YOU MUST READ THIS ONE!

So this morning I woke to a wonderful comment about me and the blog:

“Question for Chris D. You don't post all comments, especially the ones you don't like or disagree with. Otherwise, why not post the comments about other prov. organizations that don't have play downs, not just Manitoba, unless you too are a MB hater. I was hoping for some change with this blog, but you too seem to be a MB hater just as Eric was. Too bad, it looks like I'll just stick to talking to the people who are actually involved in the sport to find out stuff and not rely on biased coverage. Sask. hasn't had play downs. What is so hard to post that?  Whatever. This will be the last comment I post.”

Ok Reader let me answer your question:

WHAT? Have you read the comments on here!

I have posted almost every comment sent in including the ones about me. When I started this blog in pursuit of continuing what Eric had started I made that statement that I would publish everything including comments about me if they were clean (no foul language) and not slanderous in nature.

There are rules more over LAWS which guide you in publishing on a public site. The BLOG controlled warning could be put up if I wanted but hey, who wants that. But if you want me to publish founl language and slanderous statements put your name to it so when I get sued , I can sue you!

And as for being a MB hater, I don't think so.! Fact is that I call Chris Sob., Dennis and the crew friends. What they do in the province is news and I report the news, trying to leave personal opinion out of it. What happens in MB is about MB what happens in Saskatchewan well NO one submits!

Why do I not report anything on other provinces? Come on…I reported on every other province out there that I could,  I report on everything! Everything I can find and everything that is submitted. I cannot call every province to find out or report on what they are doing. I have always said and continue to say SUBMIT the information and it will get printed! You help make this blog! If you don't submit or send in were to look I cannot print it.

I ask you to please sight were I have not printed a comment? I ask you to please tell me what story I did not print that I or the public KNEW about?

Please be fair in this because; and I can prove this; I go above and beyond the call of need to make sure people and players like you get the news and results; ALL the news and ALL the results and even ALL the comments even if they are about me.

I invite you to post more comments and submit stories because sir or miss I have no idea what you are talking about! At the very least explain what I have not posted or not published in much more detail!

I AM ASKING EVERYONE ONE THAT READS THIS BLOG....Please respond to this comment becuase I don't understand this one at all! Agree or disagree, it will get published no worries, please just try and keep it clean!

Wheelchair curlers aim to become national champions

By Chris Koehn, Daily NewsFebruary 10, 2012

Wheelchair curlers Corinne Jensen and Ellis Tull head to Thunder Bay, Ont., in March for the 2012 Wheelchair Championships after qualifying in Kamloops on Feb. 5.

Corrine Jensen

Playing on ice in a wheelchair requires a different physical and mental approach to the game and has inspired both to shoot for the stars.

"We're wheelies!" Jensen said, describing how players roll right out onto the sheet in their chairs.
Tull explained that there is no sweeping, so if the shot is not good to begin with there are no sweepers to bring it back.a

"You have to be more accurate in wheelchair curling than regular curling because that's your shot," coach Karen Watson said.

Players use a rod to reach the rock, throw it and give it a light twist to curl it down the ice.

"It's shuffleboard on ice," Jensen quipped. "It's just you, the rock and the skip down on the other end."

Ellis has always curled from a wheelchair, but Jensen was once what she described to be an "able-bodied curler," before developing multiple sclerosis. "It's just since 2007 when I discovered the sport. It was unbelievable to get back into it, it was like I had a new life. They could barely get me off the ice, I loved it so much."

Their love of the sport has inspired them to set goals.

"Sports gives anybody a ton, but when you're disabled and able to take back something or take sport back into your life it changes your whole mood, your attitude, your goals," Jensen said.

"I threw together a four year plan for myself last year to focus more on curling to see what I can accomplish. I've somewhat already surpassed that," Tull humbly explained.

"Somewhat," Jensen cut in, rolling her eyes in mock disbelief.

"I'm going to have to readjust my plan, obviously," Tull acknowledged shyly.

Interested parties can contact the club at 250-753-3474 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 250-753-3474 end_of_the_skype_highlighting about sponsorship and donations.

The championship begins on March 18, with finals on March 25.

CKoehn@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4228 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 250-729-4228 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Man in Motion tour helps promote curling

Peacock's Laura Duncan takes part in a wheelchair curling demonstration with help from Lorraine Arquin (bottom left), Eric Houseman (left) and Jordan Ewart during part of the Rick Hansen relay on Thursday afternoon on the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre.

Even though Rick Hansen wasn’t in Moose Jaw to take part in the Rick Hansen Man in Motion 25th anniversary relay on Thursday afternoon, his spirit and determination could be seen and heard throughout the different events being held at the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre, Mosaic Place and 15 Wing.

Events got under way at 15 Wing with a wheelchair basketball demonstration and continued at the Curling Centre where members of the national curling team showed local high school students and members of the media how to play the sport of wheelchair curling. Four teams played a game of two ends with every person getting the opportunity to try curling with a stick, while sitting in a wheelchair.

“We are just demonstrating the sport,” said Marie Wright, second on the national team.

Wright and her teammates couldn’t be happier to have the Relay come through Moose Jaw and have the city and citizens see and appreciate the sport. Although the sport has grown in Canada, the province of Saskatchewan is still behind in the number of curlers.

“Saskatchewan is where we are having the hardest time getting the awareness of the sport,” explained Wright. “We still have try outs, but not a lot of people come out. Whereas, if we could get enough teams in other cities, then we could actually have play downs.

“So we are hoping this raise awareness in some of the bigger cities and anywhere,” Wright said. “Getting out and involved just gives you a lot of confidence and knowing that you can actually do things.”

The national team practices at the Regina Callie Club, as it more central for of the team members, but Wright practices in Moose Jaw. She also hopes having the demonstrations will show others what the sport is and what is means to the curlers to be able to participate in the sport.

“It is a community, it really is,” said Wright. “A lot of people don’t really look at wheelchair curling as a sport, so it means a lot for them to see that it is very precise, you have to hit the broom and you have to the proper weights.”

For more on this article, read a future edition of the Times Herald

World Champhionships just around the corner.

The World Wheechair curling championships are just around the corner. The World Curling Federation (WCF) has set up an excellent site for us to all be able to follow along. World Championships are being held in  Chuncheon, South Korea; which is the first time the championships have been held in the Asia -Pacific zone. Most teams will be heading out in the next 2 or 3 days to allow for that "jet-lag" recovery time.

The last time I was in Korea was in 1988 for the Paralympics Games; it was a great country with a people which shown huge support for the games. These champioships should be no different if not better has the knowledge of persons with a disability has grown even in this country where information and education on matters like this topic is shelthered.

The WCF will be showing LIVE scores on the championship website which we will repost here on the W/C Blog.

Canada faces Italy righ out of the blocks and it should be a good one.  My close friend and top elite coach Daniel Rafal has been working with the team for some time now since his relocation under contract to Italy. We may better know Dan for his great work with CHINA in helping them become a curling super star country. It leads me to wonder why so many of Canada's top coaches are heading overseas for opportuniy?

 Let's all leave our comments of GOD LUCK to Jim and his team as they head over to try and capture a new World record in being the 3 peat winners of the WORLD WHEELCHAIR CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP!

Good Luck, Team Canada!

(L-R) Joe Rea, Jim Armstrong, Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet & Jack Smart

Wendy Morgan (Coach) - not shown

Rockford man to compete in world curling championship

Link submission by: Eric Eales

Tim Kelly of Rockford

ROCKFORD — Tim Kelly’s passion for wheelchair curling has taken him to heights he never thought possible.
The Rockford native, who started curling seriously two years ago, will be one of five athletes representing Team USA at the World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Chuncheon City, South Korea, this month.
Team USA needs to finish in the top seven to qualify for next year’s world competition, which would put the team on target for a possible berth in the 2014 Sochi, Russia, Paralympics Games.
“We’re planning to medal and win the gold medal,” Kelly said. “It’s been a goal, and to be in a position to make that happen is awesome.”
For Kelly, 39, “being in position” meant adjusting to being paralyzed from the chest down in a 2004 car accident in Ohio.
After a long process of mental and physical recovery, Kelly started participating in wheelchair softball. Later, he discovered wheelchair curling and joined the Madison Curling Club under Steve Brown, who is a former Olympic coach.
As a former swimmer and cross country runner at East, Kelly said he enjoys staying active and competing.
“It’s good to get up and have something to do,” said Kelly, who skated as a child at the Riverview Ice House. “It gives you something to work for. It’s great to get into a sport with other people that have similar disabilities because you grow and feed off each other’s experiences. You learn things and that’s what is cool about it. It’s not just you versus the world anymore.”
Kelly’s dedication to the sport takes him away from Rockford as he travels twice a week to Madison for practices and to participate in league games. Curling requires pebbled ice and Madison is the closest handicapped-accessible curling ice facility.

Tim Kelly  works out at the curling facility in Madison, Wis.,
where he practices twice a week.

He said curling, which is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S., is more than just watching players slide stones across a sheet of ice toward a target area. In wheelchair curling, the wheelchair must be stationary and players can use their hands or an extender cue (no brooms) that connects with the stone to push the stone to the circles.
“There is a lot of strategy,” he said. “A lot of offensive and defensive play depending on position and where you are in the game. Offensive strategy means you are putting more stones in the house rather than defensive, which means taking out their stones.”
Kelly’s selection to Team USA came after extensive national tryouts based on individual skill testing, game participation, strategy assessment and team compatibility.

Team USA will compete for gold against national teams from Scotland, Norway, Russia, China, Korea, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy and Canada, the two-time Paralympics Champions and defending world champions.
Team USA will open with Korea on Sunday, Feb. 19.

“We’re there to win,” Kelly said.

Reach staff writer Brenda Young at 815-987-1388 or byoung@rrstar.com.

Sports Briefs: Howdy Neighbour! Curling foursome winds B.C. wheelchair title

Orginal article at: Kamloops Daily News

Darryl Neighbour’s Richmond rink pulled off a pair of comeback victories to sweep the best-of-three provincial wheelchair curling final at McArthur Island Curling Club on Saturday.

Neighbour, curling with Sonja Gaudet of Vernon, Kelowna’s Gerry Austgarden and Victoria’s Corinne Jensen, beat Surrey’s Gary Cormack, 7-6 and 9-8.

The Neighbour rink will represent B.C. at the national wheelchair championship in Thunder Bay from March 18-25.

Cormack, curling with Frank LaBounty of Prince George, Vancouver’s Bob MacDonald and Allison Duddy of Quesnel, took a 6-0 lead after two ends in Saturday’s opening draw.

Neighbour fought right back, scoring one in the third, then stealing one in the fourth, a deuce in the fifth and singles in the sixth, seventh and eighth to win 7-6.

Cormack had another great start in the second draw, leading 6-1 after three. Neighbour managed to tie the game in the fifth end, but Cormack counted one in the sixth and another in the seventh to lead 8-6 coming home.

Neighbour made a draw for three to win the game and the provincial championshi

Chris Sobkowicz takes time to reflect - NOT playing at Nationals

Story by Chris Daw
Edited by George Karrys - The Curling News

Chris Sobkowicz

In a time when the growth of our sport is at the forefront, we have confirmed news that defending national champion skip, Chris Sobkowicz of Manitoba will be taking the rest of this year off to reflect on his curling future. This certainly sounds ominious.

Since Chris’s release from the national program as alternate for Team Canada it was speculated as to how this may or may not affect his other curling endeavors. It was confirmed this morning, from Chris’s long time third Dennis Thiessen, that Chris will be taking some time to reflect and re-energize.

Dennis stated that “Chris will not be joining us at nationals this year… Chris and I are good friends and this has nothing to do with us. We are not fighting or anything like that. He just needs some time to reflect…”

As we look at the future of wheelchair curling in Canada, we have to expect that individuals will, on occasion, need time to evaluate and reflect on what has been their passion for so many years. We can only wonder if – much like Russ Howard did when he provoked issues surrounding logo cresting on his Brier uniform jacket – this is a type of silent protest that may or may not erupt into something more public, such as when Ed “The Wrench” Werenich aired his views on CCA decision-making.

Wheelchair curling is developing in a near-perfect matching parallel to AB curling, including the outcomes which often occur to players as they come and go from the Team Canada process. As we’ve noted, we see a current pattern where wheelchair curlers have grouped themselves into cliques of friends, and often don’t change it up to keep things fresh. We have seen this across the country, and it’s often driven by the lack of wheelchair curlers in a town or province.

However small the amount of Chris’ time off might actually become, this may be just what Team Manitoba needs to develop their other players to a higher level. Mixing up the who and what with regard to position can make a world of difference. We’ve seen this in the AB game, so why not in the wheelchair game? We’ve seen Wayne Middaugh reinvent himself a number of times over the last few years and in several different roles along the away. A natural skip, Middaugh has played everything from lead to third in his reinvention – even alternate (for Glenn Howard at Olympic trials).

As stated in other articles on this blog, some of Canada’s best wheelchair curling talents are sitting idle at present, based on either this clique factor or a wariness (perhaps fear?) mentality that change is “bad.”  We MUST adjust our thinking for the betterment of development in our sport. Look past the past, and into the future of what we are fighting – and curling – for. We often hear that most wheelchair curlers want the winner of nationals to be the Canadian representative at worlds or Paralympics, but folks seem unwilling to tap the experience that is available to them to grow to that level. Why are players like Jim Armstrong and others sitting idle? Why are Neighbour and Gaudet, even Austgarden, all playing together when their individual talents and experience could be utilized to grow several teams, and increase the level of play in the overall talent pool?

Grow your area, and grow change in your way of thinking. National and even provincial championships are something every team is looking to compete in but how do you get there if you do the same thing with the same people every time you try? The old adage “If you want something you have never had before, you have to be willing to do something you have never done before in order to get it” should be at the heart of every wheelchair curler in Canada. These events are not merely some nice token of your hard work; they are the outcome of the pride you have in that work.

The CCA has begun to recognize the need for talent development in new players and this can only be done though access to assets. The experiences of players who have been there and done that; the fact that Chris Sobkowicz is taking time to reflect on his dedication to the national program can only assist in his future development as one of Canada’s top players.

Look for Chris to return, and possibly like Wayne Middaugh – stronger than ever.

Quebec playdowns occur Feb. 24-26, 2012

ÉQUIPE LESSARD 2010-2011 BENOIT LESSARD skip, CARL MARQUIS troisième, SÉBASTIEN BOISVERT deuxième, JOHANNE DALY lead, DENIS GRENIER cinquième, GERMAIN TREMBLAY entraîneur (PHOTO LE REFLET DU LAC)

Quebec provincials will be held from Feb 24th to 26th,

Team Lessard is hoping of its third representation. 2 teams will be playing off for the chance to represent at the Nationals in Thunder Bay.

Johanne Daly shared the following” They thought that a new team was born in Trois-Rivières city, but a missing player couldn't get them to complete a team.   These three players joined the Victoria's curling Club team in Québec city and were added to the existing team, this one having lost a few players.

We will be posting on our blog results while the provincial, so everybody can follow us.  If only two teams present, what we expect, then games will be a 3 of 5, starting then on Feb 25th to 26th.   Then we should play two games on Saturday and depending results, if we were winning those, the rest would be plaid Sunday.  Wish we'll be repeating last year's sweep with a perfect file of 3 wins. 

It would be great to see a third team for next year's provincial !!”

BLOGUE    equipelessard.blogspot.com    

Thank you letter!

We recieve this letter of thank you for the organizaing committee of the MEDIchair 2012 NOCA provinicals with personal thanks from Norm on our coverage of the event.

Dear Friend of Wheelchair Curling,

 The Championship was held last weekend and the event was a great success.

Team Levesque from Fort William Curling Club was the winner and will represent Northern Ontario at the National Championship in March. Team Prud’homme from the Sudbury Curling Club was the finalist and represented Sudbury very well. You can read the report of the event at wheelchaircurler.blogspot.com and view photos at www.janetyoungphotography.com.

The volunteers and the organising committee did a wonderful job hosting this event and they have reason to be proud.

Last but not least, the sponsors need to be thanked, because without their financial support an event such as this would not work. We are very appreciative of your help.

Thank you for all your support

Norm Gervais

Chairman organising committee

Tony Reynen videographer!

Tony Reynen - (middle right) Second on Team Ideson

I have known Tony for a number of years now and thoughout those years Tony has been a great perosnal who holds get of his passion at heart. Tony has been taking a few videos of his time as a wheelchair curler and we share those below:

Footage at the Dominion 2012 Wheelchair Provincial Championship at North Grenville Curling Club.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwJGE7Qbznk

 

Pat O Reid Memorial Bonspiel at the Toronto Cricket Club...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygM77mYqmbw

Curling practice at the Ilderton Curling Club...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSauXPIU_is

Thank Tony!

Come play Wheelchair Curling at Winterlude!

 The Canadian Paralympic Committee, in partnership with the National Capital Commission, presents a Winter Parasport Festival on the Rideau Canal!
Meet members of the National Sledge Hockey Team, get autographs and see how they apply their athletic skills to earn gold medals for Canada! Try your hand at wheelchair curling and sledge hockey with the local club's junior programs!
The Canadian Paralympic Committee's Parasport Festival at Winterlude is designed to offer Canadians the chance to experience winter parasports for themselves and discover opportunities to get involved - whether as an athlete, coach, parent or volunteer. All activities are free and open to everyone!

WHEN:	Saturday, February 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE:	On the Rideau Canal near the National Arts Centre and Mackenzie King Bridge
WHO:	Members and alumni of Canada's National Sledge Hockey Team, of Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario, and local wheelchair curling athletes.
WHAT:	Come learn how to play sledge hockey! Players sit on a sledge, which is a narrow platform with skate blades attached to the bottom, and propel themselves using two specially constructed hockey sticks that have picks on the end. Everyone is invited to take part.
	Try your hand at wheelchair curling. In this sport, rocks are thrown from a stationary wheelchair, and there is no sweeping. Everyone is welcome to try it out!
	Get autographs from athletes and see their medals up close! Including: National Sledge Hockey Team captain Greg Westlake, Todd Nicholson, Marc Dorion, Brad Bowden, Jean Labonté, Hervé Lord, Adam Dixon, Billy Bridges and Dominic Larocque (currently a featured "Super Athlete" at facebook.com/CDNParalympics).

For more information, please visit Paralympic.ca/getinvolved.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.

For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

For further information: Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
akorn@paralympic.ca

We are staying Online!

So the votes are in and the majority wins! We will stay online!

After review and discussion with a few powers that be and a few others I have decided to continue to do the job that needs done. I will continue to publish YOUR stories, ideas, information and even thoughts.

I thank each and ever one of you for your kind words over the last few days. I has been a tough decision but I think it is the right one. As mu dad once said..."don't let one as&*le, spoil your passion for what you beleive in."

So, send in those stories, comments, and thoughts. I see big things for our sport and I hope to cover them for you.

Let's work togther to bring the information together for the world to find!

All the best and again thanks for the support!

Chris and the WCB2 crew

Decision time: your feedback on the blog is needed!

So, we have been running now for a little more than a month with 11, 200 readers in that time.. We have received some great feedback and well to be honest; some not so nice feedback.

So, over the next 4 days,  I am going to allow you, the readers to provide your feedback to me on what you think and help make the decision if I should keep going.

In the poll; you get to  vote. 4 simple choices...Poor, Average, Good, or Stop Publishing.

I am looking for your feedback on story content, what we are covering, and how we are covering it and the big question "Should I keep doing this?".

Also, I invite suggestions and invite comment; should you want me to keep going. I have received a couple of comment/emails over that last few days which have questioned a few things about what I am doing here and how I am doing it.

It has also made me question if I should keep publishing.

So I am going to provide my feedback to you regarding it. In simple point form:

1. I am volunteering my time to do this.

2. I make no money nor do I get any money nor do I ask for money

3. This blog takes anywhere between 20 - 30 hours per week to put together.

4. Asked to use spelling and grammar check! Excellent suggestion and I do try and do that. A new computer soon will help produce this better. As for spelling and grammar in comments; I have no control over that at all. Only the poster of the comment does. I am often posting articles or updates on the fly from one place to another. So spell check cannot often be done until we have a complete computer system to use. I am providing an information outline and news line on a volunteer basis. I provide a great amount of articles and information and opportunity for people to share in the sport of wheelchair curling. I have a few people help me out from time to time including Eric Eales; who often points me towards articles for publishing. Thank you, Eric. I am not a newspaper and mistakes will occur. Please be patient. If some day I ask for money I will hire an editor.

5. I have been told I am publishing personal opinion and comments. I am not! Personal comments are held at a minimum. Comments expressed here are held at check more often than you think. I get a great number of emails and comments which are not posted and 80% of the stories are reposted from 3^rdparty articles for information purposes. My personal comments and opinions are held greatly in check and have been curbed a great deal. If you can provide an example of where my personal opinion has been posted that would be great. I will Endeavour to do better. I have great respect for every player out there but cannot say the same for them towards me. That is fine and that is life but I am trying my best to provide something to you the players so I ask you to respect what I am trying to do if you don't have respect for me, fine but please respect what is being done for free!

6. I have been told I am missing names sometimes in my postings. Omissions like that are never on purpose. We often refer to a Team or skip when posting and readers need to assume to a degree we are talking about a whole team. Postings on twitter are greatly restricted in the number of characters so we do our best.

So with all that said, you get to now have your say and get to make the decision.

Let me know and I will post the results or stop all together. 

 I cannot assume you folks want me doing this and would love to know. So, if you want me to stop let me know, I will; if the majority of you want me to.

Awaiting your feedback……. Next post. In a few days!