(by Jason Malloy)
Ryan Giddens won’t be competing in the Travelers Curling Club Championship for four years after throwing four rocks at the Tim Hortons Brier for Team P.E.I.
He knew it was a possibility when he signed his papers to be fifth for the Island rink, skipped by Adam Casey.
© Jason Malloy/The Guardian
Ryan Giddens lost his eligibility to play in the Travelers Curling Club Championship when he went to the Brier in March as part of the Island rink skipped by Adam Casey.
Curling Canada does provide the opportunity for exceptions, but did not grant one in this case.
The Travelers intent is to crown a national club champion, comprised of curlers who are not present or past elite players.
“I think I am statistically the worse player in the history of the Brier, but I’m too elite,” Giddens said. “I think if you go down to the Charlottetown Curling Complex and (asked) anyone I play against in the Travelers, it’s a unanimous vote, I am not too elite to compete at the club level.”
He has curled for four years and his team has won one game in two years competing in the Charlottetown club playdowns.
“I just wanted to see if I could go back and play with my buddies,” Gidden said. “There’s no hard feelings, I just think this was a unique circumstance. . .
“I don’t think the punishment justifies the crime.”
Curling Canada spokesman Al Cameron said the exception clause exists for a different reason than Giddens’.
“He knowingly entered the Brier playdowns and acknowledged that he was sacrificing his eligibility for the Travelers championship,” Cameron said. “That’s not the situation where the (exception) clause applies.”
Giddens appreciated the public support this week but doesn’t plan any further appeal. He’ll still be playing in his Monday night anything goes league.