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Saturday, February 4, 2012

BC Playdowns - Game 2 - Must win for Cormack

Team Neighbour WINS!!!

Game 1 saw Darryl Neighbour start out slow and then pick up steam. Cormack was leading 6 -0 after 2 ends, then failed to score a single point after that to lose 7-6 after a full 8 ends.

This afternoon see Cormack in a MUST win scenrio if he wants that trip to Thuder Bay in March.

Let's see who comes out on top!


Rank
Team
Wins
Loses
Points For
Points Against
1
Neighbour
2
0
16
14
2
Cormack
0
2
14
16


Draw 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
Cormack   
30300110
-
8
Neighbour
01032003
-
9

Petrofac Aberdeen City Open


Twenty-four teams will compete in the 2012 Petrofac Aberdeen City Open which begins tomorrow at Curl Aberdeen. The event has its own blog, see here, where results will be posted. The teams will play in two sections, as noted here.

My long time friend Murray Cran and his crew are playing in the Blue action!

The Petrofac Aberdeen City Open is the last competition in the Goldline Scottish Curling Tour for this season. The Tour has so far encompassed competitions at Dumfries, Braehead, Forfar, Inverness and Stirling. The leaderboard is here. Kyle Smith's team is in the draw for Aberdeen and has the Galbraith trophy, and the £2000 that goes to the Tour winners, in its sights.

What of the future of the Scottish Curling Tour, and for open curling? I asked organiser Gavin Fleming for his thoughts. His answer was concise, "We are delighted by the way the SCT has been received this season and are confident that the tour will be bigger and better next season." Details will no doubt become apparent in due course.

Here are a few pictures from the event of Murray in action!

Murray Cran explains to Ian what shot he should have played!

 
Photos from: Skip Cottage Curling
Mr. Joss

L-R: Evelyn Cran, Allan Spence, Craig Carter and Murray Cran
Well done folks!

Neighbour takes Game 1 - BC Playdowsn starts & finishes today

Team Neighbour wins Game 1
Today we see the start and finish of the BC playdowns taking place at the McArthur Island Curling Club in Kamloops, B.C. In what be a dissapointment for Curl BC we see only 2 teams head to Kamploops for the 1 day playoff. Gary Cormack takes his team up with few changes from his championship team. Then Team Canada third Darryl Neighbour and Sonja Guadet, Team Canada lead join forces again with Gerry Austgarden, former Team Canada member from Torino to take Cormack on.

I wish both teams good luck and hope Curl BC will notice the lack of development of wheelchair curling in the province and come up with some type of plan get BC back to the lead of the pack again in development like it was a few years ago.

The playdowns is a best 2 out of 3.

Game starts at 9am PST


Darryl & Sonja

Rank
Team
Wins
Loses
Points For
Points Against
1
Neighbour
1
0
7
6
2
Cormack
0
1
6
7


Draw 1 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
Neighbour      
0 0 1 1 2 1 1 1
-
7
Cormack
2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
-
6

Gary
Game 2 at 2:30pm PST , Cormack MUST win to have a chance at going to Nationals!

Friday, February 3, 2012

OCA Final - Ideson WINS!

Mark Ideson & Mike Munroe

IDESON WINS OCA WHEELCHAIR PROVINICALS

The final game on the final day of the OCA wheelchair playdowns sees Team Rees (5-0) go up against Team Ideson (4-1).

Their are 2 stories here but none more interesting then that of Team Rees who has been playing the last few games without Skip Chris Rees due to illness. We got a question as to why as team can play with 3 when the rules state you MUST start with 4. Well; our answer (unknown fact) is that Tom Ward, OCA representative must be allowing it. Often in wheelchair curling things like this happen and low and behold the provinical body has the right to allow things, so we can only assume that this issue has been discussed and permitted. Events sometimes have a pool of players to draw from in case of injury or illness but in all my years of wheelchair curling I can only remember 2 events to which this was a fact and I am not sure those players have ever been utilized.


Final
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
Chris Rees    
1 0 0 0 0 x x x
-
1
Mark Ideson
0 3 5 1 4 x x x
-
13

Team Rees

South Lanarkshire International Official update

The second South Lanarkshire International Wheelchair Curling event took place at the Hamilton rink from 17 – 18January 2012. The overseas challenge came from the Swedish, Norwegian and German national sides. The Scotland 1 and 2, SLWCC and SWCA Spokes were also keen to make an impression and stake their claim on the trophy. Both sections were tight and after the round robin stage Sweden and Norway headed their sections with the Scotland Teams taking the runner up spots.

In the final Sweden with Jalle Jungnall, returning to skip after a spell as Coach, had the edge over the Norwegians, skipped by Jostein Stordahl in the absence Rune Lorensten, and ran out winners 8-4. Scotland 1 led by Aileen Neilson took third spot defeating fellow Scots skipped by Gregor Ewan.

All three top teams head of to South Korea in mid February to compete in the 10 team World Wheelchair Curling Championship where holders Canada will be defending the title.

The CLASSIFICATION Rules for Wheelchar curling


The Wcf has updated there rules surrounding classification for wheelchair curling. We all know that classification has been the subject of question since the beginning. For a number of years the WCF has had proposals presented and has as reported even established a classification panel.

You will find below the link page for the classification manual. Everyone needs to read this  and if you have any questions please send them in.

Classification Rules for Wheelchair Curling






Battle of the Gold Medalists



The 2012 BC Wheelchair Curling Championship will take place this weekend at the McArthur Island Curling Club in Kamloops.

The championship will feature a best of 3 series between two Paralympic Gold Medalists. Gary Cormack (2006 medalist) and his foursome of Frank LaBounty, Vince Miele and Allison Duddy will face Darryl Neighbour (2010 medalist) and his team of Sonja Gaudet, Gerry Austgarden, Corrine Jenson and Ellis Tull.

Cormack will look to defend his 2011 BC title that he won by going undefeated through the championship held last year in Kimberley, while Neighbour will look to capture the title he last held in 2007.

Games take place on Saturday at 9am and 2:30pm, and on Sunday at 10am (if necessary). The winner advances to the Canadian Championship in Thunder Bay, ON, March 18-25.

The 2012 BC Wheelchair Curling Championship is proudly supported by Hosting BC.

Dreams ready to go in Motion

For a good cause and some good television, read on.

Dreams in Motion

In December I did a feature on Dreams in Motion, a Mandan organization planning to provide athletic opportunities to mobility challenged youth.

Their dreams are starting to become a reality.

Dreams will begin its wheelchair curling season Saturday. This is the first major activity by the group, which is hoping to eventually expand to offer a variety of sports.

Registration for the season, which runs for five weeks, will begin at 1:30 at the Capital Curling Club at the VFW Sports Center. The games start at 2 p.m.

The wheelchair curling, which is free, is open to youths ages 2 through 25 who have mobility challenges and their friends and families.

That's one of the things that makes Dreams so special - the opportunity it provides for the mobility challenged to participate in sports side by side with their loved ones.

For more information, email dreamsinmotioninc@yahoo.com or check out their Facebook page, Dreams in Motion.

It's not TV, it's HBO

HBO has a long history of top-notch programming, and its sports coverage has been among the best.
There are a couple of things worth checking out on the pay cable channel now.

First is a six-part series on boxing trainer Freddie Roach. With the great Peter Berg of "Friday Night Lights" fame at the helm, "On Freddie Roach" lives up to its promise.

In the two episodes that have aired Berg lets the details - including the silences - tell the story, and they speak powerfully as Roach not only runs his gym, but copes with Parkinson's disease.
Roach has trained many world champions, and his first was Virgil Hill, whom he discusses in the opening episode. As with most HBO shows, if you missed the first couple of installments you can watch them On Demand. You should.

The other piece worth checking out is the 90-minute documentary on legendary former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath. "Namath" is a mostly light-hearted look back on one of the most colorful characters in NFL history.

I have a soft spot for Namath. His book, "I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow ... 'Cause I Get Better Looking Every Day" was the first sports autobiography I ever read, and one I pored over countless times growing up.

Unfortunately, I was just young enough that I only got to see him play once. It was Oct. 10, 1977, when Namath - a shell of himself while playing out the string with the Los Angeles Rams -was roughed up by my Chicago Bears on a Monday night. He never played another game.
Part of what makes "Namath" so much fun is all the great footage of Namath in his prime. It's amazing to see how mobile he was at Alabama. Considering he suffered his first serious knee injury before he even turned pro, and more in the NFL, it's remarkable how much he accomplished with the Jets.

Although Namath's flamboyance is well-documented, it's interesting that he not only coexisted, but thrived, under the guidance of Bear Bryant, perhaps the hardest of the old school coaches.
Some revisionist history has tried to paint Namath as overrated. But more advanced statistical analysis that takes into account context of era, makes the case for his greatness.
But Broadway Joe was never about the numbers, anyway. He was about excitement, and "Namath" captures that.

(Lou Babiarz is the Tribune Sports Editor.)


Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/sports/local/lou-babiarz-dreams-ready-to-go-in-motion/article_642f9970-4e04-11e1-9b67-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1lK5UOhsS

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Ideson steals way to finals!

In a battle that could have gone either way, Mark Ideson from the Iderton Curling Club in Ilderton, Ontario has made it to the finals of the OCA wheelchair playdowns.

Mark Ideson and Mark Munroe are both players in the National pool and play with Tony Reynen of St. Marys and Shannon Wilcox of London. Coach Ernie Comerford is delighted the team has done so well in such a sort time. They team defeated Bruce Cameron of Ottawa after Cameron seemed to have the finals spot in hand. Ideson stole 2 in the 7th end to get close and then fate seemd to call his name as he stole 2 more to capture a spot in tomorrows final.

Team Rees, is the only team with a prfect record after round robin and has been playing with only 3 players over the last 2 days due to illness of their skipper.

Can the fairy tale expereince continue for both teams, we hope so but only 1 team can curl their way to a natioanl spot in Thuder bay in March.

Game goes at 10am. Good luck to both Teams!


Wheelchair Curling Rocks! NOCA Expereince


Orginal Article: http://www.northernlife.ca/blogs/Young/02-wheelchair-curling-rocks-sudbury.aspx

By: Janet Young
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take photographs of the NOCA Provincial Wheelchair Curling Championships, which were held in Sudbury for the first time ever.

Wheelchair curling was something I hadn’t seen before and that alone was reason enough to go.

As anticipated, it proved to be a very exciting and memorable event.

MEDIchair, a locally owned home medical equipment franchise, was the title sponsor for the event and the company I work for, LifeMark Physiotherapy, was also one of the many sponsors.

Four teams were vying for the opportunity to represent northern Ontario at the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships, being held in Thunder Bay from March 18-25. The four teams were: Team Prud'homme from the Sudbury Curling Club, Team Ficek from the Kenora and Dryden Curling Clubs, and Teams Levesque and Sonego, both from the Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay.

Upon arriving at the rink, I sat upstairs and started to take it all in, scoping where the best vantage place to take pictures would be. There was a woman and a little boy sitting beside me. The little boy was looking down upon the rink and told me excitedly, "That's my dad!" as he pointed to Dennis Duclos of Team Prud'homme, who was taking part in a pre-game practice.

I decided I would move down to the ice to get a better view. All I had to do was stay out of the way and I could get all the pictures I wanted. It was certainly better than trying to capture the action through the plexi-glass upstairs.

From a stationary wheelchair, the curlers must propel a 40-lb. granite stone down a sheet of ice with the aid of a "delivery stick" which they use to grasp the end of the rock handle. There are no sweepers helping to direct the rock to the target (house). As one would expect, wheelchair curling takes a great amount of accuracy, strategy and skill.

After photographing the curlers for two days and studying their facial expressions and body language, I became acutely aware that these athletes were very serious about the game, and about winning. Every player was doing their best to advance their team to the national championship.

On Sunday, it was down to two teams; Team Levesque from Thunder Bay and Team Prud'homme from Sudbury. It was a hard-fought battle by both teams, but in the end, there can only be one winner and the winner was Team Levesque with a score of 7-6.

Immediately after the game, I approached the victorious team to offer my congratulations and take a photograph. I couldn't help but notice the tears in their eyes and I felt proud; not only proud of the players who had won, but because I live in a city that values inclusion for everyone.

Having a disability does not mean that your life stops. Disabled people have dreams and aspirations and they want to succeed in life and do what they love, like the rest of us.

Sarah Lashbook, a member of Team Prud'homme, is a great example of this.

I have known her for quite a few years and she never fails to inspire me with her drive and determination. She has not let being in a wheelchair stop her from following her dreams. Sarah is a married mother of two and has recently authored her first novel, "Where the Stream and Creek Collide". She has a website, which includes an interview where she explains what the book is about. Her website can be found at www.sarahlashbrook.com.

I met the owner of MEDIchair Sudbury, Norm Gervais, who is also the coach for the Sudbury team. I could tell he was proud of his team and was pleased with how well they did throughout the games.

Wheelchair curling is gaining in popularity in recent years. It offers disabled individuals an opportunity to participate in a competitive and fun sport. The Sudbury Curling Club invites anyone with a disability to come out on Sundays and try wheelchair curling for free. They are hoping to attract new members and form more teams. If you are interested in trying wheelchair curling or would like more information, phone Norm Gervais at 705-525-7442 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 705-525-7442 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

To see the pictures I took of this exciting event, visit www.janetyoungphotography.com.

PEI to host demos

Story provided by: Eric Eales



Wheelchair Curling Demonstration and Bonspiel2012-01-30
ParaSport & Recreation PEI and the Cornwall Curling Club are excited to announce that they have partnered to offer a FREE Wheelchair Curling Demonstration and Bonspiel. This event has been initiated by the Cornwall Curling Club as part of the Town of Cornwall’s initiative to become “PEI’s most accessible community”. The newly reconstructed curling club is fully accessible so now people of all abilities will have the opportunity to curl in Cornwall. 

The demonstration and bonspiel are scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at the Cornwall Curling Club. Please click here to see event poster for full details.

The full day event will begin with a 2- hour wheelchair curling demonstration led by Laughlie Rutt from Halifax, NS. Laughlie has been involved in the sport for many years, has represented NS at National Championships and has been instrumental in the development of the sport in Nova Scotia. We are excited to have Laughlie come to PEI to share his knowledge of the sport.

Following the demonstration, there will be a free lunch for all participants which will be followed by a wheelchair curling bonspiel. All participants must play using a wheelchair. Wheelchairs will be provided for those that need one. 

We are encouraging anyone that is interested to come out on the 18th to give this wonderful sport a try. No experience necessary and spectators are welcome so bring your family and friends (or maybe they want to play too!). We are asking that everyone pre-register prior to the event but it is not mandatory. We would like to get a feel for numbers for planning purposes. To pre-register, please call the ParaSport & Recreation PEI office at 368-4540 or email me at tracy@parasportpei.ca .

Former USA skip sets sights on Skiing????


Orginal article: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_19873410

Seems Goose has a new avenue or field to look at. Since Perez left the USA curling team as skip he has had his sights set on staying involved! Well; rowing and skiing seem to be a great fit. Read the following article segment  to find out more.

"Other members of the U.S. team include Ryan Barnett of Atlanta, a former pro bike racer who was hit by a car while cycling; Augusto Perez of East Syracuse, N.Y., a three-time cancer survivor and former member of the U.S. wheelchair curling team; and Dan Cnossen, 31, a former Navy SEAL who lost both legs in 2009 after stepping on an explosive device in Afghanistan.

The youngest member of the team is Christina Kouros, 16, from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, who might be the only high school sit skier in the country.

Competition continues today at Theodore Wirth Park with middle-distance races starting at 10 a.m.
The race is being held in conjunction with the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation, which also is holding the City of Lakes Loppet cross country skiing events this weekend at Theodore Wirth Park. "

Aileen to skip Scotland at World Wheelchair Championships

Team Scotland
AILEEN NEILSON will skip her country at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in South Korea later this month – and she is determined to lead her rink to gold.

The 40-year-old, from Strathaven, took silver for Scotland at last year’s event in Czech Republic after they were beaten 7-3 by defending champions Canada in the final.

But with a new coach on board in the form of Canadian stalwart Tony Zummack, Aileen is confident the Scots can take their game to the next level in Chuncheon City.

She told the News: “The squad selection was in January and I’m delighted to be selected as skip.
“It’s a great honour for me to do this and hopefully we can go one better than we did last year.
“We’ve got a new coach in Tony Zummack this year and we’ve been working with him twice a week to be at the top of our game for the championships.

“Tony was supposed to coach us last year, but there were problems with him getting a visa for a while and we never got the benefit of his expertise.

“Thankfully, we have been able to work with him for a while now and he’s brought a different delivery style to our games and some new tactics, so it’s been a real learning curve for everyone in the team.”

Aileen is joined in the Scotland squad by Gregor Ewan, Tom Killen, Angie Malone and newcomer Jim Gault for the event which takes place between February 18-25.

The tournament, which begins with a round-robin event before the topfour teams progress to the semi-finals, will see the Scots competewith hosts South Korea, Canada, China, Norway, Russia, Sweden,USA, Slovakia and Italy for the title.

And the team are in good form ahead of the championships as they aim to knock Canada off their perch.

The Bent Primary School teacher added: “Canada are right up there as the favourites, but if we can play to our potential we can give them a run for their money this year.

“We had a competition with Sweden and Norway last week so it was good to get the chance to play the calibre of teams we will play at the world championships.

“And just before Christmas we were out in Switzerland and won the Bern-Swiss International, so these experiences have been great for our confidence.”

But there is a lot more at stake than just the world title as 2014 is a Winter Olympics year and the Scots are desperate to garner more crucial points towards their qualification for Sochi, Russia.
The reigning East Kilbride Sports Personality of the Year added:“We have accrued a lot of points forthe Olympics after finishing second last year, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels because we are not there yet.

“A repeat of last year’s performance or better would make things a lot more comfortable for us because, even although there would still be another year or so for other countries to claim points, it would be pretty unlikely that we would miss out.”