(by Larry Wood)-In the end, it was just a matter of time. And the time was short.
With one point required to lock up the World Financial Group Continental Cup trophy, Team World skip Thomas Ulsrud of Norway waited, and waited, and pounced on Sunday night at the championship finale in the Langley, B.C. Events Centre.
In order to retain last rock in the 55-point men’s skins, Ulsrud tossed his last rocks away in the first two ends, yielding two four-point skins to North America rather than settle for carryovers.
But leading 200-153 overall, the World skip was afforded a routine open tap in the four-foot for a deuce with last rock in the third end and that netted a five-point skin and catapulted Team World over the top in the eighth international competition.
Team World captain David Hay and coach Peja Lindholm pose with the Cup after the 2012 World Financial Group Continental Cup. (Photo by Michael Burns/CCA)
The final count: World 235, North America 165.
The World and the Amerks now have won four times each, and neither unit has managed to be a repeater since the event was unveiled in 2002 at Regina with the North Americans winning.
“That,” said World coach Peja Lindholm, “will give me some motivation.”