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Saturday, October 6, 2012

Evergreen Curling Club announces qualifiers for Team USA trials and promotes wheelchair curling



Contact Information:

Evergreen Curling Club, Wheelchair Curling Committee

Arnie Iwanick – community@evergreencurling.com

Evergreen Curling Club, Media Contact

Joe Petsche - promotions@evergreencurling.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Evergreen Curling Club announces qualifiers for Team USA trials and promotes wheelchair curling


Two Oregonians have qualified for the top twelve positions in curling for Team USA for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Last spring in Janesville, Wisc. – Bill Gray, of Coos Bay, and Cathy Cummins, of Portland, were selected for the next qualifying step for Team USA. The next set of trials will be in Madison, Wisc. in mid-October 2012.

Bill and Cathy are members of the Evergreen Curling Club, currently located in Portland, Oregon. The trials are happening just as Evergreen will be opening the West Coast’s second-only dedicated curling facility. The wheelchair curlers have been curling and practicing at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink, where the club has been holding league and practice nights, open houses and special events for all levels and abilities of curlers.

Stephen Hart, of Evergreen’s Wheelchair Curling Committee has been dedicated to promoting and supporting wheelchair curling. Hart said, "I quickly learned that wheelchair curling is a can-do sport for people wheelchair bound. Wheelchair curling is much like curling that people do that do not have physical disabilities."

Evergreen will be having a grand opening in late October for the club’s Beaverton location. ECC’s board has been working hard for their first season in the new facility. This location will be fully handicapped accessible for wheelchair curling and social functions. League nights and open houses for wheelchair curlers and people with disabilities are encouraged to try curling out. ;’;,’;,’

"This game has won me over and takes me away from concerning myself with Multiple Sclerosis," Hart said. "It’s a sport I can do and get better with. This year I took it to the Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Trials. I did not make it to the final set of skill shot trials, but that has not affected my game as I plan to keep trying."

Evergreen Curling Club is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) sports organization promotes community well-being for all ages and abilities, by promoting benefits from the sport of curling and its traditions of camaraderie, sportsmanship and team competition in a fun and welcoming environment. For more information about Wheelchair curling opportunities email: oregon.curling@tds.net or media inquiries contact: promotions@evergreencurling.com

Friday, October 5, 2012

Wheelchair curling club opens its doors


Members of Stirling’s Wheelchair Curling Club are hosting a free taster session in a bid to encourage new members to take up the sport.

The event is being held on Wednesday, October 10, from 12.30-2.30pm at The Peak.
Club president Judy Mackenzie, a former president of the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association, explained that the afternoon has been planned to cater for all ages and abilities.

She said: “It’s all about having a go at a very simple but rewarding sport. All equipment will be supplied and qualified coaches will be on hand to introduce people to a friendly and fun sport. The Peak is fully accessible.”

Contact Neil Hogg, himself a wheelchair curler and a founder member of the club, on 077924 63723 for more information or turn up on the day.

The Peak hosted an elite and development wheelchair curling squad training day on Wednesday last week. Among those gathered was Scotland skip Aileen Neilson, who recently carried the London Paralympic torch.

Head performjance coach Tony Zummack was also present as athletes continue to be mentored ahead of the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

The Stirling club is one of 10 in Scotland. They are the current joint holders of the inter-rink competition known as the Friendship Trophy.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Frank Duffy inducted in to hall of fame.

Frank Duffy - Falkland, Fife 1959 - 2010


Frank Duffy  -  Falkland, Fife 1959 - 2010Frank was first introduced to the sport of curling at age 12 on a frozen pond in Falkland in Fife. When he was 35 years of age he had an accident at work which left him paralysed and dependant on a wheelchair for everyday mobility.

When wheelchair curling was introduced to Scotland, Frank embraced it with great enthusiasm. Prior to his accident he was a very skilful curler and had hopes of representative honours. Following his accident it was obvious he had retained great knowledge of the tactics of the game. During his life he was totally committed to his sport and travelled extensively as both a competitor and a tutor.

In January 2005 Frank was awarded the International Paralympic Committee award for "Athlete of the Month". This is one of the most prestigious honours in international sport and the winner is judged against fellow athletes from all sports across the international community. This was not only a great honour for Frank and those closest to him, but also Scottish curling.

Frank excelled as the skip of Scottish and British teams that in a short period of time achieved so much at International level. His first World Championship involvement in 2002 resulted in a bronze medal in Switzerland for the Scottish team. In 2003, on home soil, he won silver at the International Bonspiel. A return to Switzerland in 2004 brought Scotland’s first World Championship title. This was followed up by a magnificent retention of the title on home soil at the 2005 Championships at Braehead. His greatest achievement was as skip to the GB team that won silver at the Winter Paralympics in Torino.

Prior to leading the Scottish team to major honours Frank received the "Sportsmanship Award" at the World Championships of 2002 and the Bonspiel of 2003. Frank was highly respected by his fellow players, coaches and volunteers alike. Frank was a wonderful ambassador for the sport and led teams well and contributed so much to the development of the sport both nationally and internationally. Frank retired from competitive curling in 2006 and became actively involved in the development of the sport thereafter until he took his own life in 2010.

Micheal McCredie - inducted into Hall of Fame & awarded the The Glasgow Trophy for Services to Sport over 40 years

My Apologies to my good friend Micheal for the delay in posting this, but due to illness over the weekend I was unable to until this morning!





Michael McCreadie – born 1946 in Glasgow now living in Strathaven

Michael has been involved in seven Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, three as a wheelchair basketball player and bowler, two as a wheelchair basketball coach and two as a wheelchair curler. Michael won 2 Paralympic bronze medals for bowls in Toronto in 1976. Michael led Team GB in wheelchair basketball during a period of great success at international level. In 1993, he was voted Scottish and UK Coach of the Year.

Throughout his career he has been a wonderful role model for wheelchair sportspeople in all sports. In 2000, when wheelchair curling was in its infancy in Scotland, Michael caught the bug and like everything he does launched himself into the sport with total commitment. Not surprisingly success followed. A bronze in 2002 in Sursee in Switzerland was followed with gold medals as a member of the winning Scottish Team at the World Championships in 2004 and 2005. In addition he has won Scottish and British open titles.

Michael’s finest hour was in 2006 when he won silver as a member of the GB Winter Paralympic Wheelchair Curling team. In 2007 he was the Scottish skip when Scotland won bronze at the World Championships in Sweden.

Michael has contributed so much more to Scottish and British Curling teams than his skill as a wheelchair curler. He is a great motivator, enthusiast and supporter of his fellow players. He is a wonderful team player. His whole life has been in team sports and he has brought that experience to the sport of wheelchair curling for Scotland and GB. He plays his part in the development of the sport as a coach and he is always keen to offer advice to up and coming players.

Michael also team managed the Scottish Bowls team to third place success in Australia at the IBD World Championships in 2007. A true champion, a real gentleman, a proud Scot and one of Scotland’s leading sporting role models some one I am proud to call my Friend!

CONGRATULATIONS!