We thank Jim Duncan for his views and news:
This isn’t the place for a Rick Mercer Rant or a Rex Murphy Diatribe, but the decision to do away with the juniors’ zone play has really got under my skin! My daughter won the Zone here, at 12, and went off to crash and burn in the provincials. It is still a treasured memory to her. I partied around Zone and Preliminary play and it is one of my treasured memories: We never won the Provincial either. Without zones you can expect that all teams in the provincials will be from Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton, with no treasured memories in the ‘provinces.’ In my opinion the CCA has ruined the adult game for clubs, pandering to television, and is in the process of ruining the juniors by taking the fun out of the game. The first victims will be the smaller clubs, but what they are doing is suicide by slow poison: They are killing future teams. The final affect will be a simple lack of players and clubs. Already curling is a sport with more TV followers than participants. What is my solution? Consider golf, why is it not the same? Why are golf clubs burgeoning while curling dies? The P.G.A.! The Professional Golfing Association: If you want to play for big bucks, qualify for a ticket and get on the circuit. You don’t go to the Gowan Brae Open and play Mike Weir. If you are trying to get out of this province, in curling, you will play Russ Howard. We need a P.C.A.: A Professional Curling Association. We could employ the CCA or the NBCA (to whom we tithe $250 per sheet, per year) to run it. They are doing diddly for the small clubs! They have lost the place and the context. They are supposed to be an association of clubs to help clubs. They are running – and ruining – the sport! It is time the clubs took the asylum back from the lunatics. The clubs like ours will only survive if we can bring back the fun!
The Bathurst Junior cash spiel went well, as our opening event, with 7 boys’ and 7 girls’ teams participating. As reported, the Howard Girls’ team and the McIntosh boys’ team walked off with the ($1,000) top prizes but our junior boys were in evidence, participating on other teams. This included one on the McIntosh rink and two on a team taking home Qualifier money. Similarly, a revamped girls’ team gave it a strong try.
On Monday night we have two draws, for the first time in a long time. The results were: Fontaine fell to Roy, Doucet downed Laframboise, Savoie defeated Maher, Elhatton beat Imbeault, Glendenning got by Ferguson, Godin outscored Giberson and Lavigne won over Nicolle.
Tuesday has ten teams, of which eight were in action, and saw Brown defeat Boucher, Chettiar defeat Savoie, Anderson outpoint Chapman and Comeau overtake LeBlanc.
In November 20th UCT play Saulnier downed Mazzerolle, LeBlanc beat Savoie, Lavigne got by Doucet and Ferguson outscored Chettiar.
We have fourteen teams in two draws on Monday, ten teams on Tuesday and, I believe, eleven teams on Thursday along with the afternoon seniors, who are approaching ten teams, not to mention the Little Rock renaissance and that there is the Wednesday Night Ladies to come and the monthly funspiels. The club is, possibly, staging a membership comeback! Numbers will tell, Brenda and Claude are working on it.
This doesn’t mean that we lack room for more players, the fun is piling on, if you are interested, come on down and join in the fun. It is economical and open to all ages. See you on the ice.
12 February Ice 2A 6:30 p.m. vs. Babineau, E.
Calendar/fundraiser: 'It's very tame. It doesn't reveal too much'
Allen Cameron, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, November 07, 2006
© National Post 2006
When you are first at the club, take a look at the ice: The five sheets you will be playing on are formed by about twenty layers of ice and three coats of white paint laid down by Alvin with help from Ken Leaman, myself and the indefatigable Emery LeBlanc. The circles and lines were the result of a hard worked, well organised half day by Dale Glendenning, Guy Gallant, Brendan Sealey, Jesse Arseneault, myself, Alvin and Emery. The rink doesn’t just happen; it takes skill, planning, work, electricity and money. The club owes a vote of thanks to the whole crew for a job well done. While you are at it, note the club crests on the hacks – Alvin’s idea, which only worked after Emery suggested varnishing them. Note, also, the waxed floors and other evidence of the pre-season work put in by our president Emile Babineau, throughout the club.
Competitive curling starts next Monday while the fun leagues regular play starts with next Tuesday and Thursday nights. For the retirees and returning veterans, ‘Hanley’s Horde’ will take to the ice Tuesday and Friday afternoons at 2 p.m., this week, for practice and next week for play. By the way, the afternoon curling dues are $57, not $57.50 as I said (Sorry).
Come down and sign up that team, or sign up as a willing participant or spare. The club is what you make it: Remember that. We are expecting great things of this season, so those of you who have yet to join should get to the club after 6:30 any evening this week and get signed up as well as exercised. We need to know the players and teams to make the draws!
During Wobble Week, and on Wednesdays, we will be offering to try to help new curlers with the basic skills needed to enjoy the game. All ages and skill levels are welcome and if you want to try curling to see if you like it, Wednesday is the day to find out if it is your kind of game. Come around 7 p.m.
You can pay dues at the bar or at the Registration desk, which will be operating each evening this week. Our expectation is that there will be more members, more teams, more competition and more fun than ever this season. Ladies are requested to express their interest in the Wednesday evening initiative by contacting Beth Sullivan directly. Seniors and retirees are directed to Mr Hanley, or to the registration desk/bar to sign up. The ultimate authority on all matters concerning membership is Brenda Gallagher.
Little Rock curling will be back and enquiries should be directed to Peter Assaff Be sure to talk to him regarding the requirement for helmets this year to keep the little ones just a wee bit safer. Little Rock curling will begin this Sunday, following the Junior Cash Spiel finals: be there for 2 p.m.
Rental enquiries should be directed to Mike Kierstead who will be happy to arrange your Christmas or New Year celebrations, family event, training sessions, birthday parties or other functions at our remarkably low rates.
Finally, the first Funspiel will be held on Saturday November 25th. There is a sign-up sheet posted and you will need to see Omer Lafontaine for details. I am sure he can also use suggestions and help from anyone interested. Omer is planning one funspiel per month, so get a gang together and prepare to have the best (can’t stand the word ‘Funnest’ – not sure it is even a word!) season of all.
See you on the ice.
Next week is Wobble Week!!! First you must finally get organised and join the club! Second, you really should do a little bit of stretching of those old curling muscles – if you don’t, you will be sorry! Third, lay aside some time to come to the club after 6:30, between the 13th and the 15th: This is to meet and greet, practice, and plan your weekly curling schedule – and wobble! You will be able to have short practice sessions, possibly help out by helping a new curler, or by holding the broom for someone, and spend some time socialising with the curling chums you have seen so little of over the summer.
UCT members are reminded that their curling begins this Sunday. This is the most regular and most appreciated rental the club has and you are all welcome to resume regular play as soon as possible. Contact Emile for details.
The season proper begins November 20th with Competitive League curling; Tuesday has afternoon seniors and evening Industrial fun league play. Wednesday will try a new approach for ladies with six-end games, between 5 and 6:30, and a catered supper at a cost of $10 for members and $15 for non-members – contact Beth Sullivan. Thursday evening is the original industrial fun league night and the afternoon seniors have their second session Friday afternoon. Omer Lafontaine will organise monthly weekend funspiels, open to all; watch for his first event, planned for November 25th, and sign up. Beginners are very welcome during Wobble Week and will get some instruction.
If you have kids, you should consider getting them signed up for their season. As decided last year, helmets are mandatory for Little Rocks. You can take the opportunity to find out when the curling sessions are, and at what time. As a parent, you should consider joining as a fun curler just to have a better idea what the kids are learning. We can almost guarantee that you will find the game as much fun as the kids do.
The weekend after Wobble Week is the annual Bathurst Junior Cash Spiel. This regularly draws teams from each of the Atlantic Provinces and you are invited to come down to the club and see the cream of the youngsters who are in the game this year.
It is also time for businesses and organisations to consider booking the club facilities for Christmas and/or New Year parties, for individuals with celebrations or events to book space, and for organisations holding courses, or functions, to check our economical rentals rates. We can accommodate self-catering or outside catering.
The club also raises funds by placing advertisements on the walls of the ice shed: We have a pretty comprehensive list of companies that we approach, each year, but if we have failed to contact you, we would be more than glad to hear from you and to include your company name on the wall. Contact any executive member, or leave word at the club or at the bar. Each sign is two feet by three feet and made to your specification.
Our group of afternoon players has grown significantly over the past two years and the twice-weekly afternoon sessions are truly fun events. Teams are formed for balance and amusement, ahead of competition, but if you are free in the afternoon why not contact Bud Hanley, or the club, and join in the ‘forever young’ group on Tuesday and Friday afternoons? We would love to have you and the cost is minimal at $57.50.
Our fun curling leagues on Tuesdays and Thursdays can also accommodate teams who want to play as a unit. Put together a team of friends or workmates and sign up for a weekly stint of curling against other fun minded teams. Come and throw rocks at houses!
If you would like to curl without feeling ready to commit to regular play, you can play for a $5 donation, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, until you are sure whether you want to take out a membership. Come join in, during our 96th year on the ice. See you there.
As you can see the ice is being created and is now painted white. The lines are going in on Saturday November 4, 2006. Drop in and watch the process, the finishing touches will be done by mid week. The photos are Volunteers helping our Ice Man. Of course the Ice Man is Alvin Lavigne doing a super job as usual.
