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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Ottawa to host world’s largest wheelchair curling bonspiel



  
Ottawa to host worlds largest wheelchair curling bonspiel
 
OTTAWA, November 25, 2013 - Five Paralympic teams (Canada, USA, Korea, Great Britain, Slovakia), and eleven teams from across Canada, will compete at the 9th annual Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel from November 28 – December 1, 2013.
 
Over one hundred athletes from around the world, plus their coaches, families, and support staff, will be in Ottawa on Thursday for the only wheelchair curling bonspiel that offers cash prizes.
 
Team Canada is the reigning Gold Medal Champion from the 2013
World Wheelchair Championships, and is working toward the 2014
Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. The team’s skip, Jim Armstrong, curled at the Brier five times from 1973-1987, and was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1990.
 
Wheelchair curling started in Canada in 2001, and is played by athletes with a physical disability that does not allow them to play regular curling. The rules are the same, the same rocks and ice are used; however, the rocks are delivered from a stationary wheelchair and there is no sweeping.
 
The annual Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel is held in memory of Cathy Kerr, one of the original board members of the Capital Wheelchair Curling Club and a leader in inclusion and accessibility advocacy.
 
Ottawa’s Capital Wheelchair Curling Club will host the bonspiel at the RA Centre, at 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa. Opening Ceremonies will start at 8:30 am, on Friday, November 29. Closing Ceremonies and Medal Presentations will be held on Sunday, December 1, at 3:30 pm.
 
- 30 -
 
For more information, media should contact:
Sarah Shima, Director - Media Relations, Capital Wheelchair Curling
Club
E-mail: flying_mountain(at)yahoo.com


 

 
 
Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel 2013
 
 
Backgrounder
 
What is happening?
The world’s largest wheelchair curling bonspiel is returning to
Canada’s capital from November 28 – December 1, 2013.
 
For the 9th year, Ottawa will host over one hundred athletes from around the world, plus their coaches, families, and support staff, for the only wheelchair curling cash bonspiel.
 
Why is it important?
This year the World Curling Federation has chosen the Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel (Competitive Division), as one of two international events for athletes wishing to be classified for participation in the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.
 
Who is coming?
Five Paralympic teams have confirmed their participation, as well as 11 teams from across Canada.
 
The following teams have registered for the bonspiel:
   Paralympic Team Canada
   Paralympic Team USA
   Paralympic Team Great Britain
   Paralympic Team Korea
   Paralympic Team Slovakia
   Team Quebec (winners of the 2013 National Mobility Cup)
   Team Newfoundland/Labrador
   Team Nova Scotia
   Team Can-Am
   Team Ontario
   Team Daw (Toronto 2)
   Team Rees (Toronto 1)
   Team Eddy (Ottawa)
   Team Ficek (Kenora)
   Team Reynen (Ilderton)
   Team Poulin (Lennoxville, QC)


 
What is wheelchair curling?
Wheelchair curling is played by athletes with a physical disability that does not allow them to play regular or “able- bodied” curling. Played with the same rules as able-bodied curling, wheelchair curlers play with the same rocks and on the same ice as their able-bodied counterparts. The difference is that the rocks are delivered from a stationary wheelchair using either a stick or by hand, and there is no sweeping.
 
Who is hosting it?
The 9th annual Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel is hosted by the Capital Wheelchair Curling Club and will be held at
the RA Centre (2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa).




The Capital Wheelchair Curling Club was started to give members the opportunity to provide support with skill and sport development for community members with a disability. The formation of enduring friendships and the promotion of more active lifestyle options are common side effects experienced by members.

 

Why was it started?

The annual Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel is held in memory of Cathy Kerr, one of the original board members of the Capital Wheelchair Curling Club. Cathy is remembered for her inclusion and accessibility advocacy, as well as her curling knowledge and leadership skills.

 

Contact information

Sarah Shima, Director - Media Relations, Capital Wheelchair Curling

Club

E-mail: flying_mountain(at)yahoo.com

 

For more information, please visit our website at:


 

Sample photographs from the 2012 Cathy Kerr Memorial Bonspiel may be found at: http://www.capitalwheelchaircurling.ca/gallery/cathy-

kerr-memorial-bonspiel-2012

Please contact Sarah Shima to obtain permission for their use.

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