Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 131

32 Issue #131 December 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

Tee Line Talk

with Alex MacDougall

Cornwall’s Team Wert wins Julie Bridger Memorial

Mixed Invitational

he 21st Annual Julie Bridger Metcalfe for the Ontario Winter games Gushue defended their title by defeating Sweden defeated Switzerland’s Team
TMemorial Mixed Invitational qualifier, where the team went 2 wins Team Korea and winning back to back Schwaller 6-5 to earn a spot in the men’s
Bonspiel was held at the Cornwall and 2 losses and did not qualify for the Continental cups. On the Ladies side final. The other semi-final saw Italy’s
Curling Centre with twenty-four teams playoff round. Canada’s Team Einarson was not as Team Retornaz defeat Canada’s Team
participating. Teams from Russell, The Cornwall Curling Centre’s fortunate, bowing out to Korea’s Team Botcher 6-5. The all European final saw
Navan, RCMP, Baie D’Urfe, Lanark Senior curling division held its 1st Gim in the semi-final, forcing Einarson Nicolas Edin, playing with a bad wrist,
Highlands, and Brockville curling draw of the season from October 9th to the Bronze medal game. The final, an taking on Team Retornaz from Italy. A
clubs were among some of the teams to November 3rd. The Witherspoon all Asian final, saw Team Korea defeat very impressive Italian team coached by
participating. Team Wert from the Trophy competition saw eighteen teams Team Japan 11-6. Team Einarson lost Ryan Fry defeated Team Edin 6-5 to win
Cornwall Curling Club won the “A” participating with the top twelve teams 8-7 to Team Peterson from the USA their 2nd Grand Slam in a row.
event and the Julie Bridger Memorial participating in the playoffs on November finishing out of the medals. It’s interesting to note how the
trophy. The “A” Consolation was won 3rd. Following the playoffs there was a The 1st of five grand slam events was European and Asian curlers have
by Team Courchesne from the Huntley tie between Team Alex MacDougall and held in Niagara Falls on the weekend improved to a point that Canadian
Curling Club. The “B” side was won Team Jean Gagnon both with 14 points. of October 22nd. On the Ladies side curling teams are no longer dominant in
by the team skipped by Matt Dupuis Team MacDougall, having finished it was an all Canadian final with Team the sport. On the Ladies side the World
from the Cornwall Curling Club. The 2nd in the standings following round Jennifer Jones defeating Team Kaitlyn rankings only have three Canadian
“C” division was won by the team from robin play, were declared winners of Lawes 7-4 to win the Hearing Life teams in the top ten. The men’s rankings
the Rideau Curling Club skipped by the Witherspoon draw. Finishing 3rd Challenge. The Men’s winner was show only four Canadian teams in the
J.P. Lachance, and the “D” winner was was the team skipped by George Doljesi Italy’s team Retornaz. It was the 10th top ten. It’s also important to note that
Team C. Sobering from the Huntley with 11 points. The next draw will be Grand Slam title for Jones. The 2nd of some Asian and European curlers are
Curling Club.
the Marcel Morin Memorial Trophy five Grand Slams the Kioti National curling full time and are funded to do so.
Cornwall’s U18 Junior Curling team draw. Catch next month’s Sports Energy was held in Pictou County, Nova Maybe the funding and team residency
participated in a Junior Slam Series Curling report for all results. Scotia, on the weekend of November rules in Canada should be revisited. It’s
competition at the Dundas Golf and The Cornwall Seniors held their 12th. In the Ladies semi-final, the ever also interesting to note the hiring of
Curling facility near Hamilton, on the annual Invitational one day bonspiel improving Team Gim from Korea Scotland’s David Murdoch as Canada’s
weekend of October 28th and 29th. with twelve teams participating from defeated Switzerland’s Team Tirinzoni new High Performance Director to find
Team Wright went 3 wins and 1 loss Maxville, Alexandria, Pointe Clair, 7-2 to advance to the final against Team a way to bring Canada’s curling teams to
during the round robin portion of the Lancaster, Royal Montreal… to name Homan, who defeated Sweden’s Team the next level. This begs the question….
event, qualifying the team for the quarter a few Clubs. The winning team with 21 Hasselberg 9-6. with Canada’s curling history, was there
finals. They defeated Team Park in the points was the team from Valleyfield In the Ladies final both Team Gim no one in Canada capable of filling this
quarters, however lost to the eventual with Royal Montreal finishing 2nd with and Team Homan came into the final position?
winner of the event, that being Team 12 points. Rounding out the top three undefeated. Gim was looking for her Curling Canada certainly has to
McTavish. The following weekend was the team Vankleek Hill with 10 1st Grand Slam victory and Homan take stock of what is happening and
the team played in a four team event points. A great lunch and a great time her 14th. In a closely played game address some of the issues that will
at the Rideau Curling club with teams were had by all. and down 6-4 going into the final end, bring Canadian curling back to where it
from Rideau, Navy, and Richmond Homan scored a deuce to tie the game belongs.
participating. Cornwall won 2 games On the Pro side of the curling world and force an extra end. Homan missed
and tied 1 and won the most ends of all the Pan Continental Cup was held in The first of four Senior Parnell Cup
3 games and was successful in taking Kelowna BC. Team Keri Einarson and her last shot to allow Gim to win 7-6 and competitions was held in Morrisburg
home the championship. The next event Team Brad Gushue represented Canada. her 1st Grand Slam win.
for Cornwall’s U18 Team Wright was in On the men’s side Canada’s Team On the Men’s side Team Edin from Continued on page 33