Tuesday, December 26, 2006

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Curl in an Air Conditioned curling club. Don't we have cold air to sell?;-)

http://www.lonestarcurlingclub.org

UCT Curling Schedule 2006-2007

Jim's Keen Ice as it apprears in the Northern Light Dec 26 2006

Today is the Family Spiel and we hope that there are lots of families in attendance and that the fun is as great as it usually is. With Christmas behind us, and the end of the year in sight, it is fitting that we take a look at where the club is this year.

Monday Night Competitive is in full swing with fourteen teams and two draws: It has been a considerable number of years since we have been able to say that.

Tuesday night is drawing four sheets of fun curlers.

A small but hopefully growing group of Ladies are playing – and eating – on Wednesday Ladies Night. This is a small group but, as we have seen with the ‘Industrial League, small beginnings can grow to bigger things.

Another four sheets play on Thursdays and our week is rounded out with four sheets of seniors on Tuesdays and Fridays afternoons plus four rented sheets of UCT play on Sunday before the Little Rocks take to the ice. This makes a total of nine draws a week, every week and we still have a substantial number of Pay-As-You-Play members.

Compared to where we were just a couple of years ago, we are in considerably better shape than we have been. Hopefully we can build on this success and get the club back to former levels of participation.

I hope everyone realises that these things don’t just happen: There has been a lot of work from the executives, volunteers, and people like Emile Babineau, Bob Quinn, Pat Maher and Beth Sullivan in making it happen. Bar Chair Ken Leaman and Treasurer Guylaine Cote are other major contributors. Above all, it has taken support and participation from all levels of members to make this happen. To the club and it’s members, Happy Hogmanay! (That’s Scots for Happy New Year).

On Sunday December 17th, in UCT play, Raj Chettiar got by Emery LeBlanc, Val Saulnier outscored Alvin Lavigne, Roe Doucet beat Andy Savoie and John Ferguson defeated Albert Mazerolle.

On Monday, December 18th, Fred Elhatton outscored Alvin Lavigne, Dale Glendenning squeezed by Omer Fontaine (in 9 ends! – my team!), John Ferguson beat Paul Laframboise, Bob Nicolle defeated Emile Babineau, Pat Maher won over Terry Giberson, David Godin got by Marc Imbeault and Joel Roy defeated Andy Savoie on the final stone.

Tuesday December 19th saw close to 40 afternoon curlers have their Christmas bash, which was greatly enjoyed. Along the way they celebrated Julian’s birthday (83rd?) and had a gift of appreciation for Bud Hanley. There were celebrations at the evening curling also, while in evening play there were only two sheets on which Ken brown defeated the Comeau team and Amy Anderson defeated Dale Glendenning.

The Wednesday Evening Ladies will next be held around January 10th and we still hope that this event will gain in popularity in the New Year, so sign up soon, ladies.

Due to Christmas and Boxing Day falling right in the publishing window for the Northern Light, the deadline had to be moved ahead, so that Peter, Greg and the staff could get some time off, and the Thursday December 21st results will be added in to the next column, which will be either January 2nd or 9th depending on when I get back from visiting family. Drive carefully, don’t wear your wobbly boots too often over the holidays and I will see you on the ice later in the month.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Christmas Greetings!

May
your
Christmas
be
wonderful
and
nice!

Thursday Night League Schedule

Click on the schedule for a larger view!

Jim's Keen Ice article as it appears in the Northern Light

Merry Christmas! Today is the pre-Christmas party for the afternoon seniors (Hanley’s Horde!) and I am sure that it will go well. This week is also the end of the 2006 curling. Play will resume with Monday night curling in the week of January 8th 2007.
Players tonight (Tuesday) and on Thursday are reminded to bring snack food for a pre-Christmas get together after curling.
The UCT Christmas party was held in the club on December 16th and a good time was had by all. Thanks to the UCT, the peel and slice brigade, the barmen and the cooks.
Remember to sign up for the Bayside Chrysler Family Bonspiel on Boxing Day, December 26th. This is a long-standing tradition at the club going back farther than my membership does. Enter your family team (the definition of ‘family’ is loose, by the way) and come out and enjoy a fun day at the club; all ages and all relatives welcome!
I believed the club to have started in November 1909, but on rereading the history, I am wrong. It was December 21st, 1909: Ninety-seven years ago come Thursday! The history says: “In1907, in traditional fashion, it was back to the roots of the sport and outdoor games were held on Kent’s Pond. Two years later, in 1909, a combined Curling and Skating Rink was built on St. Andrew’s Street on the site of the present club. (11) December 21st, 1909: “On motion E.P. McKay was elected Chairman” “On motion it was decided to proceed to organise a Curling Club” “On motion it was decided that the name of the club be ‘The Bathurst Curling Club’” The founding members were: “E.P. McKay, P.J. Veniot, Henry White, J. McNichol M.D., Jnr J. Harrington, H. Bishop, T.M. Burns, F.O. Landry, F.J. Melanson, J. Bennet Hachey, Cha’s H. Ellis, J.G. Stout, A. Gatain, H.H. Murray, William Gammon, George Gammon, A. O’Donnell, Gordon Read, Ernest Branch, Fred Gatain, J.B. Mullens, A.W. Ramsay, P.J. Burns, J.H. Kent, J.D. MacMillan, B.C. Mullens, J.P. Leger, P.J. Leger, R.G. Duncan M.D., Jake White, Jr. Arthur McKendy.” Thus, with a membership of 31 an annual fee of $0.25 and a ‘Rink Fee’ of $5 began the saga of our St Andrew’s Street club, now heading toward a centennial.
On December 10th, in UCT play, Raj Chettiar beat Andy Savoie, John Ferguson beat Val Saulnier, Roe Doucet beat Emery LeBlanc and Alvin Lavigne beat Albert Mazerolle.
In last Monday’s Competition (Dec 11), Michel Godin defeated Andy Savoie, Alvin Lavigne defeated Paul Laframboise, Bob Nicolle defeated Marc Imbeault, Joel Roy defeated John Ferguson and Omer Fontaine (Hurray – that’s my team!) defeated Pat Maher.
On Tuesday (Dec 12) winners were Wells Chapman, over J. LeBlanc, Ken Brown, over Terry Wilbur, Raj Chettiar, over Boucher, and Anderson over Comeau
Wednesday Evening Ladies, on December 13th, was sponsored by Catherine and Company and featured Meat Pie and dessert along with the usual fun evening: Sign up for the next one ladies, there is room for more participants and Moosehead is sponsoring East Side Steak Subs.
Thursday night (Dec 14) saw Biff Homiak (in absentia) beat Ken Brown, T Giberson beat O Fontaine, T MacDonald beat T Wilbur and P Assaff beat J-C Gagne.

I am off to see our grandchildren over the holidays so; Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night! Hopefully I will be back early January. See you on the ice.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Little Rock curling Sunday December 3, 2006





















This is the sport to watch on Sunday, check us out every Sunday at 2 p.m. Thank you volunteers and, if you wish to volunteer please call the club at 546-5665 and ask for Peter.
We are proud of the parents of these children, your support is appreciated.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Jim's Keen Ice article as it appears in the Northern Light

I watched the Continental Cup, on November 26th, with mixed emotions as North America fell to the curlers of Europe. Team Gushue defeated Dave Murdoch of Scotland in the final skins game(hence the mixed feelings) but the European teams were just too strong for the current crop of North Americans. Had Ms Nordberg and Dave Murdoch not had a slip in form, it would have been over sooner! In recent discussions regarding opinions my last week Canada’s curling superiority has been patriotically promoted to me. I remember the same things being said about Europeans and hockey. Paul Trulson, Dordy Norby and other European veterans are coming to the end of their career. The ultimate question will be whether there are replacements forthcoming. The same is true for Canada, how much longer will we have the Furbeys, Martins, Kleibrinks and Jones’ to maintain our place in the world? The rest of the world smell the money available in North American sports and are demonstrating that they can win it. If you doubt this, check the range of nationalities now represented on the PGA prize list. Curling will be next and we need to be ready.
Our first Funspiel, intended to mark the final celebration of the anniversary of the City of Bathurst, was more than a little flat. Pat Maher contributed a delicious soup but there were few there to share it. Hopefully the next fun spiel on December 15th and 16th will draw more curlers. It will be our best chance to celebrate Christmas, being a mere eight days before it. Bring yourself and friends along to curl or just to participate. Watch the sign-up board for the chance to register
Claude LeBlanc is keeping the Bathurst Curling blog up to date at http-bathurstcurling.blogspot.com. In addition to up to date news there are pictures and you can even view your curling schedule to help with your planning. These facilities and the associated links make this a great spot to visit
In UCT play on November 26th, Raj Chettiar defeated Roe Doucet, Emery LeBlanc defeated Albert Mazerolle, John Ferguson defeated Alvin Lavigne and Andy Savoie defeated Valmont Saulnier.
On Monday Elhatton Defeated Fontaine, Imbeault got by Glendenning, Giberson outscored Laframboise, Maher beat Babineau, Savoie downed Nicolle, Roy won over Lavigne and Godin out pointed Ferguson.
On Tuesday Wibur defeated Savoie, Boucher, comfortably got by Anderson, Chapman out pointed Comeau, decisively, Brown beat LeBlanc and Glendenning won over Chettiar.
Wednesday Ladies night is underway but could do with a little more support. Ladies (women even!) are encouraged to come out for six ends of curling and a lunch to follow. Leave the bloke to fend for himself! Last week it was Dannyburgers!
On Thursday …
There remain only three weeks to Christmas. We have two Christmas rentals lined up for the festive season, but if you want to have a Christmas or New Year function and are looking for an economical, fun place to hold it, contact Mike Kierstead, Emile Babineau or any member of the executive about renting the club.