't see anything today that makes me want to change my mind from the assessment I blogged in the comments a week ago. Canada are favourites: home ice, enormous experience at skip, more than adequate skill throughout the line-up and a Torino gold medalist at alternate. In the blog survey, 90% of respondents put Canada on the podium, with most suggesting gold. Korea was 2nd favourite, with Norway a close 3rd, followed by USA, China and Scotland. Here's my guess from a week ago and I'm staying with it.

Those of you who worry that Armstrong has not been tested have a point, but a small one. He throws well, at least as well as anyone throwing last rocks for Canada, or he would be doing a Ferbey and skipping from 3rd.

He's been curling 50 years, under pressure that none of the other curlers will know. And I think he has had enough success this season, not always with the best possible support, to have confidence in his own ability to draw to the centre of the rings when he has to.

That was what Canada has lacked with past skips; someone who could draw reliably with their last rock, though in fairness to Darryl, I would be comfortable with him throwing 4th.

Jim's understanding of the game is a huge advantage given that he knows that wheelchair curling is not able-bodied curling without the sweeping, but a different game requiring a completely different approach. He won't make the mistake of calling or attempting shots that are not there. He will also understand the point that Linda Moore stresses; assessing risk and reward, and calling for the shot likely to be made.

That's the area where I think he gives Canada its real edge, not so much the ice-reading, or overall strategy which are so susceptible to the fallibilities of throwing without sweeping.

He has also spent a lot of time practicing with Darryl which will help.

Ina is a very strong second. She (and Darryl) threw top of their positions last year. She can throw weight, and also throw guards if as I expect Canada comes into the rings with lead stones.

Chris at lead is the unknown. He has worked hard to earn his place and I suspect that his ability to throw takeouts at opposing leads stones in the rings is the reason he edges out Sonja. If he fails to overcome his nerves, then Sonja is a more than adequate alternative.

The entire Canada squad have improved over the past year, but we won't know until the weekend how much the other teams have improved also. Korea shocked everyone in 2008 by how accurately they threw weight. This year we'll be seeing how accurate they are on their draw game, and how able they are to manage ends with lots of rocks in play,

USA have a team spirit and a confidence that will carry them past other sides, though I don't think they have the opportunity to play enough to challenge Canada and Korea. China is a complete unknown. I suspect they will be too inconsistent to challenge at this level, which is a big step up from the Qualifying Tournament.

I don't think Norway will emulate their recent successes. They have never been a statistically impressive side, but have big game experience. If they get to the semis they could win again, but I don't think they'll get that far.

Strange to leave Scotland so late. They have the most experienced side, but they have shown no form this season, and while I know from firsthand experience just how good a curler Michael McCreadie is, I fail to see how throwing from far behind the hogline helps their cause. Unless Michael gets some early success I fear self-doubt will scupper his team's chances.

Switzerland arrive with a reworked team, Sweden bring Torino medal experience, Germany equaled China at Qualifying, and I'm afraid it will be Italy, despite losing a tie-break for a playoff spot last year, doing a Mike Harris and wondering where the easy games are.

So, as I posted at the top of this thread:

Canada
Korea
USA


Here are some thoughts from Torino Gold Medal skip Chris Daw on the eve of this event.

In Vancouver to report the Worlds - preview (much) later today 2/19/2009

We're here in Vancouver to give draw by draw live reports and hopefully interactive blogging. Details to follow when we have had a chance to check out the facilities, and watch some practice.

Scots coach discusses team's prospects

Tom Pendreigh, coach of Team Scotland, told the BBC: ""We couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the tournament with Canada, the USA, who are an up-and-coming team, defending champions Norway, and a strong Korean team in four of our first five matches.

"It is vital for us to make a strong start and get some early wins to boost our confidence and set us up for the rest of the tournament.

"Last year's World Championships was a disappointing end to a good season although we had some illness and injuries to contend with. It was our poorest showing at a Worlds and we want to put that right." [read full report]

Ice in for the 2009 Worlds

Photograph by: Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun

The arena containing the four ice sheets that will be used at the 2009 Worlds and next year's Olympics and Paralympics, will seat 6,00 spectators when finished. As you can see by the photo there is still a lot of construction work yet to be done.

The ice is being put in by renowned ice-makers Hans Wurthrich and Dave Merklinger and will be looked after during the Worlds by Peter Luk from Switzerland and Jorgen Larsen from Denmark, who prepared ice in Torino and at the World Championship last year in Sursee.

The surface will be converted into a NFL size hockey hockey rink after the Olympics. [read report by Bruce Constantineau, Canwest News Service]

Team USA - last (but not least) of the set of team photos

 

Patrick McDonald, James Pierce, Jacque Kapinowski, James Joseph, Augusto Perez (skip) 

more USA photos HERE

Rebuilt Golden Acres CC, Blenheim ON, now wheelchair accessible

The Chatham Daily News reports that the Golden Acres CC, severely damaged by fire a couple of years ago, has been rebuilt as a wheelchair accessible facility. Jamie Pickering, curling club president, is reported as being interested in attracting wheelchair curlers. [read report]

Meet Team Canada 2009

Sonja Gaudet, Chris Sobkowicz, Ina Forrest
Darryl Neighbour, Jim Armstrong and Coach Joe Rea

Jim Armstrong - skip (58) was born in Victoria and now lives in Richmond BC with his wife Carleen, three children, Greg, Jayme and Jody and three dogs. He began curling when he was 8 and has been to six Briers, twice as skip. His Highest moment in curling was reaching the 1987 Brier final (at third) and his lowest was losing that final on the last rock to Ontario's Russ Howard.

Severe injuries to his knees and spine ended his regular playing career and in 2007 he was invited to work with the Team Canada squad, sharing his experience. He began playing from a wheelchair and skipped BC to a National title in 2008. He was subsequently cleared to play in international competition by the World Curling Federation's eligibility assessor.

"Wheelchair curling is a great game, a real roller derby of curling. Playing again has meant so much to me. I play and practice during the week with Darryl, and I am getting to know the others on my team. I wish I knew more about the teams we will be playing, and of course on any given day any team can win. But with the experience we have gained this year, and a year of seasoning for those on the team last year, we plan to at least be playing on the weekend."

Darryl Neighbour - 3rd (60) was born in Beaver Lodge, Alberta and has lived in Vancouver since 1980. He became a paraplegic after a construction accident in August 2000 and took up wheelchair tennis but was enticed into curling in 2003 by the late Jim Shannon. He curls most days, and in the summer works and volunteers for various organisations involved in wheelchair sports.

"I've played in four National Championships, placing higher every year from 4th in 2004 to a national title in 2007. Last year at the Worlds I missed a hit that would have put us into the 1/2 game, but this year the team will do better. The team goal is a podium finish but I am hoping for a gold medal. The difference this year will be Jim's experience at skip. He reads the ice so well and can plan out the end, so I just do a lot of nodding in agreement as third."



Ina Forrest - second (46) was born in Fort St. John and has lived for the last ten years in the Okanagan in Armstrong, BC. She is married to Curtis and has 3 children; Evany, Marlon and Connor, one dog, 3 cats and 5 horses. She began curling in 2004, talked into trying it by someone she met while shopping, and her highest moment was playing in her first Nationals in November 2004.

"It was my first competition, on a selected team skipped by Jim Shannon. We lost the Canadian Nationals final by a couple of millimeters on a measurement. In 2007 I was an alternate at the Worlds, and played 2nd at the 2008 tournament. I still get nervous when I play, though not all the time. I've always felt we have had the chance to win. We get stronger each year, but so do the competition. The team goal this year is a podium finish; mine is to come away feeling I have done everything I can to help the team win. I relax when I have thrown my last rock, and I always hope that it is a good rock so that I end the game on a positive."

Chris Sobkowicz - lead (55) was born in Winnipeg, where he lives with his wife Sherry and two sons Jaret and Jordan. He began curling in 2004 and has skipped Team Manitoba at 4 Canadian National Championships, winning bronze in 2008. His biggest thrill in curling was hearing that he had been selected to the 2009 team. "I have been asked to play lead, a new position for me. I always skipped for Manitoba and have been playing 2nd as part of the Team Canada squad. But I am thrilled to play at any position, and my personal goal for this tournament will be not only to make my shots, but to score a high percentage. The team is quietly confident that we have the ability to do well. I'll take the games as they come but I am particularly looking forward to playing Germany, who have been great hosts and are really good people."


Sonja Gaudet - alternate (42) was born and raised in BC, and lives with her husband Dan, daughter Alysha and son Colten in Vernon, in the Okanagan Valley in central BC. She became a paraplegic after a horse riding accident in 1997 but has continued her passion for sports, including skiing, swimming, tennis and of course curling, which she began in 2002.

Her first competitive curling success was a silver medal at the 2003 National Championships, and the highlight of her curling career so far was a National Championship in 2006 and a gold medal in Torino at the Paralympic Games 2006. Sonja has been an ever-present member of Team Canada since 2005 and this will be her 3rd World Championship.

"Curling gives me the opportunity to continue to strive for excellence in sport and competition - which I love to do - even after a spinal cord injury. I hope to continue to improve my technical ability in curling and be on the team that will compete at the Paralympic Games in Vancouver 2010. I hope that I can be a role model who sends this message - Always Believe and Giving up is not an Option!"

Joe Rea - coach (50) was born in Vancouver and has lived in Prince George BC since 1972. He is married to Colleen and they have 3 children, Bailey, Kirstie and Dustin, and three foster children.

He began curling at 14 and has competed at the Men's BC Provincial Championships. He became Team Canada coach in 2004 and took his team to a gold medal at the 2006 Torino Paralympics.

"We have been a very consistent team for a few years now, without being able to close at recent World Championships. We were just a hit away from the final at last year's event. Darryl will have benefited from playing last year and Jim Armstrong brings experience and understanding that only comes from decades of playing the game. We are not taking any of our opponents lightly. This is a very experienced field that will force us to bring our "A" game if we expect to be successful."

BC's Jackie Roy honoured at 2009 Premier’s Athletic Awards

 Jackie Roy

 

Jackie Roy was one of the athletes honoured at the 2009 BC Premier's Athletic Awards luncheon 2009 at the Sheraton Wall Centre February 12th. The awards are go to athletes who demonstrate the potential and commitment to represent British Columbia and Canada in athletic competition to relieve some of the pressures associated with training and competition. Jackie will be playing lead Jim Armstrong's team that will defend its national title in Nova Scotia in March. Darryl Neighbour won this award in 2008.

OK, OK, so who's going to win the 2009 Worlds?

I was going to open this thread next week but as we already have a couple of predictions on another thread, maybe it would be better to have a place where the collective wisdom of the blog's readership can be more easily researched.

The countries competing at Vancouver's brand new Olympic and Paralympic curling centre from February 21 to 28th in the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships are, in alphabetical order with place at the 2008 championships:

Canada (4th)

China (Q)

Germany (Q)

Italy (5th)

Korea (2nd)

Norway (1st)

Scotland (7th)

Sweden (6th)

Switzerland (8th)

USA (3rd)

Howard and Jones to throw from wheelchairs

 Glenn Howard at the 2008 event

Glenn Howard and Jennifer Jones will be throwing from wheelchairs for two ends of their charity skins game at Saturday's Dominion of Canada Spinal Tap Mixed Bonspiel in Thornhill ON. [read report on the curlingnews blog]

Moose Jaw's Marie Wright profiled

Marie Wright
[photo courtesy of Matthew Gourlie]

 
One of the members of Saskatchewan's first provincial wheelchair curling team is Marie Wright of Moose Jaw. Matthew Gourlie interviewed her for the Moose Jaw Times Herald as she practiced.

“I’m really enjoying it. It’s a lot of fun,” said Wright. “I didn’t think I would because I’ve really never done it before, but I’m really enjoying it a lot. I really like getting out there and doing something too.” [read article]

China arrives on the 19th to much speculation

Wang Haitao ,He Jun, Liu Chunyu ,Xu Guangqin, Liu Wei, Coach Mu Liang

Team China will make a late arrival into Vancouver amidst speculation that they may be the dark horses of the tournament. This young team's impressive performance at the November Qualifying Tournament has caught the attention of Canadian coaches who, like many watching the Women's World Championship in Vernon BC last year, saw an unknown Chinese team challenge Canada in the final. Team China will now face a much stronger field than Prague Qualifying, but Korea proved last year that it's possible for a team playing full-time to quickly master the technical skills required to play at the highest level.

Would you break your toe just to curl better?

Dr. Krassioukov, a UBC professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, claims that some competitors with spinal cord injuries are taking extreme actions to increase blood pressure and improve athletic performance. He is proposing that curling teams be included in a study at the 2010 Paralympics that may help adjust International Paralympic Committee classifications to discourage athletes from feeling they have to break their toes to win medals. [read more]

Team Korea arrives February 16th

Haksung Kim (skip) Myungjin Kim (3rd) Yanghyun Cho (2nd)
Misuk Kang (lead) Kilwoo Park (fifth player)

Team Korea, odds on  favourite to win this year's Worlds according to a quote attributed to Team Canada skip Jim Armstrong in today's Vancouver Courier, arrive in Vancouver this Sunday. This is the same on-ice team that rewrote so many coaches' expectations of what was possible when they posted extraordinarily high team shooting percentages in Switzerland at the 2008 Championships. Though they lost in the final to defending champions Norway, the experience may make them even more formidable opponents this year.

Full day learn to curl at Remax Ctr, St. John's Saturday 14th

Chris Daw has organised a full day for those interested in discovering the joys of wheelchair curling. The event will be held at the St. John's Curling Club at thhe Remax Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland. The day will include both on ice and off ice sessions and begins at 10.30 am. Email Chris for more information.

Armstrong talks about the potential of the sport

In an interview with Sandra Thomas of the Vancouver Courier, Team Canada skip Jim Armstrong manages to steer the conversation towards how the forthcoming Worlds can stimulate interest in curling among Canada's wheelchair users. " .. wheelchair curling is so relatively new there's so much potential. This is an untapped market because there are a lot of people around with a lot of time on their hands." [read full article]

Team Italy leaving it late

 Alternate: Emanuele Spelorzi, Lead: Lucrezia Celentano,
2nd: Gabriele Dallapiccola,  3rd: Egidio Marchese,
Skip: Andrea Tabanelli,  coach Mauro Maino

Team Italy will be arriving in Vancouver the evening before practice at the Hillcrest Stadium, venue of the 2009 World Championships. The team includes the players who lost a tie-breaker to the USA last year for a semi-final spot, and skip Andrea Tabanelli and third Egidio Marchese played at the Torino Paralympics.

Team Sweden bringing 3 Torino medalists

Patrik Burman, Glenn Ikonen, Jalle Jungnell and Anette Wilhelm.

coach Patrik Kihlstrom.

Team Sweden will be bringing three members of the team who won a bronze medal at the 2006 Torino Paralympics. Jalle Jungnell, Anette Wilhelm and Glenn Ikonen are joined by Patrik Berman and new coach Patrik Kihlstrom and arrive in Vancouver on Sunday February 15th.

Swiss arrive on the 15th, will train at Royal City CC

Martin Bieri, Daniel Meyer, Coach Toni Reusser,
Melanie Villars, Manfred Bolliger and Anton Kehrli

Team Switzerland will arrive in Vancouver on February 15th and stay in Burnaby. They'll train at the Royal City Curling Club until practic ice opens at the Hillcrest venue on the 19th. This is a completely reworked team with a new coach. Skip Manfred Bollinger is the sole holdover from the team that went a disappointing 3-6 on home ice at last year's Worlds.

Team Germany arriving on the 15th

Jens Jäger, Marcus Sieger, Jens Gäbel, Caren Totzauer, Astrid Hoer

.
Team Germany arrive in Vancouver on Sunday. They earned their place at the World Championships by earning the best record at the Worlds Qualifying Tournament in Prague last November, losing only to fellow qualifiers China. Jens Jeger and Jens Gabel played on the 2005 team, the last time that Germany competed at the Worlds. They are joined by Marcus Sieger, Caren Totzauer, and Astrid Hoer, and their coach is Helmar Erlewein.

Team Norway arrive on the 15th

  Rune Lorentsen, Jostein Stordahl, Geir Arne Skogstad,
Lene Tystad, Anne Mette Samdal, coach Thoralf Hognestad

Team Norway, winners of the last two World Championships, are due to arrive in Victoria on Sunday where they will prepare at the Juan De Fuca Centre prior to coming to Vancouver on the 19th.

Coach Thoralf Hognestad said last year that the team was hoping for a 3-peat and felt Canada, Korea and China would be the teams to beat. Today he was more circumspect. "We are hoping to get to the semi-finals" he said. "After that, anything can happen.

Team USA take final practice, leave for Worlds on 15th

USA Team Leader Marc DePerno
talking to Channel 10 News, Utica NY

Team USA brought out the TV cameras for their final New York practice before leaving for the Worlds next Sunday. [watch video at this link]

The team will initially be staying close to the Abbotsford CC where they will hold an open practice at 6.45pm on February 16th and compete in a demonstration game on Wednesday February 18th at the same time. Team Leader Marc DePerno told the club: "Having an opportunity to prepare for the 2009 World Championships, just prior to its start, in a community so near to the Championship venue is a significant asset as it allows the team to practice one final time and aids with reducing any stress that may build prior to the opening match of the Worlds.”

The USA team for this year's Worlds and next year's Paralympics was chosen last December. "…it is necessary for the team to have at least a full year of training to work on team harmony, dynamics and strategy leading up to the Paralympic Winter Games,” DePerno explained.

Asked how the team felt prior to leaving for this year's Worlds he said, ""The energy is high; the motivation is at its highest level yet. We have great skill on our team; we have a lot of experience under our belt. We have a bronze medal coming off of last year’s worlds. We feel very confident on getting another medal this year and hopefully the gold."

Saskatchewan chooses its 2009 provincial team

Nine athletes attended Regina's Callie CC selection camp January 24th for the right to become part of Saskatchewan's first provincial team. On and off-ice sessions evaluated Delivery Skills, Shot Making Ability, Game Strategy and Tactics.

The team announced today is Del Huber, Darwin Bender and Calvin Bird all from Regina, Gil Dash from Wolseley and Marie Wright from Moose Jaw. The coach is Lorraine Arguin (Moose Jaw) assisted by-Bob Capp (Regina). The team will represent the Callie Curling Club out of Regina.

The Scots are on their way to Vancouver

Rosemary Lenton, Jim Sellar, Tom Killin

Aileen Nielson, Michael McCreadie
and coach Tom Pendreigh

Bob Cowan reports that the Scots are set to leave for Canada on the 11th, to stay in a "holding camp" in Richmond BC. This reminds me that when they came to Kelowna in 2005, I had scouted out some accessible drinking establishments, only to be told by their pleasant but somewhat dour skip Frank Duffy that the team were not going to be allowed to go drinking.

I hope the holding camp has at least a television, and its location registered with the Red Cross.

Cameron wins playdown for spot at Ontario Provincials

Christine Lavallee, Jamie Eddy, Doug Morris, Bruce Cameron

The Ontario Curling Association's controversial decision to allow only one wheelchair team per region to attend the provincial championships in Kingston at the end of the month (other curlers are allowed two) necessitated a playdown between the two competitive Region 1 Ottawa teams.

On Saturday, Bruce Cameron skipped Doug Morris, Jamie Eddy and Christine Lavallee to an 8-4 win over Team Fraser, going on to win the best of three playdown with a 9-3 win on Sunday.

Game 1 Sat Feb 7/09 5:00 PM

Bruce Cameron 1 1 0 0 1 5 0 X 8
Richard Fraser  0 0 1 1 0 0 2 X 4

Game 2 Sun Feb 8/09 11:00 AM

Bruce Cameron 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 X  9
Richard Fraser  0 0 1 2 0 0 0 X  3

The Ontario Dominion Wheelchair Championship will feature four teams and be held Feb 25-27,2009 at the Royal Kingston CC.

"Wheelchair Watch" column in February issue of SWEEP! Magazine

My "Wheelchair Watch" column for the February 2009 issue of SWEEP! Magazine is now available online.

Fort William CC to build on success of wheelchair program

Coach Dave Kawahara, who brought wheelchair curling to northern Ontario, told the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal that the Fort William CC, host to the N. Ontario Provincial Championships, has plans to install an elevator and grow their wheelchair curling program.

“Mid-March, we should find out if we have all the capital, and then we‘re scheduled to start June 1,” he told reporter Graham Strong, adding that anyone with a physical disability is welcome to come out and try the sport, even if they have to borrow a wheelchair from the club.  “We enjoy everybody‘s company,” Kawahara said. “And once we get the elevator, it‘s going to be really social.”

The program has about 20 members and ice is available at the Fort William CC each Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm. CLICK HERE to read the full Chronicle Journal report.

The Kenora Miner & News also reported on the MEDIchair Provincial Championship final. Read their report including comments by winning skip Wayne Ficek after the match. 

Kenora's Ficek storms back to take N. Ontario title

Kenora's Wayne Ficek and Mark Wherrett (2008)

Wayne Ficek put aside a round robin defeat as he led his Kenora team to a thrilling come from behind victory over Thunder Bay's Carl Levesque in the final of the MEDIchair Northern Ontario Provincial Championship at the  Fort William Curling Club. Down 7-3 after 6 ends, the Kenoran's scored 5 in the 7th and 2 with the hammer in an extra end for a 10-8 win. Line score HERE.

Ficek and 3rd Mark Wherrett played for Levesque at the 2008 Championship on a coach selected team. This year they will take Chester Draper (2nd) and Denise Miault (lead) to the Nationals in Nova Scotia March 23-28. The Northern Ontario Championship was sponsored by MEDIchair who issued this press release about their involvement in wheelchair curling.

Calgarians repeat as provincial champions

Anne Hibberd, Jack Smart, Bridget Wilson, Bruno Yizek
repeat as Alberta Champions (photo from 2008 Championship)

Experience proved out in a close final as Jack Smart led his Calgary team to a 7-6 win over fellow Calgarian Emer Stang and a repeat Alberta Provincial Championship at the Garrison CC in Calgary this weekend.

Team Smart, with Team Canada squad member Bruno Yizek at 3rd, Anne Hibberd at 2nd and Bridget Wilson at lead went 3-0 in the round robin and then easily disposed of Edmonton's Team Nuspl in the semi-final.

Two Edmonton teams and two Calgary teams competed in the three day event notable for a significant increase in the skills shown and the closeness of many of the games since last year's championship. For team rosters and results CLICK HERE

MEDIchair N. Ontario Provincials underway in Fort William

Wayne Ficek skipped his Kenora team of Mark Wherrett, Chester Draper and Denise Miault to a 15-2 win over Fort Williiam host club's Richard Dawid in the opening draw of the MEDIchair Northern Ontario Provincials.

In the evening draw, Fort William's Carl Levesque, with Rick Bell and Sharon LaFroye who he skipped at the 2008 Nationals, plus Ron Brunelle, ran out 7-2 winners over the Kenora team. The line scores are HERE.

The round robin concludes tomorrow afternoon at 1.30PM local time with Levesque playing Dawid.