The 5th annual The Dominion Curling Club Championship is set to “Curl Up in the Heart of Canada” at the Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario from November 18 to 23, 2013.
“This annual event is the ultimate experience for club curlers,” says Leigh Armstrong, event chair. “We provide grass roots curling teams from every corner of the country the opportunity to compete in provincial/territorial and national level competition.”
Club curlers are those who enjoy the sport recreationally, supporting club leagues on a regular basis. This event includes curlers from all ten provinces and three territories.
The men’s field includes both 2012 finalists. The defending Canadian champions are Dan Sherrard’s Alberta squad from the Crestwood Curling Club. Steve Irwin’s Brandon Curling Club crew returns as Team Manitoba looking to return to the championship game and take another shot at the title. PEI is represented on the men’s side for the second consecutive year by the Alan Inman rink from the Crapaud Community Curling Club.
Photo (L to R): Sharon Horne (Skip), Kim Ellsworth (Third), Wendy Fraser(Second) and Alison Griffin (Lead).
On the women’s side, Geneva Chislett of Iqaluit Curling Club will represent Nunavut for the fifth time, while the Pam Osborne squad of St. John’s will wear the Newfoundland & Labrador colours for a fourth time. The Northern Ontario women’s rink of Kathie Jackson is sure to be a crowd favourite. The team hails from Fort Frances, a 3 hour drive from Thunder Bay and Jackson grew up in Thunder Bay playing at the host club.The Island women’s reps are the Sharon Horne foursome from the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton. As well, Souris native Marion MacAulay is skipping the Nova Scotia women’s rink, from the Bluenose Curling Club in New Glasgow.
The opening draw gets underway on Monday, November 18 at 5:45 pm Atlantic, followed by the Opening ceremonies at 8:00 pm. Championship games are set for Saturday, November 23. Admission is free.
The PEI men and women both open play against Nunavut on Monday at 9:15 pm Atlantic. From then on they play the same team, but in subsequent draws.
Here are the rest of the PEI draws (all times Atlantic)
Nov. 19 at 10:30 am (men) and 2:15 pm (women) vs Northwest Territories
Nov. 19 at 5:45 (men) and 9:15 pm (women) vs Quebec
Nov. 20 at 10:30 am (women) and 2:15 pm (men) vs Sask.
Nov. 20 at 5:45 pm (women) and 9:15 pm (men) vs Nova Scotia
Nov. 21 at 10:30 am (men) and 2:15 pm (women) vs Ontario
Nov. 21 at 5:45 (men) and 9:15 pm (women) vs Newfoundland and Labrador
Tiebreakers (if needed) and the semi-final go on Nov. 22, with the finals at 11:15 am (women) and 2 pm (men) on Saturday the 23rd.
For information and results, visit www.thedominioncurls.ca.
The event helps raise funds for Spinal Cord Injury Ontario. Pre-event fundraising has already raised over $25,000 for the charity.