Team USA to see in new year at training camp  12/29/2008

Team USA will celebrate the new year in Falmouth, MA, hosted by the Cape Cod CC. They'll begin with a challenge match starting at 3.30 December 31st and train with the club's wheelchair team through January 3rd.

Anyone interested in watching the team that won a bronze medal at the 2008 Worlds prepare for the 2009 event, is invited to the club. For more information visit capecodcurling.org or call Mary Colacchio at 617-529-4534

Northern Ontario planning cross border challenge  12/24/2008

John Cameron reports in the Chronicle Journal that as many as 20 curlers are turning out at the Fort William Curling Club, and there will be a playdown February 1-3 for the right to play in the 2009 Nationals.

The MEDIChair Wheelchair Curling Association (way to go on the sponsorship, guys) is also planning a cross border challenge in Grand Marais, Minnesota, with the equally active Duluth team on, Jan. 17.

If you would like to be part of either a recreational or competitive team, call Dave Kawahara at 577-5818 or the Fort William club at 622-5377.

Press preview the new Hillcrest 2010 curling facility 12/22/2008

The 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships will be the first event held at the brand new Olympic facility in the Hillcrest district of Vancouver, and Jim Armstrong and Georgina Wheatcroft were on hand at the press preview. [read Vancouver Sun coverage]

Deadline Monday December 22nd  for BC playdowns  12/20/2008

CurlBC have finally abandoned selection camps, this year allowing a playdown to decide who goes to the 2009 Nationals in Halifax in March.

The deadline for registration is Monday December 22, and competition is slated to take place in Vernon, January 16-18.

Because of the mandate for mixed gender teams, participation is restricted by the number of women available to play. Four teams, including Jim Armstrong's 2008 national champions, are expected, and by agreement with Team Canada coaches, no more than two TC squad members may play on any one team.

Teams (unconfirmed):
Jim Armstrong, Frank LaBounty, Whitney Warren, Jackie Roy
Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forrest, Bob MacDonald, Samantha Siu
Gerry Austgarden, Ron Vaselenak, Cyril Kinakin, Sonja Gaudet
Bill Lindstrom, Gary Cormack. Roy Crawford, Corinne Jensen

Team Canada "not a closed shop" as 2009 version named  12/17/2008

The additional two week wait is over and the coaches have finally announced the line-up for Team Canada 2009. As predicted in my November 27th post it is:

Jim Armstrong  (Richmond BC)
Darryl Neighbour  (Richmond BC)
Ina Forrest  (Armstrong BC)
Chris Sobkowicz  (Winnipeg MB)
Sonja Gaudet - (Vernon BC) alternate
Joe Rea (Prince George BC)  coach   Playing positions not yet decided.

The team includes three players from Team Canada 2008 (Darryl, Ina and Sonja) with Sonja the only holdover from the 2006 Torino gold medal team.

In a telephone interview shortly after the announcement, Team Director Gerry Peckham made the following points:

*There was very little to choose between any of the candidates, and the delay in announcing the team was to give the coaches additional opportunities to observe the players in meaningful competition.

*Sonja Gaudet earned her place with her performance, though there would have been a bias towards taking two women to avoid the risk of default were one to become injured.

*There was no regional bias at all. The coaches saw no problem with having an all-BC team. Chris Sobkowicz earned his place by his performance.

*Though a sports psychologist works with the team and has input in coaching discussions, team dynamics within the squad were excellent, with every player happy to work for the team, and with any other player.

*This team has been selected for the 2009 Worlds only. The squad of eight will be retained and may even be enlarged next year as several people not currently on the squad have caught the attention of TC coaches.

*The squad will start with a clean slate after the Worlds and will have to compete for their place on the 2010 Paralympics side.

*Team Canada is not a closed shop - any player, or player's coach, who feels that TC coaches should evaluate their performance are encouraged to contact either Joe Rea or Wendy Morgan (or Gerry himself.)

Pushing a ton of granite - for charity  12/17/2008

Jim Taylor, an a wheelchair user since an accident playing rugby and now a keen curler, is today pushing a ton of granite for a mile in a sponsored charity appeal.  Here's what he says (thanks Bob Cowan):

As a keen curler, I am going to push a tonne of granite on a mile of ice to support The Hearts and Heroes Challenge, run by the Sportsman's Charity, with Poppyscotland and Scotland's rugby charity for disabled players, Hearts & Balls. Scottish Rugby's Murrayfield Centenary Fund will also be a beneficiary.

This involves me throwing 50 x 20kg (=44lb) curling stones (they weigh a tonne and I'm not kidding..!) on 75 consecutive lengths of ice. I'm stopping at 80 to be sure....

Please sponsor me to do this. But don't stop there. have a look at the website www.heartsandheroes.co.uk and think about entering a team or visit this link to see the fantastic sponsorship opportunities from £100 to £5000+.

I appreciate that times are hard, but for disabled sportsmen and service personnel, recession is a long term prospect!

Many, many thanks,  Jim Taylor

No changes as Team Scotland 2009 announced  12/16/2008

Bob Cowan, in his Curling Today blog, reports the announcement of Team Scotland 2009. There's no change from the team that tied for last place at 3-6 in Sursee, Switzerland in 2008. The same players competed as Great Britain in the recent Richmond Cashspiel: Michael McCreadie (skip), Aileen Nielson, Tom Killin, Jim Sellar and Rosemary Lenton, with coach Tom Pendreigh. [Read more on the Scottish selection]

Sport surging in Nova Scotia prior to 2009 Canadian Nationals 12/15/2008

The Lakeshore CC in Lower Sackville NS will host the 2009 Canadian National Championships on March, and expects a record number of provinces to compete. Programs in Saskatchewan, Quebec and  Newfoundland/Labrador hope to have teams ready to join the seven who participated in the 2008 event in Winnipeg MB.

Also growing is the local wheelchair curling program at the Lakeshore; so much so that the recreational program has doubled in size and moved from Mondays to Fridays for better ice availability. The competitive squad now has eleven members and the Provincial team will be selected from this group in January.  New curlers are always welcome. For more information call Laughie Rutt at 902-864-2737.
 

"Wheelchair curling the roller derby of curling" 12/14/2008

Jim Armstrong, in an interview with Don Fennell of the Richmond Review says: "Wheelchair curling is also very, very challenging and the level of play is just going to become greater. I’ve only been involved a year-and-a-half and I’d venture to say our Canadian group that we draw from is at least 15 per cent better mechanically than when I started and the results show it......

“I play quite a lot with Darryl Neighbour here, many times a week, and he’s as good as there is mechanically. You can’t teach experience and that makes the situation a little more complicated. There are very few players here that have any real curling background to draw from ... Able-bodied curling has gotten so good over the past few years since the free guard zone rule that there’s a potential risk of having a 1-0 game in a meaningful event. I call wheelchair curling the roller derby of curling because there’s always spills, action and enough misses to keep it interesting. No lead is ever safe.”  Read full article.

Team Canada 2009 delayed again - new date December 17 12/13/2008

The eight member Team Canada squad had been told that they would know ten days ago which five players would wear the Maple Leaf at the 2009 Worlds. That date was changed to the conclusion of the Richmond spiel. Today they were informed that they would be told by telephone  next Wednesday, December 17th.

The reason for the continued delay is not clear, even given that statistically there is little to choose between the candidates beyond (in my opinion) Armstrong, Neighbour and Forrest. Did performances at the Richmond event suggest the need for a rethink?

Will past practice be followed with two women making the squad? Will non-BC members Chris Sobkowicz and Bruno Yizek be included to give them the benefit of meaningful international competition prior to 2010? Or a compromise - Sonja Gaudet plus either Chris or Bruno? Or will experience win out and Gary Cormack and Gerry Austgarden hold on to their spots?

With six of the squad from BC and entries for the BC playdowns for the Canadian Nationals due by December 22, the choice has implications for BC's playdown teams who will be allowed only two Team Canada members on any one side.

You can add your choice for Team Canada 2009 by adding a comment to the couple of dozen guesses already posted on the December 10th Blog post.

Alberta steal $1,500 1st prize at Richmond International Cashspiel 12/13/2008

Alberta proved that their round robin record was no fluke by stealing in the 8th and again in an extra end to post a 7-6 victory over Canada II's Jim Armstrong in the $5,000 Richmond International Cashspiel this afternoon.

Alberta      1  0  0  1  1  0  2  1  1   =  7
Canada II    0  1  2  0  0  3  0  0  0   =  6

Here's a report from an  anonymous spectator:

Armstrong loses!!!!   Alberta, with a couple of fortunate breaks in the early going, stole the 8th and extra end to beat Armstrong.

On the 8th, Armstrong made a 20 foot runback to spill one of two off the button to salvage a tie. On the extra, Armstrong had a hit and roll off his own rock on the side of the four foot. He needed a two foot roll, but only got about a foot, leaving Alberta with the steal.  Very entertaining....

Great Britain failed to recover from the disappointment of their semi-final loss, bowing to Richmond 10-6 in the 3 v 4 game, Vince Miele throwing 4th rocks.

In the consolation games Canada I beat Manitoba 10-2, and Scotland beat Victoria 7-5.

Final standings
1 Alberta      $1,500
2 Canada II   $1,000
3 Richmond    $750
4 Great Britain $400

Photographs from the event will be available at the Richmond Centre for Disability's website.

$5,000 Richmond International Cashspiel Semi-Final  12/13/2008

The final day of the 2nd Annual Richmond International Cashspiel saw round robin winners Alberta blank 4th place hosts Richmond 15-0 in 6 ends in the first semi-final. Armstrong's Canada II squad took just 7 ends to defeat Michael McCreadie's Great Britain team 13-5 in the other semi-final.

Alberta will play Armstrong for the trophy and the $1500 1st prize. Richmond plays Great Britain for 3rd.

With $50 at stake for each game won during the week, the other teams also played this morning, Manitoba edging Victoria 6-5 and Austgarden beating Scotland 12-4

Semi-final
Alberta 15-0 (6 ends) Richmond

Canada II (Armstrong)  0 3 0 0 5 4 1  13
Great Britain          3 0 1 1 0 0 0   5

Final
Alberta v. Canada II
3rd place
Great Britain v. Richmond

For team memberships see entry for Day 1 December 10

The sponsors, Hosting BC, the Rick Hanson Foundation, the City of Richmond and the Richmond Centre for Disability, not only provided for a cash prize pool of $5,000 but also gave travel grants of $2,000 to the British team and $750 each to Alberta and Manitoba to help defray expenses. Victoria also received assistance from Hanson's Wheels in Motion.

Richmond International - Day 3  12/12/2008

Alberta took first place after round robin play on the strength of a tournament best score in the team "draw to the button" test in Draw 3. Their overall mark of 5-2 was tied with Great Britain and Canada II and they will play host team Richmond in tomorrow's semi-final.

Jim Armstrong chalked up another two wins but because his team's "draw to the button" skills test in Draw 3 was played head to head, their dismal seventh best scoring counted as a loss to Manitoba. Michael McCreadie's Great Britain squad showed some signs of life after struggling for much of the season, and will face Armstrong in tomorrow's semi-final.

Gerry Austgarden's Canada 1 team redeemed themselves with two wins, though it took an extra end for them to put away Manitoba.

Draw 6 - morning
Victoria  0-13 (5 ends) Canada II (Armstrong)
Scotland  4-8  Canada 1 (Austgarden)
Manitoba  9-6  Great Britain
Richmond  8-7  Alberta

Draw 7 - afternoon
Manitoba 7-9 (extra) Canada 1 (Austgarden)
Richmond  6-10  Canada II (Armstrong)
Victoria  0-7 (6 ends) Great Britain
Scotland 4-9  Alberta

Richmond International - Day 2  12/11/2008

At the end of the second day of the Richmond International Cashspiel, Jim Armstrong's Canada II is tied with Richmond, Great Britain and Alberta at 3-1, with Victoria 2-2 and Scotland and Manitoba 1-3. Gerry Austgarden's Canada I squad has yet to record a win though they posted the second best "draw to the button" score in the "skills" element yesterday.

Draw 4 - morning
Canada II (Armstrong) 13-0 Scotland
Victoria  8-2  Canada I (Austgarden)
Alberta  10-4  Manitoba
Great Britain 10-1  Richmond

Draw 5 - afternoon
Great Britain 9-5  Canada II (Armstrong)
Alberta 10-4  Canada I  (Austgarden)
Manitoba  2-6  Scotland
Victoria 5-9 Richmond

Richmond International - Day 1  12/10/2008

Consistent with the coaches' insistence that no decision has yet been made about which of the eight squad members competing in Richmond will become Team Canada 2009, Canada I is being skipped by Gerry Austgarden while Jim Armstrong skips Canada II.

In the morning draw Great Britain beat Austgarden 8-4, while Armstrong beat Alberta 12-3. It took Manitoba an extra end to defeat Victoria 8-6, and Richmond beat Scotland 6-5.

In the afternoon Armstrong beat Austgarden 11-6, Richmond beat Manitoba 7-6, Victoria beat Scotland 10-4 and Alberta beat Great Britain 9-5.

Draw 3 was a short session "skills" competition. Each team member drew to the button with the cumulative distance from the button determining the winner: Austgarden (156") over Richmond (291"), Manitoba (262") over Armstrong (283"), Alberta (143") beat Victoria (213") and Great Britain (230") beat Scotland (279").

2nd Annual Richmond (BC) International begins Dec 10  12/9/2008

Team Canada will face the British Paralympic squad during the four day Richmond (BC) International starting tomorrow. With the delayed announcement of which five players will become Team Canada 2009, this event will be a last chance for the eight person training squad to impress the coaches.

Canada last faced the Brits in October at a spiel in Kinross, Scotland which ended in a Canada/Canada final.

Completing the eight team field in Richmond are teams from Alberta, Manitoba and two local club sides.

USA announces team for 2009 Worlds and Vancouver 2010  12/8/2008

To no great surprise the on-ice curlers who won America's first medal at the World level last March, have been chosen to represent their country at the 2009 Worlds, and pending approval by the US Olympics Committee, the 2010 Paralympics.

The team of skip Augusto (Goose) Perez, James Pierce, Jimmy Joseph and Jackie Kapinowski came through a three stage assessment that began with a formal try-out, and continued over spiels in Ottawa and Utica.

Newcomer Patrick McDonald, who had been skipping USA II, joins thee team as the sole west coast representative. CLICK HERE for more information.

USA 1 need extra end but win U.S. Open  12/7/2008

Augusto Perez avenged a round robin defeat by Bradford, Ontario's Ken Gregory in the first semi-final of the 2nd Annual U.S. Open in Utica, NY today, but he needed an extra end to prevail 7-6 in 9 ends. Bruce Cameron's Ottawa team beat Great Britain I by 9-5 in the other semi.

In the final USA I beat Cameron 7-2 for the gold medal, with Gregory beating Great Britain 1 for bronze.

Great Britain now travel to British Columbia to compete in the 8 team Richmond International against Team Canada, Alberta, Manitoba and two BC club sides. GB, which is essentially a Scottish squad, have struggled for some time after finishing tied for last place at the 2008 Worlds. They still have players with a great deal of experience, and their funding enables them to travel. It will be interesting to see whether they can raise their game in Richmond or will plead continued experimentation in preparation for 2010 to explain what to their fans is a worrying lack of success. At some point a team has to prove to themselves they can win, and the Scots may be leaving it a little late.

U.S. Open - Day 2  12/6/2008

Day 2 of the 2nd Annual U.S. Open saw 3 draws, with USA I suffering their first defeat, and Bruce Cameron's Ottawa team seeding #2 in Sunday's playoff.

Draw 3 results
Cameron 4-8 Gregory
USA I  8-3  GB II
USA II  5-6  GB I

Draw 4 results
GB I  7-2  GB II
USA II  3-7  Cameron
USA I  7-9  Gregory

Draw 5 results
USA I  11-3  USA II
GB I  4-7 Cameron
GB II  7-7  Gregory

U.S. Open begins in Utica NY  12/5/2008

The 2nd annual U.S. Open, featuring the Great Britain Paralympic squad, began today at the Utica Curling Club, NY. Both US teams posted two wins in the opening draws.

Draw 1 results
USA I  11-2  GB I
USA II  11-3  Gregory (Bradford ON)
Cameron (Ottawa ON) 9-4  GB II

Draw 2 results
USA I  7-5  Cameron
USA II  8-3   GB II
GB I  7-6  Gregory

USA I -  Perez, Pierce, Joseph, Kapinowski
USA II - McDonald, Heathcoat, Dorsett, Delano
Ottawa  - Cameron, Morris, Eddy, Lavallee
Bradford - Gregiry, Cannerella, Joseph, Palalunga
GB I  -  Neilson, McCreadie. Ewan, Keith
GB II -  Sellar, Killin, Lenton, McKenzie

Canada, played in Ottawa last weekend and will play in Richmond BC next week so did not attend this event, which Great Britain won last year.

Team Canada announcement delayed   12/3/2008

The announcement of the members of Team Canada 2009 has been delayed until Saturday December 13th, at the banquet at the Richmond International spiel, as happened last year.

The eight squad members had been told that they would know today, and the reason for the delay is unclear. Possibly Joe Rea, who did not travel to Ottawa for the Cathy Kerr, needed additional time to see them play. Or it might have been felt that announcing the team before Richmond would adversely affect the performance of those not chosen. Whatever the reason, as of today the proposed line-ups in Richmond are:

Armstrong, Neighbour, Forrest, Yitzek
Austgarden, Cormack, Sobkowicz, Gaudet
It should be noted that the proposed line-ups changed shortly before the Ottawa event.

This does, however, allow more time for those yet to cast their ballot for Team Canada 2009. Please do so in the comments section in yesterday's blog post (12/3/2008).

Who do you pick for Team Canada 2009?   12/3/2008

The members of Team Canada 2009 will be chosen Thursday, December 4th.

The candidates in alphabetical order are:

Jim Armstrong
Gerry Austgarden
Gary Cormack
Ina Forrest
Sonja Gaudet
Darryl Neighbour
Chris Sobkowicz
Bruno Yizek

Who do you think wil make the team - Skip through lead, plus alternate?

Post your selection, anonymously of you must, on the wheelchaircurling.com blog.

GB begin North American tour at US Open in Utica Dec 5-7  12/3/2008

The Great Britain Paralympic squad will begin their North American tour at the 2nd US Open in Utica this weekend. Two British team will compete against the two US teams that played last weekend in Ottawa. Two Ontario teams, Cameron from Ottawa and Gregory from Bradford round out the six team field.

The Brits then travel to BC and will face Team Canada 2009, who are to be selected tomorrow (December 4th), at the Richmond International spiel starting December 9th.

Quebec to compete at 2009 Canadian Nationals  12/1/2008

Quebec wheelchair curlers, based at the Lennoxville CC in Sherbrooke, learned today that their winning participation in the recreational division of the Cathy Kerr in Ottawa has led to sponsorship for a trip to the 2009 Canadian Nationals.

Club member Al Whittier, who has been the force behind the program, was delighted. "We were all inspired by seeing the Ottawa ice-sheets full of wheelchairs," he said when he phoned us the news. "And we already have a woman who drove to Ottawa to watch what was happening, and who will coming out to a practice. We need female curlers and she asked about training."

This brings up a point that I have been making for several years. If curling wants to attract committed athletes there must be answers to intelligent questions, like what will be my time commitment to excel, what coaching is available, and what is my path to representative competition.

As far as I know there is still no "Path To Excellence" type brochure that lays out the support serious athletes will expect from a sport attempting to get them to commit their time and energy.

Angie Malone skips to British Open win 11/30/2008

Bob Cowan reports that Angie Malone, who fans will remember played lead for Frank Duffy at the 2006 Torino Paralympics, skipped her team of Ian Donaldson, Jim Elliot and Jim Taylor to a 6-4 win over Jim Gault to win the British Open Championship at Kinross this weekend.

USA I denies Canada I a perfect record with tie in final draw 11/30/2008

The final day's action, two 6-end draws, began at 8.30am and saw Canada I beat Fraser 13-1 and Canada II beat USA II 7-4.

The final draw featured the marquee match-up, Armstrong against USA I's Perez. It ended honours even in a 4-4 tie.

Canada I  - 1 0 0 1 2 0
USA I *..  - 0 1 1 0 0 2

Canada II beat Fraser 7-2.

Overall winners - Canada I - Armstrong, Neighbour, Forrest and Cormack

Recreational winners - Lennoxville Quebec - Ben Lasard, Carl Marquis, Jacques Martin and Denis Paradis.

Draw 6 Sunday 8:30 AM

Cameron 5-3 Gregory
Canada II 7-4 USA II
USA 1 5-5 Rees
Canada I  13-1  Fraser

Draw 7 Sunday 11 AM

Cameron 0-6  USA II
Fraser  2-7  Canada II
Rees 4-2 Gregory
Canada 1  4-4  USA I

Ottawa (Michel) 2-7  Lennoxville (Lessard)
Ottawa (Wong-Sing) 4-4  London (Bell)

Rankings
1. Canada I -  6-0-1
2. Canada II - 6-1-0
3. Rees (Toronto) 4-2-1
4. USA I   -   4-1-2
=5. USA II  2-5-0
=5. Cameron (Ottawa)  2-5-0
=5. Gregory (Bradford)  2-5-0
8. Fraser  0-7-0

Canada I at 5-0. Austgarden avenges USA bronze defeat  11/29/2008

The last time Gerry Austgarden faced USA skip 'Goose' Perez he was shaking hands after lead stones in the final end of the game that gave USA their first World Championship medal. In Draw 3 this morning revenge was sweet as he led Canada II to a 8-6 win over USA I.  Canada I remained unbeaten with a 10-4 win over Bradford.

In Draw 4 this afternoon Canada I raised their record to 4-0 with a 12-4 win over Cameron, while Canada II beat Chris Rees' Toronto 6-2. 

In Draw 5 this evening Canada I  beat Rees 12-4 and Canada II beat  Cameron 8-2.

Draw 3  Saturday 8:30 AM

Cameron 13-0 Fraser
Canada I  10-4  Gregory
USA II  5-10 Rees
Canada II  8-6  USA 1

Draw 4 Saturday 1 PM

USA II 3-8 USA 1
Rees 2-8  Canada II
Fraser 3-15 Gregory
Canada I  12-4  Cameron

Ottawa (Wong-Sing) 2-7  Lennoxville (Lessard)
London (Bell) 5-4  Ottawa (Michel)

Draw 5 Saturday 4:30 PM

Canada II  8-2 Cameron
Gregory 5-9  USA 1
Rees 2-10  Canada 1
USA II  13-2   Fraser

Ottawa (Wong-Sing) 7 Ottawa (Michel) 5
London (Bell) 3 Lennoxville (Lessard) 14

Canada I over Canada II at Cathy Kerr 11/28/2008

Both Team Canada squads had solid wins in the morning draw. Canada 1 blanked USA II by 15-0, and Canada II beat Bradford 9-5.

In the afternoon draw Canada I skipped by Jim Armstrong, beat Gerry Austgarden's Canada II by a score of 8-2.

Here are the full Day 1 results

Draw 1 - Friday 1 pm

Canada 1   15-0   USA II
Canada II  9-5 Gregory
Rees 7-4 Cameron
USA I  18-2 Fraser

Draw 2 Friday 4:30PM

USA 1 9-4  Cameron
Canada 1  8-2 Canada II
Gregory 9-3   USA II
Rees 9-6 Fraser

Canada and USA line-ups for Cathy Kerr announced  11/27/2008

Canada and USA have announced their teams for the 3 day Ottawa spiel starting tomorrow.

Canada I - Armstrong (skip), Neighbour, Forrest, and Cormack all from BC.
Canada II - Austgarden (skip BC), Yizek (AB), Sobkowicz (MB) and Gaudet (BC)

USA I - Perez (skip NY), Pierce (NY), Joseph (NY) and Kapinowski (NJ)
USA II - McDonald (Skip CA), Heathcoat (WI), Dorsett (PA) and Delano (NY)

Canadian coach Wendy Morgan was at pains to point out that their teams did not indicate who would represent Canada at the 2009 Worlds. That decision  will be announced next week so that the team can play together at the Richmond International spiel the following weekend.

Armstrong, Neighbour, and Forrest are favourites to make the cut, with Gaudet the alternate if coach Rea follows past practice of including two women. That would leave Torino gold medallists Austgarden and Cormack competing with Yizek and Sobkowicz for the remaining front end position. Performance this weekend will influence selection, but all things being equal the vote may go to Sobkowicz in a move away from an all-BC team. Have an opinion? Post it on the wheelchaircurling.com blog.

The USA trials last weekend was the major factor in deciding which 8 athletes would compete in Ottawa. USA I, bronze medallists  at the 2008 Worlds, appear to have weathered the challenge of 6 other athletes though a final decision on the 2009 Team USA will not be officially announced until December 14th, after the US Open.

Canada and USA meet in Ottawa at Cathy Kerr - Nov 28-30  11/23/2008

The 4th Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial bonspiel has expanded to 3 days and 8 competitive teams plus 4 others who will play in the social division. Two teams from each of the national Canadian and USA squads will compete against the top four Ontario teams. Games will be held at the RA Centre and the Nepean Sportsplex. Click HERE for a full schedule (pdf)

Wheelchair curling, in a league of their own  11/23/2008

Corrinna Pole writes in The Record (Sherbrooke, QUE): Last year, a Wheelchair curling program, the first of its kind in the province, was a pilot project at Lennoxville's Curling Club. Now the team is even closer to becoming a full league with high hopes of branching out.

"Wheelchair curling is nonexistent in Quebec but other provinces have it," said Lennoxville's Alfred Whittier, who has years of experience instructing handicapped athletes. "Our aim is to form a Quebec competitive team to represent the province in Canadian tournaments." [read more]
 

Have-A-Go Day in Langley BC on November 29  11/20/2008

National Champion skip and Team Canada member Darryl Neighbour will be hosting a Have-A-Go day at Langley,  November 29th from 12-3pm

"Come try this sport in a welcoming, non-competitive environment geared toward new participants. You just come and have Fun!" Contact CurlBC for more information.

Jim Armstrong profiled in The Province  11/20/2008

On delivering a rock from a wheelchair with a stick, Armstrong said: "The feel eventually comes through. But what I was used to was doing it from the hack to the hogline [before letting go of the rock]. Now I'm doing it in two feet."

[read full article]

Germany and China qualify for 2009 Worlds  11/20/2008  UPDATED

Germany stole their way to a win over Russia in the 1 v. 2 Page playoff game at the Worlds Qualifying tournament in Prague, to claim the first of two slots at the 2009 Worlds in Vancouver next February. Though Russia stole singles in the first two ends, Germany stole 3 in the 4th, and singles in the 5th and 6th on their way to a 6-5 win.

In the 3 v. 4 game the host Czechs started with the hammer and took 2 from China, but that was to be the end of their dream as they gave up 5 in the second and failed to score the rest of the way as China ran out 11-2 winners in seven ends.

Russia then played China for the second qualifying slot, but despite having the hammer, only managed a consolation single in the 7th end, China winning 13-1.

Read a WCF report HERE and CLICK HERE for live line scores.

Germany and China will join Norway, Korea, USA, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Scotland and Switzerland In Vancouver.

Germany top after round robin at Worlds Qualifying  11/19/2008

Germany (8-1) topped the 10 team field after round robin play at the qualifying tournament for the final two places at the 2009 Worlds in Vancouver next February.

Hosts Czech Republic, 2008 Worlds competitor Russia and China, who gave Germany their only defeat, were all 7-2 and will play in the Page play-off Thursday.

Germany v. Russia - winner takes first qualifying spot, loser plays winner of China v. Czech Republic for the second qualifying spot.

CLICK HERE for live line scores.

Worlds Qualifying all week in Prague  11/16/2008

Ten teams are competing in Prague for the final two places at the 2009 Worlds in Vancouver next February. After 7 draws of round robin competition, China, Germany and the Czech Republic are unbeaten. Sentimental favourite Japan, forced to qualify when their pre-tournament tie-break draw to the button at the 2008 Worlds lost by millimetres, are out of contention at 1-5.

CLICK HERE for live line scores. Click on the team names for participants. The website also has webcams on each sheet but I could not get access to them.

Teams and schedule (CET time which is 9 hours ahead of Pacific and 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time) can be downloaded as a Word document here.

The Page playoff final games are scheduled for Thursday November 20th.

Cape Cod CC  continues support for wheelchair curlers  11/16/2008

Several wheelchair users took part in this weekend's charity spie at the Cape Cod CC, which raised $5,000 for a local group offering adaptive sports equipment to physically and mentally challenged people of all ages. [read report]

Club official Tony Colacchio, inspired, he told me, by a wheelchair curling column to include disabled access in the club's $500,000 renovation  plan, hopes they can attract a core group of wheelchair users to challenge for places on the USA national team.  

Norway take 2008 Rolli Cup in Bern 11/16/2008

Norway, Sweden, Scotland and 5 teams from Switzerland competed in Bern for the 2008 Rolli Cup. Each pool of 4 teams played 3 round robin 6-end  games on Saturday. Norway (3-0) beat Scotland 12-2 in one semi-final while Lausanne Olympique (2-0-1) lost to Bern II  in the other.

In the final Norway  blanked Bern II by 8-0 while Scotland claimed bronze with a 10-2 win over Lausanne.

For complete details CLICK HERE

10 compete for 2009/2010 Team USA 11/10/2008  UPDATED 11/16/2008

CLICK HERE for video coverage of the first weekend of evaluation, and HERE for a News 10 Now report by Jim Gibbons.

11/10/2008 - Ten curlers from six different states will be competing over the next month for Team USA places for the 2009 Worlds and the 2010 Paralympics, both to be held in Vancouver.

Tryouts begin in Utica this weekend November 14-16, and evaluations will continue during the Cathy Kerr bonspiel in Ottawa November 28th, and conclude at the USA Open in Utica December 5-7.

CLICK HERE for a press release detailing who will be competing, and GO TO THIS PAGE and click on the 2010 Olympic Team Selection Link to download a detailed description of eligibility requirements and selection protocols.

Chris Daw recovering in hospital after ATV crash  11/3/2008

Chris Daw is recovering from a broken hip in the Health Sciences Center in St. John's,  Newfoundland. He is expected to be there till Friday. We wish him a speedy recovery.

UPDATE November 24 - email from Chris

Dear Eric, friends and wheelchaircurling.com readers;

I would like to say thank you and all those who have wished my well over the last few weeks.

On October 30, I was involved in an accident to which I did break my hip and under went surgery for repair. The break was a severe one and will take extended time to heal.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone over the last 8 years for the friendship, team work, coaching, support and most of all the great times we have all experienced as wheelchair curling has grown. I would like to Thank the CCA for the support and backing over the years for our sport and know they will continue to do a great job.

Thanks to all of you and hope to see you on the ice again someday in the future!

Good Luck to all in Vancouver!

All the best and good curling;

Chris

San Francisco Bay Area CC has Team USA hopeful 11/1/2008

Patrick McDonald, a member of the SF Bay Area Curling Club can be seen here practicing in hopes of qualifying for Team USA.

4th Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial bonspiel  11/1/2008

Ottawa's Capitol Wheelchair Curling Club will host the 4th Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial bonspiel, November 28-30. Team Canada and Team USA will each field two teams and go head to head in their first match-up since the bronze medal game at the 2008 Worlds. Four Ontario teams, Rees, Cameron, Gregory and Fraser make up the eight team field.

The event will take place at the RA Curling Club and the Nepean Sportsplex. Contact Bruce Cameron for more information.

USA male curler of the year profiled by News 10 Now, NY  10/26/2008

Augusto 'Goose' Perez, skip of the 2009 Worlds bronze medal medalists is profiled in a news and video report. Perez lost a leg to a rare cancer, but his success in skipping Team USA to its first medal was recognised by his being named USA male curler of the year.

"It was happy and sad at the same time. It was happy because I got the award, but at the same time I don't think that they can pick one single person," he told reporter Jim Gibbons, going on to say that it's a team game, not won or lost by an individual effort.

Canada beat Canada in Kinross final  - updated  10/24/2008

Canada 1 beat Canada 2 on a draw to the button, after seven ends of play saw the teams tied 5-5. Norway beat Great Britain 6-3 for 3rd place. Follow this link for a match report, and this link for a photo of the winning team.

Newfoundland and Labrador to compete at 2009 Nationals  10/23/2008

Chris Daw,  ex-Team Canada skip who has relocated to St. John's, Newfoundland, says that his adopted province will compete for the first time at the 2009 Nationals in Nova Scotia. 

Leslie Ann Walsh will coach the side, which will include Lanie Woodfine and Joanne McDonald who were on Team Atlantic at the 2008 event.

Daw is doubtful of the prospect of a return to the ice. " I am not to sure about playing anymore. I would like to think I still have the talent but I am not to sure about the time. I am helping the team develop a few skills, etc. but playing.....I think retirement is calling my name!"

Sonja Gaudet featured in Vancouver 2010 ad campaign  10/23/2008

Team Canada lead and Paralympic gold medalist Sonja Gaudet is one of the athletes featured in the ICBC drive to raise money for Vancouver 2010 by selling special vehicle license plates. 

Jim Armstrong cleared to skip Canada at 2010 Paralympics 10/22/2008

6-time Brier competitor Jim Armstrong, presently skipping a Canadian team at the Kinross International bonspiel in Scotland, met today with the WCF's eligibility classifier and the word is that he has been cleared to play in WCF events. Though the decision has not been officially announced, a highly placed CCA source confirmed the change, noting that Manitoba's Chris Sobkowicz, who also makes every effort not to limit his movement to his wheelchair while being unable to enter the ice without it, has been similarly declared eligible.

Armstrong was already eligible for Canadian competition and skipped BC to the 2008 national title, but had previously been denied eligibility for world events by the WCF. He will now be eligible to skip Team Canada at the 2009 Worlds in Vancouver and also the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics.

The issue of eligibility was discussed in this article. While it is not yet known what made the WCF change their minds on Armstrong, is is in all likelihood a recognition that his reliance on a wheelchair has increased in the past year as predicted in this news item.

Canadian teams lead after 3 games at Kinross  10/22/2008

Both Canadian teams have 3-0 records after the second day at the Kinross International bonspiel. Russia withdrew which will complicate standings, and unpublished bonspiel rules allocate (tie-break?) points beyond won/loss records.

Bob Cowan's Curling Today blog has several photos and the standings

Pool 1

Canada 1 - 3 points
Norway 1 -  1 point (8 ends)
Switzerland - 1 point (6 ends and plus shots)
Scotland 2 - 1 point (6 ends minus 6 shots)
England - 0 points

Pool 2

Canada 2 - 3 points
Great Britain - 2 points
Scotland 2 - 1 point
Wales - 0 point

Event schedule HERE

Quebec joins the party  10/20/2008

Quebec is the latest province to boast an organized wheelchair curling program, with the action happening on Sunday mornings 10am till noon at the Lennoxville CC. Al Whittier, who has many years of experience working with disabled athletes on the ski slopes, is now working with a core group of curlers, several of whom have represented Canada at other sports.

The Lennoxville club will host a clinic on November 1st at 9am run by CCA ambassador Guy Hemmings and ex-Team Canada skip Chris Daw. Local coaches as well as wheelchair users are invited to attend and learn about the wheelchair game in the hope they will spread the word throughout the province. Contact the club for more information.

Canada sending 2 teams to Kinross International  10/18/2008

The Kinross International Invitational will take place October 21-23rd. Teams from Canada (2) Great Britain,  Scotland (2) England, Wales, Norway, Russia and Switzerland  will compete in 2 groups with the final set for 3.15pm local time next Thursday.

The 5 member Team Canada squad (Neighbour, Austgarden, Forrest, Gaudet and Cormack) will be joined by Jim Armstrong, Chris Sobkowicz and Bruno Yizek.

Canada are hoping during the trip to have the WCF's eligibility assessor declare Armstrong eligible for WCF (and therefore Paralympics) competition, presumably on the grounds that though he does not presently use a wheelchair for his daily mobility, his condition is deteriorating and he is only able to curl from a wheelchair.

The event brochure (available here) states that the "competition will follow WCF rules" so it is unclear what will happen is the assessor's opinion does not go Canada's way.

Grant money for equipment and clothing?  10/18/2008

The Hamilton Advertiser notes that the Lloyds TSB Foundation For Scotland has made grant for equipment and clothing to an (unspecified) wheelchair curling club.

While it is becoming more common for clubs to seek financial assistance for capital expenditure on access improvements, individual curlers should remember that there is often local money available for the asking for team jackets, embroidery and other expenses. Make an appeal in your local paper, make a brochure, print some photos, and show some initiative to get your team or club properly financed. Write to eric@wheelchaircurling.com for information on how to go about getting sponsorship.

Ottawa's Capital Wheelchair CC's season starts today  10/18/2008

Ice is available to wheelchair curlers at the RA Curling Club from 3 to 5 pm each Saturday. All wheelchair users are welcome. Contact Bruce Cameron for more information. An Ottawa team will be traveling to Utica NY to challenge Team USA and the Scots at the USA Open December 5-7.

Lockerbie curlers can now buy their own beer  10/18/2008

The South of Scotland ice rink at Lockerbie, home of the Lockerbie Wheelchair Curling Club, has just installed an elevator (lift) so wheelchair users can get to  the bar. Improvements to the five sheet club were paid in part by a grant from SportScotland.

With curling's reputation as a social sport, access to the bars and viewing areas may be the boost that wheelchair curling needs as it attempts to appeal to new players. [read full story with photos]

Two slots still open for 2009 USA Open, Dec  5-7, Utica NY  10/6/2008

Six teams have signed up so far for the international bonspiel in Utica NY from December 5-7. Two British teams will compete against two USA teams and teams from Ottawa and Bradford in a round robin format. Registration is still open, and details can be found HERE (doc) and HERE (pdf) or you can contact Marc DePerno.

Team Canada will not be appearing as they are committed to the Cathy Kerr bonspiel in Ottawa the weekend before and to an international bonspiel that starts in Vancouver on December 9th. Given the paucity of opportunities to compete against world class opposition during the season, it is unfortunate that organizers of each event were unable to coordinate the calendar to allow Team Canada to compete in Utica.

Nova Scotia gearing up for big season  10/6/2008

The Lakeshore CC in Lower Sackville NS will be host for the 2009 Nationals. Their recreational program begins this evening (October 6th) at 6.15pm and continue throughout the season.

Newcomers are very welcome and the first night's ice time is free. The group is hoping that more females will join the group as wheelchair curling is a mixed gender sport. For those experienced wheelchair curlers there is a stick curling league on Wednesday evening that is more competitive. For information contact Laughie Rutt at 902-864-2737.

Saskatchewan committed to field team at 2009 Nationals  10/6/2008

The Saskatchewan Curling Association is committed to sending a team to the March 2009 Nationals in Nova Scotia, and will hold a provincial selection camp on January 24 at the Callie CC in Regina.

The Callie is also hosting reparation sessions and league play. On Mondays starting October 20th and running through March there will be instructional time and mini-games. Sign up costs $100. Contact Bob Capp (306-761-1832) or the club directly.

Those interested in playing in regular leagues have that option if they can form their own team, or if interested in getting on a team that will play Wednesday evenings they should contact the Callie Club (306-525-8171). League fees are $335 plus tax and includes access to the Monday sessions.

There will be a one day workshop for players and coaches  on Saturday November 1st, run by Jim Armstrong and Whitney Warren, both members of the National Team Program. Contact the Saskatchewan Curling Association for more information.

Volunteers needed for Kinross (Scotland) Invitational  10/3/2008

Kinross will be hosting a  10 team international spiel October 21-23 and the Curling Today blog notes that on-ice volunteers are needed. Two Canadian teams will be competing against Team GB, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, England, Wales and 2 domestic teams. Contact Ena Stevenson if you are able to help.

San Francisco bay area seeking help for wheelchair curling 9/30/2008

The San Francisco Bay Area CC is looking for volunteers to assist at their forthcoming wheelchair curling clinics in San Jose: October 14  and October 28 from 10am to noon. Contact Brian at bayareacurling.com for details.

London (Ontario) Calling - any wheelchair curlers?  9/28/2008

Coach Ernie Comerford, who established the wheelchair curling program in Alberta, is now living in London Ontario and hoping to re-establish wheelchair curling there. Contact him if you want to play or help out.

You can read about his approach to coaching and download his drills HERE.

USA clinics in Laurel MD and Cape Cod MA  9/28/2008

The USA wheelchair curling program has two clinics coming up; October 15th at the Potomac CC in Laurel MD (outside Baltimore) and October 23rd at the Cape Cod CC in Falmouth MA.

BC Provincial Championships January 17-18, 2009   9/28/2008

Vernon will host the first ever BC Provincial Championships. Selection for Team BC had previously been the responsibility of a CurlBC coach, and CurlBC will be appointing a coach and alternate to accompany the winning team to the Nationals in Nova Scotia.

Deadline for applications to be received by the CurlBC office is December 22nd and participation will be limited to 8 mixed gender teams. In the unlikely event that more than 8 teams apply, there will be a playdown. Contact Heather Beatty for more information.

Sonja Gaudet is trying to arrange accessible accommodation, Contact her for information.

WCF's Kate Caithness interviewed after Beijing Paralympics 9/24/2008

The Brechin Advertiser, despite confusing Special and Para-Olympics (sic) with the Beijing Paralympics, has an interview with Kate Caithness, WCF vice-president and the most influential person in international wheelchair curling. [read article]

Norway pick up where they left off with win in Denmark  9/18/2008

Norway won the season's opening international event, beating out host Denmark in a five team field. The Czech Republic, Germany and Scotland also competed.

With the cancellation of the Norwegian Open because of construction delays, Team Canada will make their first international appearance at the Kinross Invitational in Scotland, October 21-23.

The five members of Team Canada 2008 (Darryl Neighbour, Gerry Austgarden, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet and Gary Cormack - all from BC) will be joined by Alberta's Bruno Yizak, Manitoba's Chris Sobkowicz and ex-Brier BC skip Jim Armstrong.

Canada is still hopeful that the WCF will change their mind and decide Armstrong is eligible for the Worlds and the Paralympics. He will have his status reviewed by an WCF eligibility assessor during the Scotland trip.

USA skip Perez profiled as keynote speaker at Syracuse 9/12/2008

Team USA skip Augusto "Goose" Perez has been invited to be the keynote speaker at Syracuse University's kickoff to National Hispanic Heritage Month.

In a profile at Syracuse.com, Rita Paniagua, executive director of the Spanish Action League, said: "His story shows a lot of courage and definitely, he is a very focused individual in terms of reaching his goal," she said. "He has a great message for our children, no matter what life gives you, you keep moving." [read full profile]

(Team USA lead Jacquie Kapinowski has her own website.)

Team USA return from Lake Placid 9/8/2008

Team USA and the US High Performance squad have just completed their first visit to the U.S. National Olympic Training Centre at Lake Placid, NY. Coach Steve Brown told WCAX-tv reporter Jack LaDuke, ""We like to fine tune their technical skills and find out the best place to put their stick and get the power they need and feel and touch and do a lot of off-ice strategy sessions." [read full report]

Team Canada athletes released to play in Provincials 9/8/2008

The five BC athletes on Team Canada 2008 can compete in the 2009 provincial playdowns - with one proviso: no more than two members on any one team. This avoids any embarrassment were they to all play for a team that did not qualify for, or win the national title.

British Columbia's laudable decision to scrap selection camps in favour of a provincial  playdown is running up against a harsh fact plaguing all provincial programmes - too few female participants. Going into its sixth season, BC has just five women with any playing experience, and two of those are Team Canada members.

WCF rules define wheelchair curling as a mixed gender sport. This is of little consequence to the rest of the world who (apart from Scotland) have just enough participants to qualify for the Paralympics. In Canada, with potentially thousands of participants at hundreds of clubs, ambitious curling teams must include 25% women, even though women comprise far less than 25% of the potential athlete pool.

If the idea is establish curling in Canada as the primary winter recreation for wheelchair users, there should no impediment to team formation. As present CCA policy precludes the  national champions from representing Canada in WCF events, then it shouldn't matter if provincial teams are mixed gender or not.

If on the other hand, the idea is to encourage women to play a mixed gender sport, then present athletes, coaches and provincial bodies need to do a far better job at outreach if overall growth is not to be stymied by a lack of women.

Experience shows at the Osoyoos 2-on-2  9/8/2008

Six pairs competed in this event, sponsored for a second year by Olsen. Four members of Team Canada competed, with Darryl Neighbour and Gary Cormack beating the round robin winners, Gerry Austgarden ad Sonja Gaudet, in the final.

Pre-season news from BC   9/5/2008

The International Curling Club, in the border town of Osoyoos in the Okanagan valley is hosting the 2nd Annual 2 on 2 bonspiel this weekend (see previous post for details).

Abbotsford CC hopes to start a new league on Monday evenings open to wheelchair users plus family and friends. There will be a 'give-it-a-go" session on October 6th at 7.30pm, which will be followed by 4 session "learn to curl from a wheelchair" program. Contact the club (604-859-9244) for more details.

On the Island, Quesnel is hosting a "Have-a-go" day on October 25th. Contact Dave Plante at the Quesnel Curling Club: qcurling@quesnelbc.com

Wheelchair curlers will again be active in Kelowna and Vernon, Prince George and at Marpole and Richmond on the Lower Mainland, as well as the Juan de Fuca centre near Victoria. BC are hoping that enough teams will form to allow a playdown for the right to represent the province at the 2009 Nationals next March near Halifax NS.

International season starts in Denmark  9/3/2008

Six national squads will be competing at the 2008 Danish International Wheelchair curling Cup this weekend in Taarnby, Denmark. The Curling Today blog reports Scotland are taking four of their six member national squad; Michael McCreadie, Angie Malone, Jim Sellar and Rosemary Lenton making the trip. They will compete in a round robin against teams from Germany, Czech Republic, Norway, Russia and Denmark.

Norwegian Open cancelled 9/1/2008

The Norwegian Open that was to be held in the new Halden Curling Centre in October has been cancelled due to construction delays. Last year's event was won by the Canadian squad that went on to represent Team Canada at the 2008 World Championship.

Brits looking beyond 2010 for high performance squad  8/28/2008

If you are committed to individual selection for the national team, how do you keep your top athletes motivated when you choose the team 2 years before a major competition? If you are in charge of British curling you offer those who didn't make the cut a clear and public path to future selection.

Experienced curlers are invited to apply for invitations to up to 5 British ranking events where individual assessments of accuracy and weight control will be made using cameras and laser timers. Perth, Braehead, Ross and Aberdeen will host the assessments between this October and March of next year.

The application deadline is September 30th, and the top 14 curlers will form a high performance developmental squad, and qualify for financial support, that will be looking to 2014 and beyond. There's no mention of whether exceptions might be made for curlers of proven ability unable to participate in at least 3 of the 5 assessments.

Read more at Bob Cowan's Curling Today blog and the RCCC website.

USA top ten to train at Lake Placid Olympic Training Centre 8/23/2008

Team USA's ten member high performance athlete pool will be training at the National Olympic Training Centre in Lake Placid NY the first weekend in September. The group includes the five who won Bronze at the 2008 Worlds, plus Patrick MacDonald, Roy Heathcoat, Tammy Delano, Danell Libby and Ellie O'Neill.

The USA trials will again be held in Utica the weekend of November 11-14.

Manitobans compete against 3 all-time greats 8/23/2008

Chris Sobkowicz led his Manitoba champions against Kerry Burtnyk, Jeff Stoughton and Vic Peters in an awareness and fundraising matchup on arena style ice at the Monsanto Sliding In Summer Bonspiel in Warren, MB.

 "Our goal is to play as many games as possible against able-bodied teams, provide awareness to the curling public, and of course, become better curlers," says Sobkowicz.

Read reports from TheCurler.com and the Winnipeg Sun.

Manitobans challenge the Pro's tonight 8/21/2008

Laurie Mustard (Winnipeg Sun) writes: Yes, Kerry Burtnyk, Jeff Stoughton and Vic Peters are curling together -- for the first time ever -- on the same team, TONIGHT, in the Monsanto "Sliding In Summer" Bonspiel Celebrity Skip game at the Warren Arena; where else but in beautiful downtown Warren, Man.?

Official opening ceremonies happen at 6:30 p.m. The game is at 7 p.m. versus the Manitoba wheelchair champion Chris Sobkowicz team, with net proceeds supporting Wheelchair Curling in Manitoba.

Who should be eligible to curl from a wheelchair? -article added  8/3/2008

To be eligible to play in competitions leading to participation in the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships, a player must be restricted in their mobility such that they are unable to deliver a curling stone without the use of a wheelchair.

Interpretation: Although wheelchair curling is intended to be played by people who use wheelchairs for their daily mobility, it should not exclude those unable to participate in stick curling because they are unable to safely deliver a rock while standing. [read full article]

Mark your calendar for 4pm March 20th, 2010   8/2/2008

The Vancouver Sun reports that's when the wheelchair curling gold medal game in the newly built facility at Hillcrest Park, will begin.

CurlBC abandons selection camps for playdowns  8/1/2008

In another sign of the maturing of the sport, CurlBC has just announced their April 24th decision to abandon selection camps in favour of a playdown to choose who will represent the province at the 2009 Canadian National Championships in Halifax NS.

From an enthusiastic start in 2003, and despite success at the National Championships with a selected team, participation in wheelchair curling in BC has stagnated over the past 5 years, culminating in a humiliating withdrawal from the 2008 BC Winter Games because of lack of athletes. It is to be seen whether finally rewarding team formation will be the catalyst for renewed enthusiasm.

The change is designated a "one year pilot project" but it is unclear what criteria will be used to determine its success. BC already has the best record of any provincial team at the Canadian Nationals, having won the past two years, and coming second to Team Canada when the (selection based) national team competed the previous three years. If growth in participation is the criterion, then it may take more than a single year to undo the disincentives to team formation of the past five.

The CurlBC wheelchair curling committee, whose members are listed on the CurlBC website, invite suggestions for rules of competition. 

Collingwood CC gets big grant to "break down barriers"  7/29/2008

The Enterprise-Bulletin reports that Collingwood Curling Club in northern Ontario has received a $141,000 grant from the Trillium Foundation. The facility has been extensively remodelled to make it accessible, and will now become the central location of the Sports and Leisure Network for the southern Georgian Bay region. [more details]

Canada adopts WCF rules, less a minute  7/24/2008

The Canadian Curling Association will adopt the revised rules for competition adopted by the World Curling Federation in their biennial rules committee meeting this June (see below).

Games will be 8 ends, and the delivery zone widened. Clubs with active wheelchair curling programs or hosting national competitions will be expected to have guidelines running 18 inches either side of the centre line. These will be in addition, as reader Bruce Cameron noted, to the lines many clubs already have that run down the sheet from the edge of the 4 foot.

Canadian games will, however, be at least a minute a side shorter as each team will be allowed 67 minutes rather than the WCF's mandated 68; a decision that will amuse long time followers of the relationship between the CCA and the WCF.

New rules show wheelchair curling is growing up  7/23/2008

The World Curling Federation has changed the rules of competition for WCF sponsored events, moving wheelchair curling closer to the regular game. Gone is the patronising 6-end limit, and gone too will be the incessant on -ice conferences before every shot that destroyed its appeal as a spectator sport.

Games will now be 8 ends (from 6) with each team allowed 68 minutes plus one 60 second time-out. The delivery zone is also expanded by 6 inches either side of the centre line.

The new delivery zone, from a rock at delivery "touching the centre line" to being "wholly within 18 inches either side of the centre line" adds approximately 6 inches of width to each side of the centre line. Its effect is to reduce the penalty, in angle reduction, of releasing near the hogline rather than the hack. Shots delivered between the hack and the near house must still be touching centre line at delivery.

This change also moves wheelchair curling closer to the angles available to regular curlers, who although expected to release their stones "in reasonable proximity to the centre line," had a wider range of angles available at delivery.

The CCA will adopt the WCF rule on delivery zone for the coming season but as yet have not committed to lengthening games to 8 ends. Though the CCA has different player eligibility criteria, they have otherwise typically followed the WCF's lead in rule making so as not to disadvantage Team Canada when they compete internationally.

If you have any comments on this post, add them to the corresponding entry on the Wheelchair Curling Blog.

CLICK HERE for a text file extract from the WCF's Rules Of Curling, detailing rules specific to wheelchair curling. The full rules are available here. [Caution: this is a large document that requires Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader to access]

Manitobans competing in Bismarck, ND  7/10/2008

KXMB TV has a video report from the Summer Bonspiel at the Capital Curling Club in Bismarck, North Dakota. A team from Winnipeg skipped by Chris Sobkowicz is competing and are interviewed in the report. [watch]

Team Manitoba challenges Burtnyk, Stoughton and Peters  7/10/2008

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that Manitoba's Big Three of Kerry Burtnyk, Jeff Stoughton and Vic Peters will take part in a "demonstration challenge game" against Chris Sobowicz's Provincial Champions and 2008 Canadian bronze medallists.

The game will be played at 7pm on August 21st during the Monsanto Sliding In Summer Spiel in Warren, MB.

"Keep it simple," says Coach Ernie Comerford   7/1/2008

I believe that many coaches and players (even High Performance) make wheelchair curling FAR too complicated. Heavens, when you really think about it, we are still only trying to do THREE simple things in wheelchair curling (and able-bodied curling for that matter).

[Find out what they are and download his drills]

2008 season opens with Olson Osoyoos 2 on 2 September 6-7  6/26/2008

The first wheelchair curling event of Canada's 2008/2009 season is once again the Olson 2 on 2 Spiel over the weekend of September 6-7th, hosted by the Osoyoos CC. This is the second year that Olson Curling Supply has sponsored this exciting event.

Entries cost $50 per team and include two lunches and Saturday dinner. Wheelchair users interested in trying our sport are invited to a practice session at 7 pm Friday evening, September 5th.

In the 2 on 2 format, each member of the 2 person team throws 3 rocks and skips 3 rocks each end. Members of Team Canada will be participating.

For more information contact Darryl Neighbour or register online at CurlBC

Vancouver Island's Jensen continues publicity push 6/17/2008

Corinne Jensen, the Island's indefatigable wheelchair curling rep, continues her campaign to raise the sport's profile in an interview with the Goldstream Gazette.

“We need to grow (wheelchair curling) because there are tons of people out there who could do it, they just need to know about it,” she says. [read more]

Scots get on-ice training time 6/17/2008

Bob Cowan reports that the Great Britain  wheelchair curling squad (all Scots) were at Inverness Ice Centre the weekend before last for a training session, both on and off the ice. [Link to photo]

Team USA profiled 6/4/2008

Team USA's Bronze medal winning performance is recounted in Sports 'N Spokes magazine, here (PDF).  Alternate Bob Prenoveau is profiled in a video, here.

Wheelchair curlers compete in Italy 5/21/2008

“There may be no ice available in Scotland at this time of the year,” said SLWCC Secretary David Morgan, “but we found, via the Internet, this tournament was taking place, and got ourselves an invitation."  Read the complete article here.

The Hamilton Advertiser reported on the trip HERE.

Joseph wins NY Achievers' Award 5/21/2008

Senator Joseph A. Griffo named New Hartford’s James (Jimmy) Joseph recipient of the New York Senate Achievers’ Award, which recognizes individuals who overcome challenges and honors their accomplishments on behalf of their community. CLICK HERE to read the article.

Newfoundland & Labrador to challenge at 2009 Nationals? 5/18/2008

Team Ontario coach Bob Pippy is leaving the Ontario wheelchair curling program to attempt to put together a provincial team out of St. John's, Newfoundland. The Atlantic team that competed at the 2008 Nationals included two women from St. John's, Lanie Woodfine and Joanne MacDonald, and Pippy hopes to build a competitive squad around them.

Canada learns hard lessons from 2008 Worlds 5/14/2008

Team Canada athletes and coaches met in Edmonton last month to review the experience of the 2008 Worlds and to plan for the upcoming season. While the team's 6 consecutive victories during round robin play was enough to take them into the 1-2 playoff game, their failure to medal was a wake-up call. Program Director Gerry Peckham admitted that they had failed to anticipate the rapid improvements in technique exhibited by the medal teams, especially the Koreans.

"The Koreans have established new benchmarks in accuracy, especially for up-weight shots, which were important on the exceptionally swingy ice in Switzerland," he said. "We will be working with specialists in biometrics to improve delivery mechanics. Also the rule change that will move the placement of the stone at delivery from the centerline to within 18 inches of the centreline (Rule to be published by the WCF in June) will change the way the game is played and we must prepare for that."

The coaches will work with the five athletes who attended the Worlds, plus Jim Armstrong, who's present role is mentor to the skip(s). Other members of last year's National Talent Pool will attend training sessions on an ad hoc basis, with everyone promised at least one more look before the 2010 squad is finalised later next season.

Peckham also intends to arrange game practice against regular curlers who can provide the level of opposition expected at the next Worlds, and also promises to tighten practice procedures so they better reflect the skills necessary on the ice during international competition. "For practice to be meaningful, there must be a consequence for poor performance and poor decisions," he said.

Team Canada's next training session will be in Edmonton in July.

Pittsburgh hosts a give-it-a-go day  5/14/2008

Wheelchair curling has arrived in Pittsburgh, Pa. with an afternoon of curling at the Robert Morris University Islnd Sports Complex. From the looks of the photos on the Pittsburgh CC website, they attracted some teens to try out our sport. They also "borrowed" our banner!

Ottawa's Bruce Cameron profiled 5/3/2008

The Ottawa Sun (April 14, 2008) had a photo and profile of Bruce Cameron. Bruce curled before his diagnosis with MS and now uses an electric wheelchair. He curls out of the Capitol Curling Club and has won medals at Provincial wheelchair curling events. CLICK HERE to see the article.

Scottish Paralympics hopeful Jackie Clayton profiled 5/3/2008

The Northern Scot has a profile of Jackie Clayton, a wheelchair curler determined to break into the Great Britain Paralympics squad. Her timing is not great with this week's announcement from British Curling, but she certainly comes across as a highly motivated and determined woman. [read the profile]

Ottawa's  Donny Stinson honoured by Governor General 5/2/2008

Donny Stinson, founding member of the Capital Wheelchair Curling Club, was presented with a CARING CANADIAN AWARD by the Governor General of Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on the 30th of April 2008. (thanks Catherine Gardner)

British Vancouver 2010 squad announced  5/1/2008

Angie Malone rejoins the six person Paralympics squad that will prepare to represent Great Britain at the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver. She reunites with Michael McCreadie and Tom Killin, teammates that won silver in Torino. Also on the team are Aileen Nielsen, Rosemary Lenton and Jim Sellar who played with Killin and McCreadie at the 2008 Worlds. [read full press release]

British Curling [thanks Bob] announced last July that there would be early selection of a small squad who would undergo two years of intensive preparation for the Vancouver games. The squad will be reduced to five in May 2009.

Malone, a perennial at lead during Scotland's glory years, was dropped from the Scottish team that struggled in the 2008 Worlds, but then went on to skip the team that won the Scottish Championships.

Scotland is notable for the number of females in the top tier of wheelchair curlers. Both teams in the final of the 2008 Scottish Championships were skipped by women.

Lower Sackville, NS to host 2009 Canadian Nationals 4/21/2008

The CCA announced today that the 2009 Canadian Wheelchair championship will be held March 23-28 at the Lakeshore Curling Club in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. Last month BC successfully defended its title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, defeating Ontario 8-6.

Canada and USA planning to attend 2008 Norwegian Open  4/21/2008

The 2nd Annual Norwegian Open will be held at the Halden Curling Centre from the 27-29 October, 2008. The venue is 120 km south of Oslo, close to the Swedish border.

Canada will return to defend the title they won in an 8 team field last year, where they fielded the same team that went on to represent Canada at the 2008 Worlds.

Team USA, coming off their podium finish at the Worlds, is also planning to compete in this year's 10 team field.

Incoming Scots President makes case for wheelchair curling 4/15/2008

Arthur Bell, incoming President of the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association, says that wheelchair curling changed his life. In an interview by Craig Goldthorp in the Carluke Gazette, he says:

"I found out two years ago that there was wheelchair curling in Hamilton. I joined it and it has been terrific ever since." [Read full interview]

Team forming in Lennoxville, Quebec  4/15/2008

The Sherbrooke Record reports that curler and wheelchair sports coach Alfred Whittier has begun recruiting wheelchair users to curl out of the Lennoxville CC in Quebec. His core group, including Paralympians at water skiing and archery, who at present are the only active wheelchair curlers in Quebec. For more information call Al Whittier at 819-566-7315, or Benoit Lessard at 819-837-2269 and visit www.lennoxvillecurling.ca.

WCF considering rule book changes  4/6/2008

Changes to the  rules governing World Curling Federation sanctioned wheelchair curling events will be discussed during meetings at the Men's Worlds in Grand Forks ND this week.

The rule that a stone must be touching the centre line at delivery, is likely to be eased to bring the wheelchair game more in line with the angles available to players who use the hack. The counter-argument, as made to me by Norway coach Thoralf Hognestad during the 2008 Worlds, is that wheelchair users unhappy with the present rule should simply move back to the hack to compensate.

The WCF intends its rules to encourage participation by people with as wide a range as possible of disabilities requiring wheelchairs for daily mobility. While remaining sceptical about the utility of a disability points classification system, there's a desire to avoid wheelchair curling becoming the sole province of the heavily muscled. This is why they will prefer to move the rock off the centre line, rather than back from the hogline. It is also why skips are unlikely to be allowed to use brushing in the rings.

There are good arguments for Canada to be flexible in implementing WCF rules in its domestic program, especially as Team Canada exists independent of national competition. The mixed gender team rule, for example, while ensuring participation of women in countries with minimal overall participation, is probably unnecessarily restrictive in Canada where the potential for hundreds of teams certainly exists. It would be a shame to see Canadian development inhibited by an insistence that 25% of participants be female, when eligible males far outnumber eligible females.

Any WCF rule changes will not be implemented until after the 2010 Paralympics.

Bear Mountain Curling Classic Pro vs Wheelchair challenge 4/2/2008

Corinne Jensen, the infatigueable force organizing wheelchair curling on the Island, is arranging a Pros against Wheelchairs challenge at the $81,000 Bear Mountain Curling Classic. It will take place at Juan De Fuca near Victoria, BC,  on Saturday April 5th at 2.30pm. The Pros will have to play from wheelchairs, which should even things up just a little.

On Sunday April 6th, between the semi-final and final games, there will be a demonstration of wheelchair curling.

BC repeat as National Champs, beat Ontario 8-6  3/29/2008

BC won their 2nd successive championship as they overcame an early deficit to beat Ontario 8-6 in the final of the 2008 TSX Canadian National Championship.

BC began with the hammer and gave up an immediate steal of 2 on a measurement when their last rock hit rolled too far. In the second they gave up another steal when their last rock draw was short, again on a measurement.

In the third, with Ontario ahead 3-0, a great draw by BC 2nd Whitney Warren led to a succession of guards, and a couple of accurate hits by BC skip Jim Armstrong that scored 4 for a 4-3 lead at the break.

Ontario skip Chris Rees faced big trouble with his final stone in the 4th and was heavy with his draw, giving up a steal of 3. He was gifted 3 straight back when a succession of missed hits from BC, attempting to keep the rings clear, allowed Ontario to pull within one, 7-6 after 5.

In the final end, Rees made a great last shot, picking out BC's shot rock that was half buried, and rolling to the back 8’, covered and shot rock. BC had to draw full 8’ for the win and though Jim Armstrong's draw looked as though it might be heavy, it stopped back 4 for the win and their second national championship.

Line score here

Ontario beat Manitoba 9-8 in semi-final, face BC in final  3/28/2008

Ontario continued their run of crooked numbered ends, both scoring and conceding, when they faced Manitoba in the semi-final match between the round robin second and third place finishers.

Ontario led by 5 after two, then conceded 5, took 3 and gave 3 straight back before taking a single with the hammer in the final end to earn their place in tomorrow's Championship final against BC.

CLICK HERE for line scores

BC tops table, faces winner of Ontario vs Manitoba semi-final 3/28/2008

BC edged out Ontario and Manitoba to take first place after round robin play, and go straight through to Saturday's final of the 2008 TSX Canadian Nationals.

In BC's final round robin game against Team Atlantic a draw for 2 in the 1st came up short but a steal in the 2nd and then a blank put BC up 3-0 at the break. Atlantic then took two to tie, and stole one in the 5th end to lead 3-2.

In the 6th, BC second Whitney Warren made a great draw to the 4 foot with his first stone and BC spent the rest of the end putting on tight guards. Skip Jim Armstrong made a great nose hit with his first shot leaving Atlantic with very few options. They attempted a big weight takeout with their final stone but it over-curled and left BC lying 3 for a 5-3 win.

Ontario's 5-2 loss to Alberta meant that based on head to head results, BC reached the top of the table for the first time, just when it counted. Ontario, after leading all week, now play Manitoba in the afternoon semi-final. Manitoba secured their semi-final place by beating the Winnipeg host team 6-2.

Nova Scotia held on for a 6-5 win over Northern Ontario to gain final table bragging rights. Team Atlantic's one win cost Alberta a shot at a tie-break, but that's why they play the games.

CLICK HERE for line scores

Ontario suffer first defeat, but only after an extra end  3/27/2008

Unbeaten Ontario faced winless Team Atlantic in the morning draw of Day 3 at the 2008 TSX Canadian Nationals, but it took a 5 spot after the break for them to record their 5th win, 7-4. In Ontario's afternoon draw, BC took 1 with the hammer, stole 4, and then gave 5 points straight back. An exchange of 3's in the 5th and 6th led to an extra end, where BC scored a single, giving Ontario their first defeat 9-8. More importantly, BC pulled themselves into second place.

Alberta, who had strung 3 wins together after an opening draw loss to Manitoba, fell to BC in the morning. BC stole 2 in the 6th and won 7-3. Alberta had another disappointment in the afternoon when they lost to previously winless Team Atlantic 7-3. Alberta, at 3 and 3, will probably have to beat 5 and 1 Ontario in the last draw tomorrow if they are to keep their medal hopes alive.

Nova Scotia forgot not to look down, and were hammered by Manitoba 12-1, and Northern Ontario beat up on the Winnipeg host team 14-0 in 5 ends in the morning draws. The Winnipeg host team defeated Nova Scotia 8-1 in the afternoon, and Manitoba beat Northern Ontario 8-0.

In tomorrow's final draw, Ontario get a bye to Saturday's final if they beat Alberta. BC and Manitoba also hold their fate in their own hands. Alberta and Northern Ontario must hope for losses by other teams to get a tie-break game.  

CLICK HERE for line scores

Chris Daw relives his Torino gold medal experience 3/27/2008

Long-time Team Canada skip Chris Daw, currently on leave of absence from the national program, relives his Torino Paralympic experience in an article for the Vancouver 2010 website. [read]

Armstrong the focus of Nationals local Press coverage  3/26/2008

"Champ is back in the hack - on wheels" read a Winnipeg Free Press article on the opening day's draws at the 2008 TSX Canadian Nationals.

"I've only been playing in a wheelchair all this season," Armstrong is quoted. "It is quite different (from able-bodied curling)," he went on. "The angles are different, and we do (it) from a chair with a stick from two feet, what able-bodied curlers get to do from over 20 feet. So it's definitely a challenge, but it has been like a new lease on life to me."

Canadian Nationals - Day 2  3/26/2008 

Ontario stormed to a "no defense" win in the afternoon draw of the TSX Canadian Nationals. They twice scored 4 and also stole 2 from compatriots Northern Ontario, who managed to score 7 points of their own. The 10-7 win, added to their morning 6-1 defeat of Manitoba, pushed Ontario's record to 4-0. 

Northern Ontario, in their first competition, battled back from a 4-0 deficit in their morning draw against BC to steal a 6-4 win in an extra end. 

It was BC who had the big miss in the 5th when a hit for 4 turned into a steal of 1 for Northern Ontario. Instead of being up 8-2 playing 6, Northern Ontario were within 1, and stole again to force the extra.

With skip stones remaining, BC had a rock buried on the 4 foot. Northern Ontario skip Carl Levesque tried a freeze, but came up just short of shot rock. With his second he came in-off a rock in the 12 foot to nudge BC's shot stone off the four foot, and BC skip Jim Armstrong was unable to rescue his side with a draw to the full four foot.

"We're playing a defensive game," said Northern Ontario coach Dave Kawahara, "asking the front end to put rocks in the house, realising there are going to be misses. We're really pleased to be at 2-2 with such a new team."

BC climbed back to a 2-2 record in the afternoon, blanking Manitoba 8-0 without ever having the hammer.

Nova Scotia stole 2 in the 6th to beat Atlantic 7-6 in the morning draw. Atlantic started promisingly, taking 1 with the hammer and then stealing 2. Nova Scotia tied it up with 3 in the 3rd, but gave 3 straight back before scoring two in the 5th and then stealing the win. Their run of good results was halted by Alberta, who beat them 7-3 in the afternoon, taking 4 in the 4th and bringing the match to an early end with a steal of 2 in the 5th for a 7-3 win.

Alberta are now second in the table at 3-1. They got off to a big early lead against Winnipeg in the morning draw, stealing 2 in each of the first three ends then holding on to win 7-3.

Host club side Winnipeg earned their first point, beating Atlantic 7-2 in 5 ends.

CLICK HERE for line scores

Canadian Nationals - Day 1  3/25/2008 

Manitoba and Ontario posted two wins to top the table after the first day at the 2008 TSX Canadian Nationals.

In the morning draw, Manitoba skip  Dennis Thiessen, tied at 3 and facing 1 with his last rock, drew to the four foot for a single and a 4-3 win over Alberta. In the afternoon, Manitoba twice posted a 3, and stole a 2 in a 8-3 win over Team Atlantic.

Ontario easily saw off rookies Nova Scotia 8-1 in the morning, and followed with a tight 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg host team, single steals in the 3rd and 6th providing the margin.

Nova Scotia bounced back with a deserved win in Draw 2, beating B.C. 7-5 on a steal of 4 in the 4th. BC, led by 6 time Brier competitor Jim Armstrong, opened their championship defense with a morning 9-1 win over Winnipeg. Against Nova Scotia they struggled with the draw weight and did not pick up changing ice conditions quickly enough after 3rd end break. BC had a chance to tie the game in the 6th end but missed a difficult runback

Northern Ontario outlasted fellow rookies Team Atlantic in the morning draw, scoring 3 in an extra end to win 8-5. They then faced Alberta, still smarting from a tight morning loss, who quickly amassed a 10-0 lead and shook hands after 4 ends. 

CLICK HERE for line scores

2008 TSX Canadian Nationals begin March 25th in Winnipeg  3/24/2008

Nova Scotia, Northern Ontario and a combined Atlantic team travel to Winnipeg for their first attempts at national honours. They will join two-time defending champions BC, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and a Winnipeg host team in the expanded 8 team field.

The returning teams have mostly familiar faces. It's Alberta's Bruno Yizek’s third championship. He won a five team Alberta playdown. Ontario's Chris Rees makes his fourth appearance after beating Chris Daw in a four team Ontario playdown. Manitoba's Chris Sobkowicz earns his fourth Bison jacket, this time exchanging positions with Dennis Thiessen and playing 3rd.

There will be a lot of interest in the performance of Jim Armstrong, a 6-time Brier competitor who has been cleared by Canadian assessors to compete in domestic competitions. He replaces last year's winning skip Darryl Neighbour, who as a Team Canada member was not eligible for this year's competition.  Jim recently won a 2 on 2 bonspiel with BC alternate Vince Miele, and skips a side with the three members of Canada's National Talent pool.

Full coverage of the Championship can be found here.

Nova Scotian Laughie Rutt profiled  3/24/2008

Laughie Rutt, who has been the driving force behind establishing wheelchair curling in Nova Scotia, is profiled by Greg Macvicar in today's Cape Breton Post. [read article]

Angie Malone skips a nail-biting win at Scottish Championship 3/23/2008

Angie Malone, long time lead for Great Britain and Scotland, but passed over for this year's Worlds, is back on the podium as she skipped her Braehead CC rink to a last rock victory over club mate Aileen Neilson.

Bob Cowan reports: It was well worth braving the snow to be at Curl Aberdeen this afternoon for one of the finest games of wheelchair curling that I've seen! The opponents in the final were the teams skipped by Angie Malone with Ian Donaldson, Gill Keith and Jim Taylor, and Aileen Neilson with Michael McCreadie, Bill Masterton and Gerald Pocock. All are members of the Braehead Wheelchair CC.

Malone counted three in the fifth to be 5-3 up coming home. She looked to have the game won, keeping the Neilson team to a single. But Aileen played a delicate takeout, squeezing past the guard to get the inside edge she wanted to wick into the four foot, for the second of the two shots she needed to force the extra end.

And when it came to the last stone of the game, Angie played a hit through a port to take out the Nielson counter for the Championship win.

CLICK HERE for results.

Wheelchair curlers throw 1st rock at 2008 Women's Worlds 3/21/2008

Sonja Gaudet and Ina Forrest, members of Team Canada 2008, shared the honour of throwing out the ceremonial first rock at the 2--8 Women's World Championships in Vernon BC today. [pictures] Linda Moore held the broom, while Lindsay Sparkes and Elaine Dag-Jackson swept the stone onto the button.

Scottish Wheelchair Curling Championships in Aberdeen  3/21/2008

The SWC Championship began today and are being staged for the first time in Aberdeen (thanks Bob Cowan). Ten teams are competing in two pools with the final on Sunday March 23rd. CLICK HERE for results.

Armstrong and Miele win Juan de Fuca 2 on 2  3/20/2008

Jim Armstrong and Vince Miele won the A event at the 2nd Annual 2 on 2 tournament at the Juan de Fuca Centre on Vancouver Island. Team Canada members Darryl Neighbour and Gary Cormack won the B event.

For event details and photos, you can download this 1 meg. Word file (large file)

Jim Armstrong on-ice coach or player in 2010 Paralympics? 3/16/2008

The prospect of ex-Brier player Jim Armstrong joining Team Canada as either an on-ice coach or player was again floated in a Times-Colonist interview during this weekend's Juan de Fuca 2 on 2 bonspiel.

"I'm not in a wheelchair 24/7 as I can get around the house with a cane, but I know the time will come when that will be my only option,'' he said. "[W]hat I bring to the table is experience and curling knowledge." [read the full interview]

Jim will be skipping BC as they defend their national championship title next week in Winnipeg.

Vancouver Island curler Corinne Jensen profiled  3/15/2008

"I was an athlete, and I was good. I lost it all," Corinne Jensen told Sharie Epp, in a Times Colonist interview. "(wheelchair curling has) given me back a sport that I lost. Read the full feature.

Corinne is the organizer of this weekend's 2 on 2 bonspiel at the Juan de Fuca complex near Victoria.

Team Manitoba get to practice on Brier ice  3/14/2008

During the break before the 1-2 game, the Manitoba wheelchair curling team had the chance to throw some rocks on Championship ice and demonstrate their skills in front of a Brier audience. It would be nice to think that one day the National Wheelchair Championship will become popular enough to command arena ice. Just remember those 14 second hog to hog times for a t-line draw when next you play at your club. [Thanks Jet Boots]

For a photo click here.

Wheelchair curling in Saskatchewan at Regina's Callie CC 3/112008

After a couple of false starts wheelchair curling is now happening Monday's in Regina. Wheelchair user Ray Hedstrom is quoted by Murray McCormick of the Leader-Post as being inspired by the Mint's 25 cent coin promotion to help organise a program. [Read the full article.]

This season's program at the Callie is finishing next Monday, but to find out more about wheelchair curling in Saskatchewan, contact Amber Holland at the Saskatchewan Curling Association.

Give-It-A-Go at Juan de Fuca (Victoria BC) March 15  3/7/2008

In conjunction with the 2nd Annual 2008 Juan de Fuca Wheelchair Curling Classic, you can go out on the ice and have instruction by some of the best curlers and coaches in Canada! Take this opportunity to meet members of the 2006 Torino Canadian Paralympic Gold Medal Team, the National Team and our own Provincial Team.

Dress warmly and all the other equipment is provided. For more information. please contact Corinne or phone (250) 478-4400.

2nd Annual Juan de Fuca 2 0n 2 Bonspiel March 15-16   3/7/2008

This second year event will feature 8 teams competing over 5 draws using a modified stick curling format. Each team member throws 3 stones, and games will be 6 ends.

Saturday draws are at 9.30am and 1 and 4 pm. Sunday draws are 10am with a championship game played for $300 in prize money played at 1 pm.

Scots skip breaks silence on dismal 2008 World's performance  3/7/2008

Two-time World Champion and current Scottish skip Michael McCreadie finally broke a month's silence on the performance of his favoured Scots at the 2008 World Championships. In a press interview he said:

"We’ve been on top for a while but it just wasn’t to be this time around and now we are down the pecking order.

“But we will learn from this experience and we will be all the more determined to do well next time around.

“The good thing is we have qualified for Vancouver 2010 and that’s what we will all be focussing on.”

[read full interview]

Calgary's Team Yizek 3-peat as Alberta champions  3/2/2008

Calgary's Bruno Yizek, with fellow National Talent  Pool member Bridget Wilson at lead, and Ann Hibberd (2nd) and Jack Smart (3rd) cruised to a third successive win at the Alberta Provincials.

Five teams, three from host Edmonton and two from Calgary, competed in the double knock-out competition. Team Nuspl, with Dwaine Shupac (3rd) Don Donaldson (2nd) and Shawna Walsh (lead) had recovered to post 2 wins after an opening loss to Yizek. In the final they gave up 3 in the 1st, and a decisive 5 in the 3rd to lose 8-2 in just 4 ends.

Don Donaldson commutes two hours each way from Whitecourt to Edmonton for a two hour weekly practice - dedication indeed.

Rees beats Daw to win Ontario playdown  3/2/2008

Chris Rees skipped his Leaside CC (Toronto) team to a 7-1 victory over Chris Daw's Bradford CC team, earning his third consecutive provincial title at the Dominion of Canada Wheelchair Championship final at the North Grenville CC in Kemptville ON. With lots of rocks in play, the Rees back-end out-executed their opponents with a mixture of draws, tap-backs and hit-and-rolls.

The Bradford team, with National Talent Pool member Ken Gregory at 3rd, Collinda Joseph at 2nd and Katie Paialunga at lead, had gone 3-0 in round robin play, and beat Richard Fraser's Ottawa team (0-3) in the semi-final.

Rees, with Carl Bax (3rd) Frank Cannarella (2nd) and Lisa Blanchard (lead) had a 1-2 round robin record, but beat Bruce Cameron's (2-1) Ottawa team in the semi. Rees' team, coached by Bob Pippy, will now compete in Winnipeg, March 25-29.

Rockin' The House Bonspiel, Collingwood ON March 8th  2/29/2008

From the press release: "Promoting inclusiveness is one goal of this event where both the able bodied and curlers with disabilities can compete together.  Included in our exciting line up of curlers is Ken Gregory, skip of the 2005 Ontario Wheelchair Champions and part of the 2010 Paralympics national talent pool." For more information visit breakingdownbarriers.org

Canadian Nationals draw schedule 2/27/2008

The draw schedule for the 2008 Nationals, to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba March 25-29th, is available on our 2008 Nationals page.

As usual we will be carrying full information on each draw.

Team USA make front page of USA Curling Newsletter   2/27/2008

Click Here for a link to an online copy of the newsletter

Free clinic March 8th at Bowling Green, Ohio  2/25/2008

The University of Bowling Green in Ohio is offering a free wheelchair curling clinic coached by former Team USA Paralympics skip Wes Smith. Contact Marc DePerno for more information.

The outreach challenge  2/24/2008

Here's a link to a blog post from a female who was being introduced to wheelchair curling - a sport completely unfamiliar to her.

It points out a few of the challenges those of us involved in outreach face - perhaps more evident outside of Canada, where the sport is not part of winter culture.

It's also a reminder to coaches to start in the rings and work out, because if newcomers don't understand the scoring, and it is not intuitive, it will be hard to compete against sports where the format is understood. 

World Championships detailed stats book  2/24/2008

Detailed statistics for all the games played at the recent World Championships are now available from the CurlIT.com website. It is in Adobe pdf format and requires the free Adobe Reader or equivalent pdf file reader.

6th Annual Pat 'O' Reid Memorial Bonspiel results  2/18/2008

12 teams, including 2 wheelchair teams and 6 mixed competed in the event, held at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club February 9th.  Norm Kemp from Bradford CC won, with Jim Primavera, Dave Mayes and Bonnie Mayes. Second were Brian Divell from Weston Golf and CC with Shauna Petrie, Pat Thorpe and Cheryl-Anne Hewitt. [Click Here for team photos] 

Daw skips to victory at Ontario Paralympics 2/18/2008

Ex-team Canada skip Chris Daw is back, skipping and throwing last rocks in Bradford's Team Gregory 4 end 12-0 victory over Ottawa's Team Cameron at the Ontario Paralympics in Collingwood, Ontario. Chris Rees' Toronto team took bronze when their last rock was promoted to shot by Ottawa's Team Fraser.

Five teams in Alberta playdowns  2/15/2008

Three Edmonton and two Calgary teams will compete the weekend of Feb 29-March 2nd at Edmonton's Sackville Sports Centre in a playdown for the right to represent Alberta at the 2008 Nationals.

Scots coach reports on the Worlds  2/15/2008

Tom Pendreigh reports that the Scots returned from Switzerland "battle-hardened." Their Vancouver 2010 place was assured by the points gained from their 7th place finish, courtesy of a draw-to-the-button tie-break. [read the full report]

Profile of Jacqui Kapinowski - lead on Team USA  2/14/2008

The Ashbury Park Press online has a profile by Chris Lundy of Jaqui Kapinowski, lead on the bronze medal winning Team USA. She attributes part of the team's success to its attitude. "We have a special bond," she said. [read profile]

Ontario playdowns in Ottawa Feb 28 - March 3  2/14/2008

Four teams will compete for the right to represent Ontario at the 2008 Nationals. Chris Rees (Toronto), Ken Gregory (Bradford), and Bruce Cameron and Richard Fraser (Ottawa) will skip teams at the North Grenville CC near Ottawa.

The format is a 3 game round robin followed by a playoff round. Chris Daw will play vice for Ken Gregory.

Northern Ontario will also field a team for the first time at this year's event in Winnipeg.

Jim Armstrong to lead Team BC after selection camp 2/13/2008

CurlBC coaches chose Jim Armstrong to lead TeamBC's defence of their title at the 2008 Nationals in Winnipeg in March.

The Richmond selection camp had 18 attendees, including 3 women. The team includes Whitney Warren and Frank LaBounty from Prince George and Jackie Roy and Vince Miele (alternate) from the lower mainland. The team will again be coached by Melissa Soligo.

Six-time Brier competitor Armstrong is eligible to play in Canada, although not presently under WCF eligibility rules for world play.

CurlBC forced to abandon BC Winter Games  2/13/2008

CurlBC was unable to exhort sufficient wheelchair curlers to form teams to compete at the 2008 BC Winter Games. Their original plan of zone playoffs for the right to be one of the 4 teams invited to compete, faltered when there were not enough players to form even a couple of teams.

Failure to participate in team based events may be a direct consequence of CurlBC's refusal to allow team formation and provincial playdowns to decide who goes to the Nationals. TeamBC is coach selected.

Team USA homecoming makes evening newscast  2/11/2008

WTVH Channel 5 News has video and interviews with team USA members on their return from the Worlds.  CLICK HERE for a link to the video.

Another Ursel makes the Nationals as Team Manitoba decided 2/11/2008

On the day that brother Bob claimed his Winnipeg Brier slot competing for BC, Arlene Ursel will wear a bison jacket at the Wheelchair Nationals.

Team Thiessen, with Mike Albeg, national talent pool member Chris Sobkowicz and Ursel  defeated Team Dudek in the best of three Manitoba final 8-3 and 8-4 held this weekend at the West Kildonan Curling Club. The Dudek rink will also play at the nationals as the Host team.

Atlantic teams named for Nationals  2/11/2008

Nicole Durand and Linda Scott of Dartmouth will share lead for Team Nova Scotia at the 2008 National Championships in Winnipeg this March. They're joined by John Rogers of Vaughan at 2nd, Laughlin Rutt of Lower Sackville at 3rd with Mike Fitzgerald of Enfield, an experienced curler to using a wheelchair, skipping. The team plays regularly at the Lakeshore Curling Club in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia.

Team Atlantic has Trendal Bolivar-Hubley of Halifax at skip, Larry Henley of Upper Musquodoboit at 3rd, Keith Williams of Dartmouth at 2nd with Joanne MacDonald and Lanie Woodfine of St. John’s, Newfoundland sharing lead. 

“The east coast will be well represented by two competitive teams who have worked very hard this season to develop their skills” said Helen Radford, Manager of High Performance Development for the Nova Scotia Curling Association, who shares coaching duties with the two squads with experienced coaches Glen McClare and Doug Peck.

“While we have a couple of rookies on each squad we have experience at skip and other positions that will pair up well with the opposition we face,” Radford went on to say.  “Our only shortfall is the lack of national playing experience but both teams are sure to take other teams by surprise with their skill level”.

In 2009, the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships will be held in Nova Scotia at the Lakeshore Curling Club in Nova Scotia. Wheelchair curling in Nova Scotia was started as part of the Peer Program of Canadian Paraplegic Association (Nova Scotia), who still supports the development of the sport.

Extender stick pioneer Rusty Drew dead  2/6/2008

Thomas (Rusty) Drew, inventor of the Extender Stick and a patron of wheelchair  died at his home in Belleville, Ontario on February 4, 2008 after a lengthy illness. Rusty is survived by his wife Roberta and daughter Laurie. Funeral arrangements are not known at this time. Rusty was a great friend to wheelchair curlers around the world and will be greatly missed.

CCA's Stremlaw says sport should be "more inclusionary" 2/1/2008

In an interview with Al Cameron of the Calgary Herald, CCA CEO Greg Stremlaw laments comments that the present WCF rules unnecessarily exclude amputees who choose prosthetics rather than wheelchairs for their daily mobility.

"It's not cut and dry. But do I feel it needs discussion and dialogue to see how we can make it more inclusionary? Yes, I do." [read the full interview]

Worlds begin in Sursee Switzerland February 2nd.  2/1/2008

Visit our 2008 World Championships page.

The first of nine round robin draws at the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championships begins on Saturday, with defending champions Norway opening against qualifiers Sweden. Canada plays Italy and Scotland plays hosts Switzerland. The round robin schedule for the 2008 Worlds February 2-9 is here. See our preview.

This year's format has a significant change. There will be a Page playoff, which means that the two teams finishing with the best record in round robin play will be able to afford one playoff loss and still have a chance for a gold medal.

There's still time to enter our "Final Four" competition. List in order the teams you think will finish in the final 4 and email it HERE

There will be full coverage each day here, and you can also watch stone by stone diagrams of every draw at wwcc.curlit.com/

The International Paralympics Federation's ParalympicSport.TV will broadcast championship highlights, probably from the semi-final and final.

CLICK HERE to read the WCF news release.
CLICK HERE for the IPC news release.

Coach Thoralf Hognestad talks about Team Norway  2/1/2008

Norway coach Thoralf Hognestad spoke to us about his approach to coaching and his team's prospects at the 2008 Worlds. Here's what he had to say.

"I first watched wheelchair curling at the Torino Paralympics. I thought Norway was very unlucky to lose to Canada in the semi-final. Afterwards I was asked whether I would like to work with the team, and I became the coach. I have a full time job as a bus driver, but my employer is very understanding, as is my wife looking after my young family when I am away.

"There are only 10 or 12 competitive wheelchair curlers in Norway, and it was quite easy picking the team. Obviously none had much experience curling, but I looked for athletes with a proven record in competitive sports. All my team are experienced competitors, even if they have not been curling very long.

"We went to the Worlds in 2007 and won, and we had a string of bonspiel successes after that until the Norwegian Open, where we fielded two teams and experimented with different line-ups.

"I tell the team keep it simple! Our lineup is set and if everyone stays healthy, will play every game. The previous coach rotated the 5 players. My thinking is you go with your best 4. You don't see Randy Ferby play his 5th in an important competition.

"Will we win? We'll be happy with a medal. Nothing less. We hope to repeat last year's result.

Interview with Team Switzerland coach Nadia Röthlisberger 1/30/2008

Team Switzerland Coach Nadia Röthlisberger took some time out from preparing the home team squad at the 2008 Worlds to answer a few questions. Here, edited for this page, is what she had to say:

"The championship will be played at a hockey rink converted (to four sheets) for this event. Our team practices at the curling club in Berne, and we will not have have any more time on the Sursee ice than any other team. It will be the same for everyone.

"We are bringing a five person squad to Sursee, three men and two women. We will play the three men in the first game, and decide after each game what the team will be for the next game, depending on their health and how well they play.

"It is our goal to win the gold medal, but there are ten teams and they are all able to win the championship. It is usually not easy being the host country because everyone around the team puts pressure on them. This can be a problem and is something that as coach I have to pay attention to."

Switzerland placed 2nd behind Norway at the 2007 Worlds in Sweden. They open the 2008 campaign against Scotland on Saturday February 2nd.

All-stars at Thornhill CC (Ont) Charity Bonspiel Feb 2nd  1/30/2008

The 17th Dominion of Canada Spinal Tap Charity Bonspiel features 1998 Olympic silver medalist George Karrys, 2006 Paralympic wheelchair curling gold medalist Chris Daw, two-timer Brier and world champion Ed Werenich, Rogers SportsNet’s Rob Faulds and Leigh Armstrong and Chrissy Cadorin, who were featured in the 2007 Women of Curling calendar.

The event raises funds for the Shoot for a Cure curling campaign, funding spinal cord injury research, and promoting wheelchair curling.

Team Canada fly off to Worlds  1/29/2008

With an all-BC team and coach, at least the travel logistics to the 2008 Worlds seem simple. The team fly out from Vancouver this afternoon hoping, despite a Torino gold medal in 2006, to improve on a disappointing record under coach Joe Rea at the Worlds. They finished 4th in 2007 and 6th in 2005.

Team leader Wendy Morgan, asked whether she had any comment beyond looking forward to playing in Switzerland and playing well, said the team were "looking forward to playing to our potential and a positive experience." Pressed to describe the team's potential she said "Playing to our potential should put us in a position to be in the playoff round."

Ex-skip Chris Daw, now leading the CCA's grassroots initiative, answered: "If Canada plays to its potential, it is possible that Canada could reach the podium!"

National program director Gerry Peckham was somewhat more upbeat when asked whether he expects Canada to win: "yes....that is a distinct possibility but this team is still very much in a building stage. New player....new responsibilities and a tremendous expectation from themselves. They do have the potential to be a force on the international scene...but it is curling and anything can happen in a 6 end game...go Canada!!"

Now that's a sentiment Canadians can get behind.

Team USA "ready to take home a medal" 1/29/2008

The Utica Observer-Dispatch reports on their local curlers leaving for the 2008 World Championships in Sursee, Switzerland.

“We have a strong team of athletes and everyone is excited about this year’s competition,” team leader Marc DePerno said. “We’re ready to bring home a medal.”

Team Scotland leave for Switzerland  1/29/2008

Team Scotland fly to Switzerland today hoping to improve on their 2007 performance, when they beat Canada for bronze. Tom Killin rejoins the team this year after missing last year's tournament because of illness. Michael McCreadie will be looking for his first gold medal at skip after so many successful years playing 3rd on Frank Duffy led sides.

Scotland's first draw is against the home side Swiss on Saturday February 2nd, and their 9th and final round robin draw is against Canada.

CLICK HERE for a team photo courtesy of Tom Pendreigh via Bob Cowan

Cape Cod CC now open for wheelchair curling 1/25/2008

After four years and $470,000, Falmouth MA now has the Dave and Anne Dewees Room, the first wheelchair accessible curling iceon Cape Cod. Ex-Team USA skip Wes Smith was on hand to lead a give-it-a-go workshop to open Cape Cod CC extension.

"What Saturday’s events were truly about, though, was equal opportunity for anyone, regardless of their physical abilities, to be able to succeed in sports such as curling.

"[Wheelchair Curling] is still in its infancy stages," said Tony Colacchio, the club’s former president. "What really matters is giving those who want to excel in sports a chance. You give me a few new wheelchair curlers, and in four to five years they can go on to the Nationals, or even more. "[read the full report from barnstablepatriot.com]

WKTV Channel 2 profiles Team USA 1/25/2008

The Utica NBC affiliate has a video profile of the Team USA members, who hope their experience will this year put them onto the podium. Whether they make it or not, the Americans have a lot to teach those running Team Canada about publicity and media awareness - so vital in promoting a new sport.

Curlers included in USA Paralympics promotional video 1/23/2008

Team USA curlers Augusto Perez and Jimmy Joseph make a brief appearance towards the end of a USA Paralympics promotional video. Lick on the "Amazing Awaits" link at the top of this webpage.

Team Canada's Cormack relives Torino golden moment 1/23/2008

In an article by Monique Tamminga in the Langley Times, Team Canada's Gary Cormack relives the last rock of the Torino Paralympics and the thrill of winning. [read article]

2008 Worlds update  1/22/2008

The 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championships begin in Sursee Switzerland on Saturday February 2nd. Coverage of the tournament will be provided by CurlIT, who write the program used by many coaches to diagram games rock by rock.

There may also be Internet television coverage from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) website. Details have yet to be finalised. The IPC has archived matches from Torino for those readers unfamiliar with how the sport is played.

Time zone differences will make for some sleepless nights for those of us on Pacific Time. While the opening draw is at 9am (Pacific) on Saturday Feb 2nd, subsequent draws are at 1am and 6.30am (Pacific). The full schedule is available here (pdf).

Team Canada leaves for Switzerland on Tuesday January 29th and are staying at the Guido A. Zäch Institute in Nottwil. They are expected to follow the approach used successfully in the Norway Open, with Gerry Austgarden skipping, Darryl Neighbour throwing last rocks, and the front end of Sonja Gaudet, Ina Forrest and Gary Cormack rotating.

Competition Update: The 'Big 4' teams, Norway, Scotland, Canada and Switzerland, are favoured in the "Pick The Final Four" competition entries but there is also some support for USA, and Korea is emerging as a dark horse candidate. So far no one has chosen Canada to win gold - perhaps because we modest Canadians were brought up to think it would be boasting to choose yourself.

Send in your entry, listing in order the teams that you think will finish 1 through 4. A prize will be awarded the entry closest to the final standings.

Clinic at Utica CC on January 20th  1/16/2008

A free wheelchair curling clinic will be held at the Utica CC in Whitesboro, NY next Sunday January 20th between 2 and 5pm. Call 315-797-3114 ext 459

BC selection camp application deadline Jan 18  1/15/2008

Applications to attend the camp from which the team to represent BC at the National Championships in Winnipeg in March will be selected, must be submitted by January 18th. CLICK HERE to download an application form. Criteria for selection have not been published.

The camp will be held in Richmond BC February 2-3 and be led by Melissa Soligo. BC are the current National Champions. Last year's team was invited to join the National Talent Pool to compete for a Team Canada spot, though it is unlikely that this year's champions will be offered a similar opportunity.

Russia beats Scotland in final pre-Worlds warm-up  1/14/2008

Bob Cowan reports that Russia beat Scotland in an eight team field competing for the 2nd Annual Identa Wheelchair Cup this past weekend in Schwenningen, Germany. Scotland, playing without Tom Killin, struggled early on unusually heavy ice, but came back from a 4-0 semi-final deficit against Switzerland before losing in the final. Sweden beat Switzerland for 3rd place. CLICK HERE for a collection of 307 photos from the event.

Update: Russia, stole 5 in the 3rd end of their 8-4 semi-final win over Sweden. They then faced Scotland, who stole 3 in the last end of their 6-4 defeat of Switzerland I in the other semi-final.  Russia took 1st place on a steal of 2 in the second end, beating Scotland 7-4. Sweden beat Switzerland I by a score of 6-3 to take 3rd place. [Click here for line scores of post round-robin matches - xls format]

CurlBC provides cash incentive for BC Winter Games curlers  1/11/2008

Faced with a refusal by wheelchair curlers to again sleep on cots in a gym, CurlBC has agreed to a $3000 accommodation subsidy if sufficient players and coaches agree to attend the BC Winter Games in Kimberley-Cranbrook February 21st-24th.

The Games, designed primarily for teens and young adults, waived age restrictions to allow wheelchair curling. Curl BC has promoted the event as an opportunity for team formation and competition, in lieu of the chance to compete as teams for a Provincial championship. Brave talk of district playdowns for the right to attend the Games has however given way to a desperate search for bodies to form the minimum four teams (each require a Level 2 coach).

Anyone interested in competing should contact the CurlBC office.

Clinic at Cape Cod CC in Falmouth MA on January 19th  1/8/2008

Wes Smith, skip of Team USA at the 2006 Torino Paralympics, will be leading a free  wheelchair curling clinic taking place at the Cape Cod Curling Club in Falmouth, MA, on January 19th. Contact Tony Colacchio for more information.

Cameron still stirring the eligibility pot 1/4/2008

Calgary Herald columnist Al Cameron, reflecting unofficial CCA opinion, is once again stirring the pot on player eligibility.  While ostensibly talking about amputees (these are the so far phantom foreign amputee cheaters using wheelchairs to negatively impact Canada's chance of winning medals) his agenda is to press Jim Armstrong's claim to a place on Team Canada. In this blog entry he recounts an interview with WCF president Les Harrison.

Watch Harrison calmly and clearly state the eligibility rules and their rational in this YouTube interview.

Profile of Marc DePerno - team leader for Team USA  1/4/2008

"Marc DePerno ’00, adjunct lecturer of health studies, has been named co-chair of the United States Curling Association Adaptive Curling Committee. DePerno will be responsible for developing wheelchair curling programs throughout the country, working to improve and educate existing programs, and developing a long-term plan to ensure the success of the program on a national scale." [read Ami Olson's full profile]

Team Nova Scotia training camp held  12/31/2007

Chris Daw led a high performance clinic this weekend for players in Nova Scotia's provincial talent pool. Six men (John Rogers, Mike Fitzgerald, Laughie Rutt, Larry Henley, Trendall Hubley-Bolivar and Keith Williams) and two women (Nicole Durand and Linda Scott) attended, five of whom will be selected at a camp planned for January 20th. This will be the first year that a team from Atlantic Canada has competed at the Canadian Nationals, hosted this year in Winnipeg in March.

Ontario Paralympic Winter Championships Feb 15-17  12/31/2007

Collingwood ON, celebrating its sesquicentennial, will host the 2008 Ontario Paralympic Winter Championships from February 15-17th. For information about participating in the wheelchair curling event, contact Tom Ward at the Ontario Curling Association 1-866-800-7293.

2008 Worlds schedule Canada/Scotland in final draw 12/28/ 2007

The schedule for the 2008 Worlds February 2-9 is here [pdf  or  xls]

Canada open against Italy, and face World champions Norway in Draw 6. They finish against Scotland. Norway opens against Sweden and Scotland opens against hosts Switzerland.

Current champions Norway had a winning season until upset by Canada at the Norway Open, perhaps because they experimented with spilt squads. They had a perfect round robin record at the recent Richmond BC spiel, before fading in the play-offs when they did not adjust to very swingy ice.

Scotland have a very experienced team with Michael McCreadie returning as skip. He is sure to be less nervous this time round, having finished 3rd last year. Scotland won the Utica and Richmond spiels on their warm-up tour.

Canada have never won the Worlds and have failed to medal in the last two championships under coach Joe Rea. He makes one personnel change from last year; Darryl Neighbour comes in for long-time skip Chris Daw, and will probably throw 4th stones with Gerry Austgarden skipping from 3rd position. Ina Forrest looks likely to claim a spot on the ice this year after sitting out the 2007 event, which leaves Gary Cormack and Sonja Gaudet, both Paralympics gold medallists, to fight for the 4th spot, probably at lead. This is a very confident squad who know each other well, and played together while winning the Norway Open in November.

Switzerland finished second to Norway at the last Worlds, and had the same result at the early season Prague Bonspiel. They are on home ice, so can't be counted out. And of course USA, Japan, Russia, Korea, Sweden or Italy could get hot at the right time and ride a winning streak into the final.

Who do you think will be in the final 4 at the 2008 Worlds? Write in your selections (in order) and email to eric@wheelchaircurling.com and we'll come up with a prize on February 9th for the first correct entry.
 
This year's tournament has a Page playoff, an advantage to the two teams who perform best during the 9 draw round robin, as they will be allowed one play-off defeat before losing their opportunity to play in the final. Previously, #1 played #4 and #2 played #3, the winners playing in the final and the losers playing for bronze.

Halifax NS clinic this weekend led by Chris Daw  12/27/ 2007

A reminder that the clinic will be hosted by Curl Atlantic and the CCA in Halifax at Lakeshore Curling Club from Dec. 28-30, 2007. Chris Daw will be the lead instructor and will be focussing on preparing the players for the upcoming Nationals in March. It is the first time that teams will be sent from the Atlantic region.

Friday, Dec. 28th  1-5pm On-ice and off-ice tech review and strategy
Saturday, Dec. 29th  10-4pm On-ice and off-ice skills and strategy
Sunday, Dec. 30th 10am-1pm On-ice open session with Chris

Team USA featured on USCA's newsletter  12/27/ 2007

The United States Curling Association is actively promoting their national wheelchair curling team and features them, with team photo, on the front page of their email newsletter. [CLICK HERE] Americans interested in learning more about wheelchair curling and how their club can get involved, should contact Team USA coach Steve Brown.

(We'll publish a photo of Team Canada as soon as one is available.)

Happy Holidays to you all  12/24/ 2007

I'd like to extend my best wishes to our readers for Happy Christmas and a successful New Year. I'd like to especially thank those of you who made a donation towards the costs of running this site. Your contributions help keep wheelchaircurling.com independent and advertising free.

If you find the information here interesting and informative, please consider clicking this link, and making a donation in any amount.

See you on the ice - Eric Eales

CurlBC seeks volunteer coach for BC Provincial team  12/24/ 2007

Applications are invited for the position of a volunteer coach for BC's wheelchair curling team that will be selected to attend the National Championships in Winnipeg in March. Duties will include running the provincial selection camp in Richmond Feb 2-3 and two post camp training sessions. Deadline is January 2nd. [more information PDF or WORD]

BC are the current National Champions coached in 2007 by Melissa Soligo. Eight teams are expected to compete at this season's championship.

Darryl Neighbour to be honoured at BC Premier Athletic Awards 12/24/ 2007

Team Canada member Darryl Neighbour has been chosen to receive a BC Premier's Athletic Award. Each year, the top male and female athlete in each of the 45 sports in the B.C. Athlete Assistance Program are honoured by the Premier and Minister responsible for Sport for their commitment to excellence, hard work and determination to leave their mark on sport in British Columbia.

Although Darryl would be the first to admit he is fortunate to have the time to devote to playing and promoting his sport, he has been a stalwart of the BC wheelchair curling community from its beginnings. He plays in three weekly leagues, practices and helps run the drop-in sessions for recreational curlers, and has always been willing to attend clinics and demonstrations across the Province.

This award is richly deserved. The ceremony takes place the morning after he returns home from the World Championships in Switzerland, so perhaps he'll attend wearing a gold medal.

Predict Team USA's Worlds finish  12/20/ 2007

Take the poll on the USA Curling Association's website for where you think Team USA will finish at the 2008 Worlds. They finished in 6th with a 5-5 record on Sweden last year. CLICK HERE for the poll - on the right side of the page.

Team Scotland 2008 announced  12/20/ 2007

The team that will represent Scotland at the 2008 Worlds was announced today (thanks Bob Cowan). Scottish Champion Rosemary Lenton replaces Angie Malone on an otherwise internationally experienced team of Michael McCreadie, Tom Killin, Aileen Neilsen and Jim Sellar. [link to Frank Duffy's SWCA announcement]

Official CCA press release on Team Canada 2008 12/20/ 2007

The CCA has finally got around to issuing a press release about 2008 team selection in their inimitable "just the facts" police bulletin style. Click here to read.

Madison WI hosts clinic January 4th  12/19/ 2007

"The Madison Curling Club will host a free wheelchair curling outreach clinic and exhibition from 1-3:30 p.m. on Jan. 4.  All members of Team USA will be on hand to act as instructors on and off the ice to help develop wheelchair curling programs.

6th Annual Pat "O" Reid Memorial Bonspiel Feb 9th  12/19/ 2007

This one day event will be held at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club - 2 games plus dinner. Read flier [pdf] or [Word]

News from Nova Scotia  12/19/ 2007

Chris Daw will be leading a preparation camp on December 28th for Atlantic curlers as part of the preparations for the 2008 Nationals. It will be held at the Lakeshore CC in Lower Sackville. Both Nova Scotia and a mixed Atlantic Canada team are expected to compete in Winnipeg next March. There is a social curling session at the same location every Monday at 6.15 pm. 

Lack of team ego "big" for coach Rea  12/18/ 2007

Team Canada coach Joe Rea told the Vancouver Sun that he really likes the team he will take to the 2008 Worlds.

"There isn't an ego on the team and from a coaching perspective, that's a huge thing for me." [read full article]

CCA's Peckham proud of Team Canada selection process 12/16/ 2007

The head of Canada's wheelchair curling program, aware that Team Canada 2008 looking like Team BC was likely to raise some eyebrows, was at pains to stress the integrity of the selection process in an interview with wheelchaircurling.com.

 "I told the 13 members of the National Talent Pool at the start of the season, that they would have an equal opportunity to win a place on Team Canada 2008," said Gerry Peckham.

Each pool player was assessed in three areas; their stats in competition and in drills (40%), coach assessments (50%), and review by their peers (10%).

"When the numbers were added up," he said, "to our surprise, the players ranked in the same order in every area. I am proud of the integrity of the selection process."

Although five have been selected to compete at the 2008 Worlds, Peckham hopes to have the money to keep the entire squad involved in some capacity in the run-up to the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics. A pre-Worlds training camp has been arranged for January, when the team will be joined by pool members Chris Sobkowicz, Whitney Warren, and Jackie Roy plus competition consultant Jim Armstrong.

Peckham made a point of saying that it is possible new faces will be added to the squad, though the most likely change perhaps is a WCF reclassification of presently ineligible Jim Armstrong if his already compromised mobility erodes to the point where he requires a wheelchair for daily mobility.

Venue for 2009 Nationals set 12/16/ 2007

The 2009 Canadian National Championships will be held at the Lower Sackville Curling Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club had a recent reprieve from a threat of closure, and is one of the few fully accessible venues in Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia and a combined Atlantic Provinces team will compete for the first time in the 2008 Nationals in Winnipeg next March.

Vancouver Sun articles highlight Canadian squad  12/16/ 2007

Click HERE to read a profile of Jim Armstrong, and comments about the WCF classification controversy.

Click HERE to read  an article about how competition to play on Team Canada has increased

All BC Team Canada 2008 goes to Worlds without Chris Daw 12/15/ 2007

An all-BC Team Canada will compete in the 2008 Worlds in February in Sursee, Switzerland. It will also be the first time Torino gold medal skip Chris Daw is not on the team. 

Coach Joe Rea selected the team that won the Norwegian Open bonspiel in November. Gerry Austgarden, Gary Cormack, and Sonja Gaudet all won gold in Torino, and Ina Forrest joined them on the 2007 Worlds team. Darryl Neighbour replaces Daw. The eight remaining National Talent Pool (NTP) members are now free to compete for spots on their Provincial teams at the Canadian Nationals, March 22-30th in Winnipeg.

Daw, who receives a monthly stipend as one of Canada's five wheelchair curling carded athletes, has been the face of Canadian wheelchair curling from its inception in 2001. Five days ago he asked that he not be considered for selection, and requested a "temporary leave of absence" from the NTP through the end of the season. He cited personal reasons as well as increasing demands on his time as Development Coordinator for the CCA's Discover Curling initiative.

"This is entirely his decision and I have nothing else to say," said assistant coach Wendy Morgan, uncomfortable that the news broke before an official CCA statement sometime next week. Chris has been competing in Richmond all week and was unavailable for comment.

Daw is a multi-sport Paralympian, and the last of the original Ontario curlers recruited to represent Canada at the 2002 World Championships. He won silver and bronze medals at the Worlds before leading Canada to the first ever Paralympics gold medal in wheelchair curling in Torino in 2006.

His decision removed a potential headache for Team Canada selectors who had said that the 13 NTP curlers would have an equal opportunity to make the 2008 team based on their current contributions. Daw's lack of form at the  2007 Worlds. where Canada placed 4th, appeared to carry over into this season, and personal commitments prevented him from attending two Team Canada training camps.

While Chris' competitive fire has always impressed and occasionally intimidated opponents and team mates, it has also seemed increasingly out of synch with the non-confrontational personal style of most of the current squad. He has left open the possibility that he will fight to regain his place next season, but that might be easier said than done given the likelihood that the NTP will shrink next year.

Great Britain win Richmond Cashspiel - Day 4  12/15/ 2007

Click Here for event photos

Final Standings
1. Great Britain - $2800
2. Canada3  -  $1400
3. Canada1  -  $800
4. Norway    -  $400
5. Canada2
6. Scotland
Tie 7th Vancouver Island and Richmond

The Canadians pooled their prize money and split it between the 14 players.

Great Britain broke open a 3-3 tie with steals in the 5th and 6th ends to beat Gary Cormack's Canada3. Norway, unbeaten n the round robin continued their final day fade, losing to Chris Daw's Canada1.

Final draw results
Great Britain 7-3 Canada3
Canada1  7-2  Norway
Canada2  5-2  Scotland
Richmond and Vancouver Island did not play.

Semi-finals
Unbeaten Norway faced 4th place Canada3, skipped by Gary Cormack, in their semi-final and were soundly beaten 8-1 giving up steals in the first 3 ends and a 4 spot in end 6.

In the other semi-final, Jim Armstrong skipped and Chris Daw threw last rocks in their 5-6 defeat by Michael McCreadie's Great Britain side.

Semi-final results
Norway  1-8  Canada3
Great Britain  6-5  Canada1

Other games
Richmond  4-12  Canada2
Scotland  7-2  Vancouver Island

Richmond BC International Cashspiel - Day 3  12/14/ 2007

In the final round robin draw, Canada1 bounced back from the disappointment of their Norway defeat to beat Scotland 5-4. Steals of 1 in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th carried them through despite giving up a steal in the final end.

Norway finished unbeaten, regaining their concentration againt Vancouver Island after giving up steals in the first two ends.

Draw 6 Results
Great Britain 4-7 Canada3
Canada1  5-4  Scotland
Norway  4-3  Vancouver Island
Canada2  3-6  Richmond

In the earlier draw Norway beat Canada1 in the showdown between the unbeaten teams. In a game of singles, Norwegian steals in the 3rd, 4th and 5th proved decisive. Canada2 beat Canada3 on a 6th end steal, and Great Britain needed all of their steal of 5 in the 1st to beat Scotland 6-5.

Draw 5 Results
Norway 6-4 Canada1
Canada2  5-4  Canada3
Richmond  2-6  Vancouver Island
Scotland  5-6  Great Britain

Richmond BC International Cashspiel - Day 2  12/13/ 2007

Norway and Canada1 remain unbeaten in their first 4 games. Norway took 2 in the final end against Canada2 to win the morning draw, and then stole their way to a comfortable win over Scotland.

Chris Daw's Canada1 team beat Canada3 by stealing 2 in ends 5 and 6, and then posted a 5 in the 2nd against Vancouver Island on their way to their second win. Norway play Canada1 Friday afternoon.

Draw 3 results
Norway 6-5  Canada2
Richmond 4-5 Great Britain
Canada1  6-4  Canada3
Scotland  4-6  Vancouver Island

Draw 4 results
Canada1 8-4 Vancouver Island
Canada2  3-7  Great Britain
Norway 6-3  Scotland
Richmond  3-12  Canada3

Teams for Richmond Cashspiel  12/12/ 2007

Canada 1 - Chris Daw, Ken Gregory, Bruno Yizek, Jackie Roy, Jim Armstrong
Canada 2 - Gerry Austgarden, Chris Sobkowicz, Sonja Gaudet, Whitney Warren
Canada 3 - Darryl Neighbour, Gary Cormack, Frank Labounty, Ina Forrest, Bridget Wilson
Great Britain - Michael McCreadie, Aileen Nielson, Tom Killin, Elaine Lister
Scotland - Jim Sellar, Rosemary Linton, Angie Malone, Jackie Clayton
Norway - Rune Lorensten, Geir Arne Skogstad, Jostein Stordahl, Lene Tystad, Trine Fissum
Richmond - Jim Shannon, Vince Miele, Rich Green, Samantha Siu
Vancouver Island - Jim Miller, Cyril Kinakin, Roy Crawford, Corinne Jensen

CLICK HERE for event schedule

Richmond BC International Cashspiel - Day 1  12/12/ 2007

Richmond CC is this week hosting the most competitive field of curlers ever seen in Canada. Three teams from Canada's National Talent pool are competing against Great Britain, winners last week in Utica, world champions Norway, Scotland, and club sides from Vancouver Island and Richmond.

Norway got off to a quick start, beating Canada3 and Great Britain in their opening draws, and despite having only the 6th best "skills" result, were also credited with a win over Richmond in draw 3.

Canada 1, with Chris Daw at skip, and Scotland also won their first two draws, though losing their draw 3 "skills" match-ups. 

Draw 1 Results
Great Britain 6-5 Vancouver Island
Canada1  7-4  Canada2
Scotland 6-3 Richmond
Norway 5-3  Canada3

Draw 2 Results
Canada1  7-3  Richmond
Canada3  7-5  Vancouver Island
Scotland 5-4  Canada2
Norway 8-3  Great Britain

Skills Competition

Norway over Richmond
Canada3 over Scotland
Canada2 over Vancouver Island
Great Britain over Canada1

Team USA chosen for 2008 Worlds   12/12/ 2007

After a try-out camp and two successful bonspiels, the USA team for the 2008 Worlds has been announced. The all New York squad of Augusto Perez (East Syracuse), James Pierce (North Syracuse) and James Joseph (New Hartford) with alternate Robert Prenoveau (Chittenango) have all competed in past Worlds and Paralympics. Newcomer Jacqueline Kapinowski (Point Pleasant) began curling this fall. [read detailed press release]

See larger Team USA photo HERE

Team Canada 2008 to be announced December 15th  12/11/ 2007

The five members chosen to represent Team Canada at the 2008 World Championships in Switzerland will be announced at a post bonspiel National Talent Pool dinner on Saturday December 15th.

Big money on the line at Richmond International Cashspiel 12/11/ 2007

Eight teams will be competing for almost $5,500 in prizes at the Richmond Open International cashspiel taking place Wednesday through Saturday December 12-15th. The 13 Canadian National Talent Pool members plus Jim Armstrong, will be allocated over three Canadian teams, and will play against Great Britain, Scotland, Norway and BC club sides from Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

The event is being hosted by the Richmond Committee On Disability, with funding from the Rick Hansen Foundation, BC Gaming and various Richmond organizations.

The format will be a 6 draw round robin with a special "skills" event taking the place of the 7th draw. Semi-finals and finals are Saturday December 15, 9am and 1pm. Admission is free. Results will be posted here when available.

Marpole CC cuts ribbon on new elevator  12/11/ 2007

Marpole Curling Club joins Richmond CC as clubs in the lower mainland having elevator access to their upstairs lounge. Both clubs have very active wheelchair programs, and wheelchair users will now be able to buy their vanquished league opponents a customary drink after their games.

BC is fortunate to have or have planned fully wheelchair accessible clubs in all regions of the Province. Both Vernon and Kelowna CC have advanced plans for elevator access to their lounges this season, and Prince George has had a stair climber for several years now.

Northern Ontario to compete in 2008 Nationals in Winnipeg 12/10/ 2007

Northern Ontario have confirmed they will be sending a team to the 2008  Canadian Nationals in Winnipeg MB. Curl Atlantic is also expected to field a combined team, joining current champions BC, and Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario in a 6 team field.

Channel 10 NY has video and interviews from Utica NY  12/09/ 2007

The television cameras were at the Utica International Speile and taped interviews with USA coach Steve Brown and USA Paralympian Jimmie Joseph. Read the account and watch the video HERE.

Great Britain take Utica International Bonspiel  12/09/ 2007

Great Britain, with Michael McCreadie, Rosemary Linton, Jim Sellar and Elaine Lister, won their final two draws to take first place in Utica. Norway beat USA I in Draw 6 and edged out the Americans for 2nd place. Previously unbeaten Bradford faded on the final day and an inexperienced Team Canada squad struggled all tournament, posting just 2 wins and a tie.

Draw 6 Results
USA I  5-7 Norway
Great Britain  7-5  Ottawa
Scotland  9-3  Bradford
Canada  6-5  USA II

Draw 7 Results
USA II  1-10  Ottawa
Norway  5-4  Scotland
USA I  6-2  Bradford
Great Britain  7-2  Canada

Final standings after 7 draws  (2 points win, 1 point tie)

Utica International Bonspiel - Day 2  12/08/ 2007

A club side from Bradford ON, with substitute skip Chris Daw filling in for Ken Gregory who is playing on the Team Canada squad, is the only unbeaten team after 5 draws.

Draw 3 Results
USA II  5 - 2 Scotland
Great Britain 5 - 5  USA I
Bradford  5 - 5  Canada
Ottawa  1 - 8  Norway

Draw 4 Results
Scotland  9 - 1  Ottawa
USA I  11 - 0  Canada (4 ends)
USA II  3 - 5  Bradford
Great Britain  5 - 4  Norway

Draw 5 Results
Scotland 4 - 9 Canada
USA I  15 - 1  Ottawa
Great Britain  3 - 4  Bradford
Norway 6 - 4  USA II

Easter Seals gets kids onto the ice in Newfoundland 12/08/ 2007

Chris Noseworthy of The Western Star reports that Easter Seals coordinator Jeff Young, inspired by a program out of St. Johns,  is working with the Corner Book CC to get kids out onto the ice.  “The kids had fun which is the main thing. It is something different and not a lot of kids have access to curling, especially kids with physical challenges.....Right now we have four kids out and hopefully this grows,” he said. “Even if we can get six or eight kids out it will be fun. They can come out and play against each other as long as they are enjoying themselves.” [read article]

Utica International Bonspiel - Day 1  12/07/ 2007

National squads from Norway, Scotland, Great Britain, Canada, USA and domestic teams from Bradford and Ottawa ON are competing in Utica NY this weekend. The Team Canada squad are Bruno Yizek and Bridget Wilson (AB) Frank Labounty and Jackie Roy (BC) and Ken Gregory (ON). Chris Daw is skipping the Bradford ON team.

The format is a 7 draw round robin.

Draw 1 Results
Scotland 5-4 USA I
Great Britain 8-4 USA II
Ottawa 6-4 Canada
Bradford 4-2 Norway

Draw 2 Results
Scotland 4 - 6 Great Britain
USA I  11-1  USA II
Bradford 10 - 1  Ottawa
Norway 6 - 3  Canada

Relive the Torino Games online 12/07/ 2007

Reader Michael Fitzgerald reminds me that there is an archive of five matches from the Torino Paralympics available online. You can relive the celebrations or the agonies of that gold medal last rock by CLICKING HERE. (Problems? CLICK HERE for instructions)

Although execution has improved and successful tactics have changed in the couple of years since Torino, the archived games will give anyone unfamiliar with the sport a sense of what happens on the ice.

$5,500 at stake at Richmond BC International Cashspiel  12/05/ 2007

The richest prize pool in the history of wheelchair curling is on offer at the Richmond BC Curling Club December 12 to 15th. Eight teams including Great Britain, Scotland, Norway and the entire Canadian national talent pool squad, plus two BC club teams, will compete for a purse of almost $5,500.

This is the most competitive field of curlers ever to play in Canada. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. For more information contact Vince Miele (604-341-3961) Chair of the Richmond Committee On Disability host committee (604-232-2404)

 Curl Atlantic hosts provincial team preparation camp  12/04/ 2007

Curl Atlantic is hosting a training camp December 28-30 at the Lakeshore Curling Club in Halifax with a view to creating a team that will represent Atlantic Canada at the 2008 Nationals in Winnipeg.  Chris Daw will be the lead instructor for sessions that will cover on and off ice skills and strategy.

Curl Atlantic is charged with advancing curling throughout New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Nova Scotia and PEI. Participation in the Atlantic Provinces has suffered from a lack of accessible curling ice, but the recent reprieve of the Lakeshore Club from the budget axe will, it is hoped, lead to the region's first participation in national competition. Contact Helen Radford for more information.

Big turnout at Thunder Bay ON try-out 12/03/ 2007

The Source, Thunder Bay's Community newspaper reported "several dozen" participants at Saturday's Give-It-A-Go day, organized by David Kawahara of the TBCA. ''I've been a longtime curler and I have friends and family who have disabilities. and I think it was just something I wanted to do," he said. [read more]

Chris Daw, the CCA's roving development coordinator for the TSX sponsored Discover Curling initiative, was on hand to give lessons and talk strategy. The hope is to expand the current field of four Provinces to 6 or more at the 2008 Nationals in Winnipeg, and a Northern Ontario team is a possibility.

Americans repeat win at 3rd Annual Cathy Kerr Bonspiel December 3rd, 2007

Goose Perez from Utica NY with Jimmy Joseph, Jim Pierce and new comer Jacqui Kapinowski, scored a repeat victory in Saturday's 3rd Annual Cathy Kerr Bonspiel in the RA Centre in Ottawa. Ken Gregory's Bradford ON team placed 2nd and the the other Team USA squad took 3rd.

Aaron Wong-Sing took the recreational division  helped out by team mates Laurie Alphonse at third, second Joanna Bos and lead George Simpson. A banquet and presentation of the cash prizes rounded out the day.

Ontario Championships in Kemptville Feb 28-Mar 1   December 3rd, 2007

The Dominion Of Canada Wheelchair Championships will be held over 4 dys, Feb 26 to March 1st in Kemptville, near Ottawa. Go to the OCA website for entry forms or contact Tom Ward for more information. Entry deadline in Jan 28th.

New recruits from Nanaimo Give-it-a-go Daily News - November 29th, 2007

From Daily News - Krista Clarke: As soon as Paul Gorcak rolled out onto the sheet of ice a flood of great memories came back to him.

The 51-year-old pushed his first rock in 26 years at the Nanaimo Curling Club during its 'Have A Go Day' on Thursday.

Gorcak use to be a passionate curler, but he gave up the sport he loved in 1981 after a car accident in 1981 left him a paraplegic. Yesterday, a visit from Vancouver paraplegic curler Darryl Neighbour relit his passion.

Bringing his passion for curling to Nanaimo and other communities is [Neighbour's] way to give back to the sport that has given him so much fun over the year.

"I want to showcase it as best as I can so show how easy the game is to play for anyone in a wheelchair." [read article]

Canada National Talent Pool photos - November 29th, 2007

The CCA website has photos and brief bios of the current members of the National Wheelchair/Paralympics Talent Pool members. [CLICK HERE] Though there was some confusion about whether ex-Brier competitor Jim Armstrong had actually become a squad member (he is currently a "competition consultant") his photo had appeared on an earlier version of the same page [CLICK HERE]

3rd Annual Cathy Kerr Bonspiel in Ottawa - November 29th, 2007

The 3rd Annual Cath Kerr Bonspiel will take place on Saturday December 1st at the RA Curling Centre in Ottawa ON. Five competitive teams, the Team USA squad and teams from Ottawa and Bradford ON, plus two Ottawa recreational sides will compete for $1,350 in prize money. First draw is 11 am.

USA picks 8 for final pool after trials  11/28/2007

Thirteen athletes from California, Nevada, Wisconsin, Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York competed at the Utica CC National Trials. Based on the participants’ performance with skill shots and game play, eight athletes were selected for the national team. Six were from New York; James Pierce and Augusto Perez (Syracuse) James Joseph (New Hartford) Bob Prenoveau (Chittenango) Tammy Delano (Rome) and Jacqui Kapinowski (Point Pleasant). Also chosen were Patrick McDonald (Orangevale CA) and Roy Heathcoat (Franklin WI)

They will compete on December 1st at the Cathy Kerr Memorial Bonspiel in Ottawa, Canada and also participate in the U.S. Open International Bonspiel December 7-9, after which the 5 members of Team USA 2008 will be selected.

Saskatchewan planning wheelchair program  11/26/2007

The Saskatchewan Curling Association has organized an information meeting for wheelchair curlers at Wascana Rehabilitation Center in Regina on November 29th. This will be followed by two on-ice sessions in December prior to forming a league or development program in the new year. For more information contact Amber Holland at tdsca@sasktel.net

USA Trials in Utica NY - 11/24/2007

Thirteen American athletes were expected to attend the trials for Team USA 2008, taking place today at the Utica Curling Club (NY). CLICK HERE for some photos.

Winter Games preparation camp in Victoria BC - Dec 9th  - 11/23/2007

Juan De Fuca CC is holding a camp for teams preparing for the BC Winter Games in Kimberly-Cranbrook next February 21-24, 2008. CurlBC is hoping there will be sufficient entries to warrant regional playdowns for the right to participate at the Winter Games, the only opportunity BC curlers have to compete as a self-selected team. For more information including registration deadlines CLICK HERE.

Thunder Bay ON wheelchair camp Dec 1st.  11/23/2007

Torino gold medal skip Chris Daw will be running a one day wheelchair curling camp in Thunder Bay on Saturday December 1st. as part of the TSX sponsored CCA Discover Curling tour. [full details]

Paralympic Winter World Cup 2009 in Sweden  11/23/2007

The International Paralympic Committee announced an agreement to hold a Paralympic World Cup event in Solleftea, Sweden, in 2009 and 2011. Sanctioned by the IPC, all five Paralympic Winter sports will be showcased over a week of competition. [read the announcement]

Canada win in Norway 11/18/2007

Final Standings
1. Canada
2. Russia II
3. Norway I
4. Scotland II
5. Sweden
6. Scotland I
7. Norway II
8. Russia I

Norwegian Open - Day 2  11/17/2007

Scotland II (3-0) scored 5 in the 4th in a 9-5 win over Sweden in Draw 3, to finish round robin play with the only unbeaten record in either pool. Qualifying with them in Pool A were Norway I (1-2) who beat Russia I (1-2) by 6-5 in Draw 3, and claimed the tie-break.

In Pool B Canada (2-1) overcame a shaky start on Friday by beating Russia II (2-1) in the morning draw 5-3. A steal of 3 in the 2nd provided the margin. Canada beat Scotland I (1-2) in Draw 3, stealing 2 in the 3rd and 4 in the 4th en route to a 7-4 win and a place in tomorrow's medal rounds. [Full results HERE]

Sunday draws

Norwegian Open - Day 1  11/16/2007

Canada got off to a rocky start in the first draw of the five nation Norwegian Open in Oslo, losing 7-1 to Norway II. Steals of 3 in the 2nd and 1 in the 3rd sealed their fate. Norway I  had an impressive string of victories over several competitions come to an end when they lost 7-6 to Sweden. Though they scored singles in four of the six ends, they gave up 3 spots in the 2nd and 4th.

Scotland II pounded Russia I talking 4 in the 1st and finishing with steals of 3 and 2 to win 11-4. Scotland I lost 7-6 to Russia II again giving up big ends, a 4 in the 2nd, and 3 in the final end. [Full results HERE]

5 nations entered in Norwegian Open November 16 - 18 11/11/2007

Norway, Scotland, and Russia (each sending two teams) and a Canada squad plus recent World's qualifiers Sweden will compete in the Norwegian Open next weekend

Canada is sending an all BC squad of Gerry Austgarden, Gary Cormack, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet and Darryl Neighbour, who replaces Chris Daw on the team that represented Canada at the 2007 World Championships. A different squad will compete in Utica NY in early December, by which time each member of the national talent pool will have had the chance to play in an international bonspiel before the 2008 Worlds team selection is announced December 10th. CLICK HERE for an event schedule (pdf)

Sweden and Italy qualify for 2008 World's 11/09/2007

Sweden, hosts in 2007, and Torino hosts Italy won tie-breaks to qualify for the 2008 World's after round robin play left Denmark, Germany, Italy and Sweden with 6-2 records.

In the final draw, Denmark, the only team in sole charge of their fate, fell to Sweden despite a steal of 4 and a 6-2 lead after 4 ends. Sweden took 3 in the 5th, stole 1 to tie in the 6th, and then stole 4 more in the extra end to win 10-6.

Italy survived a steal of 3 in the final end to squeak past the Czechs to earn their tie-break chance. Germany scored 4 in the 2nd to beat fast fading England 8-3 for the final tie-break slot.

In the tie-breaks, Sweden crushed Germany 10-2, scoring 5 in the 4th and adding steals in the final two ends. Denmark, leaders throughout the tournament, fell to Italy who broke a 4-4 tie scoring 2 with the hammer in the final end.  Full results here.

Sweden and Italy join Norway, Switzerland, Scotland, Canada, Japan, USA, Korea and Russia at the 2008 World Championships in Sursee, Switzerland next February.

World's Qualifying Day 4  11/08/2007

It will come down to the last draw (and possibly two rounds of tie-breakers) before we'll know who has qualified for the 2008 World's final two slots.

Denmark are sure of a place if they beat Sweden in tomorrow's final draw. A Sweden win guarantees them at least a tie-break. England faded to two defeats today and with 3 losses must now beat Germany and look for help from Danes, and the Czechs who play contenders Italy tomorrow. Full results here.

Armstrong at Canada camp as consultant, using wheelchair 11/08/2007

Despite being declared ineligible for WCF competition, ex-Brier skip Jim Armstrong will continue to work with the Canadian National Talent Pool, and attended last weekend's Richmond BC training camp as a competition consultant. He worked with the squad from a wheelchair and has also spared for Vancouver area wheelchair teams in their league games against able-bodied opposition.

There has been no public CCA announcement or recognition of the debate that Armstrong's presence stirred. Team Canada coaches consider the matter closed and Armstrong's role no longer an issue.

World's Qualifying Day 3  11/07/2007

England had a mixed day, losing 6-5 to Poland in the morning before stealing their way to a 7-4 victory over previously unbeaten Denmark in the afternoon draw.

Denmark and England at 5-1 and Germany at 4-1 are favourites to qualify, but Italy and Sweden are still alive with 2 losses.  Newcomers China and Finland have yet to record a win. Full box scores HERE.

World's Qualifying Day 2  11/06/2007

Denmark and England are the only undefeated teams after two days of competition. Denmark had an easy win over Poland in the morning draw, but gave up a steal of 3 to newcomers China in the 6th before winning 6-5 in an extra end.

England beat the Czechs in the morning despite giving up 4 in the 1st end. They stole 2 in the 3rd and 4 in the 4th to win 8-5. They had a bye in the afternoon. Previously unbeaten Sweden defeated Italy in the morning before losing to the Czechs 9-2 in the afternoon.

World's Qualifying Day 1  11/05/2007

Bulgaria was a late scratch from the World's Qualifying Tournament in Inverness, Scotland. Nine teams are competing for two slots at the 2008 World Championships in Sursee Swtzerland next February. After 2 draws Denmark and Sweden, the two teams from last year's World's that had to re-qualify, are 2-0 as are England. Full box scores HERE.

World champs coming to Utica NY  December 7 - 9th  11/02/2007

World champions Norway, on a winning streak since their gold medal at the 2007 Worlds, join Canada, Scotland, Great Britain, two USA and two Canadian domestic teams for this open 3 day event. Although originally capped at 8 teams, the field may be expanded to 10 given the interest in this opportunity for North American curlers not currently part of the selected squads to compete against the world's best. [see also this item]

Team USA to be selected in Utica, NY on Nov 23-25  11/02/2007

Following a well attended October wheelchair curling clinic, Utica CC will host the national trials for the team to represent the USA at the 2008 World's in Switzerland next February.

18 curlers attended the October clinic and 13 are expected to pay their own way to Utica in November for a chance to make the national team.

USA qualified for the 2008 Worlds by finishing in the top 8 at the 2007 championship. [see USCA newsletter]

CCA's "Rolling In Your House" in Halifax and St. John's.  10/31/2007

The tour, hosted by Chris Daw, is part of the CCA's Discover Curling initiative that will be visiting all parts of the country. This week it made stops in Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland. The hope is that more than four Provinces will have programs capable of producing teams for the 2008 Nationals that will take place in Winnipeg at the end of this season. [see photo] (thanks Morgan!)

On a roll in Manitoba 10/31/2007

Today's Winnipeg Sun has an encouraging article by Jim Bender about the progress of Manitioba's wheelchair curling program, centred in the West Kildonan CC. The CCA's Discover Curling program recently sent Team Canada skip Chris Daw to Winnipeg for a weekend clinic, and Bender reports that 18 wheelchair users, including 3 juniors, are playing this season. Winnipeg will host the 2008 Nationals. [read full story]

A list of Manitoba clubs with accessible ice can be found here. If you know of any others, contact us and we'll add them.

Norway winners at Danish Open  10/30/2007

Norway came out winners in a 4 team international bonspiel at the end of September, defeating hosts Denmark, Norway 2 and the Czech Republic.

Worlds Qualifier in Scotland Nov 5 - 9th    10/30/2007

Bob Cowan's blog reminds me that ten countries will be competing in Inverness Scotland for the final two places at the 2008 World Championships in Sursee Switzerland, next February. Eight countries have already qualified by virtue of their performance at the 2007 Worlds in Sweden.

Already qualified are Norway, Switzerland, Scotland, Canada, Japan, USA, Korea and Russia - the first 8 of the 10 teams in last year's competition. Denmark and Sweden have to qualify this year, along with Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Poland.

The Inverness Ice Centre has installed an elevator so teams will have access to the lounge, and the bar. First draw starts 10.30 am Monday November 5th and results will be posted here when available.

Canada skip disagrees with WCF eligibility ruling 10/24/2007

In an interview with Al Cameron of the Calgary Herald, Team Canada skip Chris Daw charcterised the WCF's wheelchair competitor eligibility rule as "vague." Daw endorsed the contriversial decision to select Jim Armstrong to the national talent pool, saying Jim "would be an asset beyond belief." [read the full interview]

Chris is currently the Development Coordinator for the CCA's Discover Curling program.

Canada coaches "very pleased" with Prague effort  10/22/2007

Team Canada coach Wendy Morgan on Canada's showing at the Prague Invitational:

"We had a very successful bonspiel in Prague - and the Coaching Staff is very pleased - we had 4 rookies at the event and they achieved many of their individual and team performance goals. This was an opportunity for members of our National Talent Pool to experience international travel combined with a competitive event, and participate in international competition. This team more than exceeded our expectations."

Canada placed 5th. For full results of all the draws, CLICK HERE (pdf)

Norway continue win streak  10/22/2007  UPDATED

Norway won the season opening Prague Invitational this weekend defeating Switzerland 5-3 in the final. Scotland won 7-5 over team Czech 1 to take third, completing a copy of the medal standings at the 2007 Worlds.

Norway, by far the highest scoring team in the competition, went unbeaten in their pool. which included Scotland, Denmark and Czech 2. They opened with 3 in the first end of both their semi-final and final games and as reigning European champions, will be the team to beat in the Worlds in Sursee Switzerland next February.

Final standings:
1st Norway
2nd Switzerland
3rd Scotland
4th Czech 1
5th Canada
6th Germany
7th Denmark
8th Czech 2

For full results of all the draws, CLICK HERE (pdf)

$8,000 at stake at Richmond BC Cashspiel 10/21/2007

Up to 10 teams will compete for $8,000 prize money at the Richmond BC Cashspiel December 12th to 15th. It is expected that several international teams in addition to Team Canada will make the event part of their preparations for the 2008 World Championships.

The event is being hosted by the Richmond Committee On Disability. Entries are due by November 2nd 2007 For more information contact Darryl Neighbour at 604-271-4747

WCF declares Canadian curler ineligible  10/19/2007

The WCF has refused to ratify Canada's classification of 6-time Brier competitor Jim Armstrong as eligible to compete in WCF events. They felt their rule requiring eligible athletes to use a wheelchair for their daily mobility was clear, and therefore Armstrong, who has bad knees but does not use a wheelchair off the ice, did not qualify.

CCA program director Gerry Peckham had cited "ambiguity" in the WCF eligibility guidelines as the basis for Canada's attempt to add Armstrong to the national high performance pool. It is expected that Armstrong will continue an association with the Canadian program in an advisory or coaching capacity.

See comments on this topic, and add your own.

3rd Annual Czech International Bonspiel this weekend 10/19/2007

Most of international wheelchair curling's top teams, including the semi-finalists from the 2007 Worlds, will be competing in Prague this weekend. This season's opener has attracted teams from Norway, Switzerland, Scotland, Canada, Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic.

The Canadian squad includes long-time skip Chris Daw and Ina Forrest, 5th on the Worlds team. They are joined by Chris Sobkowicz and squad newcomers Jackie Roy and Whitney Warren. Whitney's inclusion marks the first time a quadriplegic  who regularly uses an electric wheelchair, has been chosen to represent Canada. Scotland will include 3 females and be skipped by Tom Killin, in the absence of Michael McCreadie who is on international bowls Team Manager duty in Australia. Results will be posted when available.

3rd Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial Bonspiel, Dec. 1  in Ottawa 10/18/2007

The 3rd Annual Cathy Kerr Memorial Bonspiel will be held on Saturday Dec. 1st at the RA Centre CC in Ottawa. Entries for up to 10 teams (competitive and recreational divisions) is $160 and includes dinner and prizes. Entries to be received by November 17. Contact Bruce Cameron for more information. CLICK HERE to see some photos from last year's event.

WCF releases promotional video  Curling Today 10/18/2007

"Curling From A Wheelchair" a five minute promotional video created by Kirsty Letton and Michael McCreadie, has been released by the WCF. Copies will be available through national associations, or soon it is to be hoped, on YouTube.com [read full story]

Wheelchair curling "a dumping ground for those who can no longer make it in the able-bodied leagues"?  10/14/2007

Collinda Joseph from Ontario writes from the perspective of a wheelchair user striving to earn a place on the national squad. Read her letter and others on our new Comments page.

"No rule ambiguity," says WCF  10/13/2007

"We do not believe there is any ambiguity in the classification guidelines (for WCF events) which have met with the approval of the International Paralympic Committee," said Kate Caithness, WCF Vice-President for wheelchair curling. "Our classification states [rule 2g]that a wheelchair is used for daily mobility."

Caithness was answering a direct question from wheelchaircurling.com, reflecting a senior CCA official's concerns that "the ambiguity of the WCF classification guidelines creates the possibility of varying interpretations and thus the potential for an uneven playing field."

Team Canada coaches are hoping to add 6-time Brier competitor Jim Armstrong to the national squad, even though Jim does not presently use a wheelchair for daily mobility. [see CCA surprised at national squad flap]

Brits asked to "register interest" to compete in 2010 Paralympics 10/11/2007

British curlers hoping to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics were asked to complete a preliminary  "registration of interest" by the end of last month. Registrants were given an information pack covering the selection process, timelines and eligibility for 2010. The aim is to select a squad by May 2008, and the five person team by May 2009, seven months earlier than the previous Paralympics cycle.

Scots skip McCreadie bowling down under - icRenfrewshire 10/10/2007

Michael McCreadie, twice wheelchair curling world champion and silver medallist at Torino, is about to fly out to Australia as Team Manager for the Scottish disabled bowls team that will compete in the IBD World Championships in Sydney, Australia, which begin on Wednesday, October 17. [full story]

CCA surprised at national squad flap  10/10/2007

In what was described by the Calgary Herald (October 4th, 2007) as giving "the fledgling Canadian wheelchair program an instant shot of credibility" 6-time Brier competitor Jim Armstrong was reported to have "been fast-tracked onto the 14-person talent pool from which the Canadian team will be selected for the (2010 Paralympics) Games."

The report continued: "It's huge," said Canadian Curling Association high-performance director Gerry Peckham, who played in two Briers with Armstrong and convinced his former team mate over the summer to consider the wheelchair game.

"[T]he journey to strategic comprehension is a long one. So to get our hands on a player (like Armstrong), if he has sufficient technical skills to make the team, would be a major coup."

Although Armstrong does not use a wheelchair "for daily mobility" as required by WCF rules, his eligibility to compete has been approved by Dr. Emilie Newell, a Canadian sports classifier. Her decision awaits ratification by the WCF.

Peckham seemed surprised that Armstrong's appearance might be controversial. "Jim has not been added to the squad," he said, adding, "he was invited as a guest who lives locally."

"I don't see a downside," he said. "Either we gain a player of enormous experience and presence on the ice, or we gain a valuable coaching resource. The squad will remain open to eligible athletes who can strengthen our team, though we are likely to downsize the athlete pool as we get closer to 2010 to concentrate on those with the greatest potential in achieving podium results. A smaller squad will allow more individualized training, and international competitive opportunities."

Canada's seemingly flimsy case for Armstrong's eligibility as a player appears to rest on claims that the "daily use" wheelchair rule is ambiguous and has been inconsistently applied at previous WCF events.

But arguments over classification of disability miss the big picture. The recruitment of Armstrong, who had not thrown a rock from a wheelchair before September, is another indication that the focus of resources on Paralympics Gold has nothing to do with whether Canada develops wheelchair curling as a grassroots sport, or whether there will be any wheelchair curlers outside of the national squad.

Canada stretching eligibility for WCF competition?  10/6/2007

At the Team Canada training camp in Richmond BC September 28-30, the squad was introduced to Jim Armstrong, a 6-time Brier competitor. Armstrong has been recruited by the coaches, given a wheelchair, and participated as an athlete during the camp.

Armstrong's curling career was cut short by injuries to his knees. We are told he does not use a wheelchair off the ice, but his vast experience would be an undoubted asset were the WCF to ratify a Canadian assessor's opinion that his injuries make him eligible for WCF competition.

As the stakes for success rise with the inclusion of wheelchair curling in the Paralympics, the temptation to test the limits of athlete eligibility for World Championships and other WCF sanctioned events will intensify. The WCF rules, however, seem clear.

Rule of Competition #2g governing participating teams (pdf) states: "To be eligible to play in the World Wheelchair Curling Championship (WWCC) and qualifying events, a player must have significant impairments in lower leg/gait function (e.g. spinal injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, double leg amputation, etc.), so that a wheelchair is used for daily mobility – more specifically, those who are non-ambulant or can walk only very short distances."

Do you have an opinion on eligibility for wheelchair curling? Send email to eric@wheelchaircurling.com and we'll publish your responses.

Manitoba sponsors weekend clinic 10/5/2007

The Manitoba Curling Association is sponsoring a weekend curling clinic at the West Kildonan CC in Winnipeg. The sessions will be run by Team Canada skip Chris Daw and run from 10-4 this Saturday and Sunday October 6/7. All wheelchair users are welcome, and the aim of the clinic will be to move each participant up a level from where they began.

Daw elected to Board of AthletesCan 10/4/2007 [updated]

Long-time Team Canada skip Chris Daw has joined the board of directors for AthletesCan, an association representing Canada’s national team athletes. Daw's attendance at the Conference meant that he has been unable to attend either Team Canada training camp this season. [more information on AthletesCan]

Curling's cool in the (Scottish) Highlands Highland News 10/4/2007

The "Wheelies Club", as they are known, welcomes new members every Tuesday between 2pm and 3.30pm at the Inverness Ice Centre. Extensive basic courses begin in November and are repeated in February where often Pendreigh and men's world champion Ewan MacDonald will attend, along with qualified coaches. [see article]

Do you think you're good enough to compete against the world's best? 9/20/2007

The USA Curling Association is sponsoring an international bonspiel in Utica NY December 7-9, 2007. The field will be capped at 8 teams with preference given to national squads. Canada, Norway and Scotland as well as Team USA have committed to attending. This could mean up to four slots for curlers who think they could beat those guys given the opportunity.

So now's the time to stop second guessing and armchair coaching, get a team and some sponsorship money together and challenge the current world champions, and the gold and sliver Paralympics medallists, on the ice. There'll never be a better opportunity to show the national coaches how wrong they were to ignore you!

Contact Marc DePerno at 1-888-578-8807 if you are interested in attending.

Canada squad selected to play in Prague 9/19/2007

Making good on a pres-season promise that each of the 13 members of the " National Team Program Athlete Pool" will get a chance to wear the maple leaf in competition at some point this season, Canada is sending a new look squad to the season's first competition in Prague, October 19-22nd.

The squad will be Jackie Roy, Ina Forrest and Whitney Warren (BC). Chris Sobkowicz (MAN) and Chris Daw (Ont).

USA Curling clinic in Utica Oct. 20-21, open to all  9/18/2007

A no-fee wheelchair curling clinic will take place Oct. 20-21 at the Utica (N.Y.) Curling Club led by USCA Wheelchair National Team Development Coach Steve Brown. This will be a great opportunity for athletes interested in learning more about wheelchair curling and how to earn a spot on the national team.

The 2007 national wheelchair team will be on hand to assist with the clinic. The clinic is open to prospective athletes, coaches, volunteers and club representatives interested in beginning new programs throughout the country. Contact Marc DePerno at 1-888-578-8807 if you are interested in attending.

Utica NY hosting 2nd Annual Can-Am Bonspiel  9/17/2007

The US National team is hoping to compete against Canadian teams from Brampton, Ottawa and Toronto as well as domestic teams  in the 2nd Annual Can-Am International Bonspiel in Utica NY November 3rd. Any Canadian or American team wishing to compete in the event should contact Marc DePerno

Olson sponsors season opening 2 on 2 event in Osoyoos 9/10/2007

Gary Cormack and Darryl Neighbour won a season opening 2 on 2 event in Osoyoos BC at the beginning of September. They beat a small field of curlers from every BC region that included fellow Team Canada squad members Gerry Austgarden and Ina Forrest. The event was sponsored by Olson Curling Supply who provided the winning pair's prize of jackets and pants.

CCA 2007-2008 Rule Book adopts WCF rules 8/23/2007

The official rule book published by the Canadian Curling Association includes the WCF's rules of play for wheelchair curling, and mandates mixed gender teams for CCA sponsored events. The new rules (#17 1-8) can be viewed here.

USA Curling seeks National Wheelchair Outreach and Development Director 8/20/2007

The USA Curling Association is looking for someone to expand participation in the wheelchair curling program. The application deadline is August 22nd and details can be downloaded here (pdf)

This far-reaching post offers only a small stipend, but expects the Director will finance the effort by writing grant proposals.

Tom Pendreigh to be full-time GB coach for 2010 Paralympics 8/16/2007

The Curling Today blog reports that Tom Pendreigh has been announced as Great Britain's wheelchair curling coach for the 2010 Paralympics campaign. Pendreigh coached GB at the 2006 Torino Games where a last rock flash cost the gold. He was also coach of Team Murdoch that won the World Men's title that same year.

"This is the first time a full time wheelchair curling coach has been appointed at the international performance level," said Derek Brown, Scottish Institute of Sport head curling coach and British Curling performance director. [read the full announcement]

Osoyoos 2 on 2 Bonspiel sponsored by Olson Aug 31 - Sept 2 8/4/2007

The 2nd Annual 2 on 2 wheelchair bonspiel will be held in Osoyoos B.C. the weekend of August 31 - September 2nd. This year's event will be sponsored by Olson Curling Supply. Cost is $50 per team, which includes two lunches and dinner. For registration and more information contact Darryl Neighbour [click here for an event poster]

British Curling publishes Olympics performance plan 7/27/2007

The Curling Today blog is reporting the publication of British Curling's plan for Olympic success in Vancouver in 2010. Key elements are the hiring of a full time national coach, and a squad "selected in May 2008, seven months earlier than the Turin cycle, [which] will then be reduced to five in May 2009, allowing the squads more time to compete as a team in the build up to the Games. Finally, only athletes with a recent international track record will be considered for selection." [more information]

While wheelchair curling can be played at a high level by athletes with a wide range of disabilities, degree and category of disability is likely to loom large in choices so far in advance of the Olympics. Quadriplegics, athletes with disabilities with an uncertain long term prognosis such as MS or those with histories of pressure sores for example, will be riskier investments than the robust paraplegics already dominating the sport. The 2005 Final Report - Own The Podium (page 21) clearly states athleticism should be a major factor in national team recruitment.

Canada skip Daw skipping Canada? 7/12/2007

In a summer doldrums report, The Curling News is speculating that Team Canada skip Chris Daw may be tempted to leave Canada for greener pastures, green as in greenback, perhaps?

While he has unrivalled experience competing at a wide variety of wheelchair sports and has been promoted by the CCA as the face of Canadian curling, Daw is not beloved among athletes in Ontario, where the wheelchair curling program has so far failed to gain traction. Though it's hard to see who might challenge Daw at skip, his struggles with draw weight, so apparent at the last World Championships, suggests he is not a lock to hold onto his place on the national team. He will be one of 13 athletes competing for the coaches attention at the Team Canada training camp in Edmonton Alberta this coming weekend.

To read more summer speculation CLICK HERE

[update: 7/18/2007 The Curling News reports that Chris had to leave the Edmonton camp early due to a death in his family. We send our condolences to Chris and his family.]

Canada mint launches wheelchair curling 25 cent coin 7/12/2007

Quarters featuring wheelchair curling are now being distributed across Canada. Several past and current Team Canada curlers were present at the Toronto launch, which garnered considerable press attention. CLICK on the links below to read the interviews. [Toronto Sun] and [Scarborough Mirror] Here is a link to a TV news report. Also CLICK HERE to see a photo of skip and chief spokesperson Chris Daw.

Canada skip Chris Daw to represent CCA at commemorative coin launch 7/6/2007

The Royal Canadian Mint will launch the special Paralympic wheelchair curling 25-cent circulation coin at a July 10th Toronto press conference. The coin will commemorate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Team Canada skip Chris Daw, gold medallist at the 2006 Torino Paralympics, will represent the CCA.

13 invited to Edmonton for July 13-15 Team Canada camp 6/28/2007

Thirteen wheelchair curlers will be making their way to Edmonton Alberta on July 12th for a pre-season weekend Team Canada training camp. In addition to the team that finished 4th at the 2007 Worlds,  the four members of BC's 2007 national championship team will join 2 invitees from Alberta and one each from Manitoba and Ontario.

Wheelchair curling presently funds 5 "carded" athletes, far fewer than other sports, and with a busy competition schedule shaping up, candidates outside of the present Team Canada are hoping for some financial support.

Here's a list of invitees by Province: ** denotes present TC member

BC: Gerry Austgarden**, Gary Cormack**, Sonja Gaudet**, Ina Forrest** Darryl Neighbour, Frank LaBounty, Whitney Warren, Jackie Roy
Alberta: Bruno Yizek, Bridget Wilson
Manitoba: Chris Sobkowicz
Ontario: Chris Daw**, Ken Gregory

Two-time world champ Frank Duffy co-opted on Board of Directors for British Curling 6/22/2007

Wheelchair curling has its first place at the table where decisions governing the direction of the sport are taken.

A press release states, in part, "The decision to co-opt Frank comes after (British Curling's) decision to employ a British rankings structure for Wheelchair Curling, which will enable curlers to receive technical rankings achieved through competitions.

With the implementation of a ranking system, Frank’s remit will be to work with the new structure in conjunction with the selection process, which will identify individuals to be part of the British Podium and Development Squads. [more detail]

Wheelchair curling demo at USA Veterans Wheelchair Games 6/20/2007

Wheelchair curling will be featured as part of the 27th National Veterans Wheelchair Games which are underway in Milwaukee this week.

A wheelchair curling exhibition will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday (June 23rd) at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. USA Curling Wheelchair Development Director Steve Brown and 2006 Olympic women's coach Neil Doese will be on hand to answer questions and give curling instructions. 2006 Paralympian Jimmy Joseph of Hartford, N.Y., will be assisting in the demonstration.

USA appoint Marc DePerno wheelchair program chair 6/19/2007

DePerno, 32, a resident of Deerfield NY, has been very active in a variety of wheelchair sports though he was not a competitor in the 2006 USA trials. [more info]

BC's Darryl Neighbour profiled Richmond Review 6/7/2007

"Wheelchair tennis gave him hope, but curling gave him satisfaction.

"He’s now in his fourth year of throwing rink rocks six days a week at the height of the season—and he’s found success.

"In April he travelled to Ottawa as skip of the B.C. team, winning the 2007 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship. Now he’s eyeing a spot on the national team and dreaming about competing in the 2010 Paralympics Games. He travels to Edmonton in July for his first try at making the national team." [read more]

Brits looking for new coach to head 2010 Paralympics campaign - Bob Cowan - Curling Today blog 6/4/2007

"British Curling has advertised for a wheelchair curling coach to organise and lead the Paralympic curling team for Vancouver 2010.

The successful candidate will be expected to head up the programme of support for the British Curling wheelchair curling athletes at podium and development level. He/she will have to deliver high quality coaching within the wheelchair curling programme and work with the personal team coaches. The position requires extensive high performance sport experience and a record of world class success as a curling coach." [more details]

USCA "Wanted: Athletes for adaptive curling programs" May 24, 2007

The first item atop the May issue of Stone Soup, the USA Curling Association's magazine, is an appeal for wheelchair athletes to expand the national program. [read more]

Long-time Team Canada lead announces retirement May 22, 2007

Karen Blachford, Team Canada's lead from the team's formation in 2001 through their Paralympics success in Torino in 2006, today announced her retirement from the national squad. 

"Our team experienced great success from its early years winning the silver medal at the inaugural World Wheelchair Curling Championship in 2002 in Switzerland and continuing into 2006 where we claimed the gold medal at the Winter Paralympics in Torino, Italy.  I have had a good successful career with the Canadian National Team, earning a lifetime of experiences; however it is now time to turn my attention to other opportunities in my life, both professionally and personally," she said in a message of thanks to the curling community.

Karen lost her team position to B.C.'s Ina Forrest at the disappointing 2007 World Championships, and her departure leaves skip Chris Daw as the last member of the original Team Canada. Further changes may be coming as a new funding cycle approaches.

Rick 'Man In Motion' Hansen "loves" wheelchair curling May 22, 2007

Canadian icon Rick Hansen, 20 years after his 2 year Man In Motion odyssey and approaching 50, was asked about wheelchair curling in an interview by Gary Kingston in the Vancouver Sun.

Q: At your age, you're unlikely to become a competitive sit skier or an elite sledge hockey player. Any thought to taking up wheelchair curling so you could try to compete in the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010?

Hansen: I'd love to do something, it would be wonderful. [Laughs] It's just time and imagination and then reality.

Q: Have you ever tried wheelchair curling?

Hansen: I did once, just to try it out. I absolutely loved it. But you know what, we've got some unbelievable curlers in Canada. I would probably get blown away by the competition. [full Q&A here]

Karen Blachford wins 2006 top Ontario female athlete with a disability award Kingston Whig-Standard May 7