PEI teams ready to rock at The Dominion Curling Club Ch’ship in Richmond BC

The Prince Edward Island teams departing for the Richmond BC Curling Club this weekend to compete in the national The Dominion Curling Club Championship are not new to the event, as men’s team skip Donald Clarey and third Larry Richards from Montague also represented the Island last year. The Lorianne Davies women’s rink from Cornwall were also involved, as volunteers at their curling club, one of the two venues for last year’s national championship.

The Dominion Curling Club Championship, now in its third season, is an annual event for men’s and women’s curling teams who have won their respective local club championships and their provincial “The Dominion” event. Teams come from all 10 provinces and 3 territories, plus a separate entry for Northern Ontario.

The event, fully funded by The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (The Dominion), is the ultimate experience for club curlers. Provincial and territorial champions receive travel, hotel, accommodations, meals, on-ice jackets and shirts as well as a championship banner to hang in their home club – all courtesy of The Dominion. As well, the event raises money for the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Last year in PEI, $30,000 was raised for the CPA. For more information on the event, visit thedominioncurls.ca.

Teams will be arriving in Richmond over the weekend, with the opening draw Tuesday Nov. 22 at 10 am BC time. Round robin play ends Friday with the 12:30 pm draw, and the final goes Saturday the 26th at 2 pm Pacific time.

Click for full draw (PDF)

Here are profiles of the PEI teams:

Photo (L-R): Donald Clarey (skip), Larry Richards (3rd), David Rice (2nd), Steven MacLeod (lead)

The Men’s Prince Edward Island Team for The Dominion Curling Club Championship hails from The Montague Curling Club. It consists of Donald Clarey, Skip; Larry Richards, Third; David Rice, Second; and Steven MacLeod, Lead.

This team is no stranger to The Dominion Curling Club Championship, as Richards (third) and Clarey (Skip) travelled to Charlottetown and Cornwall last year as members of the PEI team. While the team didn’t have far to go in 2010, travelling just over 50km to reach the championship, this year will be quite different. The team is thrilled to be travelling to Richmond, BC together; for most team members, this will be their first trip to western Canada.

Both Richards and Clarey welcomed their two new team members for this year, and were excited with the prospect of showing their new teammates success. As Clarey said:

“We have a new front end (Rice and MacLeod) and really the best part of winning the Island and getting to B.C. was their pure joy and excitement. That was something I will never forget.”

The PEI team usually plays in their home club once a week. Before their club championship and provincial play downs, they spent more time working on their curling – entering a few extra games and getting together for more practices. The men are also involved in their club behind the scenes: Donald has held many positions over the years at The Montague Curling Club, including the role of President twice, and Larry is the Club manager for the current season, and has been the Ice Tech at the club for 8 years. He is touted as one of the best Ice Techs in the Maritimes.

The team is looking forward to seeing friends they met at the 2010 The Dominion Curling Club Championships, and meeting their competitors, the volunteers, and The Dominion employees involved. As Richards said, “Curling is such a social sport that you have time to get to meet and make new friends.” They are looking forward to inviting their new friends to join them in their post-game tradition, a cold drink.

Photo (L-R): Lynda Turnbull (lead), Tracy MacDonald (2nd), Melody Beck (3rd), Lorianne Davies (skip)

The Women’s Prince Edward Island Team (Team Davies) for The Dominion Curling Club Championship hails from the Cornwall Curling Club. It consists of Lorianne Davies, Skip; Melody Beck, Third; Tracy MacDonald, Second; and Lynda Turnbull, Lead.

The four friends formed a team two years ago with the intention of having fun together both on and off the ice. Team Davies not only enjoyed each others’ company, but also found almost instant success as competitors. The team came incredibly close to playing in the 2010 Championship, but was defeated in last year’s provincial final. In 2011, the ladies came back with the goal of winning the Provincial Playdowns – and were successful.

Not only have the four women won two club championships, but Lynda (Lead) and Lorianne (Skip) are three-time Cornwall Curling Club champions with back-to-back wins starting in 2009.

Before each match, the women have a pre-game powwow where they bump fists and say to each other “good game, girls”.

Individually, the team members are involved with a number of community organizations ranging from coaching curling, to local community theatre, environmental groups, chairing the board of a national historic site and helping out with the P.E.I. Special Olympics.

Last year, the whole team saw The Dominion Curling Club Championship from the volunteer side of the glass when the tournament was held in Charlottetown and Cornwall. They are eager to participate as players this year.

Team Davies is most looking forward to walking out on the ice at the opening ceremonies holding their PEI flag and wearing the provincial jackets – a dream they thought might never come true.

“Before The Dominion Curling Club Championship was created, playing at a national was a dream we did not expect to realize.”