Wheelchair curling news from around the world

Will injury dash Canada's hopes for repeat Paralympics gold? 7/3/2009

Team Canada skip Jim Armstrong confirmed today that he has a shoulder injury that will require surgery.

"I have a muscle tear in my left (non-throwing) shoulder that has been bothering me since before the World Championships," he said today. "The prognosis for a full recovery is good, but the surgeons are suggesting that rehab may take three to six months."

Jim is a large man and fairly new to using a wheelchair. It is easy to under estimate how much strain wheeling around, places on shoulders he described as "already beaten up by years of sweeping." Leaving aside issues of physical discomfort, the non throwing arm is important for a stable delivery motion, as well as the ability to manipulate the chair and thus maintain fitness.

"The long rehab is a concern," Jim said, "but if I can get the surgery in a couple of weeks I plan to go ahead with it. Otherwise I'll wait until after the Paralympics."

While the Team Canada squad is comprised of very capable individual curlers, Armstrong's leadership at skip was the decisive factor in Canada's first World Championship last March. It is also the cornerstone of Canada's hopes for repeating their Torino gold medal success at the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010. Even were he not fit enough to justify throwing last rocks, I suspect Armstrong's expertise in strategy, ice reading and team management would mean he'd have to be unable to get his rocks down the ice before he lost his place on the team.

The injury does raise the question of who would replace him were he unable to compete, and what the coaching staff have done to prepare for that eventuality. And what effect will a Jim at less than 100% have on the rest of the team?

Team USA lead Jacqui Kapinowski interviewed  6/23/2009

The USA Paralympics website has a profile and interview with Team USA lead Jacqui Kapinowski, who talks about her start in wheelchair curling, her training and her expectations for 2010. [read more]

Wheelchair curling snubbed by Paralympics broadcasters  6/17/2009

A report in Broadcaster Magazine details Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium's planned coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics. It will be a full schedule of inspirational personal stories, 90 minutes of daily highlights, and every sledge hockey game, including live broadcast of the final.

No mention that Canada are the reigning World and Paralympics wheelchair curling champions, and no specific wheelchair curling coverage. [read article]

Danish coach Per Christensen takes over Team Norway  6/13/2009

Thoralf Hognestad, says: "Due to a new work situation, I have resigned as coach of Team Norway."

Thoralf joined the team after they narrowly lost to Canada in the semi-final at Torino, a game he feels Norway should have won. His team did win the World Championship in 2007 and 2008.

Thoralf's teams were known for winning, not for statistical accomplishment. He selected athletes of proven ability in other sports and moulded them into repeat world champions. "We don't play the able-bodied game," he'd say. "We play the wheelchair game, and we always have a back-up plan." He put down the lack of success in 2009 to the lack of a local training facility for the entire season. "We just couldn't practice enough," he said, though Norway were still able to defeat Canada in a meaningful last round robin draw.

He has struggled to balance coaching and work commitments for some time, and hands off to Denmark's Per Christensen. Per, 53, has been coach of the Danish national wheelchair curling team since 2004 and attended the 2009 Worlds as an observer. He shared my surprise that so few teams came into their games against Canada with a specific plan to win.

"I would for sure, tell my team how to play the Canadian team. It was for me easy to see how it could be done," he told me, without divulging the details. In Team Norway he has curlers who have proved they know how to win. We'll see how good his plan is, and how well they implement it in Vancouver next March.

Charlottetown PEI holding Give-It-A-Go  on June 16 6/13/2009

Parasport and Recreation PEI and the Canadian Paraplegic Assoc. are sponsoring a Give-It-A-Go session at the CARI Complex in Charlottetown PEI, 4-6pm on Tuesday June 16. For more information contact Cathleen MacKinnon at 902-3699-4540 or by email.

Aileen Neilson honoured at South Lanarkshire Awards 6/11/2009

Paul Thomson of the East Kilbride News reports" "It was a great night for Strathaven’s Aileen Neilson as she collected the prize for Adult Female Sports Personality of the Year. A South Lanarkshire Primary School teacher, she curls at the Lanarkshire club as well as in Braehead and was fully deserving of her accolade.

"During the last year she represented Scotland and Great Britain in numerous international tournaments in Europe, America and Canada. And it was in Canada where she competed at the highest wheelchair curling level, being selected to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Vancouver where the team finished in fifth position.

"From world achievement to national success, Aileen was also in the rink which won the Scottish Championships in Aberdeen."

Team Canada 2010 (almost) set  5/29/2009

It has been a fairly safe assumption for some time now that Canada's team for the 2010 Paralympics would include Jim Armstrong at skip and Darryl Neighbour at 3rd. Coach Wendy Morgan's confirmation that the team would include two women, left just one slot open for speculation.

High Performance Director Gerry Peckham confirmed last night that failing injury or unforeseen circumstance, or a catastrophic loss of form, Ina Forrest and Sonja Gaudet would join Jim and Darryl on the team.

"Their performance within the selection process over the past few years and their gold medal achievement at the 2009 World Wheelchair Championships has placed them in excellent stead to be selected to the 2010 Team," he said.

"We felt it made sense to let the athletes know their relative status as early as possible, to help each of them plan their year. We have added Jackie Roy, an accomplished curler, as a backup to Ina and Sonja, as we are committed to having two females on the team. Chris Sobkowicz, Bruno Yizek and Gerry Austgarden will compete for the remaining slot.

"The carded athletes for the yearly cycle beginning this July are the five members who won the 2009 Worlds, plus Bruno Yizek on a "D" (development) card. Cardings are always a lagging indicator, based on past performance. Bruno was carded as he was 6th on our depth chart, though with everyone so close, that doesn't imply he is favoured to make the team over Gerry and Chris."

The squad will play in Norway and Scotland between October 12 and 23, and Peckham says selection of the 2010 Paralympic team will occur that month.

Cormack out, Roy in as Team Canada squad prepare for 2010  5/26/2009

Canada's Paralympics squad includes a third female, Jackie Roy, who takes the place of fellow British Columbian Gary Cormack.

Coach Wendy Morgan said that the decision had been made to include two females in the final team. This reflects program director Gerry Peckham's concern that having only one female posed an unnecessary risk of default were she unable to play.

Given this concern, a third female makes sense, both to provide backup and some competition for places until the team is announced late this year.

Jackie Roy has high performance competition experience as a summer sport Paralympian, and has twice won gold at the Canadian Nationals, playing lead for Jim Armstrong. Team Canada coach Joe Rea said in February that there was little to choose between Roy and other members of the national squad.

Curlers outside of BC, especially Albertans, may be disappointed that the squad was not widened geographically, especially after Bridget Wilson's All-Star performance as lead for Team Alberta.

Team Canada are looking for someone who can throw reliable up-weight stones at lead. While Ina Forrest has that ability, the coaches prefer her at second. Sonja Gaudet is reworking her delivery to add weight, and I am not sure that Jackie Roy offers a challenge in that regard. But then neither does Alberta's Wilson.

My feeling is that given that whoever was chosen to be third woman is unlikely, absent injury, to make the final cut, the decision to pick Roy was a pragmatic one. She is a more than competent lead, has "big game" experience, plays regularly with Armstrong and Neighbour, and lives close to where most of the training is likely to take place.

Gary Cormack, a Torino gold medallist, loses his squad place, though Gerry Austgarden and Bruno Yizek have "based on the last 3 years of evaluation" been invited to "try out" for the team.

I have in the past quoted Peckham as saying that each of the eight squad members will have an equal opportunity to compete for a Paralympics team spot once training begins in July. Whether that assurance has survived the post-season evaluations remains to be seen.

The current carding cycle, the mechanism by which five curlers receive a full and one a development monthly stipend to support their training, ends in June. It will be interesting, and probably indicative of future prospects, to know who has been chosen to receive funding through 2010. 

Ontarians challenge province's championship rulings  5/23/2009

A late decision last season by the Ontario Curling Association to restrict participation in their provincial championship to just four teams, one from each region, denied Ontario wheelchair curlers the same opportunity for provincial honours offered other competitors. One of two Ottawa teams was eliminated in a playdown, an exclusion that was felt by supporters of wheelchair curling to be arbitrary, discriminatory and unnecessary as well as detrimental to the long term health of the sport in Ontario.

When the championship was held, there was a significant  last minute change to the rules for competition that changed the expected semi-final format from three teams to four.

Various proposals for change in 2010 have been discussed at the Zone level and OCA Executive-Director Doug Bakes has promised that the Rules Committee will visit issues raised at their next meeting.

Ernie Comerford, who is working to establish a London based wheelchair curling group, has circulated an analysis of last year's problems, with constructive suggestions for change that encourage inclusion and participation, rather than arbitrary exclusion. You can read his presentation HERE (Word doc). If you have any comments or suggestions, his contact information is included in the document.

My (admittedly long-distance) impression is that the OCA, six or seven years into supporting wheelchair curling in Ontario, are disappointed that the number of participants has failed to grow significantly over that period. While that is no reason to exclude a second Ottawa team by halving, for wheelchair curlers, the usual number of teams allowed in a provincial championship, frustration with a lack of progress in participation levels may have played a part in a reluctance to take wheelchair curling as seriously as other aspects of the sport.

I would be happy to stand, or rather sit, corrected.

2010 Nationals coming west, clashing with Paralympics  5/20/2009

The CCA had hoped to have an announcement of the venue for the 2010 Canadian National Championships before the end of the very successful Halifax 2009 event. Come the final banquet, a deal had not been signed and the teams left with the traditional assurance that the 2010 championship would be held "somewhere in Canada."

The venue will be Kelowna, BC from March 16 through 21.

Kelowna CC is a 12 sheet club, recently refurbished with wheelchair access in mind. There is a large elevator to the upper lounge that will allow good spectator access.

The question remains though, with the Paralympics taking place in Vancouver at the same time and probably four and possibly all five of the national team plus the coach coming from BC, will anyone be paying attention?

The delay in announcing the venue would seem to indicate that it has been a struggle finding a club with the facilities to handle 50 plus wheelchair users and to take on the responsibility for moving them between hotels and club.

Kelowna CC has always been supportive of wheelchair curling, and was the venue for the world's first wheelchair Cashspiel featuring the Great Britain Paralympic squad, back  in March 2005.

Winnipeg Mayor honours Chris Sobkowicz  5/14/2009

Team Canada gold medalist Chris Sobkowicz has been honoured in a City Hall ceremony by Winnipeg's Mayor Sam Katz with the Mayor's Award For Sports Excellence. [Winnipeg Free Press report HERE]

Team Alberta named CTV Calgary's Team Of The Week  5/5/2009

CTV cameras caught up with the national silver medalists for a "Team Of The Week" profile. Lisa Bowes' report had some good video footage and an excellent explanation from Bridget Wilson for why every wheelchair user should come out and try our sport. The CTV page is HERE and the video is also on our blog.

CTV/TSN cameras film Team Canada at practice 5/4/2009

CTV/TSN were at the Richmond BC rink to film Team Canada at practice. The film will be used as part of their promotion of wheelchair curling during their coverage of the Paralympics next March. Go HERE to see photos taken during the shoot.

Fort William CC renovates - will host 2012 Nationals 4/18/2009

Thunder Bay's Chronicle-Journal reports Northern Ontario's Fort William CC is about to embark on a $350,00 renovation to make the facility completely wheelchair accessible.

Club president Rob Chicorli said because the lounge area at the facility is only accessible by stairs, members who use wheelchairs or have mobility problems miss out on a big part of the sport. “The game of curling is 50/50: 50 per cent action out on the ice and 50 per cent a social activity.”

Dave Kawahara, the driving force behind N. Ontario's wheelchair program added: “This project was really about inclusive living, to allow the entire community to do the things that able-bodied citizens take for granted.”

The club will host the 2012  Canadian National Championships.  

Men's Worlds included wheelchair exhibition  4/18/2009

Last week's Ford Men's World Championships in Moncton, NB, included a demonstration of wheelchair curling between the medal games. Team Nova Scotia members Laughie Rutt and Mike Fitzgerald participated, as did Scots skip Michael McCreadie. [photo here]

Need a new sports wheelchair?  4/14/2009

RGK, a UK wheelchair manufacturer, is offering discounts of up to $3,000 on the purchase of a new wheelchair in a program initiated by Chris Daw through the CCA's Discover Curling program.

RGK wheelchairs are carried in Canada by MEDIchair and possibly others. Conditions will probably apply but if you want more information, email Chris Daw.

Ottawa wheelchair curlers take mixed league Trophy  4/14/2009

Bruce Cameron's rink's efforts over the season competing in the RA Club's Monday Mixed League was capped by going undefeated in the final round of "A" division to win the trophy. He played with Doug Morris, Jamie Eddy and Christine Lavallee.

Had a successful season? Let us know. The more people understand that club wheelchair teams can be competitive, the more likely clubs will be open to participation by wheelchair users.

Photos from 2009 Canadian Nationals available online  4/2/2009

Photographer Ian Readey took many photos throughout the five days of competition and you can see them on his website.

I have made a small selection of my favourites and have posted them HERE.

British Columbia 3-peat as National Champions 3/29/2009

BC celebrated their third successive national title, with Jim Armstrong's rink of Frank LaBounty, Whitney Warren and Jackie Roy repeating their 2008 success to claim the 2009 TSX Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship. They beat Alberta 6-4 but the championship was not decided until the last rock was thrown.

Alberta, with Jack Smart at skip, Bruno Yizek at 3rd, Martin Purvis at 2nd and Bridget Wilson at lead, had beaten Manitoba in the morning semi-final 7-4 in a game that was not as close as the score suggests, Up 7-1 after 5 ends, they were happy to limit Manitoba to three points before running them out of rocks for the win. You can read our call of the game HERE.

If you were one of the many blog commenters who felt that BC, with their world championship skip, would have an easy path to the championship, you would have been wrong. Alberta began the final with a steal, with Jim Armstrong able only to limit the damage to 2 with his last rock. In the second, a lovely draw top 4 through a narrow port by Frank LaBounty for shot, was followed by an equally good Alberta tap of a front stone that limited BC to 1.

In the third, Jim Armstrong played a wonderful angle raise to the button that stole a point and in the fourth, BC were first into the rings behind a rockpile out front. Alberta skip Jack Smart's attempt to retrieve the situation with a hit and stick for one, crashed allowing BC to steal 2 and go into the break up 4-2.

In the fifth, with Alberta sitting shot, BC tried a raise takeout that missed, but Alberta were unable to capitalise when their wide come-around for a second point was light. In the sixth Jack Smart tapped an Alberta stone into the four foot and it was BC's turn to be light on a draw, leaving the teams tied at 4.

Alberta succeeded in holding BC to one in the seventh and had hammer coming home. Jackie Roy draw to the button and Alberta's lead stone stopped top 4. Whitney Warren froze to shot stone and there was a succession of stones stopping short of the house. With skip stones to go, both teams used their time outs, BC throwing guards and Alberta trying to clear a way through to shot stone. Armstrong's final guard left Alberta with a yellow onto yellow onto blue onto shot stone yellow to sit two blue and win the game. He almost pulled it off, missing by no more than an inch.

Alberta coach Tony Zummack said afterward; "You play all week, through three playoff games, and it comes down to one shot and one inch." But he was proud of the way his team performed, and Martin Purvis, the alternate, who was thrown in at the last minute when Anne Hibberd was unable to travel, more than justified his selection.

For BC it was a nail-biting win but a deserved one. They had been played tough by Alberta, and were not always able to keep the front open as per game plan, but at the end of the final it was Alberta who was chasing. Coach Melissa Soligo said the last three rocks had been agonizing, but once again Team BC, this year chosen through a playdown rather than coach selected, proved they are still the team to beat.

At the evening banquet, Nova Scotia lead Nicole Durand, looking very glamorous in a red evening gown, was presented with the Sportsmanship Trophy, voted by all the curlers.

The All-Star team was kept secret from everyone until the banquet, with statistics from the final two draws withheld until the announcement. All positions were won by less than 2 percent. First up at lead was Bridget Wilson, followed by Martin Purvis at second and Bruno Yizek at third, all from Team Alberta. Manitoba's Chris Sobkowicz was the All-Star skip..

Though most people associate me with the blogging, it would not have been possible without my wife Cate's sterling work at the keyboard and her admonitions to stay focused and not be distracted by the constant stream of kibitzers passing by. Gord Stockdale, the head official was always in our corner, insisting that coaches and volunteers and even the local television cameraman not block our view of the action. And a special thanks must go to the coaches and players throughout the week who were always willing to share information and answer questions.

We couldn't have done this without everyone's cooperation in especially tight quarters, and we thank everyone who helped, from Stewart who went off to buy us 200 feet of much needed Ethernet cable, to organizing committee chair Trendal (Hubbly-Bubbly) Hubley-Bolivar who was a constant presence, and not forgetting Ian Readey for his fabulous photos.

Finally thanks to all our blog readers, especially those who took the time to express their appreciation for what we do. Wheelchaircurling.com and the blog are dedicated to making wheelchair curling the winter recreation of choice for wheelchair users, and your support makes the effort worthwhile.

Day 5 Wrap - 2009 TSX Canadian Nationals  3/27/2009

With a Hotshots competition promised if the schedule produced an empty half day Friday, few fans outside Ontario were rooting for tie-breaks, However, Northern Ontario's final day loss to Nova Scotia and Ontario's loss to Manitoba meant that the two teams faced off this morning, pushing the Page games into the Hotshots slot this afternoon. Ontario had chosen to bring four curlers and two coaches rather than an alternate, so when a medical issue arose for one of the team, there was the possibility that they might have to forfeit the game. Whether that unsettled Ontario, or whether it was just that for this week Northern Ontario had their number, they were never in the game.

Northern Ontario took 2 with the hammer and then stole 2. A coach's time out failed to settle Ontario who continued to concede steals culminating in a 4 in the 7th and handshakes at 13-0.

That set up a 3/4 Page playoff game between Northern Ontario and near neighbours Manitoba, a game that produced the best shot I've seen this week. Northern Ontario had opened an early 3-0 lead but fell behind when Manitoba stole in the 4th and 5th ends. In the 6th Manitoba were sitting shot behind a wall of rocks. With his final stone skip Wayne Ficek threw an angle raise that traveled at least 20 feet across the rings to dislodge the buried Manitoba stone, rescuing the end and probably the game. Manitoba gave up a steal in 7 and took 1 with hammer in the 8th and we went to an extra end.

Though we live blogged the playoff game between BC and Alberta we were able to blog the extra end and you can read our calls HERE. Again Manitoba sat 1 buried and Northern Ontario were forced to peel guards, opening a small port to allow at least a chance to come down to shot It came down to a needed tap-back through a narrow port, with Manitoba sitting 1, but the final stone grazed a guard and came up short. It was a great game and both teams can be proud of a performance that kept the crowd cheering.
Alberta and BC met for the second time in two days and today Alberta proved tougher opposition. BC had hammer and first choice of rocks, They took yellow from the adjoining sheet C while Alberta took blue rocks from that same sheet. BC took 1 in the first, and the stole singles to go up 3-0 after 3. Alberta responded with a 2 before the break and stole two singles to go ahead 4-3. BC tied it up in 7 and then stole 1 in the final end when Alberta skip Jack Smart made a valiant but doomed attempt at a triple raise to dislodge shot stone. The full live-blog account is here.

BC looked vulnerable at several points during the Alberta game, and Alberta must feel that maybe three's a charm if they get past Manitoba in tomorrow's semi-final. They won their round robin match-up against Manitoba 6-5 on a steal of 1 in the 8th in Draw 4. Manitoba, with Chris Sobkowicz at skip, have been a steady team, winning by stringing together 1s and 2s rather than relying on big ends. They have also given up the fewest points of any team. Though they received a scare against Northern Ontario, they were not the team chasing at the end. BC will be happy to have the luxury of a late start, but if the final games are as exciting as today's Page playoffs, the crowd, and there has been a good crowd, are in for a treat.

Day 4 Wrap - 2009 TSX Canadian Nationals  3/26/2009

Judging by the comments on our wheelchaircurling blog, BC were firm favourites to win a third successive crown at the 2009 TSX Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships here in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. At the end of round robin play, they sit top of the table with an 8-1 record, and will face 7-2 Alberta in tomorrow's Page playoff 1-2 game.

BC began the day facing Chris Daw's Newfoundland & Labrador team in an eagerly anticipated battle between Team Canada skips past and present. In fairness to Daw, he is skipping a team with more potential than experience, and he had done well to coax them to 3-4 record going into the final day. They were no match for the defending champions, though they delivered a scare, posting a 4 to pull within one going into the break. But BC score a succession of big ends and ran out 13-5 winners.

BC faced co-leaders Alberta in the final draw, a game delayed for a medical time out when one of the Alberta players was delayed getting onto the ice. While players, coaches and officials all made every effort to accommodate the delay, by rule Alberta were penalised by their clock starting at the end of the official's time out, and losing one point and one end for every five minutes delay. Alberta thus started the game at the top of the 3rd without hammer and down two points.

The game was only to choose hammer in the Page 1/2 game, but Alberta fought hard, starting with two steals, but eventually fading to a 6-2 loss. The teams do it all again tomorrow afternoon.

Third place Manitoba had an easy win over Quebec in the morning, and then faced Ontario, who needed to win to avoid a tie-break with the northern neighbours. Manitoba had two steals of 2 after the break, and won 7-4 ensuring third place in tomorrow's Page playoff. Northern Ontario had earlier won the second Annual John MacCrae Trophy for top Ontario team. Ex-Ontario coach Bob Pippy writes from Florida that John MacCrae was the long time General Manager of the Ontario Curling Association and a strong supporter of Wheelchair Curling.

Northern Ontario could have won a playoff place outright had they beaten Nova Scotia, a game we blogged (replay the commentary here) but they failed to put away a team that has a skip that can throw beautifully under pressure. Nova Scotia stole in the eighth and the extra to win 8-6. They featured in the only two extra end games; both against Ontario teams.

Quebec and Saskatchewan should go home with heads high after winning three games in their first year of competition. Quebec is an especially promising side and youthful, with established athletes from other disciplines who will have learned a lot from this year's intense competition. Their second, Jaques Martin, looks like he could throw a curling stone the length of the sheet without it touching ice, and relegated Chris Daw's biceps to something you could kick sand at. Coach Al Whittier is a great example of what can be done in a very short time with drive and enthusiasm and athletes that want to learn.

Saskatchewan will return home knowing they scored the biggest end recorded at a Nationals, a 7 in the 4th in their game against Ontario, who had been lying 1 but raised a Saskatchewan stone into the rings, taking out shot stone. I'll say no more in deference to the Ontario coach who threatened to let down my tires if this was mentioned.

It will be up to Northern Ontario to upset the bulk of the podium predictions tomorrow. Skip Wayne Ficek promised an early night, and that's something that I can relate to. See you online tomorrow for a rerun of the Battle of Ontario, and coverage of the Page playoffs.

Day 3 Wrap - 2009 TSX Canadian Nationals  3/25/2009

There was a side championship scheduled for the week's curling at the 2009 TSX Canadian Nationals - the Ontario Trophy awarded to the winner of the Ontario/Northern Ontario match-up. Northern Ontario were decisive winners, going out to an early 4-0 lead on steals in the second and third ends, and then matching their southern neighbours the rest of the way, wining 8-3. "At least they're the ones who will have to worry about getting the trophy home on the plane,' joked an Ontario coach, but I am sure that will be no bother at all to Wayne Ficek.
 
Northern Ontario had tough opening draws, but felt that if they could hold their record to no more than three losses in the first half, they would be in with a chance at the playoffs by winning the later games. After 7 draws they are in 4th place with games against the two bottom of the table Nova Scotia teams to play.
 
"We only played together for the fist time at the Provincials, and live quite far apart,",explained Ficek. But they are playing as a team, and with Ontario struggling after a promising start, look a good bet to reach the playoff in their first championship.
 
Ontario kept their faltering hopes alive with the tournament's first extra end win over Nova Scotia, 9-8 in the late draw. Skip Ken Gregory was short on his first draw in the eighth end, but managed to come into the rings with his final stone to force an extra. Each side played stones to the front of the house in the 9th, and when Ontario finally came in, sitting shot on the 4-foot, Nova Scotia skip Mike Fitzgerald drew through a narrow port with a final stone that stopped an inch short of victory.
 
Team BC were back on track with a couple of wins, though they were pushed hard by the rookie Saskatchewan side. Their skip, Del Huber, felt they could have won a famous victory had they taken their chances to turn ones into twos, but with three wins already, he can feel proud of his team's showing. That won't satisfy lead Marie Wright, however. She told me the day before the tournament that she wanted a podium place. She won't get one his year, but she hits well enough to have reasonable hopes of a medal before too long.
 
Bc's other game was against challengers Manitoba, who are all business on the ice. A couple of questionable shot calls may have cost them a chance at 3's and you can't afford to make any shot calling mistakes against Jim Armstrong. Manitoba work with an experienced coach most weeks, and play together twice a week and also practice together. That discipline shows on the ice, but today they did not take the few chances they had to score big ends and BC's 3 in the third was decisive in a 6-3 win.
 
Alberta continued to match BC for wins, and posted narrow victories over Quebec 7-6, and Newfoundland 6-4. They are doing just enough to win, and look likely to be challenging BC for hammer in the Page 1/2 game when they meet in the final draw.
 
Newfoundland skip Chris Daw has called on all his considerable experience to bring his all female teammates close to the playoffs, but they have not been able to play consistently enough to mount a real challenge.
 
The consensus among the competitors is that an opening ceremony, full practice, and five draws in two days, plus 90 minutes loading and travel each way, with days starting at 8.30 and ending after 11PM has been too much to handle. Though spirits remain high, bolstered by the warm welcome and supportive energy of wonderful volunteers, fatigue is clearly showing, even on the face of old campaigners like Jim Armstrong. No-one neutral is hoping for tie-breaks. We'll know tomorrow.

Day 2 Wrap - 2009 TSX Canadian Nationals  3/24/2009

Day 2 of the Canadian National Wheelchair Curling Championship was always going to be a endurance challenge, especially for teams with only four members. The day started at 9:00 AM with an hour and a half of loading and transport to the club, and then three draws, and an hour and a half to get back to the hotel. Everybody looked exhausted as they returned to the hotel well after 11:00 PM.

It's not surprising that by the end of the day there were no unbeaten teams, although BC, Alberta and Manitoba, the three teams with the most experience and the most settled sides, ended up top of the table at 4-1. BC started with a comfortable 11-2 win over Nova Scotia, with Frank LaBounty, having issues with his wheelchair, sitting out. At lunch time, coach Melissa Soligo was still trying to decide who would sit out for the afternoon draw. "Having five players is a huge advantage," Jim Armstrong had said prior to the tournament, "especially on the day with three draws." But that still meant that either Whitney or Frank would have to sit if Darryl was to play. It was decided by names out of the hat. I picked the names out of the hat and take full responsiblity for BC's 10-4 loss to Ontario in Draw 4.

BC recovered with a tough 9-7 win over Northern Ontario in the evening draw, with Darryl sitting in for Whitney. A very tired looking Jim Armstrong said at the end of the day, "Everything that could have gone wrong on the ice went wrong." But they still have a share of the lead.

Manitoba third Dennis Thiessen, at lunch after the morning draw, felt his 3-0 team were where they needed to be to make the playoffs. Despite a tough 6-5 loss to Alberta in the afternoon, Manitoba are 4-1 and have impressed with their steady play. Chris Sobkowicz is looking far happier skipping than he did playing lead at the Worlds.

Alberta, after losing 6-5 to Northern Ontario in the morning, beat challengers Manitoba and Ontario to greatly increase their chances of making the Page 1-2 game. With only four team members, we'll see whether they can maintain their momentum.

Northern Ontario continue to be the wildcard, capable of beating Alberta and Newfoundland & Labrador, but also losing to Saskatchewan, who posted their first two wins today. Quebec also posted their first wins today, beating Newfoundland & Labrador 7-5, and the Host team 8-5.

Day 1 Wrap - 2009 TSX Canadian Nationals  3/24/2009

The moment of truth came for the less experienced teams during the first day of play at the 2009 TSX Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship. There were five double-digit scores posted, and only one game decided on the last rock, when Nova Scotia just failed to overcome an early four-ender, losing 7-6 to Newfoundland & Labrador.

In the opening draw defending champions BC played the Nova Scotia Host team in a game where they threw guards rather than running up the12-1 score. Their evening 13-1 win against Quebec was equally decisive.
Several of the leads struggled with heavy ice, especially during the 8:00 PM draw of a day that started 12 hours earlier with a 30 minute bus ride in from Halifax.

There are four experienced teams at the Championship, and they all won both their opening games. Northern Ontario, annoyed at themselves for not making a better show in a 9-4 loss to Manitoba, took it out on Newfoundland & Labrador in the evening. Newfoundland with Chris Daw at skip had scored an early four in an opening draw against Nova Scotia, holding on for a 7-6 win. Chris declined the excellent dinner that was put on between draws, fearing that it would affect his performance in the evening, but probably should have played on a full stomach, as he was blanked by Northern Ontario, 10-0.

Alberta looks strong despite the absence of Anne Hibbard, their second, who is unable to travel because of a hospitalization from a foot injury. Jack Smart, who played third for Team Canada member Bruno Yizek last year, is the very animated skip of this year's team. Alberta's evening draw against Nova Scotia was fought to the bitter end. Down 7, Nova Scotia didn't surrender until they were finally run out of rocks, midway through the end.
Ontario posted fives in both of their games. Skip Ken Gregory joked, "We don't play to win; we play to come back." Fives will do that for you. When they face BC in the second of today's three draws, it might be wiser not to play from behind.

The organizing committee and the volunteers at the club are a pleasure to work with. A weak computer signal in what is the basement of a sports complex was corrected when someone from the club went out in the snow to purchase 200 feet of extension cable. The food is wonderful. The volunteers are cheerful. And if it wasn't snowing, everything would be perfect.

Scottish Championships  March 20-22 in Aberdeen 3/19/2009

Eight rinks will be competing in Aberdeen this weekend for the 2009 Scottish Wheelchair Curling Championship. Jim Sellar and Michael McCreadie, who played together on the Scots team at the recent Worlds will each skip a side. Angie Malone, who won the British Open in Kinross last November, will also be skipping her team.

You can follow the results HERE.

Who will make the podium at the 2009 Canadian  Nationals?3/16/2009

Make your selections as a comment to this blog post and win a wheelchaircurling.com t-shirt!

Nanaimo CC fundraising for an elevator 3/16/2009

The Nanaimo Bulletin reports: The Nanaimo Curling Club was accessible to everyone earlier this month.

The annual Stixs and Stones wheelchair curling bonspiel was held March 8 at the club, bringing together disabled and able-bodied athletes who all threw their rocks with a cue.

Twenty-two people participated and around $350 was raised towards the NCC’s elevator project.

Club manager Denise Wood said she will learn later this month if the elevator project qualifies for gaming funds.

Rick Mercer Reports 3/16/2009

Just received this note from Jim Armstrong: 

Darryl and I just did three hours with Rick Mercer and Gordon Campbell at the Olympic Curling Venue. God knows how it will be edited,, but, if nothing else, it should b a great promotion for Wheelchair Curling. I am told that it will be televised in his season-ending program, next Tuesday....great fun....I hope we get our message across.....

For those unfamiliar with Rick Mercer, he hosts a nationally televised show The Rick Mercer Report on CBC and available via BitTorrent for those unable to tune in on Tuesdays at 8 pm local time.

The 2009 Juan de Fuca Classic a great success  3/16/2009

The second year of this stick curling event saw the field expand to 20 curlers. The $450 1st prize was won by Darryl Neighbour in a 3some with Gary Cormack and Corinnne Jensen. He stole a win over Jim Armstrong and Jackie Roy by 8-6. Read Corinne's report on the event and see some photos HERE. (.doc)

Kenora CC gives Ficek rink a rousing send-off  3/16/2009

Wayne Ficek and his Northern Ontario rink were given a rousing send-off last Friday at the Kenora Curling Club. [read report from Miner & News]

World's bronze medalists Germany celebrate success 3/15/2009

Here is a newsletter (pdf) from Jens Jager, skip of the bronze medal winning team at the 2009 World Championships, celebrating his team's success. It is in German, but loosely translated, it begins: "We did it!! We won the bronze medal and will compete in 2010 at the Paralympic winter games in Vancouver… Hurray!

"It was a strong achievement by the entire team: Astrid Hoer, Caren Totzauer, Jens Gäbel, Marcus Sieger, Jens Jager and the staff with Helmar Erlewein (coach), and Marion Demeter (Physio) who kept us all fit.

"There was a surprise at the station on our return to Rottweil. Members of the Schwenningen Curling Club welcomed us with enormous posters and cold sparkling wine.  All had new T-shirts printed with “We congratulate the German team." Thank you for this marvelous gift. You are the best!"

Wheelchair curlers win Lakeshore CC stick curling league  3/15/2009

Mike Fitzgerald and Laughie Rutt triumphed in the Thursday evening stick curling league's championship at the Lower Sackville Lakeshore CC. The duo, who will constitute the back end of Nova Scotia's provincial team at the national championships starting March 23rd, were delighted to prevail without sweeping in a league primarily designed for non-wheelchair users. A scheduling conflict means their provincial team duties will prevent them from challenging for the Nova Scotia Stick Curling Championship in Middleton starting March 27th.

South Lanarkshire loses pioneer with death of Charles Russell 3/15/2009

Charles Russell passed away last week after a short illness. Though known internationally as a top-level competitor and advocate for wheelchair bowls, under his chairmanship of the South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club, membership has grown to over 30 members. [read obituary in Hamilton Advertiser]

Nova Scotia ready to take on Canada's best  3/12/2009

Team Nova Scotia is set for the 2009 TSX Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship to be held in Lower Sackville starting on March 23rd, 2009. It's an  experienced team, all players having had played in last year’s Championship held in Winnipeg.

“We are better this year but so is the rest of the field,” said Mike Fitzgerald, Nova Scotia skip. “A number of teams will have the same lineups from past years and Chris Daw, the gold medal skip of the Torino Paralympics, is back with a Newfoundland and Labrador team.”

Last year the all rookie Nova Scotia team had a respectable fifth place finish. Fitzgerald is joined by Laughie Rutt at 3rd, Nicole Durand at lead and Trendal Hubley-Bolivar who is playing second after skipping Team Atlantic in last year’s competition.

“We certainly have the skill to go further this year,” Fitzgerald stated. “We now have a minor advantage that we are playing on home ice.”

This is the first time the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships have been held in Nova Scotia and is the first time that Lakeshore Curling Club in Lower Sackville has ever hosted a national championship event. Lakeshore Curling Club is the hub of wheelchair curling in the province.

Wheelchair curling in Nova Scotia was founded by Canadian Paraplegic Association (Nova Scotia) and is still supported by the Association, Lakeshore Curling Club and the Metro United Way.

For information on this release, please contact Laughie Rutt 864-2737 or email ljrutt@eastlink.ca
 

Armstrong makes Globe & Mail 6 Paralympians to watch  3/12/2009

Jim Armstong makes the list of six Paralympians to watch in today's Globe & Mail. ""We are the defending champions from 2006. When you're dealing with curling, and talking Canada, it's like saying you're a hockey player. I'd say you're looking at disappointment if you're not looking at a gold medal. I call wheelchair curling the 'roller derby' of the sport. We don't have the big weight-hits or the sweeping. It's much more interesting, strategically. The able-bodied game is so sterile, with the perfect rocks and the players so good ... they had to change the rules to make it interesting."

Do you have what it takes to play for Team Canada?  3/7/2009

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is how a player not already in the High Performance player pool can attract the attention of Team Canada coaches. Here's a way. Practice these 15 drills (pdf) and if you can consistently score 160 - 170 then contact Joe Rea or Wendy Morgan, because they will want to check you out. 

'Wheelchair curling founder proud of her baby' 3/5/2009

The WCF's Kate Caithness tells the Vancouver Sun's Lyndon Little how wheelchair curling began. "``In January of 2000, I attended a workshop in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where the concept was taking shape,'' she explains. ``The Swedes and the Swiss had been experimenting with it, but their idea was to use smaller rocks and on a shortened length of ice.'' [read more]

Coach Ernie Comerford's Ilderton CC team profiled 3/5/2009

Now in it's second year, the London ON team playing out of Ilderton CC were preparing for the Ontario Provincials when the London Free Press wrote this report.

Bradford CC hangs a new banner  3/5/2009

Bradford CC made their facility wheelchair accessible helped by an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. They now have a new banner to hang, the 2009 Dominion Ontario Mixed Wheelchair Championship. [read story in Bradford Times]

Meanwhile, back in Ontario   3/3/2009

Ontario held its Dominion Provincial Championship over three days last week, with Ottawa's Bruce Cameron in first place at 3-0 and Toronto's Chris Rees, Ilderton's Don Bell and Bradford's Ken Gregory each at 1-2.

Rees, perpetual Ontario champion, beat Bell 9-3 in the semi-final and Gregory beat Cameron, taking two with hammer in the 8th to win 6-5.

That set up a Rees/Gregory final, with Ken Gregory's rink of Colinda Joseph at lead, Katie Paialunga at 2nd and Frank Cannarellla at 3rd running out 7-4 winners in seven ends.

Teams and line scores are available on the OCA website, and a comprehensive article by Doug Graham of the Whig=Standard can be read here.

With Chris Rees not making the 2009 Nationals, it will leave Prince George's Whitney Warren as the only player to compete in every National Championship.

2010 Paralympics teams line-up set  3/1/2009

The ten teams who will compete for medals at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics have been decided by adding the points each national team has earned in the three World Championships since the 2006 Torino Games.

Canada claim an automatic berth as hosts, and Scotland's points count for Great Britain. Points are allocated 12 for a win, 10 for second, 8 for third down to 1 for tenth. In 2007 teams with equal records divided the available points. The last two years, where it was not possible to rank by won/loss records, rankings were decided by a draw to the button.

Here are the teams, with accumulated three year points totals.
 

The 3 year system means that China, one of the most colourful teams at this year's tournament and victors over Canada, fail to qualify even though their won/loss record during round robin play tied them for 5th.

Germany's podium finish brought them a Paralympic berth. Switzerland, who are rebuilding their team around skip Manfred Bollinger, qualified by virtue of their silver medal in 2007.

2009 World Championships preview 2/19/2009

The first thing you notice as you approach the brand new Olympic/Paralympic Curling Centre, site of the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships is that it is still a work in progress. You are entering a building site and this championship is the venue's first event. [read the full preview HERE]

Scots coach discusses team's prospects  2/19/2009

Tom Pendreigh, coach of Team Scotland, told the BBC: ""We couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the tournament with Canada, the USA, who are an up-and-coming team, defending champions Norway, and a strong Korean team in four of our first five matches.

"It is vital for us to make a strong start and get some early wins to boost our confidence and set us up for the rest of the tournament.

"Last year's World Championships was a disappointing end to a good season although we had some illness and injuries to contend with. It was our poorest showing at a Worlds and we want to put that right." [read full report]

Ice in for the 2009 Worlds  2/18/2009

The arena containing the four ice sheets that will be used at the 2009 Worlds and next year's Olympics and Paralympics, will seat 6,00 spectators when finished. As you can see by this photo (on the blog) there is still a lot of construction work yet to be done.

The ice is being put in by renowned ice-makers Hans Wurthrich and Dave Merklinger and will be looked after during the Worlds by Peter Luk from Switzerland and Jorgen Larsen from Denmark, who prepared ice in Torino and at the World Championship last year in Sursee.

The surface will be converted into a NFL size hockey hockey rink after the Olympics. [read report by Bruce Constantineau, Canwest News Service]

Rebuilt Golden Acres CC, Blenheim ON, wheelchair accessible 2/17/2009

The Chatham Daily News reports that the Golden Acres CC, severely damaged by fire a couple of years ago, has been rebuilt as a wheelchair accessible facility. Jamie Pickering, curling club president, is reported as being interested in attracting wheelchair curlers. [read report]

Meet Team Canada 2009  2/13/2009

Get to know Team Canada 2009 by visiting this page. And then share your prediction on who will win the 2009 World Championship by casting your vote on the Wheelchair Curling Blog.

BC's Jackie Roy honoured at 2009 Premier’s Athletic Awards 2/13/2009

Jackie Roy was one of the athletes honoured at the 2009 BC Premier's Athletic Awards luncheon 2009 at the Sheraton Wall Centre February 12th. The awards are go to athletes who demonstrate the potential and commitment to represent British Columbia and Canada in athletic competition to relieve some of the pressures associated with training and competition. Jackie will be playing lead Jim Armstrong's team that will defend its national title in Nova Scotia in March. Darryl Neighbour won this award in 2008.

Howard and Jones to throw from wheelchairs  2/13/2009

Glenn Howard and Jennifer Jones will be throwing from wheelchairs for two ends of their charity skins game at Saturday's Dominion of Canada Spinal Tap Mixed Bonspiel in Thornhill ON. [read report on the curlingnews blog]

Moose Jaw's Marie Wright profiled  2/13/2009

One of the members of Saskatchewan's first provincial wheelchair curling team is Marie Wright of Moose Jaw. Matthew Gourlie interviewed her for the Moose Jaw Times Herald as she practiced.

“I’m really enjoying it. It’s a lot of fun,” said Wright. “I didn’t think I would because I’ve really never done it before, but I’m really enjoying it a lot. I really like getting out there and doing something too.” [read article]

China arrives on the 19th to much speculation  2/13/2009

Team China will make a late arrival into Vancouver amidst speculation that they may be the dark horses of the tournament. This young team's impressive performance at the November Qualifying Tournament has caught the attention of Canadian coaches who, like many watching the Women's World Championship in Vernon BC last year, saw an unknown Chinese team challenge Canada in the final. Team China will now face a much stronger field than Prague Qualifying, but Korea proved last year that it's possible for a team playing full-time to quickly master the technical skills required to play at the highest level. [photo on blog]

Would you break your toe just to curl better?  2/12/2009

Dr. Krassioukov, a UBC professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, claims that some competitors with spinal cord injuries are taking extreme actions to increase blood pressure and improve athletic performance. He is proposing that curling teams be included in a study at the 2010 Paralympics that may help adjust International Paralympic Committee classifications to discourage athletes from feeling they have to break their toes to win medals. [read more]

Team Korea arrives February 16th  2/11/2009

Team Korea, odds on  favourite to win this year's Worlds according to a quote attributed to Team Canada skip Jim Armstrong in today's Vancouver Courier, arrive in Vancouver this Sunday. This is the same on-ice team that rewrote so many coaches' expectations of what was possible when they posted extraordinarily high team shooting percentages in Switzerland at the 2008 Championships. Though they lost in the final to defending champions Norway, the experience may make them even more formidable opponents this year. [photo on blog]

Full day learn to curl at Remax Ctr, St. John's  Saturday 14th  2/11/2009

Chris Daw has organised a full day for those interested in discovering the joys of wheelchair curling. The event will be held at the St. John's Curling Club at thhe Remax Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland. The day will include both on ice and off ice sessions and begins at 10.30 am.

CLICK HERE for a schedule (Word) or email Chris for more information

Armstrong talks about the potential of the sport  2/11/2009

In an interview with Sandra Thomas of the Vancouver Courier, Team Canada skip Jim Armstrong manages to steer the conversation towards how the forthcoming Worlds can stimulate interest in curling among Canada's wheelchair users. " .. wheelchair curling is so relatively new there's so much potential. This is an untapped market because there are a lot of people around with a lot of time on their hands." [read full article]

Team Italy leaving it late  2/11/2009

Team Italy will be arriving in Vancouver the evening before practice at the Hillcrest Stadium, venue of the 2009 World Championships. The team includes the players who lost a tie-breaker to the USA last year for a semi-final spot, and skip Andrea Tabanelli and third Egidio Marchese played at the Torino Paralympics. [photo on blog]

Team Sweden bringing 3 Torino medalists 2/11/2009

Team Sweden will be bringing three members of the team who won a bronze medal at the 2006 Torino Paralympics. Jalle Jungnell, Anette Wilhelm and Glenn Ikonen are joined by Patrik Berman and new coach Patrik Kihlstrom and arrive in Vancouver on Sunday February 15th. [photo on blog]

Swiss arrive on the 15th, will train at Royal City CC  2/11/2009

Team Switzerland will arrive in Vancouver on February 15th and stay in Burnaby. They'll train at the Royal City Curling Club until practice ice opens at the Hillcrest venue on the 19th. This is a completely reworked team with a new coach. Skip Manfred Bollinger is the sole holdover from the team that went a disappointing 3-6 on home ice at last year's Worlds. [photo on blog]

Team Germany arriving on the 15th  2/10/2009

Team Germany arrive in Vancouver on Sunday. They earned their place at the World Championships by earning the best record at the Worlds Qualifying Tournament in Prague last November, losing only to fellow qualifiers China. Jens Jeger and Jens Gabel played on the 2005 team, the last time that Germany competed at the Worlds. They are joined by Marcus Sieger, Caren Totzauer, and Astrid Hoer, and their coach is Helmar Erlewein. [photo on blog]

Team Norway arrive on the 15th   2/10/2009

Team Norway, winners of the last two World Championships, are due to arrive in Victoria on Sunday where they will prepare at the Juan De Fuca Centre prior to coming to Vancouver on the 19th.

Coach Thoralf Hognestad said last year that the team was hoping for a 3-peat and felt Canada, Korea and China would be the teams to beat. Today he was more circumspect. "We are hoping to get to the semi-finals" he said. "After that, anything can happen." [photo on blog[

Team USA take final practice, leave for Worlds on 15th  2/10/2009

Team USA brought out the TV cameras for their final New York practice before leaving for the Worlds next Sunday. [watch video at this link]

The team will initially be staying close to the Abbotsford CC where they will hold an open practice at 6.45pm on February 16th and compete in a demonstration game on Wednesday February 18th at the same time. Team Leader Marc DePerno told the club: "Having an opportunity to prepare for the 2009 World Championships, just prior to its start, in a community so near to the Championship venue is a significant asset as it allows the team to practice one final time and aids with reducing any stress that may build prior to the opening match of the Worlds.”

The USA team for this year's Worlds and next year's Paralympics was chosen last December. "…it is necessary for the team to have at least a full year of training to work on team harmony, dynamics and strategy leading up to the Paralympic Winter Games,” DePerno explained.

Asked how the team felt prior to leaving for this year's Worlds he said, ""The energy is high; the motivation is at its highest level yet. We have great skill on our team; we have a lot of experience under our belt. We have a bronze medal coming off of last year’s worlds. We feel very confident on getting another medal this year and hopefully the gold."

Saskatchewan chooses its 2009 provincial team  2/10/2009

Nine athletes attended Regina's Callie CC selection camp January 24th for the right to become part of Saskatchewan's first provincial team. On and off-ice sessions evaluated Delivery Skills, Shot Making Ability, Game Strategy and Tactics.

The team announced today is Del Huber, Darwin Bender and Calvin Bird all from Regina, Gil Dash from Wolseley and Marie Wright from Moose Jaw. The coach is Lorraine Arguin (Moose Jaw) assisted by-Bob Capp (Regina). The team will represent the Callie Curling Club out of Regina.

The Scots are on their way 2/09/2009

Bob Cowan reports that the Scots are set to leave for Canada on the 11th, to stay in a "holding camp" in Richmond BC. This reminds me that when they came to Kelowna in 2005, I had scouted out some accessible drinking establishments, only to be told by their pleasant but somewhat dour skip Frank Duffy that the team were not going to be allowed to go drinking.

I hope the holding camp has at least a television, and its location registered with the Red Cross.

Cameron wins playdown for spot at Ontario Provincials  2/09/2009

The Ontario Curling Association's controversial decision to allow only one wheelchair team per region to attend the provincial championships in Kingston at the end of the month (other curlers are allowed two) necessitated a playdown between the two competitive Region 1 Ottawa teams.

On Saturday, Bruce Cameron skipped Doug Morris, Jamie Eddy and Christine Lavallee to an 8-4 win over Team Fraser, going on to win the best of three playdown with a 9-3 win on Sunday.

Game 1 Sat Feb 7/09 5:00 PM

Bruce Cameron 1 1 0 0 1 5 0 X 8
Richard Fraser  0 0 1 1 0 0 2 X 4

Game 2 Sun Feb 8/09 11:00 AM

Bruce Cameron 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 X  9
Richard Fraser  0 0 1 2 0 0 0 X  3

The Ontario Dominion Wheelchair Championship will feature four teams and be held Feb 25-27,2009 at the Royal Kingston CC.

Fort William CC to build on success of wheelchair program  2/04/2009

Coach Dave Kawahara, who brought wheelchair curling to northern Ontario, told the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal that the Fort William CC, host to the N. Ontario Provincial Championships, has plans to install an elevator and grow their wheelchair curling program. 

“Mid-March, we should find out if we have all the capital, and then we‘re scheduled to start June 1,” he told reporter Graham Strong, adding that anyone with a physical disability is welcome to come out and try the sport, even if they have to borrow a wheelchair from the club.  “We enjoy everybody‘s company,” Kawahara said. “And once we get the elevator, it‘s going to be really social.”

The program has about 20 members and ice is available at the Fort William CC each Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm. CLICK HERE to read the full Chronicle Journal report.

The Kenora Miner & News also reported on the MEDIchair Provincial Championship final. Read their report including comments by winning skip Wayne Ficek after the match.

Kenora's Ficek storms back to take N. Ontario title  2/03/2009

Wayne Ficek put aside a round robin defeat as he led his Kenora team to a thrilling come from behind victory over Thunder Bay's Carl Levesque in the final of the MEDIchair Northern Ontario Provincial Championship at the  Fort William Curling Club. Down 7-3 after 6 ends, the Kenoran's scored 5 in the 7th and 2 with the hammer in an extra end for a 10-8 win. Line score HERE.

Ficek and 3rd Mark Wherrett played for Levesque at the 2008 Championship on a coach selected team. This year they will take Chester Draper (2nd) and Denise Miault (lead) to the Nationals in Nova Scotia March 23-28. The Northern Ontario Championship was sponsored by MEDIchair who issued this press release about their involvement in wheelchair curling.

Calgarians repeat as provincial champions  2/02/2009

Experience proved out in a close final as Jack Smart led his Calgary team to a 7-6 win over fellow Calgarian Emer Stang and a repeat Alberta Provincial Championship at the Garrison CC in Calgary this weekend.

Team Smart, with Team Canada squad member Bruno Yizek at 3rd, Anne Hibberd at 2nd and Bridget Wilson at lead went 3-0 in the round robin and then easily disposed of Edmonton's Team Nuspl in the semi-final.

Two Edmonton teams and two Calgary teams competed in the three day event notable for a significant increase in the skills shown and the closeness of many of the games since last year's championship. For team rosters and results CLICK HERE

MEDIchair N. Ontario Provincials underway in Fort William  2/01/2009

Wayne Ficek skipped his Kenora team of Mark Wherrett, Chester Draper and Denise Miault to a 15-2 win over Fort Williiam host club's Richard Dawid in the opening draw of the MEDIchair Northern Ontario Provincials.

In the evening draw, Fort William's Carl Levesque, with Rick Bell and Sharon LaFroye who he skipped at the 2008 Nationals, plus Ron Brunelle, ran out 7-2 winners over the Kenora team. The line scores are HERE.

The round robin concludes tomorrow afternoon at 1.30PM local time with Levesque playing Dawid.

Regional playoff required for Ontario Provincials 1/30/2009

Ottawa's curlers have been told by the Ontario Curling Association that the decision to allow only one team per region will stand, necessitating a Region 1 playoff.

Ottawa skip Bruce Cameron argued in a comment to an earlier post that wheelchair curlers should have been treated as in every other level of curling in Ontario, with two entries allowed per region. Excluding people, he argued, is "very frustrating when we, with the exception of the OCA, are trying to expand our sport."

The playoff between Richard Fraser and Bruce Cameron, both representing the RA Centre in Ottawa, will be a best of three eight-end games played at the RA Centre in Ottawa. Game 1 Sat Feb. 5:00pm, Game 2 Sun Feb.8 9:00am and Game 3 (if necessary) Sun. Feb 8 3:00pm. The winner will join Chris Rees (Toronto) Ken Gregory (Bradford) and Don Bell (London) for the Dominion Ontario Provincials to be played at the Royal Kingston CC from February 25-27,2009.

2009 MEDIchair No. Ontario Provincials begin Feb 1st  1/30/2009

The inaugural N. Ontario Provincial Championship, sponsored by MEDIchair, will be held at the Fort William CC from Sunday February 1st through 3rd. Three teams will compete for the right to travel to the Nationals in Nova Scotia at the end of March.

Richard Dawid and Carl Levesque will skip teams out of the host club and will be challenged by a Kenora rink skipped by Wayne Ficek.

“This is a proud moment in Northern Ontario curling history,” says Northern Ontario Curling Association President Al Gemmell. “We are very pleased to include wheelchair curling in our schedule and look forward to its growth across Northern Ontario.”

This will be Northern Ontario's second appearance at the Nationals. In 2008 the selected team skipped by Carl Levesque finished a very creditable 3-4. Team details are HERE and the schedule is HERE. Follow the action at the Fort William CC website

Valentine's Day Give-It-A-Go session in St. John's 1/29/2009

Newfoundland's St. John's CC is hosting an introduction to wheelchair curling on February 14th between 11 am and 5 pm. The club plays at the Remax Centre, a fully wheelchair accessible facility. Paralympic gold medal skip Chris Daw will lead the session, though no word on whether he will be accepting Valentine chocolates or kisses.

"This introductory clinic is aimed at anyone in the province who wishes to participate in wheelchair curling and will help build our provincial program," he said. Email Chris Daw at chris@chrisdaw.ca for more information.

Quebec comes to Ottawa - the result a 16 ender 1/27/2009

The Lennoxville CC, a newly formed team keen to get in as much practice as possible before the nationals, drove through a snow storm to take on the two Ottawa teams last Sunday. They beat both Team Cameron and Team Fraser, and the 4th end of the Fraser match ended with all 16 rocks in the rings.

CLICK HERE to see a photo.

Ontario Provincials entry deadline is January 30th  1/25/2009

Registration for the Ontario Provincials closes January 30th and the Provincial Association had decided that only four teams would be allowed to compete, one from each region. A regional playoff would take place February 7-8 if more than one team from a region applied.

The four team Provincials limit is controversial and seen by some Ottawa curlers, who have the potential to field two teams, as being unnecessarily restrictive. Tom Ward of the Ontario Curling Association says that no decision has been made about what would happen if there were more than two entries from a region yet less than five total. "We'll wait to see how many applications there are before deciding," he told me.

BC, in organizing their first Provincial Championship this year, initially expected to use a traditional regional structure, but abandoned it in the spirit of maximizing participation in the championship. In the end only Team Austgarden in the four team field was drawn from the same region.

Canada play  Scotland to open 2009 Worlds  1/23/2009

Canada open their campaign for the 2009 World Championship against Scotland at 12.30 February 21st. They finish their nine game round robin schedule against two-time defending champions Norway at 2.30pm Thursday 26th.

The Championship will take place as the inaugural event at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic facility in Vancouver. See the full schedule at this link.

Windsor CC in Nova Scotia now fully accessible 1/22/2009

The Windsor CC has been rebuilt and is now fully wheelchair accessible. Club President Rae Winkelaar told Christy Marsters of the Hants Journal that having a curling club that is accessible is great for demonstrating to other clubs that this can be done.  “And, for others in wheelchairs, to be exposed to the fact this is something that’s possible… people can now see how others curl in wheelchairs,” Winkelaar said.  [read full article]

The club held a demonstration day last weekend and hopes to attract enough wheelchair users to form their own club team. Wheelchair curling in Nova Scotia has been centred in Lower Sackville, host to the 2009 Canadian Championships.

Team USA training in Abbotsford BC  Feb 16-19  1/22/2009

Team USA will be training at the Abbotsford CC before attending the 2009 Nationals. They will finish with an open demonstration match at 6.45 pm on February 18th.

Reports of Team BC alternate are premature  1/21/2009

A report on The Curling News blog that Sonja Gaudet had been selected as the alternate on Team BC for the 2009 Canadian Nationals appears premature. Team BC skip Jim Armstrong tells me that a final decision has not been made about who will be the alternate if in fact CurlBC's budget allows for one.

Jim Shannon 1946-2009  R.I.P.   1/21/2009   UPDATED

Jim Shannon, one of the athletes instrumental in establishing wheelchair curling in BC, has died in Vancouver after a long illness. He is survived by his parents Melvin and Beryl Shannon, his daughter Aubrey and his sister Joyce. He was 62.

His daughter said: "Jim was born in Medicine Hat on Sept 26 1946. He grew up in a curling family. He absolutely loved wheelchair curling. He died on January 15 2009. He courageously battled his aliments until the day he died in the hopes of regaining his independence and getting back to the curling rink. He also has been a long time volunteer at Pearson Centre, coordinating the karaoke group there, going on most weekends to involve the residents in his love of karaoke."

A memorial Service will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 21st at George Pearson Hospital, 719 West 59th Avenue, Vancouver. On-line condolences may be expressed at www.schoenings.com or a comment left on the wheelchair curling blog.

Jim skipped BC to consecutive silver medals at the 2005 and 2006 National Championships, and was the alternate on the team that won gold at the 2007 Championship even while he had curtailed his time on the ice because of illness.

Team mate Darryl Neighbour credited his start in the sport to Jim. “Jim Shannon inspired me and asked me to come out and try it," he said. Darryl is now playing 3rd for Team Canada.

A fixture at events at the Marpole and Richmond CC, Jim was recognised in 2005 with an award for his service in promoting wheelchair curling.

He will be missed. 

Local press covers BC Provincials  1/21/2009

Click HERE for a report from the Prince George Citizen and HERE for a report from the Vernon Morning Star

Duluth beat Thunder Bay using rolling delivery  1/21/2009

A team from Duluth MN beat a team from Thunder Bay 9-2  in the first ever cross border wheelchair curling club challenge match in Grand Marais, MN. The game was remarkable for the fact that the Minnesota players used a rolling rather than a stationary delivery.

Duluth team member Shawn Corbin explained his surprise to discover that WCF rules insist that delivery be from a stationary wheelchair, as he had become used to manipulating both rock and chair towards the hogline before release. He felt that his method had considerable advantages, and saw no reason why the rules should not allow for it.

I will post our emails on this subject as a comment on this date's blog post at wheelchaircurling blog.

Team Armstrong repeat as BC Champions  1/17/2009

Jim Armstrong will be defending his 2008 Canadian Nationals, though this year his team of Frank LaBounty, Whitney Warren and Jackie Roy will have earned the honour on the ice rather than had it handed to them at camp.

In the morning semi-final against Darryl Neighbour, he took 4 in the 1st and ran out a 9-6 win that was never as close as the score suggests.

The afternoon final against unbeaten Team Austgarden was a different matter, with play in the four foot almost every end and both teams impressing the spectators with consistent draw weight.

Armstrong stole to a 4-0 lead after 3 ends, Austgarden took 1 and then stole 2 in the 5th when Armstrong's attempt at a last rock save came up inches short of the button. It took a measurement to give Armstrong a steal of 2 in the 7th, and in the final end, down 4, Austgarden had 2 rocks counting in the back of the house with skip stones to play before Armstrong threw a takeout through a narrow port for a decisive hit and a 9-6 win.    

Line scores are at playdowns.com and photographs will be posted on the wheelchaircurling blog.

Team Sobkowicz defends its Manitoba championship  1/17/2009

Team Canada 2009 member Chris Sobkowicz successfully defended his Manitoba title winning the opening two games of the best of three playdown against Team Horning.

Chris will take teammates Arlene Ursel, Michael Alberg, Dennis Thiessen  and alternate Terry Lindell to Nova Scotia in March where he is sure to face at least one other Team Canada member from BC.

Austgarden wins easy passage to BC final  1/17/2009

Gerry Austgarden, dropped from Team Canada 2009, had another two easy wins at the BC playdowns in Vernon, defeating Lindstrom 9-3 in the morning and Armstrong 11-1 in the final round robin draw.

Armstrong beat Neighbour 12-8 in the morning draw, scoring 5 in the 5th and stealing 4 in the 6th. Neighbour faced the other 0-2 team Lindstrom for a semi-final chance. He stole 5 early points but squeaked home 7-6 after giving up 3 in the final end.  Line scores at playdowns.com

Armstrong faces Neighbour at 8.30am in the morning semi-final with the winner playing Austgarden at 1.30.

Austgarden and Armstrong win in Draw 1 of BC playdown  1/16/2009

Gerry Austgarden beat Darryl Neighbour 9-4 in the first draw of the BC playdowns in Vernon. He went out to an early 4 point lead, Neighbour, with 2 in the 3rd and a steal of 1 in the 4th, pulled to within 1 at the half-way point but gave up a game settling 3 in the 5th.

Jim Armstrong, defending BC and National Champion, beat Lindstrom 6-3 with a 3 in the 6th end proving decisive. Line scores at playdowns.com

Sonja Gaudet profiled in preview of BC playdowns 1/15/2009

The Vernon Morning Star profiles local Paralympian and 2009 Team Canada alternate Sonja Gaudet as she prepares to play lead for Gerry Austgarden in the BC playdowns this weekend. [read article]

BC playdown details on playdowns.com  1/14/2009

With six of the 8 person Team Canada squad spread over the four teams competing for the right to represent BC at the Nationals in March, there may be more than casual interest in who wins this playdown. Jim Armstrong will be skipping the same team that won last year's national championship. Teams as per post of 12/20 and schedule available at playdowns.com

Saskatchewan provincial selection camp January 24th  1/14/2009

Anyone wishing to be considered for selection to the Saskatchewan team must attend the camp on January 24th at the Callie CC in Regina. contact Amber Holland at the Saskatchewan Curling Association office. Phone: 306-780-9202 or e-mail: tdsca@sasktel.net

7th Annual Pat "O" Reid Memorial Bonspiel on Valentines Day  1/14/2009

The Toronto Wheelchair Curling Group is putting on the spiel on February 14th at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. Open format, teams and individuals welcome to two games and a dinner. Details HERE (Word doc)

Germany keep winning, take 3rd Annual Identa Cup 1/13/2009

Germany won the 3rd Annual Identa Cup, held this past weekend in Schwenningen, Germany, heading a 10 team field with 8 points from 5 games. The field included the Italian, Swiss and Slovakian national teams as well a team from the Czech Republic and domestic teams from Switzerland and Italy.

Germany put on an impressive performance at the 2009 Worlds Qualifying tournament, losing only to fellow qualifiers China in the 9 game round robin. It will be interesting to see how they match up with the more established teams at the Worlds starting February 21st in Vancouver.

No. Ontario and BC holding playdowns for Nationals  1/13/2009

Wheelchair curling is thriving in Northern Ontario with more than two dozen active players at clubs in Thunder Bay, Kenora and Dryden. Three competitive teams are expected for the first ever playdown to choose the 2009 provincial representative February 1-3  at the Fort William CC in Thunder Bay.

BC holds it's first ever playdown this weekend in Vernon. Four teams have registered and play begins Friday evening with the final set for 1.30pm Sunday January 18. Jim Armstrong will return with his 2008 National Champion team, but will face tough competition as each of the challengers include current Team Canada squad members. (see post below 12/20/2008)

Chris is baaack! Daw to skip at 2009 Nationals  1/13/2009

Long-time Team Canada skip Chris Daw will have recovered from a serious hip injury in time to skip Newfoundland/Labrador team at the 2009 Nationals at the end of March.

The team was formed this season with athletes who bring considerable outside competitive experience to the ice. Darlene Jackman and Joanne MacDonald are Paralympians, Lanie Woodfine is an accomplished road racer, and Felix Green has represented the province at multiple sports.  The team has an experienced coach in Leslie Ann Walsh, herself a Mixed provincial champion.

The team plays out of the Remax Centre in Saint John's, a fully wheelchair accessible facility, right down to the scoreboards. Read full press release HERE (pdf)

Manitoba playdown, Atlantic select and Canada train  1/7/2009

This weekend will be busy from coast to coast. Team Canada holds a closed training camp in Richmond BC, while on the east coast the Atlantic provinces are holding an open training camp in Lower Sackville, NS, with anyone interested invited to participate. Coaches Helen Radford, Leslie Ann Walsh, and Chris Daw will supervise both a high performance camp and exhibition games, after which team selection for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland/Labrador will be announced.

In Manitoba two teams will compete in a playoff to determine the provincial representative. The 2008 Team Manitoba will hope to repeat as champions, skipped this year by 2009 Team Canada member Chris Sobkowicz, with Dennis Thiessen, Michael Alberg, Arlene Ursel, and with Terry Lindell as alternate. Their challengers are George Horning (Skip), Richard Dudek (3rd), Don Kalinski (2nd) and Effie Loubardias (Lead).