(by Jason Simmonds)
After being a spectator at world men’s curling championship
VICTORIA HARBOUR, ONT. – It’s no secret most athletes find it’s a lot tougher to be a spectator than right in the heat of battle.
Sherry Middaugh will vouch for that.
Middaugh, who will skip one of the eight women’s teams in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling in Summerside from April 17 to 22, was a spectator for Canada’s recent victory at the world men’s curling championship in Basel, Switzerland. Her husband, Wayne Middaugh, is the third stone on Glenn Howard’s rink, which is also competing in the Players’ Championship men’s competition.
“Oh my goodness, I have never been so stressed,” chuckled Middaugh, who also carefully studied the on-ice action in hopes of picking up some helpful tidbits for her team. “It (watching) is much tougher (than playing) – you have no control.”
Middaugh and her rink of third stone Jo-Ann Rizzo, second stone Lee Merklinger and lead Leigh Armstrong are scheduled to fly into P.E.I. early Tuesday morning. They are hoping to practise that afternoon, and will face Winnipeg’s Chelsea Carey in the opening draw later in the day at 7 p.m.