Activities rising at the club during wobble week

Curling girls doff duds to keep rocks on ice

Calendar/fundraiser: 'It's very tame. It doesn't reveal too much'

Allen Cameron, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, November 07, 2006

CALGARY - Christine Keshen knew she would get some exposure as a result of winning an Olympic curling bronze medal last February.

But the 28-year-old lead for Shannon Kleibrink's Calgary team has taken that exposure to another level by posing for the second edition of the Fire on Ice curling calendar.

She joins 16 other curler/models wearing practically nothing on the pages of the calendar, which sold out around the world a year ago.

"I've done lots of photo shoots with the team, and it's no different. Except there's a few less pieces of clothing," Keshen said, with a laugh. "It's very tame. It doesn't reveal too much and it leaves a lot to the imagination. I'm quite happy with the pose."

The 2007 edition goes on sale today in Canada for $29.95, plus $8 shipping and handling.

Copies are available at thecurlingnews.com.

Keshen is one of three Canadians to make the final cut. Ontario curlers Chrissy Cadorin and Leigh Armstrong also are featured, along with former world champions Debbie McCormick of the U.S. and Jackie Lockhart of Scotland and former world junior champ Linn Githmark of Norway.

The calendar was the brainchild of professional photographer Ana Arce, who is based in Andorra. Arce is also an avid curler -- her team just won the Spanish championship and will curl at the European championships next month -- and she was looking for a way to raise funds for her team.

"It started as a little thing; I was thinking, 'I'm a curler, I'm a photographer. Can we make some money?' " said Arce. "I thought we would sell 500 or something like that, and we never thought about selling in Canada. It was a total surprise -- I couldn't believe what happened."

What happened was that all 4,000 copies were sold, with stories of the calendar appearing around the world, including in the pages of Sports Illustrated.

Arce, whose self-portrait graces the cover, had no problem finding high-profile curlers to doff their duds for the second calendar.

"Some of the girls chose to show a little bit more than others, but it's in good taste," she said. "There's a fine line between being erotic and interesting but at the same time being in good taste. I think the girls were all happy with the pictures, and that's the most important thing to me."

Keshen admitted her boyfriend was reluctant to share "his girl with the rest of the world," but her parents were supportive. "My mom was funny. She says to me, 'You know, Chris, if you were my age and you looked back and you didn't do it, you'd regret it. If I looked like you, I would do it.'

Arce said she has plenty of volunteers in the wings to pose for a male version of the calendar. She would even find a place for Randy Ferbey.

"I think," she said with a chuckle, "I could do wonders for him."

© National Post 2006

Yup! The Ice is ready

The pictures tells all! Click on the photos to enlarge and then click again to enlarge once more.

Jim's article as it appears in the Northern Light:
Only one week to get in shape! Welcome to Wobble Week! This is the time to get down to the club and get your balance and your draw weight in shape. C’mon down!

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 25^th. 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.

The news about the club by Jim Duncan

Jim's article as it appears in the Northern Light. We thank you both!

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 13^th and the 15^th: 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 20^th 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 25^th, 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 96^th year on the ice. See you there.

Start shining your shoes

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.
See you soon on the Ice.
Don't forget to get a closeup just click on the photos.

Visit our booth at Place Bathurst Mall

We wish to thank the Place Bathurst Mall for the free loan of the booth to promote our non profit club during this weekend. Please visit us and pick up your 2006-2007 membership form, and support the mall's stores.

Click on the photos to magnify.

Bonjour et bienvenue!
Une nouvelle saison de curling débute dès le 12 novembre 2006 avec une semaine pré-ouverture porte le nom du pied branlant sur glace (wobble week), gratuite pour tous.
Plusieurs événements sont à prévoir cette saison et nous vous invitons à nous visiter et à consulter le calendrier d’activités affiché au lounge. Vous serez donc en mesure de bien planifier votre saison sportive au Club.

Du 17 au 19 novembre 2006 les jeux jeunes speil en argent comptant auront lieu. Venez encourager nos futures jeunes olympiens et olympiennes!
Vous trouvez à l’endos de cette lettre une demande d’adhésion au Club. Veuillez la completer et l’acheminer à l’adresse ci-dessous, ou encore, venez la deposer au Club lors de l’ouverture de notre saison durant la semaine du pied branlant ou la semaine du 20 novembre 2006.

Si votre compagnie, ou même un groupe de vos ami(e)s, aimeraient former une équipe, vous n’avez qu’a communiquer avec nous et il nous fera plaisir de répondre aux questions.

Cette année du nouveau est une soirée pour dames seulment; chaque mercredi de 17:00 à 19:00 heures, diner inclus.

Pour tous autres renseignements, n’hésitez pas à rejoindre le Club au 546-5665. Pour des nouvelles du club et des liens à l'actualité et à la météo, visitez notre blog à http://bathurstcurling.blogspot.com/

Au plaisir de vous revoir sur la glace!

Welcome!
Another curling season will begin on November 12, 2006, and starts off with wobble week, a free week of curling for all.
There will be many other events during our curling season; please visit the club; to keep you informed of these events we have posted a calendar of events in the lounge area in order that you may plan your winter activities in conjunction with your Curling Club Arena.

The Bathurst Open Junior Cashspiel will be held November 17 to 19, 2006. Support our future young Olympians by visiting the club during this Cashspiel.
If your company wishes to form a team in the Industrial/commercial league, please call the club for extra membership forms. The Industrial league has their games on Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7 P.M. If you wish to form a team and not join the Industrial/commercial League, you may play on other nights. Call the club a 546-5665 for more information.

New this season on Wednesday night “Ladies Only” from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. supper included.

We have also taken the liberty of placing on the back of this letter an application form for the 2006-2007 curling season. Please complete it and mail to the address below or bring it with you during wobble week but definitely on November 20, 2006. For club news as well as links to news and weather visit our blog at http://bathurstcurling.blogspot.com/
Looking forward to meeting you on the ice!

Curling is starting soon

Hi all,
The following is a note in "The Northern Light", and we believe it to be true;-)
The Bathurt Curling Club will have a booth set up at Place Bathurst Mall this week with information on the new season. Curlers will also be able to pick up registration forms at the booth Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The ice is expected to be ready on November 12 with the first few days November 12, 13, and 14 designated as Wobble days (also known as practice days).
This year, Monday evenings will be for Competitive League Curling with Industrial League Curling action on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Something new this season will be a Ladies Night on Wednesday night beginning at 5 p.m. where ladies will curl six ends and enjoy a catered meal afterwards. The cost of play will be $10 for non-members and $5 for members. Beth Sullivan will be your contact for this ladies evening.
See you on the ice!

Curling season is coming, curling season is coming

Yup, the curling season is coming and why not come out and have some fun at the Bathurst curling rink? ... Just leave a message 546-5665 on the curling answering machine and someone will get back to you, or just check this site out for more info on startup news coming in the next few days. In the meantime enjoy the rich fall colors and take a walk at Daly's point for the an extra good view of the fall colors.

Thanks to Dalhousie Curling Club

Hi Guys,
While visiting your display at the Charlo Fair this weekend (Sept 9, 2006), I met two volunteers from the Dalhousie Curling Club, they were selling tickets on 25 pounds of Lobster.
Great job guys and thanks for the info. I will pass on the info to the Junior's Coach, Dale Glendenning.
Keep up the good work Dalhouse Curling Club, hope you have a great season. Do visit us when in Bathurst. And don't forget to put our site in your Favorites for update of our club activities.
To the two I met today, thanks for the great friendly hospitality,
Claude

New History of Curling in Canada and a Titan link

Hello everyone,
On the right is a new link to the History of Curling in Canada, also for
curling members who also like hockey, we've included a direct link from our blog, you can now keep track of the Titan via our blog.
Hope you like it. If you have any question or comments please post a comment on this blog.
Thanks and have a great season.

Bonspiel - The History of Curling In Canada

Emile would like to share this web address with all the club members, the site is www.collectionscanada.ca/curling .
This site was shared to Emile from Sara Hatton who is the Project Manager, Web Projects Sector, Web Content and Services, Library and Archives Canada. In her e-mail to Emile she goes on to say: "I would like to offer my gratitude to the entire Bonspiel! project team for making this site happen. In addition archivistg Myron Momryk was extremely helpful in providing access to our sporting collections and for initiating the organization of the Canadian Curling Association fonds. Danny Lamoureux of the Canadian Curling Association volunteering his time and assistance to the project, providing advice during our research stages. The hard work of everyone was very much appreciated".
Sarah goes on to say that she "would also like to specially thank our skip, Doug Robinson, for writing the site content and for retaining his sense of humour and sportsmanship throughout the process".
from Sarah Hutton and the Bathurst Curling Club wishes to Congratulate you Sarah on such a fine project.
Thank you,
Emile Babineau
President
Bathurst curling club
P.S. Keep visiting this site for more new of the club. If any of you would like to share photos of your summer trip or just your summer photos please e-mail them to curlingclaud@inbox.com and will be posted on this blog, thank you, until we meet again.

More photos of St Patrick's Day by Marie

Thank you Marie for the great photos of St.Patty's Day events.

More photos of St Patrick's Day by Marie

More photos of St Patrick Day by Marie

St Patty's Day didn't go unnoticed by Marie

Again More Photos from the Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel

A good time was
had by all!
Thank you!

Again More Photos from the Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel

Thank you to great volunteers!

Again more pictures of the Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel

All fun and games, the way it ought to be!

More pictures of the Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel

Volunteers and players thank you!

More pictures of the Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel

Players and Volunteers; a great
Bathurst Curling Club Tradition.

More pictures of the Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel

Another great performance at the
Industrial Rubber Fun Speil by
team Gerry Roy.

The man yes he's the man

Yes a smile and a great job, thank you from all the members.

I'm only 39

A great Duner and Mother Maher.
Mother Maher said:
"I'm only 39 and I've never worn
an apron!"

THANK YOU INDUSTRIAL RUBBER!

From our bonspiel participants;

John Ferguson, Janice Slaney, Joy Meahan, Judy Wallace,

Dale Glendenning, Doug Henderson, Doug Creelman, Liz Knowles,

Val Saulnier, Anne Marie Saulnier, Chester Devereaux, Betty Devereaux,

Ken Leaman, Larry Petrie, Theresa Cormier, Terry Wilbur,

Gerry Roy, Pat Savoie, Ralph Cowan, Gerry Arseneau,

Omer Fontaine, Lynn Fontaine, Dot LeBlanc, Julien Legere,

Pat Maher, Guy Gallant, Rene Cormier, Rita McGrath,

Roe Doucet, Gene Doucet, Louis Caissie, Ivy Sealy,

Allen Miller, Eloi Frenette, Lorenzo Grant, Marie Grant,

Donna Lavigne, Claude LeBlanc, Brendan Sealy, Boy Melanson, & Nancy Wilbur.

Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel Second Place

Second place in the Industrial Rubber fun spiel are from L-R:
John Ferguson skip, Janice Slaney, Judy Wallace and Joy Meahan.
Congratulations on your great plays.
Our thanks to Rita for the picture, if there are more please pass them on.

Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel Overall Champs

The above photo is from L-R Doug Creelman, Doug Henderson, Elizabeth Knowles and skip Dale Glendenning. They are the overall winning team in our Industrial Rubber Fun Spiel. Thank you Rita for this great photos, if you have more please pass them on to me, and if anyone else has any please pass them on.
Our thanks goes out to Industrial Rubber the sponsor for this event.

UCT curling final event for the season.

Top winners for the season, after 17 weeks of curling
were - First place: - Pictured above is John Gorman,
Joel Roy, Alcide Doucet and Charles Young with 13 wins
and 4 losses winning the Bernie Kane Trophy.
Runners up - John Ferguson, Donna Lavigne,
Gerard Lessard and Jacques Degrace with 12 wins
and 5 losses winning the Stan Theriault trophy.

Winners for the playoffs were - Albert Mazerolle,
Marc Imbeault, Guy Gallant and Brian Legacy with
158 points winning the Kent & White Trophy. In second
place were - John Ferguson, Donna Lavigne, Gerard Lessard
and Jacques Degrace with 156 points winning
the Lucky Dragon Restaurant Trophy.

Good curling all, until next season have a great summer.

P.S. If anyone has any photos of the playoff please
pass them on to Claude.