N Ontario Ladies Win the Shorty Jenkins Classic

Team Horgan. These Sudbury girls managed to win the Shorty Jenkins Classic this past weekend. And they did it in fine style too, beating Eve Muirhead of Scotland in 6 ends. Awesome job ladies. Good weekend for Team Brad Jacobs as well. They made it to a semi-final against the eventual winner, Team Epping. And they lost that one in an extra end so here's another great performance. From all accounts, Northern Ontario curling is alive and well.

Gushue and his "maritime agglomeration" did not fare as well. A respectable showing, going 3 and 2, the Gush can't be doing cartwheels with his teams' strength. I watched a few ends via Live Streaming and Team Gushue had a few flashes and lots of 1/2 shots. If these boys want to make it to the Olympic trials, they will have to get some more practice in for sure.

Stoughton lost the final against Epping but quite a good run all the same. I guess Nichols in the lead position is working out.

In BRCC news, things are in the "getting ready" phase for the new season. The ice will be going in next week! Don't forget, Sept 24 in the evening, Tom Leonard will be there to get the ice going. This is worthwhile stuff and it's free. if you got the time, come out and learn about curling ice. Then, the next time you complain about it or praise it, you'll know exactly what you are talking about.

Looks like our membership will be down a bit this year. It's still a little early and more memberships are due to come. If you are still planning on registering, please get your paperwork in (call Kristy Blanchet, Lorraine Liss or any other board member), ASAP because the conveners will need some time to make up the league schedule and need to know if you are playing and what your team is.

Don't forget what i said about the Open 8-Ender League. There won't be major changes and it is NOT meant to be a competitive league. It just allows for freedom in mixing men and women who want to curl together. Give it a try...certainly don't let it be the reason you are not curling. C'mon, it'll be fun.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Shorty Jenkins Classic Starts Tomorrow

I know what you're thinking. How come Robert Ambeault is sporting some Norwegian Curling duds? And how come he hasn't shaved? Is he between council meetings? Well that's not him. But, Robert is a curling enthusiast and he'll be back this year at the BRCC. Most likely he'll be continuing on with the Legal Eagle (Team Kearns) on Mondays and playing for Team Villeneuve in the Thursday mens. This is unconfirmed  but if history has taught me anything, I would have to say that this is a pretty safe assumption.

The Shorty Jenkins Classic is this weekend in Brockville starting tomorrow (Sept 13). Some big names will be there including Team Jacobs who is just coming off a win last weekend. These boys are busy...and they're committed. Hard not to root for them...especially when they are doing Northern Ontario curling so proud. Other notables will be the Chinese Mens team from Harbin, China. Kevin Koe will be there as well as Guy Hemmings getting back into the mix. Jeff Stoughton will be there with his new squad...and yes, with Mark Nichols in the lead position (I still can't wrap my head around that one!) Another notable is Team Heath McCormick who represented the USA last year in the Worlds. Playing in the lead position is longtime BRCC pal and son of Maymar and Al Gemmell, Dean Gemmell. All the best to these guys as well. In case you didn't know, Dean is the founder and host of the Curling Show, a cool podcast that interviews many curling personalities. Very interesting stuff, check it out. dean is a huge advocate of curling and it's guys like this that do our sport good! And don't forget Brad Gushue. He'll be there with his new squad. After a disappointing showing in Baden, Switzerland earlier this month, I'm sure the Gushue is looking to have a good showing....especially when he has the record for the most cabinet shuffles of any skip. But, he has put Newfoundland Curling on the map and I for one am proud of that and for that reason, I continue to have a soft spot for this guy.

On the Women's side, Eve Muirhead has made the trek from Scotland to play in this tournament. Sherry Middaugh also has a team in there. Not surprisingly, Marie France Larouche is in there, once again proving that Quebec needs more female competitive curlers! Tracy Horgan and her squad will be there, the sweethearts of Northern Ontario curling. As well, Rachael Homan will be there with her crew. I am interested in seeing the kind of year this squad will have. They have been together for a few years now and they are pistols, one and all. Tough team alright...they got game but they needed some maturing. Has it happened?

The BRCC is still undergoing preparations for opening. The ice will be in later this month, under the direction of Tom Leonard. This is an excellent opportunity to get out to the club and see what is involved in making curling ice.

There's going to be repairs to our dance floor as well. I did not mention this earlier but it will be getting a face lift. Boy, if that floor could talk...man O man, the stories it could tell. And there will be more good times coming up this year. That is a BRCC trademark....excellent curling and certainly excellent fun.

Need some equipment this year? Whether you are a new curler or an experienced curler needing to upgrade, the BRCC has lots of GOOD equipment. Check it out. The prices are excellent and the quality is second to none. Purchasing your equipment locally at the club helps the club and the BRCC always needs your help.

A quick note about the board. They are doing a fantastic job. They do alot behind the scenes and they always have the best interests of the club in mind. it is alot of work and they don't get paid. So, at the very least, they deserve our kudos. Over the past few years, there have been many, many repairs done to the club...and they are ongoing! Why, just this past summer, they had the roof repaired. Every bolt in the roof of our quonset hut was changed and that my friends, was no small task. But our board applied for and received a Trillium Grant that made this repair possible. Awesome I tell you! And when you get into the washroom this season and plunk you backside down on one of those new toilets that were installed, you'll have another reason to sing the praises of the BRCC board! As a pat board member, I can say that it is impossible to please everyone...but with that said, people who give their time and energy to make our cool little club a success deserve our thanks.

I love the BRCC. As a guy who has "curled around", I can honestly tell you that the BRCC is tops in my books and I will always be faithful. Nowhere else can you find such a great bunch of people to spend a winter with. Get out to the club and catch the fever because it is contagious.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Team Jacobs On The Move Early

Brad Jacobs and his team of Ryan Fry, E J Harnden and Ryan Harnden have got it together early winning the OCT Championship in Oakville this past weekend. This squad has put in alot of hard work over the years and it is paying dividends. Great job by these guys.

The BRCC is gearing up to get the season going as they had a clean up day this past Saturday, Sept 8. My appologies for not getting there, my wife, Annie, had knee surgery just last Tuesday and I am the chief cook and bottle-washer at our place as a result. Needless to say, I could not get away and I do offer my regrets to our hard-working board. I'll make up for this during the year by volunteering around the club as needed. And you can do the same! If you missed helping out this weekend at the club clean-up, then contact Kristy and find out if these is still stuff to do. The club owes its success to volunteers stepping up and helping out. You have to punch your 6 hours so why not get them out of the way early. And of course, you don't have to restrict yourself to just 6 hours. Many of us spend many hours helping out at the club. Quite often, it's not like work and can be fun. That's not to say you have to do more than 6 hours, but I would like to point out that every person who volunteers at the club makes a difference so please, don't make the board members chase you for the 6 hours..they don't want to and heck, they should not have to.

Ice making and Maintenance! Want to learn how? Well, Sudbury Curlers Ice Guru, Tom Leonard, is coming to the BRCC Sept 24th - 30th to do some instructions on ice installation and ice maintenance. The instruction happens in the evenings so the working people can attend. This is free of charge so why not attend. What an excellent opportunity to learn about curling ice. Want to go? Contact Errol Patterson (356-2992) or Mike laderoute (356-7010).

Our beloved Al and Maymar Gemmell will be back this year offering free curling instruction on October 2nd and 3rd. This is NOT only for new curlers! Experienced curlers are also welcome to attend. What an excellent opportunity to improve your curling skills. And they are just the people to do it. Even an old tucker like me (yes, I did mean tucker!) can benefit from their instruction. I spent some time with Maymar and Al last season and had some curling epiphanies! I'll be going again this year for some more. Why not show up and see if they can help you improve your game?

Did you meet Richard Lachapelle on registration night? He'll be our new club guy so when you see him, stop and shake his hand. Make him feel welcome at the BRCC.

There was some controversy regarding the Open 8-Ender League. I heard many opinions during the registration night. In the end, this should NOT be a reason not to join curling. Curling is a fun, social game. Personally, I don't think there will be any big changes, other than the name of the league. It will not be a competitive league...in fact, I expect to see alot of the same teams. I registered our same Mixed League team anyway and I am hoping to see more Wednesday nighters do the same. Sometimes we have to embrace change and give it a chance. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised!

That's it for now! Not registered yet? Please get your registration in. Please help boost the club membership...advocate curling to your friends. It's good for the club and good for the sport!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic.