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"On the Button" - Now By
Sandy Eastlake
(as featured in the Napanee Beaver)
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April 1st, 2010 |
The closing Martin &
Walters had 20 teams ending this season with a fun filled day of curling,
eating, curling and eating. Starting with morning snacks, followed by
lunch, snacks (yes again) and ending with a 4 table pot luck. Thanks to
Sandi McNamee and her helpers Eleanor Ramshaw, Bernice Pringle, Joanne
Wright (daughter Allison), myself, and Sharon VanGent who coordinated the
pot luck supper. These ladies were assisted by many of our curlers also.
Keeping everybody’s glass topped up was Tom Ayling, Barry Brummel, Maui,
Eleanor Ramshaw, Beau & Gail Maracle, Bill Ryan, Ken Clancey and Elaine
Badgley. The winning team of Tom Ayling, Shirley MacDonald, Cindy Crowson
and Jim Wood thanked all the organizers but especially Don Currier for
terrific ice to curl on. Ayling also thanked those dreaded little pieces
of paper of which ensured his win. The Button High winner was Marc & Vicki
Babcock, Lucille McDonald, Bob Deline followed closely by runner up Don &
Jane Pearson, Darryl & Lana Latimer. The annual Turkey toss organized by
our Junior Director Dave Travers with helpers Brenda Travers, Steve
Eastlake and the Rick Guthrie team was won by Don Pearson and I won the
Ham. We both donated our winnings back to the Juniors who ended up with
another $50 in their kitty. I have been told that all had a great time and
my head confirmed this on Sunday.
The General Meeting
held Sunday to finalize business for the season was well attended and your
Directors have a few new business items to attend to over the summer. Your
Directors thank you for your caring about the daily operation of this,
your curling club.
Last week I promised
you the rest of the league’s winners so starting with Monday Mens we have
A-Don Currier, Kirk Donald, Al Thompson, Rome Dorval; B- John Deman, Ted
Davie, Paul Spooner, Barton MacLean; C-Phil Wilson, Cam McFadyen, Tom
Shillington, Chris McTaggart. The Wednesday Senior Mens winner was Chris
Ramshaw, Kees VanGent, Ron Reynolds, Wayne Chadwick followed by the
Thursday Mens Daryl Latimer, Paul McDonald, Jim Emmons, Terry Bawn. The
Tuesday Mixed showed Robert & Jane Hough, Laurie VanStraalen, Jack Green
making it to the winners circle and the Friday Mixed had Ken & Beth
Clancey, Daryl & Lana Latimer followed closely by Rebecca & Paul Murphy,
Laurie Bradshaw, John Taylor and Don & Debbie Currier, Hugh & Liz Goldie.
Wednesday night ladies
winner was Gayle Johnson, Kelly Roantree, Phyllis Babe, Linda Veley and
the Thursday ladies was won by Jane Hough, Susi Reinink, Bernice Pringle
with a spare. The ever popular Up & At’Em winners were in last weeks
article.
Before saying adios for
this 2009/2010 curling season I want to thank The Napanee Beaver for
allowing us to have space in the paper for this article and I again thank
Ted Davie for all his many articles keeping you informed on club
happenings.
See you all at the
Banquet Friday, April 23rd. Tickets are still available so call
Sandi McNamee 354-2414. Have a great summer and see you in the fall; boy I
hate that sentence as now I know for sure that the season is over. SOB!
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March 10th, 2010 |
LITTLE ROCKERS COME
5TH IN ZONE COMPETITION
Volunteers at the Napanee &
District Curling Club have again this season ensured the success of all
our bonspiels and they have been thanked in previous articles. Our club
rentals are also very important and we keep organizations returning year
after year because of our Smart Serve volunteers who step forward most
weekends during the season. These same Smart Serve persons step forward
each day of the week to ensure the bar is manned and all can get their
opposition a drink after a tense, close game. Beau Maracle and his
February Bar Captain Barry Brummel thank Bill Ryan, Al Thompson, Cindy
Crowson, Ed File, Andy Graham, Eleanor Ramshaw, Kees VanGent, Dennis
Snider, Jim Mullin for their assistance at these rental events.
The bar is only one area
of need followed closely by the kitchen, bonspiel committees, Director
committees, Maintenance assistants, Ice crews, Robert Hough who makes sure
we have somewhere to sit, Earle Bush who ensures the club is never full of
all that dreaded recycle, and the list goes on and on. The success of your
club depends on all 264 of you stepping forward and giving a few hours of
your time and I thank you. The vast number of “little check marks’ on the
Volunteer Chart in the foyer shows all how many persons it takes to
complete all these necessary duties. If for some reason you have not been
able to assist much and you have some hours prior to the Banquet there
will soon be a sign up sheet at the club for you to help us make this
seasons’ banquet great fun and a happy way to end the season. The more who
sign up to set up or clean up means less working hours for just a few.
Paul Dickson, Don Currier,
Mark Dunham and Darrell Pritchard lost in an extra end at the Colts
Regional last weekend. That must have been some terrific curling, nice try
guys!!
Dave Travers once again
took one of our junior little rock
teams to enter the Zone 4 Playdown for the Little Rock Championship held
at the Trenton Curling Club 7 March 2010. The team consisted of Maclean
Marlin, Kyle Hartin, Cody Milligan and Logan Kennelly. The boys played two
really good games finishing 5th and receiving a medallion each for their
effort. They really looked professional in their new NDCC Junior jackets
provided by the club. To all you juniors, keep up the good work and
naturally good curling; congratulations.
Come to the club Saturday
and see some terrific shot making as all participants try to win the
trophy at this years Ford Hot Shot Competition; then sign up for the
Martin and Walters closing funspiel open to members, family and friends
being held March 27th. Then attend the closing General Meeting
Sunday, March 28th at 1 pm.
Banquet tickets being co-ordinated
by Sandi McNamee are now available thru Sandi McNamee, Bill Hogg, Sandy
Eastlake/Shirley Bush, Ingeborg Donald, Gayle Johnson, Debbie Currier and
Cindy Woodcock. Phil and Cindy are also looking for crews to set up and
clean up the banquet, April 23rd. Cocktails at 6 pm, dinner at
7 pm and dancing at 8 pm. What a way to end another great season - plus,
as an added thank you for the successful 2010 Ontario Men’s Curling
Championship - we are leaving the cost at $20 per person this year even
with the rising cost of food and music.
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March 4th, 2010 |
NAPANEE JUNIOR CURLS WITH THE GOLDEN GAELS
Queen's University Golden
Gaels
Skip Jon
Beuk, Third
Andrew Inouye,
Second Chadd Vandermade,
Lead Scott Chadwick
Alternate Andrew Minty
are curling in the 2010 CIS/CCA UNIVERSITY CURLING
CHAMPIONSHIP being held this year in Edmonton, Alberta March 10-14th.
This goes to show that our
terrific Junior program can and will pay off for any of our juniors in
future years to come. Good luck and good curling Scott.
Meanwhile, Dave Travers
and Mark Dunham took two little rock teams to Trenton for the Moospiel.
One team came first in C and the other was runner up in the D event.
Congratulations to Marlin MacLean, Kyle Hartin, Cody Milligan, Logan
Kennelly and Austin Dunham, Isaia Dunham, Victoria Yeamans, Chellea
Webber.
On the other
side of the coin our Grandmaster (over 70) team of Walter Genereux, Ed
File, Paul Spooner, Andy Graham won our zone playdowns and are off to the
Provincials at the Thornhill CC March 26-27th. This was a 5
team double knockout with two club rinks, a Tweed team (who also advances
to the Provincials due to an injury), Belleville, and the Loonie Club.
Great curling gentlemen.
The Highland
Lassie convened by Heather Ramshaw and
assisted by Christine Ramshaw, Eleanor Ramshaw, Liz Graham plus Drawmaster:
Andy Graham thanked all for making this another successful bonspiel at the
NDCC. The winning team of Janet Fowlow from RKCC thanked Eleanor Ramshaw
for breakfast, Sandi McNamee and her helpers Helen Brown, Marg Martin,
Norma Jackemeck, Joanne Fenwich, Heather Baker for a delicious lunch,
especially the amazing sherry bisque, and Sharon VanGent with Doug &
Heather Baker, Merv & Anne Connery, Darrell & Connie Pritchard, Doug
Alkenbrack, Kees VanGent for a delicious stuffed chicken supper. The
second place team of Donna Poirier from RKCC/NDCC skipped by Gayle Johnson
thanked all the bar staff Tom Ayling, Brian Hobin, Jack McNamee, Jack
Barker, Paul Murphy, Brian Woodcock and then continued to thank Frank
Dunham, Steve Eastlake, Rick Siegner for terrific ice to curl on. Heather
then thanked the Piper, Connor Lamont and Marj Pearce for the opening
ceremonies and the sponsors Marj Pearce, Playground Licensed Childcare
Centre (Christine Ramshaw), Shelley Alkenbrack for their kind donations
which ensure the prize table at this event is always the best. She further
thanked those who donated raffle prizes; Marj Pearce, Christine Ramshaw,
Eleanor Ramshaw, Sandy Eastlake, Vivian Moore, Sally Lambert, Liz Graham,
Shirley Bush, Joan Reynolds and Jody Allum. Congratulations, Heather for
another fun filled bonspiel at the Club.
The season is not
over yet. Sign up and mark your calendar for the Pringle Ford Hot Shot
Competition Saturday, March 13th – call Christine 354-1511, the
closing Martin & Walters Saturday, 27th March – call myself
354-7138 and the Annual General Meeting Sunday, March 28th at 1
pm. Your agenda has been emailed to you or is available at the club. See,
still lots of events to come at the Napanee & District Curling Club.
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February 25th, 2010 |
NAPANEE CURLERS STILL KEEPING THE CLUB IN THE NEWS
Most leagues are now
starting their last draw – where did the season go. Congratulations to the
2nd draw winners and second place teams. Tuesday Up&At’Em
winner was Walter Genereux, Bill Ryan, Shirley MacDonald, Diane Noltiing
with runner up Jean Morrison, Paul Spooner, Gerry McCracken, Peter Wilkie.
These two teams only won by a margin as four other teams were closely on
their tail with 4 wins out of 6 games. The Tuesday Mixed co-winners are
Marc & Vicki Babcock, Jaan Lees, Danielle Brisban tied with Kirk &
Ingeborg Donald, Andy & Liz Graham followed by another tie in runner up
Bill & Sandy Casselman, Laurie VanStraalen, Lana Latimer and Jim & Peggy
Sunstrum, Bill & Gail Spencer. Obviously the teams in this league are
evenly matched to end the draw with two sets of ties. The Wednesday Ladies
league winner is Louise VanHeighten, Elaine Badgley, Phyllis Babe, Jane
AllenCortes with runner up Gayle Johnson, Karen Mills, Cindy Crowson.
Friday Mixed showed Steve Angel, Tom Ayling, Linda Veley, Cyndie Beleveau
coming first followed closely by Doug & Shelley Alkenbrack, Jim Head,
Ellyn McEwen / Ken & Beth Clancey, Daryl & Lana Latimer.
The annual Town & Country
bonspiel last Wednesday convened by Jack McNamee with helpers Hugh Sharpe,
Robert Hough and drawmasters Cor Vandenberg and Bob Cawley added another
notch in the clubs history of successful events. The winning team of Tom
Hayes, Noel Heron (skip), Daryl Heron and Mike Salmon thanked Jack but
especially thanked Sandi McNamee and her helpers Shelley Alkenbrack, Liz
Griffith, Cathy Palmer, Gail Spencer for a delicious prime rib lunch with
carvers Hugh Sharpe and John Deman. Tom continued to thank the bar staff
Cindy Crowson, Michele Penner, Jennifer Clarkson, Ed File and Captain
Barry Brummell. Frank Dunham and Don Currier provided excellent ice (as
usual). Jack ended by thanking all the 16 teams for participating and
asked for a round of applause to the sponsors: Home Hardware, Moore Bros,
O’Neill Farm Supplies.
As promised, Napanee is still in the news. The team of Gayle
Johnson, Louise VanHeighten, Cindy Woodcock, Lana Latimer won the “Queen
of the Castle’ bonspiel in Picton - congratulations ladies. Meanwhile
Andy Palmer, Cathy Palmer, Darrell Scott, Cheryl French represented
Napanee in the OCA Senior Mixed last weekend but did not advance and then
Paul Dickson, Gayle Johnson, Don Currier, Louise VanHeighten stood up for
Napanee in the Mixed OCA but also did not advance. Good try to both teams
and thanks for representing the club.
The Highland Lassie is this Saturday so come to the club to
see some great ladies curling. We have teams from all over the area
participating.
Saturday, March 13th is our annual Ford Hot Shots
Competition. With the kind sponsorship of Pringle Ford we are hoping for a
full roster of men and women. This is a fun day with lunch and prizes.
Divisions are made by what position you normally play so Skips will throw
against Skips, Vices against Vices, Seconds against Seconds and Leads
against Leads. This competition is for all to come out and try your luck
and/or natural skill of throwing a rock. Watch for the sign up sheet soon
to be posted on the clubs’ bulletin board. Check it out
www.fordhotshots.curling.ca just register free and play
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February 17th, 2010 |
Wow, a week of curling has
passed since the finals of the 2010 Men’s Curling Championship and I have
seen some terrific shot making; I guess a lot of us did take lessons.
First of all I want to
thank Ted Davie for his dedication in ensuring the Clubs’ article was
included in each and every week’s edition during the curling season and I
would be remiss to not thank The Beaver for allowing this article to
happen. Ted, good luck with your new endeavour - see you around the club
and who knows I am probably curling against you next Tuesday AM .
Publicity about the club
has been over welming and is not over yet. The team of Paul Dickson, Don
Currier, Mark Dunham and Darrell Pritchard won our Colts Zone playdown and
will be representing us at the Regionals in Gananoque March 6th
and 7th. Good luck and good curling. A couple of other teams
are curling in other Zone playdowns this coming up weekend and we all wish
you luck too.
The Monday Night Men’s is
now in their third and final draw with the second draw winners being A –
Don Currier, Kirk Donald, Al Thompson, Rome Dorval with runner up Paul
Dickson, Steve Angel, Darryl Latimer, Darrell Pritchard topping Bill
Hogg’s team by a couple of ends only. B – Chris Ramshaw, Ron Graham, Bill
Spencer, Jim Mullins with runner up Walter Genereux, Ken Healy, Phil
St.Jean, John Lees. C- Andy Palmer, Stephen Paul, Jim Emmons, Gord
Mitchell with runner up Braden Scott, Darrell Scott, John French, Chris
Goody. Congratulations to all of you.
Still to come around the
club is the Highland Lassie Saturday 27th of February. The
bonspiel is full but Heather Ramshaw is looking for helpers during the day
and also a nice gift for the raffle table would be nice. The Ford Hot
Shots is next on Saturday March 13th so watch for a sign up
sheet; followed by the closing Martin & Walters, but I will not go there
yet as I am still very into curling --- not having if over
As the Volunteer
CoOrdinator of the Tankard I want to remind all the volunteers to attend
our Thank You Wine & Cheese, Saturday 20th from 1 to 3 pm at
the Strathcona Paper Centre.
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February 10th, 2010 |
The
Tankard has left the building! I’m thinking it is already on its way to
the engraving shop to put Glen Howard, and the names of his teammates, on
the trophy, again, the fifth year in a row. They deserve a loud
CONGRATULATIONS for their achievements and now go on to represent Ontario
in the Canadian curling playdowns. The curling was incredibly good all
week. The eleven teams were quite well matched so that any one team was
capable of beating any other team on any day depending on their
consistency. Howard won all his games but was seriously challenged
several times, including the final against team Cochrane. The Howard team
will be excellent ambassadors for the province at the Brier in Halifax in
March.
When
Glen Howard made his acceptance speech, he said that the attendance at
this Tankard was the best he had experienced. All went very well and an
event Napanee can be very proud to have hosted. Much credit has to go to
the 2010 Tankard Host Committee chaired by Stephen Paul. His father,
Robert Paul, was the Sponsorship Chair assisted by Patti Sharpe and Karen
Mills; Chris Ramshaw was the Social Chair supported by his wife Eleanor,
and daughters Christine and Heather; Joe Jackemeck was the Advisor/Media
Relations Chair; Steve Eastlake was the Ice Chair assisted by our two ice
makers: Frank Dunham and Don Currier; Paul Murphy was the Finance Chair
supported by his wife Rebecca; Rob Plumley was the Game Operations Chair
assisted by Andy Palmer looking after the timekeepers/scorers and Bill
Casselman responsible for the team hosting; Kevin Hill, the Director of
Parks, Recreation & Culture Dept, was the Facilities Chair assisted by his
staff members: Vicki Hallam and Janet Uens; John Deman was the Logistics
Chair assisted for the many facets by Ron Graham and Phil Berry for
security and Phil Wilson for communications; and Sandy Eastlake was the
Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator of the nearly 200 volunteers required
to cover all the areas of responsibility. As one of the many volunteers,
I can attest to a very well run event supported by comments from Howard
and many other out-of-town visitors. To all those who contributed time and
talent, and especially those committee members, thank you, thank you! To
the many volunteers who came out every day, thanks for supporting the
Tankard event.
Meanwhile, back at the Club, curling will never be the same for most
Napanee curlers. Overwhelmed by the beautiful, smooth, consistent
deliveries and the amazing broom and weight control witnessed this week,
most of us have seen the many areas where we can improve and have seen
firsthand, every day, what is possible if you get it right – and practice
enough. It is going to be a tough week dealing with reality at the NDCC.
.
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February 3rd, 2010 |
Well, it is here! The
Tankard curling event finally arrived and the Town is a abuzz. The OCA
and the ice makers from the Club did a wonderful job transforming the
Strathcona Paper Centre, on the Goodyear side, from a hockey rink to five
beautiful curling sheets in the short period from Wednesday midnight to
Sunday noon. It is magic just to see, without the best provincial curlers
even on the ice. Then they arrive! Seeing them warm up by sliding half
way down the sheet and throwing a few rocks each to get a feel for the
keenness and curl of the ice is a thrill too! They make it look sooo
easy. Then the curling begins. Every team in the competition is worthy
of you taking the time to see a game or two. It will never get closer!
Get out there, the stands have lots of room for you.
It appears all is well as
all the planning for the event has come together nicely and everyone seems
content. The curlers are very happy with the ice and apparently they have
been overwhelmed by the hospitality. The many volunteers can be seen in
their ‘volunteer black and red jackets’ performing many tasks: timers and
scorers at the end of each sheet for every game; the busy ice helpers
cleaning, scraping, pebbling, placing the bumper pads and arranging the
rocks; the cooks preparing the meals for sale and all the food supplied to
the curlers; all the helpers in the Ice Hut gathering dirty dishes and
empty bottles, squaring off the area and cleaning tables and floors; the
security teams checking the tickets and watching the various areas that
need supervision/control and doing taste checks on the Horton boxes;
manning the tables at the front entrance giving directions and information
to all who ask; selling 50/50 tickets all day, every day; hosting each
curling team and assisting them when necessary like eating their
sandwiches; parading the curlers on for each draw; and the list goes on.
The organizing committee
deserve much credit for making this truly a memorable event for Greater
Napanee. Congratulations! The local hosts who accepted the challenge of
running the event (Napanee and District Curling Club, Napanee Sports
Foundation and the Ontario Curling Association in partnership with
the Town of Greater Napanee) are still busy making sure
everything runs as expected. Whereas the Dominion Insurance is the
Tankard sponsor, our local sponsors deserve much credit for supporting
this rather large undertaking for a Town our size: Premier sponsors:
Century 21 Lanthorne Real Estate Ltd, BMO, Lafarge Canada, and Waste
Management; Gold sponsors: CKWS, My FM, Napanee Guide, Kingston Whig
Standard and Belleville Intelligencer, Prince Edward and Lennox Addington
Community Future Development Corp, and Cogeco; Community sponsors: Geo A
Grant Insurance, Hampton Inn, Hart N’ Hart, M&M, Snappy Print, Jet Ice,
Shoeless Joe’s and Gay Lee. Please support them.
They have scheduled great
entertainment daily/nightly at the Ice Hut. The main event takes place
following the evening curling at 9:30 pm. The bar stays open until 1:30
am and they are having a fun time there every night. If you have not been
there yet, get off your behind before you miss it all. For more details
see the Tankard website at
www.2010tankard.com.
By the way, the actual
Tankard (trophy) is in the building.
January 27th, 2010
The Tankard week is fast approaching and there are some
neat side events being planned, besides the Ice Hut! For example, the
committee has invited about 400 local school children to attend a two hour
free curling seminar and watch the morning game at the Strathcona Paper
Centre on Wednesday morning of February 3rd, with no admission
fee. This is a great idea to introduce these kids to the game of curling
and for them to see, close and personal, the best curlers in the province
competing.
A local team of Frank Dunham, Hugh Sharpe, Jack McNamee
and Kees VanGent went to Campellford on the weekend for the Master Seniors
Bonspiel (that’s as old as it gets) and won their flight. They had won
the bonspiel last year and are awaiting word on their finish this year.
Well done (for your age!).
Curling is continuing this week at the Club but I daresay
most of the time and effort is being allocated to next week and the
Tankard. Our ice making volunteers start on Wednesday converting the
Strathcona Centre hockey ice to curling ice for the event. As mentioned
last week, their results will be tested by the Fun Spiel for volunteers
starting at noon with three groups of forty curlers participating. I
think I heard that Pringle’s Ford, or was that Boyer’s, were considering
something new and shiny for the big prize. And whether you are a curler,
a tv curling fan or an ice fisherman, you do not want to miss all the
shenanigans scheduled for the Ice Hut during the week. So, come out, see
our best provincial curlers in action and enjoy some of that home grown,
warm Napanee hospitality. See you at the Ice Hut!
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January 13th, 2010 |
I think I see signs of the after holiday blues at the Club. You know,
everyone feeling lethargic, bloated from too much holiday food and not
enough exercise, wishing they were someplace warm for a week or two,
wondering why their curling hadn’t improved after the long layoff… It’s
easy to feel sorry for oneself until you look at the images coming out of
Haiti. We have so much for which we should be thankful, besides curling.
Meanwhile, back at curling, there were several bonspiels in the area last
weekend. Reports received include the Andy Palmer rink of his wife Cathy
with Jane and Robert Hough placing runner-up in the “A” event at the
Cataraqui Annual Mixed. Phil Wilson took his rink of Ken Healy, Ray Vesey
and Tom Shillington to Picton for the Sportsman and was runner-up in the
third event.
Great
fun was had at the Club last Saturday during the annual Mixed Open
Bonspiel. The weekend event was modified to a one day ‘spiel because of
fewer entries. However, they demonstrated again that size does not matter
as everyone still had a great time. The event was organized by Rebecca
Murphy assisted by her committee members: Jane Pearson, Lana Latimer,
Cindy Woodcock, Beth Clancey and Louise VanHeighten. Michele Penner and
her team in the kitchen of Lucille McDonald, Bob Deline, Rick Guthrie and
Marg Palemeka contributed to the bonspiel theme by serving delicious
Mexican food. The excellent dinner was catered by Krysta Huyck. Winners
were Scott Buckley and his team from the Royal Kingston CC: Kim Dickson,
Dan Boers and Heather Ramshaw. The runner-up was Napanee’s Ken Clancey
with Louise VanHeighten, Daryl Latimer and Beth Clancey. The bar was ably
handled by Tom Ayling, Linda Veley, Peggy and Jim Sunstrum, Jordan and
Dave VanVlack with special margueritas by Brian Wookcock, apparently one
after another, after another, after another. Thanks to drawmaster Hugh
Sharpe and ice assistants Mark Dunham and Rick Seigner helping Don and
Frank.
Yes,
there is curling going on at our Club as usual but most curlers have their
minds on the Tankard week and the various events already scheduled. The
first event, named Olympic Day by the organizing committee, starts on
Sunday, January 31st, when forty of the Tankard volunteers take
part in a Funspiel on the new ice at the Strathcona, using Tankard rocks.
This will also be a test of the new ice and allow the icemakers a chance
to observe the results of their icemaking before the real competition
begins. The draw starts at noon with each team curling four ends and
continues with new volunteers curling at 1 pm and again at 2 pm. Sandy
Eastlake is coordinating the Funspiel and has posted the names for the
teams at the Club. Obviously, not all volunteers are able to curl in the
Funspiel but Sandy has a list of “stand-by” curlers ready to participate
should any of the original curlers have to cancel out.
The
Ice Hut, at the Strathcona Paper Centre, will be open to the public from 3
pm to 9:30 pm on Sunday and will host a fun-filled programme of ‘Olympic
Events’ coordinated by Chris Ramshaw. A reminder to all that the Ice Hut
events are open to the public and will include games, trivia, dancing and
food. And, those at the Strathcona will be able to watch the Tankard
teams practice from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The popular group “On Tap” will
entertain in the Ice Hut from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. So, get in the Tankard mood
by coming out to the Ice Hut on Sunday and enjoy some fun and games with
curling on and off the ice, a hockey shoot out, cross country skiing and
more - and you might even win a gold medal before the Olympic games
begin. See you at the Ice Hut.
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January 6th, 2010 |
Here we are,
another week closer to the Tankard and there is a buzz in the air.
General ideas are reaching fruition through detailed planning and
meetings. Napanee is about to be over-run by curlers from near and afar
interested in seeing close-up our provincial Brier hopefuls competing to
represent Ontario. This is curling history so don’t be guilty of not
watching when it is being staged right here in Napanee where you could see
for yourself how exciting professional curling can be and the physical
requirements for those competing at that level. Get your tickets before
they are all sold out!
We had some late
reports in of other first session league results. The Thursday Mixed
winners were Robert & Jane Hough, Susi Reinink and Dan McGrath and the
runners up were Jim & Peggy Sunstrum, Lana Latimer and Andrew VanVlack.
In the Thursday Men’s, the winners were
Marc Babcock, Bill Ryan, Kirk Donald and Dennis Snider and the runners up
were Brian Chadwick, Steve Eastlake, Al Thompson and Bill Creighton.
Congratulations to all.
The
17th
annual “Deacon’s Bench” Senior Men’s Bonspiel was held on Saturday with
sixteen teams squaring off three times during the day. The Napanee teams
did very well this year with the trophy going to Andy Palmer’s rink of
Bill Hogg, Dave Travers and Gord Mitchell and the other three game winner
being another Napanee rink of Brian Chadwick, Steve Eastlake, Frank Banks
and Phil Berry. The two game winner, also from Napanee, was Robert Paul
with Ken Clancey, Robert Hough and Jack McNamee. The runner up was the
Tony Bush team from the RKCC including Reg Gore, Bruce Dowling and Dave
Finn followed by the Joe Jackemeck rink including Frank Dunham, Kees
VanGent and Hugh Sharpe. The one game winner was Walter Genereux and his
team of Ken Healy, David VanVlack and Barry Brummel.
Our thanks to the
bonspiel sponsors: Quinn’s Meats and the Briar Fox Golf and Country Club.
All winners went home with packages of steaks. Shirley Bush looked after
early morning coffee and buns for the first draw. A great soup and
sausage lunch was organized by Marilyn Cole assisted by Helen Brown,
Lorraine Wilson, Joan Banks, Doug and Joyce Meredith. The prime beef
dinner organized by Elizabeth Vandenberg with help from Diane Davie, Joan
Reynolds, Sue Sharpe, Gloria Cawley and Barb Graham was absolutely
delicious with Hugh Sharpe wielding his big knife, again. Bar Captain
David VanVlack was assisted by Bartenders Doug Baker and Gerald
McCracken. High Sharpe was the drawmaster assisted by Bob Cawley and Cor
Vandenberg. Thanks to Don Currier and Frank Dunham for excellent ice.
All in all, it was another success with local rinks doing very well at the
steak table. Thanks to all the volunteers.
This is the last
reminder that on January 16 will be the annual Mixed Bonspiel. For last
minute entries to the Mixed ‘spiel call Rebecca at 354-5445.
Welcome to all the new curlers who have joined our club for the remainder
of the season. We hope this is just the beginning of a wonderful, long
relationship. We hope you will have fun in our club but whether or not
you win the Provincials or the Brier/Scott’s in time - is now up to you.
All
volunteers for the Tankard received a letter from Stephen Paul, Chair of
the 2010 Host Committee, this week outlining what is expected from
volunteers and explaining when and where to pick up their accreditation,
what the pass means and restrictions, expected dress when on duty, parking
areas, check –in policy coming on duty and general responsibilities as
ambassadors throughout the week. If you didn’t get your copy, you should
ask and make sure you have one.
A
reminder that the Club will be closed for the duration of the Tankard 31
Jan to 7 Feb.
Hope you are all practising for the Ice Hut activities.
 |
January 6th, 2010 |
Well, after much celebrated
merriment, 2010 finally arrived and as we all staggered down to the Club,
weighed down by too much turkey and good cheer, we were immediately
uplifted by the sight of beautiful, new, clean ice. This very pleasant
new year experience was the result of all the hard work done over the
holiday period by our ice technicians and their volunteer helpers.
Everyone is filled with gratitude and thankfulness. Then, we had our
chance to curl and it even got better! The new improved keenness of the
ice is wonderful and so helpful to us older members who are having
increasing difficulties drumming up ‘normal’ take out weight. We will
soon run out of excuses for missed shots! Many, many thanks to Frank and
Don all those involved.
The year end was
also the end of the first draw in several curling leagues and we recognize
the various league winners. In the Wednesday Senior Men’s League the
winner was Joe Jackemack and his team of Ken Healy, Bill Anderson and Cor
Vandenberg. The runner-up was Bill Hogg and his team of Murray Halliday,
Gerry McCracken and Larry McNeil. In the Tuesday
Up&At'Em League
the winners were Frank Banks, Murray Halliday, Pat Keech Stevens and
Joanne Kellogg. The runners-up were Ed File, Bill Ryan, Gail Spencer and
Liz Griffiths. The first draw of the Thursday Ladies had co-winners: Jane
Hough’s rink of Jo Sutton, Joan Banks and Joanne Wright and Cathy Palmer’s
rink of Sue Sharpe, Marilyn Cole and Joan Reynolds. The runners-up were
Benita Murphy, Liz Graham, Heather Baker and Liz Goldie. Congratulations
to all winners in the first draw.
The 17th
annual “Deacon’s Bench” Senior Men’s Bonspiel will be held in Napanee this
Saturday, 09 January. The sixteen teams have been signed up for some
time and the local competition, just to enter the bonspiel, required
playoffs and we aren’t sure if that is because of the Saturday evening
menu or the new, improved ice but everyone wants to play in Walter
Genereux’s bonspiel, again!
A
reminder of the 2010 Mixed Open Bonspiel being held on January 16th.
Last I heard, there is still room for more rinks. This is an event you do
not want to miss if you are looking for curling and lots of fun. The
Mexican theme this year has got to be good for some laughs and many neat
costumes with curlers using those trinkets and hats left over from their
last trip south of the Rio Grande. For more information and entry forms
see the club website
www.ndcc.ca
Time
is running out for those procrastinating over tickets to see the Tankard –
as are the tickets- so get down to the Strathcona Centre or go online to
get your tickets now before it is too late. Detailed plans for the event
are taking shape and will be announced soon.
The
Club offers a hearty welcome to all our new curlers and those returning
after some absence. You have taken a significant step towards making 2010
a happier year. Finally, a special thank you to our instructors who
conducted the curling clinics on Sunday, 03 January: Andy Palmer for the
Skip’s Skool, Ian Munro for the new curler clinic and John Deman and Beau
Maracle for doing the refresher clinic. We all probably should have been
there. See you at the “Ice Hut”.
 |
December 16th, 2009 |
I suppose it wasn’t all bad news when the Kevin Martin team
beat the Glen Howard team in Edmonton on Sunday for the right to represent
Canada at the Olympics in February. Now we can all look forward to seeing
the Howard team in Napanee at the Tankard playoffs in February. By the
way, if you haven’t already got your tickets to attend some of those games
that week, I suggest you do not put off your purchase much longer as the
ticket sales are already well over the 12,000 mark and with the full page
adds in the newspapers opportunities to attend may disappear soon.
The Tuesday Up & At’Em league wound up this week with the
following results: first by Frank Banks and his team of Murray Halliday,
Pat Keach-Stevens and Joanne Kellogg with eight wins and a tie; second by
Ed File and his team of Bill Ryan, Gail Spencer and Liz Griffiths. All
enjoyed a great pot-luck feast after Tuesday’s draw.
All members are reminded that the Club will be closed for ice
maintenance from 24 December to 02 January. Clinics are now organized for
03 January: new curlers, refresher training and a Skip’s course.
Participants encouraged are to be at the Club ready to curl at 1 pm.
It is not too late, although it is getting close, to join our
club and get curling in the next session. Dues are pro-rated considering
the curling time remaining in the season so, don’t delay, call Sandy at
354-7138. Guys, give your wife/girlfriend a special gift this Christmas
by paying her fees for the rest of the season and let her get out and have
fun. Or, ladies, if you want to get your man out of the house, sign him
up for curling and you may never see him parked in front of the television
again.
A Napanee team of Frank Dunham, Kees VanGent, Hugh Sharpe and
Merv Connery had a unique experience this week when they were one of four
teams invited to the annual Looney Bonspiel. The Looney Curling Club is
the one sheet rink at Chaffey’s Locks. The other rinks were from
Cataraqui, Smith Falls and the Looney and the Napanee team won the ‘spiel.
If you really love curling and happen to win the lottery, you too can have
your own curling rink right beside your garage!
The first club bonspiel in the new year will be the Senior
Men’s on 09 January. The draw has been posted so good luck to our older
member participants. If you think you are too old to curl, come out and
watch the Seniors and you will realize just how old one can be and still
curl. Sticks and the replacement of knees and hips have extended our
curling time by at least ten years.
On January 24th there will be a Ladies In-Club
Bonspiel and the annual Mixed Bonspiel is scheduled for 15-17 January.
The social side of the Mixed is something you don’t want to miss. The
dress theme this year is Mexican Fiesta. Call Rebecca now at 354-5445 to
enter or check our website
www.ndcc.ca
The Club will be closed from 30 January to 07 February while
all the curlers volunteer at the 2010 Ontario Men’s Curling Championship.
The Board of Directors, all curlers and club volunteers wish
you all a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with hope, health,
happiness and lots of curling. See you at the rink in 2010. Happy New
Year!
 |
December 8th, 2009 |
The first draw of curling
in most leagues is nearing completion prior to the holiday break. Curlers
in all leagues are putting their best game(s) together hoping to have
their names engraved forever on one of the coveted trophies. League
Directors are posting sign-up sheets for the second draw so remember to
find these lists to ensure you are entered in the next draw. If you are
not curling in any particular league but want to, please call the
applicable Director so he/she has your name. Also, any curler or new
members wanting to join and curl for the rest of the season, please call
Sandy Eastlake 354-7138. For those who are not sure who to call, the list
of the Executive is posted in the lounge and there are 2009/2010 telephone
directories with all members’ numbers available also in the Club.
Congratulations to Robert Paul, Don Currier and Larry Pringle and their
respective teams who won their Divisions in the Men’s Monday night
competition.
Our
Napanee and District Curling Club is well supported by our local business
community. Besides sponsoring our many bonspiels throughout the year, we
are blessed with their general support through advertising at the Club.
There are three different categories: wall, button and on the ice. Those
advertising on the walls of the Club include Wager & Myatt Ltd Real
Estate Brokers, Goodyear Canada, Doyle’s Windows, George A Grant Insurance
Broker Inc, Napanee Beaver, Pringle Ford, Giant Tiger, D & L Carpentry &
Kitchen Design, Colio Estates Wine, Canadian Awning & Canvas Products,
North Key Construction & Orkney Residential, The Dominion of Canada
General Insurance Company, Quinn’s Meats, Sign Me Up Hart N’ Hart,
Patricia Dafoe Insurance Agency Inc, Woodcock’s 401 Automotive & Tire
Centre and L & A Mutual Insurance Company. The “on the ice” group includes
Colour Connection, A & M Sports, Country Traditions Frozen Foods, Exit
Reality, Tim Hortons, Napanee Opticians, Centre Street Auto and Murray
Drywall. The button advertisers are: The Dominion of Canada General
Insurance Company, Scotia Bank, Home Hardware Building Centre and Bert’s
Golf. Our special thanks to all of you for your continuing support.
A Refresher Clinic will
be held at the Club on January 3rd from 1:30 pm. New curlers and
experienced curlers interested in improving their curling skills should
sign up on the sheets posted in the Club. Free instruction is available
to anyone who wishes to take the time. If you just want to practice, that
is also a good time to do so before the curling takes off again on January
4th. A Skips Clinic will be held at the Club the same day run by Andy
Palmer. For those curlers interested in advancing to the highest level on
a team, come and learn what Skips need to know tactically to maximize the
chances of winning. Learn, not necessarily to become a Skip, more about
the game so that you can understand what is happening during the game and
get more enjoyment when curling. Please sign the posted sheets.
The Napanee team of Robert Paul, Bill
Casselman, Robert Hough and Ray Snider curled in the Campellford Farmer’s
Bonspiel this week and finished 3rd of the 16 rinks entered.
Congratulations.
A final reminder of the
Men’s Senior Bonspiel on 9 January and the Mixed Open on 15-17 January.
The Mixed has a Mexican theme this year for the costumes, music and drinks
and there is still room for teams wishing to enter. Call Rebecca at
354-5445.
 |
December 1st, 2009 |
The big
attraction last weekend in Napanee was the Annual Ladies Open Bonspiel.
Heather Ramshaw, Ladies Bonspiel Director, was the Coordinator with
committee members
Eleanor Ramshaw, Jennifer Clarkson and Liz Graham assisting. Greeters
were Bea Moore, Kim Dickson, Jennifer Clarkson and Liz Graham, Draw
master Andy Graham and Master of Ceremonies Hugh Sharpe.
The
sixteen
entries included 4 Napanee, 1 Garrison, 1 Gananoque, 1 Carleton Place, 1
Ottawa, 1 Belleville and 7 Royal Kingston teams. The top point winner was
Betty Bush’s Team of Joanne Manion, Mary-Stewart Ross and Lil Rynbend from
the Royal Kingston (RKCC). The other two game winners were: Lin Jenkins’s
team from the RKCC, Rebecca Murphy’s team from the Napanee Curling Club (NDCC)
and Maelane Hums team from the Carleton Place Curling Club. Rounding out
the top 8 teams who were all offered a wonderful selection from the prize
table included teams skipped by Donna Smith (RKCC), Judy Poirier
(Garrison), Hilary Casey (Riverside Ottawa) and Heather Ramshaw (NDCC).
Of course, this was only possible because of the generous sponsors:
Jennifer Clarkson and the Playground Licensed Childcare (Christine Ramshaw)
with financial contributions and Gerry Henderson, Colio Wines, a donation
of a case of wine. The raffle and door prize donators were: Michele
Penner, Bernice Pringle (Community Living), Eleanor Ramshaw, Debbie
Currier, Heather Baker, Doris Ogley, Marj Pearce, Liz Graham, Lorraine
Wilson, Elizabeth Vandenberg, Sandy Eastlake, Napanee Tankard Committee,
Starlet and Quinte Curling Supplies.
Frank and Don with helpers Ray Moore, Bill Ryan and Rick Seigner ensured
the ice was keen and clean for the ladies. Bar services were provided by
Tom Ayling, Linda Veley, Darrel Latimer, Ken Clancey and Arnold Van
Heighten.
Breakfast was convened by Eleanor Ramshaw with Helpers Shelley Alkenbrack,
Liz Goldie and Jennifer Clarkson who provided a wonderful selection of
coffee cakes, fruit, yogurt, coffee and tea. Lunch was convened by
Ingeborg Donald with Helpers Kirk Donald, Janet Hobin, Phil Berry and Susi
Reinink who served a delicious selection of sandwiches, soup with special
rum flavoured cakes and tasty cookies for dessert. The big dinner was
convened by Beth Clancey with Helpers Ken Clancey, Vicki and Mark Babcock,
Chuck Gray, Stan Yallup, Phyllis Babe, Darrel and Lana Latimer and Peggy
Sunstrum. This was an incredible spread of caesar salad, buns and
stuffed pork done perfectly with gravy, potatoes, mixed vegetables and
baked apples. Nobody went hungry.
Three teams of the ‘older’ curlers ventured to Tweed on Thursday for their
Senior (had to be over 60) Bonspiel. The John Deman rink (vice Ted Davie,
2nd Paul Spooner and lead Bart Maclean) finished 5th
in the early draw. In the late draw, the Chris Ramshaw rink (vice Bill
Casselman, 2nd Kees VanGent and lead Andy Graham) placed 2nd
and the Robert Paul rink (vice Frank Dunham, 2nd Robert Hough
and lead Hugh Sharpe) finished 7th. Tweed , too, is known for
its keen ice and good food and no one was disappointed.
The 2010 tankard
Social Committee needs your help! If you have any items to assist
them in decorating the “Ice Hut” lounge please contact Sandi McNamee at
354-2414 (ie ice fishing items, fishing related souveniors, pictures,
banners, etc…)
All members are reminded of the semi-annual curling meeting on
Sunday, 06 December at 1 pm at the Club. A short briefing of the Tankard
arrangements will be given. And, if you haven’t already signed up for the
Hot Shots competition do so quickly or call Chris 354-2003.
A correction is required for last week’s article to the phone number for
Dave Travers and Junior curlers. It should have been 373-0016. Please
call and get your children involved in a life-long activity. Get them
involved and you will know where they are for years to come!
 |
November 24th, 2009 |
Well, the Napanee Men’s
Open Bonspiel has come and gone for another year but there are some
memories and images still lingering. I am sure you have already read
about the eight-ender that was scored on Saturday by a Napanee/RKCC rink
skipped by Chris Ramshaw, vice Bob Helliar, 2nd Tom Miller and
lead Phil Berry. Many curlers had never seen an eight-ender so it was a
neat addition to the bonspiel.
Phil Wilson and his bonspiel organizing committee of Paul
Macdonald, Jim Head, John Deman and Drawmaster Hugh Sharpe did a great
job, according to all reports. The support of the local event sponsors
(Home Hardware, Quinn’s Meats, Burke Printing and Woodcock 401 Automotive
and Tire) and other local commercial advertisers, teamed with the curling
volunteers, made this event the attraction that brings teams back year
after year. Many thanks to all involved. Well done, Phil.
Of the 24 teams competing this year, 19 of them were
returning from Ottawa, Winchester, RKCC, Napanee and Cataraqui with new
entries from Toronto’s Tam Heather, Gananoque, Killahoe, a new entry from
Cataraqui and two from Prince Edward. Winning the “A” event and the
$1000 first prize was the Suddergaard team from Cataraqui with the
Helliar rink taking second; the Munro rink from Napanee won the “B”
event, with Buckley from Cataraqui coming second; Schneider from the RKCC
won the “C” event with Hemming from Toronto placing second; and, the
Mullen brothers from Killahoe won the “D” event by beating the Napanee
Pringle rink. The curling was great helped partly by the excellent ice
provided for the contestants by Frank Dunham and Don Currier and their
many helpers: Art Dawson, Mark Dunham, Steve Eastlake, Robert Hough,
Dennis Snider and Rick Siegner.
Of course, in Napanee, the big attraction after our
hospitality is the food. This year was as good as any other thanks to the
kitchen volunteers. The Friday night early evening snacks were prepared
by Eleanor Ramshaw and Sandi McNamee and, later, the chicken wings were
prepared by Christine and Heather Ramshaw. Saturday morning breakfast
was prepared by Diane Davie and her team of Tom and Pat Keech Stevens and
Joan Reynolds. The Saturday lunch was organized by Linda Blake and her
team of Keith Chapman, Cory Royale, Charlene Huffman and Cindy Crowson.
The absolutely delicious beef dinner was prepared by Moira Sickling and
her team of Lana Latimer, Mary Jane Evans, Ellen McEwen, Lana Jager, Gail
Maracle and Cindy Woodcock with Hugh Sharpe doing the generous carving.
The Sunday morning breakfast was prepared by Shirley Bush with Joan and
Frank Banks followed by Sunday lunch done by Liz Graham, Janet Hobin, Jo
Sutton, Gail Spencer and Benita Murphy. Well done ladies (and those few
men assisting)!
Yes, the bar was open and provided the friendly service
curlers expect. For a great weekend of service, we thank Brian Woodcock
and his team of bartenders: Louise and Arnold Van Heighten, Beth and Ken
Clancey, Gerry McCracken, Tom Ayling, Michelle Penner, Jennifer Clarkson,
Jack McNamee, Cynthia Woodcock, Lana Latimer and Jim Head. Everyone
enjoyed the bar service, so thank you.
The preparations for the Tankard playoffs in February are
always going on within the Club. During the weekend, the Ontario Curling
Association (OCA) officials were in Napanee briefing the timers and
scoring officials for the event. Under the watchful eye of our
coordinator for local officials, Andy Palmer, the volunteer officials had
the opportunity to ask their many questions and were required to practice
“timing” a couple of ends during the bonspiel play. The Tankard event is
proving to be very beneficial for the Club as already at least fifteen
members are now more knowledgeable about OCA rules with respect to the
Tankard playoffs – with lots more to come. Get your tickets early at the
Strathcona Centre.
 |
November 17th, 2009 |
It didn’t
take long for curlers to get in the swing (and sweep) of things although
your curling reporter took considerably longer, missing his submission
date for two consecutive weeks. All leagues are well underway and those
with some Club responsibility are busy trying to deal with those loose
ends we all knew would arrive but were not sure what or where they would
be.
We are enjoying good ice again
this year which, for those of us still struggling with the game, causes
some frustration as we can no longer, honestly, blame missed shots on the
ice! Thanks to Frank and Don, and their many helpers, for giving us such
wonderful ice. Our guest curlers coming for the Men’s Open Bonspiel this
week, on 20th
– 22nd November, and the Ladies Open, 28th
November, will be in for a real treat. And the ice is not the best part!
If members have not yet
volunteered to help at one of the bonspiels, or for the many other jobs we
need to do as volunteers at the Club, don’t be shy. Step right up and ask
any of the Directors what you would like to do or what needs volunteers
and I’m sure we can fit you in someplace, sometime. A reminder that we
are able to keep our curling fees low, compared to other clubs in the
area, only because we do so much with volunteers versus hiring personnel
that then costs the Club which has to be passed on the members.
Volunteering is a win-win situation so please do your part.
The 2009-2010 NDCC telephone
directories are now available at the Club. Thanks again to Burke Printing
for their continuing support for these directories.
The John Deman team (Ted
Davie, Bart Maclean and Phil Berry) curled in the Thousand Island Seniors
at Brockville last Saturday and came second in their half of the bonspiel.
Very keen ice is such a treat for us older curlers!
Preparations for the Tankard curling playoffs, being held in Napanee
Strathcona Centre February 1-7, are well underway. Timers will be trained
during the Men’s Bonspiel this weekend. For more information visit the
website
www.2010tankard.com or call 354-4423.
And, it is not too late to
curl this year. Come and see us at the curling rink, or call Sandy at
354-7138, and we should be able to accommodate your needs. We are very
interested in more Junior curlers and all queries for that can be
addressed to Dave Travers at 373-9916.
 |
November 11th, 2009 |
We are enjoying excellent ice again this year which, for those of us still
struggling with the game, causes some frustration as we can no longer,
honestly, blame missed shots on the ice! Thanks to Frank, and his many
helpers, for giving us such wonderful ice. Our guest curlers coming for
the Men’s Open Bonspiel, on
20th – 22nd November, and the Ladies Open, 28th
November, will be in for a real treat.
If members have not yet volunteered to help at one of the bonspiels, or
for the many jobs we need to do as volunteers at the Club, don’t be shy.
Step right up and ask any of the Directors what you would like to do or
what needs volunteers and I’m sure we can fit you in someplace, sometime.
A reminder that we are able to keep our curling fees low, compared to
other clubs in the area, only because we do so much with volunteers versus
hiring personnel that then costs the Club which has to be passed on the
members. Volunteering is a win-win situation.
The 2009-2010 NDCC telephone directories are now available at the Club.
Thanks again to Burke Printing for their continuing support for these
directories.
The John Deman team (Ted Davie, Bart Maclean and Phil Berry) curled in the
Thousand Island Seniors at Brockville last Saturday and came second in
their half of the bonspiel. Very keen ice is such a treat for us older
curlers!
And, it is not too late to curl this year. Come and see us, or call Sandy
at 354-7138 and we should be able to accommodate your needs. We are very
interested in more Junior curlers and all queries can be addressed to Dave
Travers at 373-9916.
 |
November 4th, 2009 |
It didn’t take long for curlers to get in the swing (and sweep) of
things. All leagues are well underway and those with some Club
responsibility are busy trying to deal with those loose ends we all knew
would arrive but were not sure what or where they would be.
We are enjoying
excellent ice again this year which, for those of us still struggling with
the game, causes some frustration as we can no longer, honestly, blame
missed shots on the ice! Thanks to Frank, and his many helpers, for
giving us such wonderful ice. Our guest curlers coming for the Men’s Open
Bonspiel, on
20th – 22nd November, and the Ladies Open, 28th
November, will be in for a real treat. There are still openings for teams
wishing to curl in the Men’s so, if interested, call Phil Wilson 373-2252.
If members have not yet volunteered to help at one of the bonspiels, or
for the many jobs we need to do as volunteers at the Club, don’t be shy.
Step right up and ask any of the Directors what you would like to do or
what needs volunteers and I’m sure we can fit you in someplace, sometime.
A reminder that we are able to keep our curling fees low, compared to
other clubs in the area, only because we do so much with volunteers versus
hiring personnel that then costs the Club which has to be passed on the
members. Volunteering is a win-win situation.
The 2009-2010 NDCC telephone directories are now available at the Club.
Thanks again to Burke Printing for their continuing support for these
directories.
And, it is not too late to curl this year. Come and see us, or call Sandy
at 354-7138 and we should be able to accommodate your needs. We are very
interested in more Junior curlers and all queries can be addressed to Dave
Travers at 373-9916.
 |
October 29th, 2009 |
This season is an extra exciting one at the Napanee & District Curling
Club as we are hosting the Ontario Men’s Curling Championship – February 1st
to 7th in partnership with the Napanee Sports Association and
the Town of Greater Napanee. Ontario’s best and finest curlers from all
over the province will be competing for the chance to represent Ontario in
the Nationals (The Tim Hortons Brier) being held in Halifax this season.
The host committee has been working hard all summer to get prepared for
this event. As with any event a great number of volunteers are needed and
as per normal our curling club members have ‘stepped up to the plate’.
There is a requirement of 200 volunteers to cover the week and the club
has filled 150 of these positions. The rest have been recruited from town
organizations or other area clubs. Thanks to all of you.
Back at the club, league curling has the first week completed and most
sore muscles should be healed by the time you are reading this article.
Monday Men have 22 teams; Up&At’Em-20 teams; Tuesday Mixed-10 teams;
Wednesday Senior Men-12 teams; Wednesday Ladies-7 teams; Thursday
Ladies-11 Teams; Thursday Men-11 teams and Friday Mixed-22 teams. Gayle
Johnson our Wednesday Ladies director is still looking for curlers to fill
that 8th team spot, so if you are interested please call her at
354-3581.
Your directors are busy compiling all the bonspiel lists,
league rosters, league assistants, junior assistants and all other needed
volunteers to complete club duties for this season. If you notice help is
needed to fill a spot on the lists soon to be posted please step forward
and add your name.
Upcoming events to remember: Mens Open Bonspiel - 20th – 22nd
November; Ladies Open - 28th November and the General Meeting
Sunday the 6th of December at 1 pm.
Sandy Eastlake (filling in for Ted Davie)
 |
October 22nd, 2009 |
A
hearty welcome to another season of socializing and curling from your
Board of Directors: President/Kitchen – Sandi McNamee; VicePres/Mens-Mixed
Bonspiels – Phil Wilson; Mens Games – Bill Hogg; Mixed Games
– Cynthia Woodcock; Juniors – Dave Travers; Ladies Bonspiel
- Heather Ramshaw; Fundraising - Christine Ramshaw; Ice -
Steve Eastlake; House – Bill Ryan/Gord Mitchell; Ladies Games
– Debbie Currier/Gayle Johnson, Bar/Rental – Beau & Gail Maracle
(Shirley Bush) and myself your Membership Director at the Napanee &
District Curling Club.
This year we have 243 members, 35 of whom are new to the club and/or to
curling in general. I would like to thank Gayle Johnson, Beau Maracle, Cam
McFayden, Ian Munro and Andy Palmer for all their time insuring our new
and returning members had full instruction prior to their first game.
Steve thanks our two Ice Techs Frank Dunham and Don Currier plus helpers
Rick Siegner and Tom Ayling for installing the clean, fast ice you will be
curling on. Bill and Gord thank Ron Reynolds, Cor Vandenberg, Chuck Gray
and Dennis Snider for assisting with painting and general building
cleanup. There are many more to thank as set up for a new season takes
many, many hours of volunteer duties and those not listed above will be
thanked in a future article.
The club telephone directory will be available by the end of next week so
pick up your copy at the information centre. There are a lot of important
flyers on the tables and the various bulletin boards so be sure to
familiarize yourself with this information.
This years’ 7th annual Swing and Sweep convened by Heather
Ramshaw and Kim Dickson started off with a morning of golf; although on
the crisp side the sun warmed everyone quickly. Lunch was served at the
curling club (soup and sandwiches) by Eleanor Ramshaw with help by
Jennifer Clarkson. Beau Maracle had the bar open and kept everyone served
all afternoon with helpers Kees Van Gent, Brian Hobin, Brian Woodcock and
Dennis Snider. Curling was played by all participants on the great ice
prepared by Frank Dunham and his helpers.
Dinner was prepared by Kim Dickson, Eleanor & Heather Ramshaw with Anne
Angel and Cyndie Belleveau being a great help in the kitchen at
dinnertime. Christine Ramshaw prepared an amazing raffle table with
donations by many local sponsors and all monies will go towards the
2009-2010 Fundraising campaign for which she will report separately.
Heather and Kim thanked all participants, volunteers and supporters for an
excellent day once again; and a special thanks to Eleanor Ramshaw, for her
tireless efforts. Chris Ramshaw presented the trophy to the 7th
Swing&Sweep winners- Paul Dickson, Steve Angel, Daryl Latimer and Robert
Dickson and prizes to Runner up - Ian Munro, Brian and Janet Hobin and
Robert Hough, Men’s Closest to the Pin – Robert Dickson; Men’s Longest
Drive – Scott Buckley; Ladies Longest Drive – Louise Van Heighten; Closest
the Pin – Rebecca Murphy. I think most participants went home with
something or Steve just acquired the block of cheese he brought home.
Remember to mark your calendar for the Mens Open Bonspiel - 20th
– 22nd November; Ladies Open - 28th November and the
General Meeting Sunday the 6th of December at 1 pm.
To all new members, if you have any questions at all, do not
hesitate to call me 613-354-7138; although any of the directors listed
above will be happy to assist you.
Sandy Eastlake (filling in for Ted Davie)
 |
April 9th, 2009
Wow, curling is over –
finished – done !! Now all curlers are awaiting the 24th of
April for the Banquet. Convenor, Sandi McNamee is still looking for
assistance in set up / clean up. A couple hours of your time will help
alleviate long hours for a few.
Congratulations to the 3rd draw winners (2nd
for Mens Leagues): Tuesday Up & At’Em 3rd draw winners Stan
Yallup, Bill Ryan, Nance Wilkie, Marj Elliott with runner up Ed File,
Elaine Badgley, Phil Berry, Bill Neville; Tuesday Mixed: Louis
VanHeighten & team/ Marc Babcock & team tied with runner up Hugh
Sharpe’s team; Friday Mixed: Bill Hogg, Lana Jaeger, Barry Small,
Moira Sickling with runner up teams of Kees & Sharon VanGent, Joyce
McClelland, Charlene Huffman/Gayle Johnson, Guy Johnson, Gale Rogers,
Cory Royle; Wednesday Ladies: Janie Ryan, Kelly Roantree, Marilyn
Elliott, Val Buchan with runner up Donna Poirier, Ann Whalen-Knapp,
Lana Latimer, Amber Walsh; Thursday Ladies: Sandy Eastlake, Sue
Sharpe, Pat Benn, Liz Griffiths with runner up Marj Pearce, Sandy
McPherson, Debbie Currier, Cory
Royle; Wednesday Mens: Walter Genereux, Kees VanGent, Barton MacClean,
Roger Cole with runner up Robert Paul, Barry Brummell, Steve Cooper,
Bill Ryan; Thursday Mens: Gerry Haggerty, Jack McNamee, Bill Ryan, Pat
Mueller with runner up Marc Babcock, Wayne Young, Phil Berry, Bill
Anderson.
Dave Travers reported that his 28 juniors had a great
season and he would like to see them all return next season and bring
a friend with them.
The closing Martin & Walters was another great success
thanks my assistants Steve Eastlake, Dave & Brenda Travers. Sixteen
team drew those ‘little pieces of paper’ which are sometimes not so
beneficial with the winning team of Dave & Brenda, Steve & Sandy
beating the 2nd place team of Chris & Eleanor Ramshaw, Doug
& Heather Baker by ½ point. The top button score was won by Barry
Small, Lana Jaeger, Jim Head, Dan Reynolds. Thanks to the ever busy
bee in the kitchen Sandi McNamee lunch was delicious and I cannot say
enough about the 3 table pot luck. Paul McDonald, Arnold VanHeighten
kept all glasses filled and our Ice Techs Frank Dunham, Don Currier
ensured our last game was as quick and clean as the first --- well ---
in least until those pylons showed up.
A raffle table by our
fundraising director Christine Ramshaw was full of gifts to be won due
to the kind sponsorship of A & P, Coffee Cravings, Dairy Queen, Devine
Creations, Domino’s Pizza, Homestyle Deli, La Pizzeria, McDonald’s
Family Restaurant, Movies n More, Napanee Fish N’ Chips, New York
Café, Seasons Gourmet, The Playground L.C.C.C., Video 99, Wendy’s
Family Restaurant, and Work Men’s Wear House. Your ongoing support to
the curling club is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
The closing General
Meeting was attended not too badly resulting in no major new issues
and leaving the Napanee & District Curling Club with the new Board of
Directors starting with Kitchen - Sandi McNamee, Mens Mixed Bonspiels
- Phil Wilson, Ice - Steve Eastlake, Bar/Rentals - Beau Maracle, House
- Bill Ryan/Gord Mitchell, Fundraising - Christine Ramshaw, Ladies
Bonspiels - Heather Ramshaw, Ladies - Debbie Currier/Gayle Johnson,
Men – Bill Hogg, Juniors – Dave Travers; Membership – myself. The
directors meeting immediately following will elect our new President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The new board will be
advertised at the closing Banquet (and to repeat) Friday, April 24th.
Your executive wish
each and every one of you a very happy and hopefully a warm warm
summer. See you next fall on the ice.
On another note, any
one who has not turned in their request to volunteer for the Ontario
Mens Curling Championship next February and wish to do so, just call
me and I will get an application form to you.
|
 |
April 2nd, 2009 |
The Napanee & District
Curling Club is just completing its last week of curling and members have
been trying their best at their final chance to get their name on one of
the coveted trophies…Good luck and good curling to all 259 of you. This
has been a prosperous season for the Club with all our bonspiels being a
great success thanks to the hard work of our club volunteers. Your Board
of Directors thank each and every one of you for the many volunteer hours
you have given freely to ensure this success.
Your league directors Bill
Hogg, Janet Hobin, Gayle Johnson, Shirley Bush, Sandi McNamee, Cindy
Woodcock, Jane Hough were busy compiling the awards that were presented
this past week; the bonspiel crew – Eastlakes/Travers and Kitchen - Sandi
McNamee / Bar - Bakers are busy preparing for the closing Martin and
Walters – April 4th; your Vice President, Sandi McNamee is trying to
ensure all will be ready for the banquet April 24th; and all
directors along with the secretary and treasurer are typing their reports
for the closing General Meeting – April 5th at 1 pm. We hope to
see you there with thoughts and ideas on improving the day to day
operation of the club.
The GrandMasters Team of
Frank Dunham, Hugh Sharpe, Frank Banks, Kees VanGent won their first game
and had really close loses after that ending up as a semi finalist in the
C event. There were 16 teams participating with a delicious banquet on
Friday evening. They all had a great time and plan on participating next
season.
If you have not bought
your banquet ticket yet, it is not too late. Please call Sandy Eastlake
354-7138 However, we have a deadline due to ordering meals so ensure to
request your ticket before April 17th.
 |
March 18th, 2009 |
The young team of
David Staples, Scott Chadwick, Nick Schroeder and Neil Roberts won the
Napanee Curling Club championship this week by defeating Robert Paul’s
team (vice Robert Hough, 2nd Paul McDonald and lead Paul
Murphy) in a close final that went down to the last rock of the last end.
What a way to finish the curling season! These championship playoffs have
gone on forever and it took many wins to get to the finals. So,
congratulations to the “kids” who showed us all how it should be done and
we wish them all well as they go on to higher learning and more curling
challenges. We really enjoyed your participation this year.
All the other leagues are
running down to conclusion and those results will probably be available
next week.
So, keep listening for and
reading about the two curling events coming later this month: the Napanee
Geritol team of Frank Dunham, Hugh Sharpe, Frank Banks and Kees VanGent
are off to Thornhill on the 27-28 for the Provincial Masters and the
Provincial Junior Mixed in Marmora that includes David Staples and Scott
Chadwick. We wish you good curling and luck, if required.
Forms for those interested
in participating as volunteers in the 2010 Tankard Playoffs, to be held in
the Strathcona Centre next February, are available on the Club web site:
www.ndcc.ca.
The big curling social
event of the year, our annual banquet, will be held 24 April at the Club.
Tickets are now available from Sandy at 354-7138. This may be your last
chance to say ‘au revoir’ to your curling friends for the year.
This is the final reminder that our ice goes out on April 04th
this year with the traditional Martin & Walters Bonspiel and our General
Meeting is scheduled for April 05th at 1 pm. See you at the
banquet – wear your dancing shoes…
 |
March 11th, 2009 |
I am sure
many readers have heard of, or seen, the television programme about the
Week the Girls Left Town. Well, last weekend, there was similar
experience in Napanee as many curlers were out of town, bonspieling, and
it was very quiet for those remaining behind. Here is a clockwise report
of the various teams out there trying to put Napanee on the map.
In Kingston
on Saturday, at the annual Kidney and Lung Foundation Stick Bonspiel at
the RKCC, two Napanee rinks were pushing their rocks about. At this
annual fundraiser, the Chris Ramshaw rink (daughter Heather vice, Kim
Dickson 2nd and Tom Ayling lead) came out on top winning the
bonspiel. The other Napanee rink competing, and donating, was skipped by
Hugh Sharpe, vice Bill Creighton, 2nd Don Currier and lead
George Elliott.
Meanwhile, in
Picton on Saturday, three other local rinks were entered in the annual
Heritage Mixed Bonspiel. As usual, there was lots of good food, a few
drinks, socializing and even curling. The Johnson rink (Gayle skipping,
husband Guy vice, Louise VanHeighten 2nd and her husband Arnold
lead) won two of their three games and placed fourth. The HH team (Robert
and Jane Hough, Janet and Brian Hobin) and the ML team (Rebecca and Paul
Murphy, Lana and Daryl Latimer) both had a ball.
Also, in
Belleville on Saturday, at the Quinte CC, two more local teams were
enjoying the competition and hospitality in their annual Senior’s
Bonspiel. The Clancey team (Ken skipping, Ken Healy vice, Kees VanGent 2nd
and Walter Genereux lead) and the File team (Ed skipping, Brian Chadwick
vice, Frank Banks 2nd and Andy Graham lead) both had a good
day, both finishing in the top half of the sixteen teams
entered.
Just to the north, in Tweed, on the same Saturday, two more Napanee rinks
were competing in the annual Farmer’s Bonspiel. The Casselman team (Paul
Dickson skip, Bill Casselman vice, Scott Dickson 2nd and Steve
Cooper lead) had two out of three wins and the Davie team (Ted Skip,
Murray Halliday vice, Paul Spooner 2nd and Bart MacLean lead)
managed one of three wins. This is one of the most enjoyable ‘spiels in
Eastern Ontario and certainly has one of the best prize tables in the
area. Everyone goes home full of wonderful food, a neat prize wherever
you stand, and very satisfied because of their warm hospitality, high
level competition and great ice.
We are not through yet. Two of our curlers, Dave Travers and Steve
Eastlake, were in Renfrew at the annual Army Electrical Mechanical
Engineer NCO bonspiel. Their rink, who won the ‘spiel last year, came in
second this year, losing by a quarter of one point. I believe that is
equivalent to one point of the total scoreboard points for the bonspiel!
That is close. Well done guys and better luck next year.
In Ottawa, on
the same Saturday, a local Junior Mixed team of skip David Staples, vice
Laura Brown, 2nd Scott Chadwick and lead Gillian Moren were
winning the “B” side of the Regionals and will go to the Provincial
playdowns in Marmora on 28-29 March. Congratulations.
Just down the
river at Hawesbury, and yes on the same Saturday, more Napanee curlers
were competing in the Senior Mixed Regional playoffs. The team, skipped
by Andy Palmer with his wife Cathy, and the Bakonyi’s from Trenton, had a
great day but lost in the “B” semi-finals. Well done and better luck next
year.
Not on the
same Saturday, but earlier, our Napanee schoolboys team had won the KASSA
(zones) and the EOSSA (regionals) without comment. Please accept my
apologies for not reporting your curling success earlier. Skip Scott
Chadwick, vice Wes Kerr, 2nd Braden Scott and lead Chris Galamb
are scheduled to play in the Provincials in Grimsby on 28-29 March.
Congratulations! However, if you have been paying attention, you will
undoubtedly have discovered a problem – Scott is already playing in the
Junior Mixed Provincials, on the same dates, in Marmora. I do not
understand! I’ve been curling for nearly 60 years and have never had a
problem like that – and here is young Scott, in his mid-teens, pulled
between two Provincial playoffs on the same date. I am waiting to
see how he handles this predicament. I know that mediocre curlers do not
have these problems.
Last reminder that our ice goes out on April 04th this year
with the traditional Martin & Walters Bonspiel and our General Meeting
scheduled for April 05th at 1 pm. Our annual curling club
banquet is scheduled for 24th April. Avoid the rush, get your
tickets now…
 |
March 4th, 2009 |
Well, the local old guys did it with style
and ease! I’m talking about the Napanee Senior Master’s team (Frank
Dunham, Frank Banks, Kees VanGent and Hugh Sharpe) who won the Regional
playoffs on Friday. That team (often referred to as the Geritol Guys)
represent many years of curling experience and they are now off to the
Provincial finals at Thornhill on March 27th. Reliable rumour
has it that first prize this year is one year free room and board in the
sponsor’s home for the aged - and the loser gets two years of the same!
Good luck guys and if we don’t see you around we will know you won one of
the top prizes.
The Intermediate Zone playoffs were held in Brockville on the weekend.
Apparently, the curling was top notch but our home team (Paul
Dickson, Robert Paul, Paul Murphy and Paul McDonald)
just failed to qualify for the Provincials losing both the “A” side and
“B” side finals in well-played, close games. Good luck to the
Ottawa (Rideau) and Quinte teams who go on and better luck next year to
our local Pauls.
The club leagues play on but there is a noticeable lack of enthusiasm at
the rink as many of our curlers are snow birds down south – and the rest
wished they were. It is a great opportunity for those who wish to curl
more every week as someone is always looking for a spare or two.
If you see people running out of the curling club, don’t be alarmed. It
may just be our weekly fire drill. With a new system just installed, all
curlers are being reminded of what to look or listen for in case of fire
in the club and where to go and how to get there when alerted. It
reminds me of public school drills we all loved as it broke the monotony
of a dull class and may just be a new way of getting away from a game that
is very much not going your way, which we have all had. In fact, I have
had several, quite recently.
A
reminder that the Ontario Men’s Curling Championships (referred to as the
“Tankard”) will be held in Napanee Strathcona Centre next year February
1-7. To be successful, this event will require many volunteers. If you
are interested, and you do not have to be a curler, in helping, please
contact Sandy at 354-7138.
Another reminder that our ice goes out on April 04th this year
with the traditional Martin & Walters Bonspiel and our General Meeting
scheduled for April 05th at 1 pm. Our annual curling club
banquet is scheduled for 24th April. Avoid the rush, get your
tickets now…
 |
February 25th, 2009 |
Another Friday passed and the zone Masters’ playoffs continue. There are
now only two teams remaining for the finals scheduled for next Friday at
the Napanee Club: Napanee’s Frank Dunham, Frank Banks, Kees VanGent and
Hugh Sharpe and the Brown rink from Kingston. As the Napanee team have
already beat the Brown team once in round robin play, the Brown team will
have to beat the Napanee team twice on Friday next to win the right to
represent the Zone at the Provincials. Good curling Frank and his senior
boys.
Last Thursday, Tweed held their annual Senior’s Bonspiel and there was one
rink entered from Napanee. The Ted Davie team with John Deman vice, Paul
Spooner 2nd and Bart MacLean lead won second in their half of
the draw and a cash prize. Very keen ice and very good curling made it a
great day for all the competitors.
The Highland Lassie Ladies Bonspiel was held at Napanee last Saturday. The
well run bonspiel was coordinated by Heather Ramshaw, assisted by sister
Christine, mother Eleanor, Liz Graham, Jennifer Clarkson and Liz Goldie.
Drawmaster was Andy Graham. Food is always a big draw for attending the
Napanee bonspiels and this one was no exception. Breakfast was a
wonderful selection of coffee cakes, yogurt and fruit and was convened by
Eleanor Ramshaw with many helpers. Hugh Goldie piped the ladies for the
first draw onto the ice to give the day that special Scottish connection
and Marj Pearce threw the first ceremonial rock to officially open the
‘spiel. Lunch, convened by Sandi McNamee, and assisted by many, was a
very tasty sherry bisque, quiche, salad and butter tarts that received
raving reviews from the curlers. The prime rib dinner, with all the
wonderful veggies, topped off with a light chocolate crepe, was convened
by Shirley Bush and Barb Graham and their many helpers. Fortunately,
this meal was served after all the curling had been completed. Jack
McNamee and Doug Baker looked after the bar requirements and Frank, Don
and Rick Seigner did the ice preps. Sponsors were Marj Pearce and
Christine Ramshaw (Playground Licensed Childcare Centre) with raffle and
door prizes donated by Michele Penner, Bernice Pringle, Marj Pearce, Mary
Jane Elvins, Christine Ramshaw, June Hicks and Eleanor Ramshaw. Many
thanks to all the contributors who helped make the Highland Lassie what it
was. Oh yes, there was curling too! Sixteen teams from the Cataraqui,
Garrison, Picton, Belleville, Toronto Dixie, Royal Kingston and Napanee
clubs competed for the “silver”.
The top point winners were Judy Poirer’s team from Garrison that included
Bev Bacon, Donna Wright and Cheryl Harvey. The other two game winners
included: second place - Rebecca Murphy from Napanee; third place – Donna
Poirier from the Royal Kingston, skipped by local Gayle Johnson; and
fourth – Heather Ramshaw from Napanee. The best dressed Lassies were the
Roberta Hutchings team from Cataraqui.
The Napanee Intermediate team travel to Brockville this
weekend to compete in the Zone playoffs for the right to represent the
area at the Provincials. Good luck to Robert Paul and the other three
Pauls (Dickson, Murphy and McDonald) as they head out all decked out in
their Lafarge jackets. It must be handy to be able to yell “sweep Paul”
and everyone jumps.
Another reminder that our ice
goes out on April 04th this year with the traditional Martin &
Walters Bonspiel and our General Meeting scheduled for April 05th
at 1 pm. Hoping to see you there….
 |
February 18th, 2009 |
The curling season may be slowing but most of us are having trouble
keeping up with all the curling opportunities and activities at the Club.
This past weekend was a demonstration of all this!
On Friday, Napanee hosted the zone Master playoffs for the older curlers.
Five teams entered the competition, two from Napanee. Once the rocks
were all neatly placed in their corners after the last draw, one of our
rinks had been eliminated. Walter Genereux’s team (vice Ed File, 2nd
Andy Graham and lead Ron Graham) experienced two losses and are out of the
competition. Our other team, skipped by Frank Dunham, vice Frank Banks, 2nd
Kees VanGent and lead Hugh Sharpe, stayed alive and will be back next
weekend to continue the playoffs. Senior seniors still curling enjoy the
advantage of only having to compete twice/day but the competitions do go
on, and on.
Saturday, Cataraqui G&CC hosted the annual Pat Lidd bonspiel. If you ask
ten curlers at the ‘spiel what the words mean you will get ten different
answers so I am unable to interpret for you, and I was there! The number
of rinks is capped at twenty four and it is one of those bonspiels where
it is almost impossible to enter. Those who played this year will have
first offer next year and no one knows who the last rink was that refused
the offer. It is the sort of thing you find in wills being passed on to
the next generation of the same family. Some of us were able to enjoy the
experience because the original entry was short a player – snow birds not
yet returned! There were four teams from Napanee, and others from
Ottawa, Quinte and all Kingston clubs. Walt Genereux’s team (an active
senior who had Friday night to rest before hitting the ice again Sat
morning) with Robert Paul throwing last rocks, Kees VanGent at 2nd
and Ray Snider lead placed third; the Merv Connery rink with Ted Davie
skipping, Al Little vice, Jim Head 2nd and Merv throwing lead
were the highest points single game winner and the Frank Dunham and Ed
File rinks did well too. All enjoyed a wonderful roast beef dinner before
the prize presentation. Oh, by the way, the Brown rink skipped by Larry
Waller won the bonspiel taking home the coveted green fees at the Cat
G&CC. The winner for the past two years, Bob Hales (who apparently got
his start in Adolphustown when he was the Anglican Priest there in the
‘70s) missed out this year by a quarter of a point. Better luck next year
Bob!!
On Sunday, the Club held their annual Pringle Ford Hot Shots competition.
From all reports, it was a great event with some spectacular curling
demonstrations and great moose chilli for all. The event attracted more
than thirty contestants this year with Ken Clancey winning the “car” with
a score of 27 out of a possible 30. Well done Ken!! (Was that the same
Ken Clancey I saw curling Monday night??)
The Monday night playoffs for the Club championship continue. It seems to
be organized to end just about the time the ice goes out and is already
starting to compete with golfing preps for the summer. Nobody seems to
remember how they handled all these activities before retirement….
By the time you read this, the
annual Sweetheart’s Dinner will be over but will still be the talk of the
Town. The highland Lassie Ladies Bonspiel takes place at the Club on
February 21st. It is full but Heather still needs volunteers
to make this work. Those interested and can help, please call Heather at
329-4313. Our ice goes on April 04th this year with the
traditional Martin & Walters Bonspiel with our General Meeting scheduled
for April 05th at 1 pm. Please put these dates on your
calendar to attend and hoping to see you there….
 |
February 11th, 2009 |
As
winter moves on, slowly mind you, the various curling leagues at the Club
are heading for their last stages too. The groundhogs have now assured us
of six more weeks of curling, or was that winter, so we still have time to
perfect our delivery, win a game or even hit the broom, consistently.
Before we know it, we’ll be cutting grass again, wishing for Fall and the
curling season to start. It is a little quieter at the Club these days as
many curlers have gone south to get ready for the golfing season or just
to ‘hang out’ trying to replace that Canadian Pale with some Florida Red.
The
Men’s Monday Night Curling league has completed its final round robin and
has started their club championship double knockout play offs for the top
16 teams. The other 6 teams will continue their curling in a consolation
round robin event. The round robin winners this year were: A Division: 1st
Ken Clancey, Joe Jackemack, Kees Van Gent and Jack McNamee; 2nd
Andy Palmer, Bill Hogg, Steve Paul and Gord Mitchell; B Division: 1st
Paul Dickson, Steve Angel, Darryl Latimer and Darrell Pritchard; 2nd
John Deman, Ted Davie, Paul Spooner, Barton McLean; C Division: 1st
Rob Marriott, Bob Eamer, Mike Wilson and Barry Graham; 2nd Dave
Travers, Steve Eastlake, Steve Cooper and Patrick Mueller. Good curling
in the play offs!
Meanwhile, Napanee men’s rinks have been off bonspieling at
neighbouring clubs with some success. Recently at the Cambellford Super
Senior’s Bonspiel (apparently, you must be over 70 to enter) the Napanee
foursome of Frank Dunham, Hugh Sharpe, Frank Banks and Kees VanGent won
the big prize. And, at the Brighton Senior’s (these are the young guys
over 50) another Napanee foursome of Robert Paul, Hugh Sharpe, Bill
Casselman and Paul Spooner won the runner-up prize money. Great curling
guys and congratulations!
We all wish Dave Travers a speedy recovery and hope to see his
smiling face around the Club soon. His former service buddies in Petawawa
all await his visit to the Senior NCO ‘Spiel. Good luck up there and keep
your heads up, so to speak.
The winner of the Draw 1 Wednesday Men’s League was Bill Hogg, Murray
Halliday, Ron Graham and Gerry McCracken.
The Napanee Town and Country Bonspiel scheduled for February 11th
is full and teams are tuning up their skills for another chance to get to
the prize table.
The final preparations for the Annual Sweethearts Valentine Dinner are
almost complete with only a few tickets remaining. If you haven’t already
done so, call Ron at 378-0401 for tickets and we hope you are not too
late. Members are allowed to bring guests to the dinner, at the member’s
price.
On Sunday, 15 February, the Pringle Ford Hot Shots Competition will be
held at the Napanee Curling Club. I am sure most will remember seeing
this individual competition on television shown annually at the Brier.
Starting at 0900, the competition can accept up to 80 participants and
there are still some openings. The entry fee is $10 that includes a lunch
of moose/venison/beef chili. This is open to men and women curlers. For
those unaware of this competition you are encouraged to visit the Ford Hot
Shots web site for details. If you want to see a live competition, come on
down to the Club on the day.
Last weekend the zone Intermediate playoffs were held in Napanee and the
winning rink was our own Paul Dickson, Robert Paul, Paul McDonald and Paul
Murphy. Congratulations.,
 |
January 28th, 2009 |
You may have heard some noise from the
curling rink on Saturday night as the curlers participating in the Annual
Mixed Bonspiel played out their memories of “Woodstock”, the theme for
this year’s event. The rumors are that the costumes were truly fantastic,
displaying both imagination and ingenuity, with the players acting out
their parts as if they had been to the original event. And, there was some
good curling all weekend too!
Organized by
a committee of Rebecca Murphy, Jane Pearson, Lana Latimer, Cynthia
Woodcock and Phil Wilson, the event was another great success (from both a
fun and financial perspective). The committee, aided by Louise
VanHeighten, had decorated the club to give the necessary atmosphere for
total enjoyment. The drawmasters this year were Phil Wilson (I think he
may have spent the weekend at the Club), Hugh Sharpe and John Deman. In
accordance with the NDCC reputation, the food and bar services were as
good as it gets and were made possible by the hard working volunteers :
Sandi McNamee, Gale Rogers, David Hart, Heather Wemp, Sandy Kennelly,
Michele Penner, Eleanor Ramshaw, Joyce McClelland, Charlene Huffman, Phil
Berry, Christine Peets, Sharon VanGent and Connie Pritchard in the
kitchen. In the bar, we thank Jim and Ann Angel, Sandra Semple, Kees
VanGent, Jim Head, Tom Ayling, Arnold VanHeighton, Jim Peets and Doug and
Heather Baker. For good curling you need good ice and we thank Frank
Dunham and Don Currier for their continued good work ably assisted by Mark
Dunham, Steve Eastlake, Ron Reynolds, Steve Cooper and Robert Hough. The
sponsors for this year’s ‘spiel were Jean Morrison and the Napanee Beaver,
Chris Good’s Commonsense Financial, Grant’s Insurance, Shoeless Joe’s
Restaurant and Home Hardware. Thank you.
The big
winner of the A event on Sunday was the Ron Long rink (Vice Sheri
Henderson, 2nd Steve Henderson and Lead Kirsten Long) from the
Dundas Granite Curling Club. The runner-up was the Alex Tosh rink (Vice
Carole Rivington, 2nd Randy Neal and Lead Nancy Tosh) from the
Royal Kingston Curling Club. The A event Consolation winner was the Donna
Jeffery rink from RKCC (Gord Gillespie Vice, Debbie Gillespie 2nd
and Bruce Jeffery Lead). The B event winner was former Napanee curler
Dave Pallen and his St. Catherine rink (Vice Kristina Vanderlee, 2nd
Brent Craig and Lead Joanne McHenry) and the runner-up was our own Rebecca
Murphy (Vice husband Paul, 2nd Jane Pearson and Lead Jim
Head). In a real family affair, the C event winners were also from the
NDCC as Heather Ramshaw (Vice Scott Buckley, 2nd Kim Dickson
and Lead Duane Buckley) defeated her parents Chris Ramshaw (Vice Eleanor
Ramshaw, 2nd Doug Baker and Leads Heather Baker/Susi Reinick).
Finally, the D event winners from the Trenton CC was the Bob Fish rink
(Catherine Sutherland Vice, Mike Parry 2nd and Catherine Holmes
Lead) with the runner-up from the VanVlack clan out of the NDCC with Skip
Dave, Vice Jordan , 2nd Andrew and Lead Sandy – all VanVlacks.
Congratulations to all the winners.
There is
quite a buzz at the Club about the annual Sweetheart’s Valentine Dinner
scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th. This year’s organizer,
Ron Graham, has been busy with his volunteers organizing the menu and
selling tickets. This is a black tie event for the workers and the ladies
get all dressed up and let their hair down for a well-deserved night out
complete with wine and entertainment. The maximum capacity for this event
is 80 diners and any tickets remaining will be open to non-members as of
January 26th by calling Ron at 378-0401. Cocktails are at 6pm
followed by a delicious three course meal lovingly prepared and served by
the men. If ladies have the time and opportunity, you should put this
event on your calendar. Tickets $25.
The Men’s
Monday Flight curling concluded it’s regular draw this week so playoffs
commence next Monday. See the notice board at the Club, or call Bill at
373-8818, to find out when you curl next Monday night.
 |
January 21st, 2009 |
Well, by now everyone will have read in the local newspapers the big news
that the Tankard Curling Championships will be held in Napanee February
1-7 in 2010. Well, I can confirm that the ten best Ontario Men’s curling
teams in 2010 will be in town to compete for the right to represent
Ontario at the Brier scheduled for Halifax that year. The Napanee and
District Curling Club, in partnership with the Town and the Napanee Sports
Association, will organize and run this event. To be held in the
Strathcona Paper Centre converted to five curling sheets, this event will
add to the momentum created by the U18 Hockey tournament held here last
November of putting Napanee higher on the list of places to go in Ontario
and National for sport. Someone has predicted that we can expect an
economic spinoff of $500,000 in the area from this event. So, we have
earned the right to hold this exciting provincial curling playoff in
Napanee. What remains is the participation and cooperation of our
community, through volunteering, to help make this opportunity a real
success. I know we can count on our club volunteers to step up and help
but not yet sure about the rest of the community although we have a good
record. As the plans develop, we will let you know how you can help.
A reminder to those signed up for the Skip’s Clinic on Sunday, 1st
of February at 1 pm.
The third annual Ladies’ In-Club bonspiel was held on Sunday with 16 club
rinks participating. This event is to give all ladies, especially those
still in the labour market, in our club an opportunity to participate in a
bonspiel. Janet Hobin’s team of Heather Wemp, Liz Griffiths and Missy
Hutcheson won the trophy for most points in the ‘spiel. Second place went
to Jo Sutton’s team of Louise Van Heighten, Anne Whalen-Knapp and Cheryl
Lepine. In third, was Cynthia Woodcock’s team of Donna Poirier, Joyce
Meredith and Diane Davie. In fourth place was Sandy McPherson’s team of
Heather Ramshaw, Cindy Crowson, Anne Angel and Diane Nolting. Well done
to the organizing committee of Benita Murphy, Eleanor Ramshaw, Janet Hobin,
Lorraine Wilson and Liz Graham who did a great job with plenty of help
from many other club members. Breakfast and lunch were provided by
Eleanor Ramshaw assisted by Chris Ramshaw, John Foster and Diane Nolting.
The pot luck dinner was coordinated by Sandi McNamee, Elaine Badgley and
Ingeborg Donald assisted by Roger Cole. Andy Graham was the drawmaster,
Brian Hobin and Jim Peets the registrars and Don Currier looked after the
ice. Bartending duties were handled by Jim Angel, Doug Baker, Tom Ayling
and Jim Head. The committee wishes to thank the ladies who donated the
door prizes. The floral centrepiece was given by Sally Lambert. Other
gifts were donated by Jennifer Clarkson, Jane Hough, Michele Penner,
Eleanor Ramshaw and Liz Graham. Thanks to everyone who helped make the
day such a success.
The Mixed Bonspiel this weekend is full and the party hats have
been ordered. It promises to be a blast if the costumes are anything like
they were last year.
Get involved – curl.
 |
January 14th, 2009 |
Well another year has passed us by and many of us are still curling!
The results from the other curling club leagues for the first session of
curling are in and deserve recognition. Friday night winners were Rebecca
Murphy, Paul Murphy, Jane Pearson and Don Pearson and the runners-up were
Ken Clancy, Beth Clancy, Daryl Latimer and Lana Latimer. Wed Ladies
winners were Gayle Johnson, Donna Poirier and Louise VanHeighten. The
runners-up were Jo Sutton, Cheryl French, Laurie VanStraalen and Deb
Kowalik. The Thursday Ladies winners were Sandi McNamee, Susi Reinink,
Cheryl Scrivens and Sandy Kennelly. Runners-up were
Shirley Bush, Elaine Badgley, Bernice Pringle and Joan Reynolds.
The Tuesday night Mixed winners were
Bill Casselman, Sandra Casselman, Joyce Meredith and Doug Meredith and the
runners-up were Robert Hough, Jane Hough, Arnold VanHeighton and Louise
VanHeighten. The Thursday Men’s winners were
Ian
Munro, Stan Yallup, Steve Cooper and Karl Gray and the runners-up were
Walter Genereux, Ray Moore, Tom Ayling and Mark Baker. Well done to all
the winners of the first session.
The 16th annual “Deacon’s Bench” Senior Bonspiel
was held on Saturday, 10 January with sixteen teams competing for the
“high steaks” organized by Walter Genereux and Ron Graham. There were
eight teams from the host club Napanee and another eight from Brockville,
Royal Kingston, Cataraqui and Brighton. The big three game winners were
the Ron Engly rink from Brockville with the ever present Richard Waller
from the RKCC as the runner-up. Bill Hogg from Napanee was the high two
game winner with the Tony Bush rink from Royal Kingston the runner-up and
the Howard Herron rink, also from the Royal Kingston, in third. Napanee’s
Ian Munro rink won the high one game winner. All those winners won
various quantities of beautiful steaks from Quinn’s Meats. There was a
prize table for the other winners selected in the order that they finished
in the bonspiel. The curling was pretty good but the food, all day, was
better. Shirley Bush provided the breakfast snacks; Jane Hough, Marilyn
Cole and Lorraine Wilson did the lunch and the wonderful beef dinner was
organized and prepared by Elizabeth Vandenberg, Joan Reynolds, Diane
Davie, Eleanor Allison, Sue Sharpe and Barb Graham. Hugh Sharpe was
wielding his huge machete carving the very tasty beef. Hugh was also the
drawmaster ably assisted by the Adolphustown imports of AC Allison and Cor
Vandenberg. Our good ice was maintained by Frank Dunham and Don Currier.
Jeanne and Gerry McCracken, supported by Tom Ayling (he is always helping
somewhere), managed the bar all day. Special mention to the Fox and Brier
Golf Club for their generous donation of the golfing tickets as the raffle
prize and a special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this
bonspiel so memorable for all the participants and maintained the Napanee
high standard we all now expect.
This is the last reminder that on January 18th
there will be a Ladies In-Club Bonspiel and that the annual Mixed Bonspiel
is scheduled for 23-25 January. For entries to the Mixed ‘spiel call
Rebecca at 354-5445.
Welcome to all the new curlers who have joined our club for
the remainder of the season. We hope this is just the beginning of a
wonderful, long relationship. We know you will have fun in our club but
whether or not you win the Provincials or the Brier/Scott’s in time - is
really up to you.
 |
December 24th, 2008 |
Well the
first section of club curling is now over and some of the results are in.
The Monday night Men’s Flight curling league has 22 teams and is divided
into three different divisions. The team of David Staples, Scott Chadwick,
Nick Schroeder and Neil Roberts finished first and Chris Ramshaw’s team
second while Don Currier’s and Walter Genereux’s teams were demoted to B
Division. Brian Chadwick’s team finished first in B division and was
promoted to A Division along with Frank Dunham’s team while the teams of
Rob Marriott and Dave Travers were demoted to C division. Ken Healy’s
team finished first in C Division and was promoted to B Division along
with Brian Hobin’s team. It must be noted that the Staples rink, the only
youth rink in the club, won all their games. It was suggested at the
annual meeting that the Staples rink should spot all other rinks at least
four points to make it a closer contest. Go guys, go and well done!
The only
other league results in at this time are from the Tuesday morning Up &
At'Em league. The winner was the Ed File rink of Lorraine Wilson, Jo
Sutton and Keith Chapman and the runner-up team of Ted Davie, Shelley
Alkenbrack, Barb Graham and Cor Vandenberg.
As
usual, the ice will be unavailable between December 23 – January 2 as the
ice crew will be doing a melt-down, clean and re-flooding to get the ice
in top shape for the next session. Don’t forget to sign up for the
Refresher Clinics to be held Jan 4th.
It is
not too late, although it is getting close, to join our club and get
curling in the next session. Dues are pro-rated considering the curling
time remaining in the season so, don’t delay, call Sandy at 354-7138.
Guys, give your wife/girlfriend a special gift this Christmas by paying
her fees for the rest of the season and let her get out and have fun. Or,
ladies, if you want to get your man out of the house, sign him up for
curling and you may never see him parked in front of the television again.
The
first club bonspiel in the new year will be the Senior Men’s on 10
January. The draw has been posted so good luck to the older member
participants. If you think you are too old to curl, come out and watch
the Seniors and you will realize just how old one can be and still curl.
Sticks have extended our curling time by at least ten years.
On
January 18th there will be a Ladies In-Club Bonspiel and the
annual Mixed Bonspiel is scheduled for 23-25 January. The social side of
the Mixed is something you don’t want to miss. The dress theme this year
is the Woodstock 40th Anniversary. Call Rebecca now at
354-5445.
The
Board of Directors, all curlers and club volunteers wish you all a very
Merry Christmas and a new year filled with hope, health and happiness.
See you at the rink in 2009.
 |
December 10th, 2008 |
It’s amazing how time flies by when you
are having fun! Here it is December and some of the curling leagues
are coming to a close. Anyone interested in joining for the
remaining two thirds of the curling season should make their wishes known
soon as new teams are being formed for the start of the next session.
There are special rates for those joining late with newcomers only paying
for the time left in the season. To join any of the leagues,
interested curlers are asked to contact Membership Director Sandy Eastlake
at 354-7138 and she can tell you what the cost is depending on how
frequently you plan on curling every week. Don’t delay – call now.
One of the leagues with special interest
in new curlers is the Wednesday Evening Ladies League. Designed to
allow working ladies a chance to curl every week, this league is pleading
for more participants to make the league more exciting and more
competitive. Here is a chance to leave hubby at home with the kids
so you can have an evening out with friends getting some fresh air,
exercise and some good clean fun. For those who used to curl before
work took all your time slots, here is a chance to get back in the game.
For those who have not enjoyed the experience – you have already left it
too long and need to get at it, now.
Our Junior programme has really taken off
with over twenty five participants. The numbers, their interest and
the calibre of curling will allow a few teams from the Club to enter some
Regional competitions to wet their appetites on that part of curling.
The Junior Director, Dave Travers, and his curler assistants, is very
pleased with the enthusiasm of the Junior curlers and their curiosity to
learn more about the game. Thankfully, several parents have
taken a keen interest in the programme too which has really helped the
kids and the instructors. Like the other leagues, it is not too late
for Juniors to join the programme by calling Dave Travers at 373-0016 or
Sandy Eastlake at 354-7138.
A Refresher Clinic will be held at the
Club on January 4th from 1 – 3 pm. New curlers and experienced
curlers interested in improving their delivery should sign up on the
sheets posted in the Club. Free instruction is available to anyone
who wishes to take the time. If you just want to practice, that is
also a good time to do so before the curling takes off again after the New
Year.
A Skips Clinic will be held at the Club on
Saturday 17 January run by Andy Palmer. For those curlers interested in
advancing to the highest level on a team, come and learn what Skips need
to know tactically to maximize the chances of winning. Once you know
the shot required, all you have to do then is to make the shot.
Deciding the right shot for the player is important, the second part is to
get the amount of ice required and the weight necessary to make the shot.
Come and learn how this is done, perhaps not to be a Skip but to learn
more about the game so that you can understand what is happening during
the game and get more enjoyment when curling.
 |
December 3rd, 2008 |
On
Saturday the Napanee Curling Club was filled with female curlers from far
and wide participating in the annual Ladies Open Bonspiel. Heather
Ramshaw, the Ladies Bonspiel Director, coordinated the event ably
supported by Eleanor Ramshaw and Jennifer Clarkson. Bea Moore and
Kim Dickson greeted all the rinks as they arrived and helped administer
the event during the day.
The 16 teams included 7 from the Royal Kingston, teams from Ottawa,
Carleton Place, Garrison and 7 from Napanee. The top point
winners were Donna Poirier’s Team with curlers from the Royal Kingston (RKCC)
and Napanee & District Curling Club (NDCC) with 35 1/2 points. The
team was skipped by Gayle Johnson, vice Nancy Tosh and second Louise
VanHeighton. The other two game winners included: second place -
Betty Bush’s team from the Royal Kingston Culring Club (RKCC), third place
– Hilary Casey’s team from the Riverside Curling Club in Ottawa and fourth
– Judy Poirer’s team from the Garrison Curling Club in Kingston.
Rounding out the top 8 teams who were all offered a wonderful selection
from the prize table included – Benita Murphy’s team, Jane Hough’s team,
and Rebecca Murphy’s team (all from the NDCC) and Maelane Hums team from
the Carleton Place Curling Club.
If you like eating the curling club is the
place to be. Saturday’s fare maintained our reputation as the best
food on the curling circuit. Eleanor Ramshaw and her team
provided a wonderful breakfast of cakes, yogurt and fruit, Ingeborg
Donald and her helpers served a delicious sandwich/soup lunch and Beth
Clancey and her team served an incredible stuffed pork dinner withal the
trimmings plus Doris Oglie’s apple pie. I suspect all the ladies
were on their treadmills on Sunday!
No club can run a bonspiel without the
usual volunteers giving their time and talents to make it all happen.
Bar Captain Doug Baker and his elves Ed File, Phil Wilson, Brian Woodcock,
Jack McNamee, Ken Clancey, Mark Baker, Tom Ayling and Linda Veley looked
after the ladies’ thirst needs. Frank Dunham and Don Currier, and
their many helpers, looked after the ice. The ladies seemed
very pleased with the keenness and curl of the ice.
Our sponsors were Sharon VanGent and
Jennifer Clarkson. Raffle and Door Prizes were donated by Michele
Penner, Bernice Pringle (Community Living), Jennifer Clarkson, Norma
Jackemeck, Eleanor Ramshaw, Christine Peets, Pat Benn, Debbie Currier,
Jane Hough and June Hicks.
A great time was had by all involved and
special thanks to Heather for all her work and the good results.
Michele Penner has organized a Napanee and
District Curling Club food drive to support the community needs through
the Salvation Army. This is the last week to bring in your donations
(place them in the Christmas decorated boxes just inside the door) as the
drive ends 9 December. Thanks Michele for reminding us of all those
in need at this time and giving us the opportunity to share.
Don’t forget to attend the General Curling
Meeting on Sunday 7 December at 1 pm.
 |
November 26th, 2008 |
The Napanee & District Curling Club is nearing the completion of the first
draw of curling prior to the holiday break. Curlers in all leagues are
putting their best game(s) together hopefully to be inscribed forever on
one of the coveted trophies. Your league Directors will soon be posting
sign up sheets for the second draw so remember to find these lists to
ensure you are entered in the next draw. If you are not curling in any
particular league but want to, please call the applicable Director so
he/she has your name. Also, any curler or new members wanting to join and
curl for the rest of the season, please call Sandy Eastlake 613-354-7138.
For those who are not sure who to call the list of the Executive is posted
in the lounge and there are 2008/2009 telephone directories with all
members’ numbers available.
Your new Bar Directors Doug and Heather Baker want to thank all volunteers
to date but especially thank the monthly Bar Captains: David VanVlack, Tom
Ayling, Barry Brummel, Jim Angel, Jack McNamee and Paul McDonald for all
their many hours helping with the day to day requirements of running an
efficient bar. They further thank all members who step forward and do bar
duty after each and every curling draw.
Frank Dunham and Don Currier, your ice technicians are doing a terrific
job giving us clean, keen ice to curl on. Lets support them by not wearing
fuzzy clothing and removing knees and hands (as soon as possible) from the
ice surface.
Saturday the 29th of November is our Ladies Open and Heather
Ramshaw invites all of you to come out and see some terrific curling.
Sunday, 7th December is our Semi-Annual General Meeting at 1
pm. All members are asked to come out and support your directors and the
decisions that need to be made each and every year to keep the club viable
and running smoothly. If you have not yet received your agenda by email or
snail mail please call Elizabeth Vandenberg 613-373-0099. There are extra
‘ proxies’ in the mail box on the kitchen counter so if you cannot make
the meeting give your proxy to someone who is…your vote is important to
the club as a whole. Sandy Eastlake
 |
November 19th, 2008 |
MEN’S OPEN A BIG SUCCESS
The
Napanee curling community were busy on the weekend with the 40th
Annual Men’s Open Bonspiel – either curling, watching or volunteering to
provide the many meals and bar services. Phil Wilson chaired the other
volunteers on the bonspiel committee. Although the number of rinks
entered was down this year from last, there were 24 entries from far and
very far: Royal Kingston and Cataraqui, Tweed, Winchester, Oshawa,
Carleton Heights, Scarborough, Kemptville, St. Catherines, Ottawa, and
North Grenville; some new faces and many familiar ones but, encouragingly,
many younger curlers in attendance! There were six local entries. The
Drawmaster was Hugh Sharpe assisted by his team of volunteers.
Friday afternoon, as all were gathering at the Club for their first game,
curlers were given hot soup and “make your own sandwiches” coordinated by
Sharon Van Gent and Eleanor Ramshaw. After 7: 30 pm, curlers were
treated to a Friday Night Wing Ding with delicious Chicken Wings sponsored
by Rice Financial and served by Christine Ramshaw and her crew. Nobody
wanted to go home and there were still wings left when the bar closed.
A
Saturday pancake and sausage breakfast was available for the morning
curlers prepared by Diane Davie and all her volunteers. Curling continued
for some and before we knew it Linda Blake and her group were offering a
hot chili lunch with all the butter tarts you could eat. You should be
seeing the pattern by now: we offer the visiting rinks so much food they
can barely wiggle their ears and then we invite them to curl. It does
give our local rinks a distinct advantage. Of course, the piece de
réstistance has always been the Saturday night roast beef dinner and this
year was no exception. It was a fantastic meal, topped off with home-
made pie, coordinated by Moira Sickling and her team of volunteers. Now
even the local teams were starting to waddle. Despite all this food, and
some drink, the curling continued - some winning and the other half
losing. By late Saturday night it was determined which teams would be
there again on Sunday for the final and deciding games, ie, those taking
home prizes.
Frank
and Joan Banks prepared the Sunday breakfast for the morning curlers. The
semi-finals were played and then lunch was served by Janet Hobin for those
competing in the four event finals. In the end, the Garth Mitchell rink
from St. Catherines won the A event (sponsored by Home Hardware) final,
taking home the $1000 prize plus next year’s entry fee to the Men’s
Bonspiel donated by Lafarge(Ottawa),defeating the Don Currier rink from
Napanee. All other winning and runner-up teams selected their prizes from
a very attractive prize table. The B event (sponsored by Joyce’s Meat &
Deli) was won by Cataraqui’s Ivan Suddergaard defeating Richard Roessner’s
rink from St. Catherines. The C event (sponsored by Burke Printing) was
won by Rob Dickson’s team from Tweed who defeated the John Deman foursome
from Napanee. The D event (sponsored by Woodcock’s 401 Automotive & Tire)
was won by the David Staples’ rink from St. Catherines who defeated the
Robert St. Pierre team from Winchester. Other generous sponsors included:
Shoeless Joe’s, M&M Meat Shops, Moore Bros., George Grant Insurance,
Optometrist Dr. Palmer, Barry Brummel of Wager & Myatt Real Estate,
McCutcheon Insurance, Mainstay Natural Foods, Hart n’ Hart, AM sports,
Napanee G&CC and Emmons Welding. Without our sponsors and volunteers,
there would be no bonspiel. A heartfelt thanks to both, again. And well
done Phil!!
 |
November 12th, 2008 |
CURLERS FOCUS ON HOCKEY
It’s
not often that the Napanee curling community is focused on hockey but this
past week was certainly one of those times. The National Women's U18
Hockey Championships really were the only games in town this week and what
a fantastic display of hockey they put on for those many who took the time
to go and watch. I’m not qualified to comment on what they did or how
well they did it but I do want to report on something that was very
obvious to me during the week at the Strathcona Paper Centre.
The
volunteer spirit of the curling club flowed over into the organization of
the U18 hockey this week, big time. Wherever you looked this past week,
you saw volunteers from the curling club busily engaged in the many duties
they had accepted. Eleanor Ramshaw, and her curling teammates, provided
all the lunches for all the volunteers, all week. And, Sandi
McNamee, and her curling teammates, provided all the dinners for
all the volunteers, all week. These were contract arrangements with the
Host Organizing Committee for food services and the money earned went to
the curling club. There was no money involved for the Security team but
John Deman had recruited many curlers who were involved with that all week
too. And, everywhere you looked, in so many other areas in the U18
organization, you saw curlers doing their thing for the community. And,
for those curlers who were not able to volunteer to help, they came to
watch games whenever they could. So, from my biased perspective, Napanee
curlers can be very proud of their contribution and support of this latest
wonderful, and successful, Napanee event.
Meanwhile, back at curling, the Club is busy preparing for the Mens Open
Bonspiel starting Friday, 14 Nov, running all weekend with the finals on
Sunday. The Ladies Open bonspiel will be held two weeks later on 29 Nov.
Come and watch some good curling, at the smaller Napanee rink, and enjoy
the friendly atmosphere at the Club. The next general curling meeting for
all members will be held at 1 pm on Sunday 7 Dec.
 |
November 5th, 2008 |
It didn’t take long for curlers to get in
the swing (and sweep) of things. All leagues are well underway and all
those with some Club responsibility are busy trying to deal with those
details we all knew would arrive but not sure what or where they would be.
We are enjoying excellent ice which, for
those of us still struggling with the game, causes some frustration as we
cannot, honestly, blame missed shots on the ice! Thanks to Frank, and his
many helpers, for giving us such wonderful ice. Our guest curlers coming
for the Men’s Open Bonspiel, on 14th – 16th November, and the Ladies Open,
29th November, will be in for a real treat. There are still openings for
teams wishing to curl in the Men’s so, if interested, call Phil Wilson
373-2252.
If members have not yet volunteered to
help at one of the bonspiels, or for the many jobs we need to do as
volunteers at the Club, don’t be shy. Step right up and ask any of the
Directors what you would like to do or what needs volunteers and I’m sure
we can fit you in someplace, sometime. A reminder that we are able to keep
our curling fees low, compared to other clubs in the area, only because we
do much with volunteers versus hiring personnel that then costs the Club
which has to be passed on the members. Volunteering is a win-win
situation.
The 2008-2009 NDCC telephone directories
are now available at the Club. Thanks again to Burke Printing for their
continuing support for these directories.
And, it is not too late to curl. Come and
see us, or call Sandy at 354-7138 and we should be able to accommodate
your needs. We are very interested in more Junior curlers and all queries
can be addressed to Dave Travers at 373-9916.
It will be a little quieter at the curling
Club this week as so many curlers are volunteers at the U18 National
Womens U18 Hockey Championship being held at the Strathcona Paper Centre.
Support your community and Womens hockey in Canada by watching a game or
two, around your curling.
 |
October 29th, 2008 |
Welcome back to another season of curling.
This year we have 244 members; 23 of whom are new to the club and/or to
curling in general. I would like to thank, Ian Munro and Andy Palmer
for their time and talents ensuring our new and returning members had some
instruction prior to their first game. Frank Dunham, our Ice Technician
thanks Don Currier, Rick Siegner,
Steve Eastlake and Tom Ayling for their assistance in the preparation of
the ice this year. The superb painting on the ice was carried out by Rick
& Phil of Capital Painting Ottawa. Our House Directors Bill Ryan and Gord
Mitchell give special thanks to Chris Ramshaw for the major renovation job
in the club kitchen/bar area helping to ‘spruce up the club’. All that and
a new floor in the kitchen too! It looks so much brighter and better –
thanks from all curling members.
Your new Board of Directors/assistants:
President/Men’s Section- Bill Hogg, VicePresident/Kitchen – Sandi McNamee,
Mixed Section- Cindy Woodcock, Ladies’ Section - Janet Hobin/Gayle
Johnson, Junior –Dave Travers, Ladies’ Bonspiels - Heather Ramshaw,
Men’s/Mixed Bonspiels –Phil Wilson, Fundraising - Christine Ramshaw, Ice /OCA
Rep- Steve Eastlake, House –Bill Ryan and Gord Mitchell, Rentals – Shirley
Bush, Membership – Sandy Eastlake/Ted Davie. Your treasurer Lia Dufour and
secretary Elizabeth Vandenberg are busy with one set of books or another.
This season in the various leagues we have: Mon Men - 22 teams; Wed Men -
10 teams; Thurs Men - 14 teams; Tues Up & At'Em - 17 teams; Tues Mixed -
11 teams; Fri Mixed - 16 teams; Wed Ladies - 7 teams; Thurs Ladies - 11
teams. Juniors have 20 curlers with more to register. A reminder, juniors
get to try curling without paying until the third week and no expensive
equipment is
needed so call Dave Travers at 373-0016 if interested.
We wish to thank our sponsors who have participated in our curling club
advertising programme:“on ice advertisement” is Colour Connection, A & M
Sports, Country Traditions Frozen Foods, Exit Reality, Tim Hortons, Centre
Street Auto, Napanee Opticians and Murray Drywall; Button advertisement is
Bert's Golf, Tammy's Country Kitchen, Scotia Bank and Home Hardware
Building Centre; and Wall advertisement is Wagar & Myatt Ltd Real Estate
Brokers, Goodyear Canada, Doyle's Winsows, George A Grant Insurance
Brokers Inc, Napanee Beaver, Pringle Ford, Giant Tiger, D & L Carpentry &
Kitchen Design, Colio Estates Wine, Canadian Awning & Canvas Residential,
The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, Quinns Meats, Sign Me Up
Hart 'N Hart, M & M Meats, Patricia Dafoe Insurance Agency Inc and
Woodcock's 401 Automotive & Tire Centre.
Your Bar and Kitchen Directors have compiled their lists for volunteer
duties, so please check for your name as to which Bonspiel, event, duty
you are slated for. The Volunteer Chart in the foyer is posted for your
viewing pleasure!!! I believe Sandi McNamee is still looking for a few
Captains – great opportunity: less cooking, more organizing!
The telephone directories are ready for pick up thanks to the sponsorship
of Burkes’ Printing. There are lots of other periodicals/notices at the
Information Centre and on various bulletin boards so take a look this
week.
This past weekend, Napanee teams had a clean sweep at the Royal Kingston
Senior's Bonspiel: Winners Robert Paul, Paul Dickson, John Deman and Bill
Creighton and the runners-up: Walter Genereux, Ken Clancy, Bill Casselman
and Kees VanGent. Congratulations and what a great start to the season.
Remember to mark your calendar for the Men’s Open Bonspiel - 14th – 16th
November; Ladies Open - 29th November and the General Meeting Sunday the
7th of December at 1 pm.
I thank the Napanee Beaver who generously print our curling article every
week as yet another donation to the club. Many thanks.
 |
October 22nd, 2008 |
Well,
the 2008 curling season started off with some good and some bad
experiences!
First, the good experience. The 6th Annual “Swing and Sweep”
event, organized by Heather Ramshaw and Kim Dickson, was held on Saturday
and by all reports it was a great experrience, again. The event started
off in the morning with a Shot Gun start at the Napanee Golf Club. A soup
and sandwich lunch at the curling club by Eleanor Ramshaw was available
for participants at noon with normal bar services provided by Dave
VanVlack and Gerald McCracken. The two four end curling games followed
lunch with everyone enjoying the new, beautiful ice provided by Frank
Dunham and his many volunteer helpers. Everyone worked up an appetite for
the delicious dinner prepared by the organizers mothers (Eleanor Ramshaw
and Chris Moore), Sandi McNamee and other curlers. Thanks to Bea Moore
who tirelessly worked in the kitchen all day. At the curling club,
everyone pitches in and helps as necessary. That is part of the great
curling club experience in Napanee.
Christine Ramshaw prepared an amazing raffle table with donations by many
local sponsors with all monies going towards the 2008-2009 Fundraising
campaign. Thanks to our local sponsors.
A
Swing and Sweep plaque, with the 5 previous winners inscribed, was donated
by Chris and Eleanor Ramshaw and presented to the winners; Paul Dickson,
Steve Angel, Daryl Latimer and Robert Dickson. The Runner-up team was
Bill Hogg, Mark Dunham and Heather Ramshaw. Other prizes went to: Robert
Dickson for the Men’s Closest to the Pin, and Paul Murphy for the Men’s
Longest Drive. Joyce Meredith won both the Ladies prizes: Longest Drive
and Closest the Pin. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all
participants and all those who made this event so successful and so much
fun.
And
now, some thoughts about the not so good experience. The organization of
curling clinics this year was a disaster and the person responsible should
try again next year. Well, that was me and I apologize to all those
inconvenienced and disappointed by this lack of attention to detail and
circulation of information in a timely manner. I will try it again next
year. Being away at the time did not help and when I did return my system
was not receiving e-mails, so even your complaints were not received.
Please accept my apology and feel free to remind me of my shortcomings at
the rink. My thanks to Sandy for trying to pick up the pieces.
See
you there.
 |
March 30th, 2008 |
Last
Wednesday the RKCC held their annual Grandmother/Great Aunt Bonspiel and
four rinks from Napanee competed. The theme was 'Support our Troops" and
96 ladies did just that, most in red with “Support our Troops” ballcaps,
etc. An Izzy Doll pattern was sent to all participants in the hope that
the bonspiel could collect a few to send to our troops for distribution to
children around the world on their patrols. A representative from Base
Kingston was the guest speaker and the ladies turned over 537 dolls -- 100
of them came from the Napanee Teams. Sandi McNamee, Norma Jackemeck, Heather
Baker and Diane Davie won both games and came 5th out of 24 rinks.
The Napanee rink of Walter Genereux, Ray
Snider, Ed File and Andy Graham were in Thornhill this weekend for the 2nd
Annual Provincial Grand Masters Curling Championships. This level is
limited to those curlers over 70 years old, so not all can compete!
Having previously won the Zone 4 playoffs, the Genereux rink represented
us well ending up as the runners-up in the Second event and were defeated
by well known provincial champ Joe Gurowski. Now that everyone knows your
ages (roughly) you can expect to see much more respect both at the Club
and on the street. Congratulations for putting Napanee on the Ontario
curling map.
The annual Martin & Walters, the final
curling club event of the year, was held Saturday and was great fun for
the sixteen teams. Convenor John Deman and statistician Sandy Eastlake
kept all entertained while Sandi McNamee ensured all hungers were sated
and Jim/Anne Angel quenched all thirsts. This is not your normal curling
bonspiel. Every end is designed to be different and presents various
challenges like curling around/through pylons, delivering your rock with a
stick, discovering it’s not the closest rock to the button that scores but
the ones in the house farthest from the button, etc. That’s why it’s
called a funspiel. The winners this year were Paul Spooner, Al Thompson,
Phil Berry and Jim Peets beating Robert Hough, Jane Hough, Frank and Mark
Dunham by just one end. All curlers picked out one of the many prizes
generously donated by Country Traditions, Mr. Sub, Pizza Hut, Flowers by
Barbara, La Pizzeria, Movies ‘N More, Paul’s Pizzeria, Dairy Queen and the
Smiling Wilderness Family Restaurant. Keeping with tradition, the curlers
then gorged themselves with a three table pot luck and those that were
still able tried their hand at the barefoot draw to the button turkey/ham
toss won by Steve and Sandy Eastlake. Many participants helped throughout
the day and we thank you all for helping us make this a funfilled ending
to the 2007/2008 curling season.
The annual general meeting was held at the
Club on Sunday. We can happily report that the Club had a good year and
remains financially stable, thanks mainly to our volunteers and our
advertising supporters. Thanks to all the Directors, plus the Treasurer
and Secretary, who managed our Club this year. Special thanks goes to
John Deman, outgoing President, and Bill Hogg, incoming President. We are
always happy to see new faces at the Club and we hope more in the area
will be curious enough to come out in the Fall when curlers get together
again for a season of fun – together - and see for themselves.
This is the final reminder that the annual
curling Banquet will be held at the Club on Friday, 18 April. This is an
evening of cocktails, dinner and dance overshadowed by FUN so call and get
your tickets from Sandy at 354-7138.
As this is the last article this season, I
thank the Beaver for their generosity and cooperation in printing
our weekly article on curling activities in Napanee. Hopefully, I will be
writing to you again in the Fall. Have a great summer and stay in shape
for curling next season.
 |
March 19th, 2008 |
The
Napanee & District Curling Club is now into its last two weeks of curling
and all members are trying their best for their final chance to get their
name on one of the coveted trophies…Good luck and good curling to all 280
of you. This has been a prosperous season for us with all our bonspiels
being successful thanks to the hard work of club volunteers. I have never
been part of a club with an 88% volunteer rate and I personally thank all
of you. For you other 12%, next season will have plenty of opportunities
for you to get this rate even higher.
Club teams representing us
at other Club Bonspiels have been successful too. Added to the events
already written about is the 7th Annual Marvin Valensky Memorial
Stickspiel (an event which raises funds for the Kingston Chapter of the
Kidney Foundation) at the Royal Kingston Curling Club; Hugh Sharpe, Ed
File, Don Currier and Ric Jones were the bonspiel winners Ron Graham's
team with Chris Ramshaw skipping, Ron vice, Heather and Christine Ramshaw
came in second. Christine also came in second in the ‘draw to the button’
shoot out. She was just inches away from the button and donated the $100
prize back to the Kidney Foundation. Wow, what club representation!!
Meanwhile, Andy and Cathy Palmer/Paul and Rebecca Murphy won the D
Event of the Trenton Mixed skins. Way to go guys!!
The Monday Mens are down to three final teams
vying for the Mens Club Championship. Robert Paul, Robert Hough, Paul
McDonald, Paul Murphy in A is patiently waiting to play the B side winner
whose final game is between Ken Clancey, Joe Jackemeck, Mark Dunham, Jack
McNamee versus Walter Genereux, Ray Snider, Jim Head, Barry Small. By the
time you read this article one of these teams will have won and will be
playing Robert Paul on Monday 24th of March.
Your league directors are
busy compiling the awards to be presented the last week of curling; the
bonspiel crew and Kitchen/Bar Directors are busy preparing for the closing
Martin and Walters – March 29th; your Vice President is trying to ensure
all will be ready for the banquet – April 18th ; and all
directors along with the secretary and treasurer are typing their reports
for the closing General Meeting – March 30th at 1 pm. All these
and more are posted on the easel for your information. See you on the
ice…….Sandy Eastlake
 |
March 12th, 2008 |
Ted
Davie is doing a great job on this article but he is away at the Brier so
you will have to put up with my write-ups for a couple of weeks.
The “Hot Shots”
competition convened by Chris Ramshaw with Christine as his assistant and
Eleanor making a delicious chili lunch was great fun. Twenty-two curlers
raised, tapped, doubled and drew their best to be the annual Hot Shot
winner; thanks to the sponsorship of Larry Pringe, Pringle Ford. This
seasons’ winner was Case VanGent with runner up Cheryl Scrivens. The B
event winner was Cynthia Woodcock with runner up Sandy Eastlake…Better
luck next year, guys!!!!
The second draw for Thursday men's had Ian Munro, Dave Haines,
Grant Miller, Dennis Snider as the winning team with Brian Chadwick, Jack
McNamee, Phil Berry, Terry Young in 2nd place. Most of our
leagues are now into their last draw --- where did the curling season go
--- although the winter itself can be over any day now!!! The other
league(s) second draw winners are not available to me at this time so
check out our informative Web Site
www.ndcc.ca maintained by Heather Ramshaw or on the tables in Rebecca
Murphy’s monthly Newsletter. Thanks ladies.
The sign up sheet for helpers for the Banquet Friday, 18th
April is posted and tickets are available from Bill Hogg (convenor),
Shirley Bush, myself, Jane Hough, Janet Hobin, Gayle Johnson and Angela
Cronk. Also posted is the sign up sheet for our annual closing
“Martin&Walters” which is great fun for members, family and friends. The
convenor John Deman has a few surprises up his sleeve and the pot luck
supper is always a mouth watering display of many different dishes.
Your agenda for the closing General Meeting Sunday, 30th
March at 1 pm has been emailed and there are copies for those without
email on the kitchen counters or our Web Site. This year 7 of our 12
Directors’ terms are up and although some of them have agreed to stay for
another term we really need members who have not served to step forward
and fill the vacant positions. Your current outgoing Directors have
approached a lot of you already or will be doing so soon. So please review
the nomination form and volunteer to do your part to ensure the continued
prosperity of this your curling club. See you on the ice……….Sandy
Eastlake
 |
February 27th, 2008 |
In case you missed them,
the Highland Lassies have come and gone for another year. If you missed
the colour and the swirl of tartan kilts you may have heard the piercing
sound of the bagpipes. Master Piper, and NDCC member, Hugh Goldie added
some pomp and ceremony as he “piped” the participating lady curlers on the
ice for the two first draws. You had to be there to appreciate just how
special it can be. The annual ladies bonspiel, coordinated by Heather
Ramshaw and her always supporting family members Eleanor and Christine,
with the assistance of Liz and Andy Graham, was a wonderful experience for
the 16 teams involved. This year there were representative teams from
Toronto (2), Picton, RKCC (6), Cataraqui, Garrison and Napanee (5). The
food, ice and hospitality maintained the Napanee standard of ‘second to
none’. Rebecca Murphy’s Napanee team of Jane Pearson, Cindy Woodcock and
Lana Latimer was the top point winner with second place going to Judy
Poirier’s Garrison team, third place to Grace Armstrong’s Picton team and
fourth place to Colleen Bennett’s Royal Kingston team. Rounding out the
top 8 teams who were all offered a wonderful selection from the prize
table included Fran Cooney’s RKCC team, Jordan VanVlack’s NDCC team,
Benita Murphy’s NDCC team and Mary Jane Elvin’s NDCC team. Well done to
the many volunteers who made this bonspiel another NDCC success and thank
you for your time and talents.
The second round of the Tuesday morning Up & At’Em league was won by
Sandi McNamee (George Elliott, Rick Siegner and Jennifer Clarkson) with
two teams tied for the runner-up: Ted Davie (Elaine Badgley, E.
Vandenberg/M. Therien and Bill Neville) and Sandy Eastlake (Rich Libby,
Shelley Alkenbrack and Marg Martin).
An important aspect of developing and maintaining curling as a
recreational choice in Napanee is our Junior curling programme. For
reasons not completely understood, we have been having some difficulty
attracting enough junior curlers to come out to learn about the game.
However, Ian Munro continues the programme and was pleased to host the
Eastern Ontario Junior Curling League and the Eastern Ontario
Little Rock League teams at the NDCC on 17 February. Napanee did
not have any curlers in the Bantam or Junior teams but had two Little Rock
teams (under 12). Both teams played well and the players reported that
they enjoyed their first ever experience at this level of competition.
The next event for our Little Rock curlers is the Moo Spiel in Trenton in
early March and curlers are preparing enthusiastically for their second
appearance in that annual event.
Despite our lack of Junior curlers feeding the system, we are
seeing some success this year for our high school curlers. Mark Dunham
has continued to work with high school students interested in curling for
several years with mixed results. He himself was a product of a school
curling programme which produced many wonderful curlers, some still in the
club. Mark is very pleased with his NDSS Boy’s School team this year.
The team led by the very competent young curler Scott Chadwick includes
Wes Kerr, Justin Murray and Chris Galamb. Last week, in Kingston, they
won the KASSAA (Kingston Area Secondary School Athletic Association)
playoffs and will represent our area in the EOSSAA (Eastern Ontario
Secondary School Athletic Association) held in Garrison Mar 5-6. Napanee
supports you all the way to the National Schoolboy’s Championship! Go for
it NDSS – and good curling.
 |
February 20th, 2008 |
I think the town is still buzzing with the excited talk of the success of
the Sweethearts Dinner held at the club for our Ladies on 13 February.
All those fancy dressed men, under chief cook and bottle washer Jim Angel,
did well to organize, prepare and serve a very good meal with all the
trimmings. Thanks to all the men who participated and helped make the
evening memorable. I discovered we did have some outside help that should
be recognized: Heather Baker provided the wonderful dessert selections and
Sandi McNamee roasted the potatoes for us. Thanks ladies. We obviously
needed your help. Special thanks to John Stimpson who provided wonderful
mood music on piano and guitar during the entire dinner and then music for
dancing following the meal. It was a very nice touch and added greatly to
the success of the night. Ladies should mark their calendars for next
year’s similar event now.
Walter has pulled it off yet again! On
Friday, the finals for the Zone Grand Masters were held at the Club and
Napanee has another winner this year. Walter Genereux (teammates Ray
Snider, Ed File and Andy Graham) won the privilege to represent this Zone
at the Provincial playoffs in Thornhill the weekend of 28-30 March by
defeating the Hutchinson team from Tweed. Who says there isn’t much sport
left in men over 70?
Unknown to
me last week was the good news that another Napanee rink had won a local
bonspiel. Gayle Johnson (vice Kim Pringle, second Kelly Roantree, and
lead Louise VanHeighten) won the Queen of the Castle bonspiel in Picton on
09 February. Well done ladies and thank you for spreading the ever
increasing curling reputation of Napanee.
The results
of the first curling league draw are published; a bit late but better late
than never. Monday night Mens: A Draw: Ian Munro and Paul Dickson,
B Draw: Bob Marriott and C Draw: Cam McFadyen; Up & At’em: Ray
Snider and Jean Morrison; Tuesday Mixed: Marc Babcock; Wednesday
Seniors: Dave Travers; Wednesday Ladies:June Hicks; Thursday
Ladies: Michele Penner; Thursday Mens: Ian Munro and Friday
Mixed: Ken Clancey. Congratulations to all winners and their teams.
Curling
watchers are reminded that the Ladies Highland Lassie bonspiel will be
held at the club on Saturday, 23 February.
 |
February 13th, 2008 |
BONSPIEL
TIME
It is
February and that means bonspiel after bonspiel after various levels of
provincial playoffs. It’s hard to keep up with all the activity. This
past week for Napanee curlers was no exception.
On
Wednesday, Jack McNamee coordinated the annual Town & Country one-day
bonspiel at the NDCC. There were two last minute cancellations but the
remaining fourteen rinks played two eight end games each and between games
were treated to a delicious meal provided by Sandi McNamee and her team in
the kitchen. Congratulations to the bonspiel winner skip Walter Genereux
and his team of Don Walker, Ray Snider and, import lead from RKCC, Ernie
Carter. Apparently, the success was mainly due to their import! As
usual, there was plenty of bird seed to go around for the other
competitors.
On Friday,
the Club hosted the first level of the Zone Playoffs for the Provincial
Senior Masters. Napanee was represented by Walter Genereux (teammates Ray
Snider, Ed File and Andy Graham) and Frank Dunham (teammates Hugh Sharpe,
Frank Banks and Ron Reynolds). There were also a rink from Quinte and
another from Tweed. After the dust settled, Genereux was the two game
winner and received a bye to the finals. Dunham and Tweed (both one game
winners) square off next Friday morning at the Club and the winner of that
game gets to play Genereux in the afternoon but must beat him twice to
advance to the Provincials in Thornhill. How many other sports provide
opportunities for provincial competition for those over 70 years of age?
Just another advantage of the game of curling that one appreciates as we
get older.
On Saturday,
four Napanee rinks entered the 25th Annual Pat Lid Bonspiel at
the Cataraqui CC. Congratulations to the Frank Dunham rink (John Deman,
Robert Hough and Murray Halliday) for tying for second. Some may wonder
when Frank has time to maintain our wonderful ice!!
All friends,
family and fellow curlers congratulate Rob Dickson and his rink for making
it to the Provincial playoffs in Waterloo last week. We were all
disappointed (probably nothing compared to Rob and his teammates) with the
final results there but we are all still are in awe of their success just
to get to Waterloo. Thinking of the thousands of Ontario curlers who
would have been very proud just to make it through even one level of the
competition required to get to Waterloo, it was a fantastic accomplishment
for Rob and his team to represent the zone at these Provincial Brier
playoffs. They should be proud, as we are, of their curling success. It
seems to me that Howard and the rest were just fortunate that the Dickson
rink didn’t find their groove earlier. Beating Middaugh in the 10th
draw and Lobel (one of the finalists) in the 11th draw, must of
felt reeeaaal good. There will be another day, Rob, and look at the
experience you are collecting at your age. Let this be a warning order for
future Brier hopefuls in Ontario: the Dicksons will be back!
 |
February 6th, 2008 |
SWEETHEARTS
VALENTINE DINNER
Well, it’s
that time of year again when our thoughts turn to romance (hard to believe
that only happens once a year now) and the curling club is abuzz about the
annual Sweethearts Valentine Dinner. Traditionally, on a night close to
Valentines Day, the men of the club hold a dinner for the ladies in the
club, and guests too when there is space available. And when I say
“hold”, I mean the men organize, prepare, cook and serve a special dinner
for their loved ones with minimal assistance from the women. It’s hard
not to get a lot of free advice. This year the dinner will be held on
Wednesday, February 13th. The night starts at 6 pm with the
“gathering” of the guests at the curling club, dressed to the hilt, who
are greeted by men in “fancy” attire. The guests are served choices of
tasty hors d’oeuvres and offered the cocktail of their choice. While this
is going on, you will see and hear the wild scurry of men in the kitchen
putting the finishing touches on the three-course meal soon to be served.
At 7 pm, the guests are formally seated and the dinner commences with a
light and delicious consommé followed by the main course (kept as a secret
until served) and an incredible dessert – not quantity but quality this
year. And, of course, a wine of your choice will be offered. The
programme says “entertainment” is included and, I believe, that is still
being developed and rehearsed as I write. This is one of the big hits of
the season and nobody should miss it.
Limited to
only 80 seats due to space limitations at the club, tickets are initially
sold to members only. However, after January 21st, tickets are
also available to any lady who wishes to come. The cost is $25/ticket and
if there are some men out there wondering what to give their loved one for
Valentines this year (while you are down south golfing), here is a special
deal. Tickets are still available from Ron at 613 354-3761. Don’t wait
too long or you may miss the opportunity of the season. Hopefully, we
will see 80 ladies on the 13th.
The Town and
Country Men's Bonspiel is this Wednesday, February 06 and the Ladies
Highland Lassie is on February 23. Both spiels are full.
 |
January 30th, 2008 |
GOING TO THE
MOVIES AT THE CURLING CLUB
The annual Mixed Open Bonspiel was held this past weekend attracting
curlers from far and wide. Lots of good fun and good curling were
conspicuous all weekend. Organizer Rebecca Murphy did a great job pulling
the many volunteers together to produce the results achieved. The
Clubhouse was well decorated for the “Movie Theme” with posters and cinema
paraphernalia and most teams took up the challenge with fantastic movie
costumes for the Saturday night dinner and dance. Thought, work and
creativity were demonstrated with the various entries representing the
movies Titantic, Monty Phython, Blues Brothers, Wizard of Oz, Matrix and
others. It was quite obvious that the participants had come to have fun
and the winning combination of friendly hosts, engaging visitors, great
food and an obliging bar staff made for a great weekend. As curlers were
leaving the big question seemed to be: “What is the theme for next year?”
Oh yes, there was plenty of great curling too! Finals were held Sunday
and congratulations goes to our local rink of Ken Clancey, Linda Blake,
Daryl Latimer and Beth Clancey won the “A” event, runner-up was the Tim
Bakunyi rink from Quinte CC, and the third place consolation prize was the
Rob Gray rink from Carleton Place. The “B” event winner was Amber Moulton
and her Junior team from St. Catherines and Ottawa and the runner-up was
Dave Wolovick from the RKCC. “C” event winner was NDCC’s Andy Palmer and
runner-up was Dave Travers also from the NDCC. “D” event winner was Dean
Clark from RKCC and runner-up Jim Mullen from the NDCC. Rebecca had
organized great prizes for all the winners thanks to our sponsors the
Napanee Beaver and Commonsense Financial.
You might not realize the number of volunteers required for the
decorating, draw, ice, kitchen and bar necessary to run a bonspiel for
three days. For this event we needed over 50 and in the NDCC tradition
they came out and gave their time and talents willingly and that is truly
the success of our Club. As has come to be expected in Napanee, the food
was terrific all weekend: Fri night snacks, Sat breakfast, lunch and
dinner and Sun breakfast and lunch. The Sat night feast was catered by
Water’s Edge Catering and it was delicious! From where I sat during the
weekend observing the many volunteers, special mention goes to Rebecca
Murphy for all her hard work and great organizational skills and to Tom
Ayling who was everywhere all weekend: bartender, helping prepare the ice
and ably assisting the drawmaster. Thank you both, and all the other
volunteers, from all your grateful club members.
Congratulations to the Andy Palmer rink consisting of wife Cathy, Jane and
Robert Hough who won the Open Mixed bonspiel at the Cataraqui CC last
weekend.
 |
January 16th, 2008 |
WEEKEND FULL
OF CURLING
The Napanee & District Curling Club was a
very busy place this past weekend. Saturday was the annual Senior Mens
Bonspiel and Sunday was a Ladies Club Bonspiel.
The
fifteenth annual Senior Mens “Deacon’s Bench” Bonspiel, organized by
Walter Genereux, was a booming success. Eight Napanee teams and eight
outside teams from Brockville, Kingston clubs and Quinte met for three
six-end games and the Napanee teams fared very well. The high point three
game winner was the Joe Jackemeck team (Frank Dunham, Dave VanVlack and
Kees VanGent) from the home club. The other three game winner was the
John Deman team (Ted Davie, Paul Spooner and Hugh Sharpe), also from
Napanee. The high point two game winner was the Larry Waller rink from
the RKCC. Waller has won this bonspiel for the past SEVEN years. The
high point one game winner was Mike Breen, also from the RKCC. The
winning rinks all received boxes of steaks. Thanks to the sponsors:
Quinn’s Meats, Brier Fox Golf Club and Goodyear.
In case you
are wondering, the name “Deacon’s Bench”, comes from the Bonspiel
Trophy. A friend of Walter’s, very handy with his hands, had built a
Deacon’s Bench and with the left over wood he made a small curling rock of
wood that bears the plaques with the names of the annual winning rinks. As
everyone has come to expect, the food was absolutely wonderful again this
year. Soup and a sausage roll for lunch, organized by Jane Hough and her
team, and a full roast beef dinner, organized by Elizabeth Vandenberg and
her team. Lia Dufour and Jacquie Brown handled the bar. Don Currier
looked after the ice which continues to impress all curlers.
Last year,
in an effort to get the lady curlers of the club from the various leagues
together so that they might make new friends and join more leagues, a
Ladies Club Bonspiel was held. It seemed to work, everyone had a good
time and so the second annual was held on Sunday. The normal Skips are
displaced by the Vices and generally all the ladies curled in different
team positions. The Cheryl Scrivens rink (Jo Sutton, Diane Davie and Joan
Banks) won the trophy (yet unnamed) created by Sherry Pringle, Jane and
Robert Hough. Help us find a name for this trophy (wedding cake shape
topped by a chicken wire curling rock). The ladies have a “regifting”
exchange where they pass around gifts better suited for someone else. A
“pot luck” supper topped off the day.
On Jan 6th
three local ladies teams caught the organized bus and headed for the
annual three days of curling and fun at the Chateau Montebello. Napanee
teams have been going to this event for many years and it has a great
reputation for being well worth the cost. Winning teams host the losing
teams in their Chateau rooms after each game so the ladies they take the
necessary “supplies” for the duration. At the end of the bonspiel, the
ladies entertain each other with skits, song, whatever and generally have
a ball. Hospitality provided by all the curlers seems to be the secret of
their success. See Jean Morrison if you want to go next year.
 |
January 9th, 2008 |
CURLING
AGAIN
Curling starts with enthusiasm this week with all leagues active. All
those new Christmas brooms, shoes and apparel will be on display as
curlers take to the ice. Even the ice has had a make over as Frank Dunham
and his band of hard workers did a melt down to get all the dirt on the
surface, scraped the dirt off and it now looks like as bright and clean as
it did when we started curling in October. Hopefully, all curlers will
take note and observe the requirement to wear only clean footwear on the
ice, cleaning the bottoms of their shoes every time they go out on the
ice.
The holiday
break was also used to train more “Smart Serve” bartenders and we now have
over 50 trained with another 20 taking the course soon. Well done to all
those involved with solving this problem so quickly and thanks to the many
bartender volunteers.
The clinics
were held on 6 January as planned. Andy Palmer trained another 10 skips,
John Deman trained 6 new curlers and many members came out to get back in
the “swing”. Practicing ends as the leagues get going again.
Happy New
Year to all curlers and especially to those readers north of the Soo who
try to keep track of what is going on in Napanee by reading the Beaver
weekly.
 |
December 19th, 2007 |
CURLERS TAKE
A CHRISTMAS BREAK
This week marks the end of
organized curling at the Napanee District Curling Club for 2007. The Club
will be closed from December 22 and will undergo ice maintenance from 27
Dec to 02 Jan inclusive. Some scheduled curling will take place the first
week of January but members are encouraged to contact their league
coordinators to check what team they are on and when they next curl.
Another reminder that there will be a
refresher curling clinic (and Skip clinic) on 06 January at 1 pm. Members
interested in either clinic, or require more information, are to contact
Sandy at 354-7138. If you did not sign up for the clinic but would like
to throw some rocks, practice your slide or lean on your broom like a
Skip, please feel free to join the clinic on the 6th. This is
a special welcome to new members who may like some extra time to improve
their style and game.
There are two bonspiels scheduled at the NDCC
in January: the Senior Mens on Saturday 12 January and the Mixed Open on
Fri/Sat/Sun the 25-27 January.
Make a member of your family very happy on
Christmas morning by giving them a membership to the NDCC for the
remainder of the 2007-2008 season. Good chance you will know where they
are and what they are doing, some of the time.
Your Board of Directors wish all members of
the Club a very merry Christmas and good curling in the new year. This is
the last On the Button article until January ’08.
 |
December 12th, 2007 |
NAPANEE HOSTS TSC
TANKARD PLAYOFFS
The Zone 4
TSC Tankard playoffs held in the Napanee Curling Club this past weekend
were exciting and quite successful thanks to the many volunteers. The
curling results were covered in special earlier articles in the Beaver
and Whig.
Our ice, and
our icemaker Frank Dunham, received compliments from many of the
competitors. Keen help for the icemaker all weekend was provided by Mark
Dunham, Rick Siegner and Ray Moore. The bar catered to the many
spectators and curlers thanks to Andy Graham and Bill Casselman.
Over the
weekend the hungry crowd were fed by Eleanor Ramshaw and her team of Lana
Jaeger, Debbie Currier, Anne Angel, Angela Cronk and Adrienne Laing.
Special thanks to Sandy Kennelly for her delicious pies served both
Saturday and Sunday meals. It’s the sort of touch that makes curling in
a Napanee competition uniquely special.
While the
competition was on the ice, the club conducted a Smart Serve course for
some of our bartenders in preparation for the new provincial laws that
become effective in January 2008. Those aspiring to be a bartender at the
club in 2008 need to have this course before 08 Jan and volunteers are
encouraged to sign the list on the notice board for the next course.
There will
be a refresher curling clinic (and Skip clinic) on 06 January at 1 pm.
Members interested in either clinic, or require more information, are to
contact Sandy at 354-7138.
 |
December 5th, 2007 |
JUNIOR CURLING AT THE NDCC
During the winter, the young are often attracted to more popular school
sports like hockey and basketball but we all know that we should be
planning for things to do when we “grow up”. This is not a question of
maturity but one of physical capabilities as we age. Individual sport is
where we all end up, eventually, for the rest of our lives. Golfing in
the summer and curling in the winter, both with good social opportunities,
is a winning Canadian combination for the rest of our lives. Most of us
wish we had started both, sooner. Curling for the young offers something
to do (vice nothing to do) during the winter months with the added bonus
of regular exercise, competition with friends and a controlled social
opportunity – all for a very reasonable rate – and its great fun! The
long term potential of a curling club is usually measured by its Junior
curling programme and the NDCC is trying to attract more young curlers and
some more experienced curlers to assist in their training and education.
Last year, the
NDCC sponsored a 4H programme to design a curling club. Last week, the
winner of that competition was selected and awarded a free membership in
the Junior curling programme for the year. Congratulations to Amanda
Sherwood.
There are
currently 25 Junior curlers registered ranging from 6 to 16 years.
Through a cooperative agreement there are another twelve 4H members and
offers have been made to the local schools for them to join as well.
Ian Munro, the
Director Junior Curling, is encouraged by the response this year but would
like to see more. However, even with the present number curling, he needs
more help. The Juniors curl twice/week: Wed 4-5:30 and Sun 7-8 pm. Ian
needs adults to assist Wed and they do not need to be curling instructors
– more like adult supervisors to help keep the programme focused and the
Juniors curling safely. On Sun, he could really use one or two
experienced curlers. Come on members of the NDCC, call Ian at 354-1828
and volunteer to help.
This year Ian
is looking for some out of town competitive games for his Junior curlers.
The Eastern Ontario Junior Curling League (EOJCL - all clubs from
Brockville to Belleville) will have some league games together on 16 Dec
with another outing 17 Feb and someone with a few hours to help organize
these events would be appreciated.
Parents, you need to give Ian a call too, either for more info or to
register your child.
Members are
encouraged to watch for “sign up sheets” for the next period of curling
and any new curlers interested in joining please call Sandy at 354-7138.
 |
November 25th, 2007 |
LADIES
OPEN ANOTHER CLUB SUCCESS
It was
another busy week at the Napanee & District Curling Club but the two main
events this week were the Trillium Grant recognition ceremony on
Wednesday, already fully covered by the press, and the Ladies Open
Bonspiel held on Saturday, 24 November. Jordan VanVlack, bonspiel co-ordinator,
was extremely happy with the whole day. As usual, the volunteers did
their good work and the warm, friendly atmosphere at the Club made all our
visitors feel very welcome. The sixteen teams were mainly from Kingston
and Napanee but there was one, again this year, from as far away as the
Riverside Club in Ottawa. They played two games each and the team with
the highest points won which was the Judy Poirier rink from Kingston
Garrison. And as the teams were leaving, they made it clear that they
will certainly be back next year for the Open and probably at our next
Ladies ‘spiel (Highland Lassie) in February too. With great food all day,
super ice, very good prizes and the typical friendly Napanee atmosphere,
why wouldn’t it be a great success?
The great
food was the result of breakfast captain Shelly Alkenbrack, lunch captain
Ingeborg Donald and dinner captain Sandi McNamee and their teams of
helpers. The super ice continues thanks to Frank Dunham and Don Currier
and all their bonspiel helpers. The good prizes were from our many local
sponsors and coordinated by Liz Graham and Misty Ventura. Interesting to
note that Jordan had organized the draw so that the ladies had time
between their games to eat and do some local shopping of which,
apparently, many took full advantage. The drawmasters were Hugh Sharpe
and Phil Harrington while Anne and Jim Angel, Earl Bush and Jack Barker
ran the bar.
The next big
event at the Club will be the mens Ontario Curling Association and the
ladies Scott zone playdowns on 8/9 December. These involve those Eastern
Ontario teams with aspirations of representing their provinces at the
annual Brier and Scotts and guarantees excellent curling for those
interested in watching the games live. Come on down and check out the
great atmosphere that weekend, enjoy a drink with the other spectators
and see in person how the experts behind the glass seldom make a mistake.
If you are not a club member, come and see why our club as such a great
reputation. It is not too late to join the club for curling in the second
half after Christmas!
 |
November 18th, 2007 |
MEN’S OPEN
A SUCCESS - AGAIN
The annual
Men’s Bonspiel was a success again this year thanks to the good fun, great
food and genuine fellowship provided by the Club. However, this, as
always in our club, was built on sound organization and the many,
energetic, reliable volunteers who are the saving grace for all our
events. For most of our visiting curlers this weekend, the support given
by our many volunteers blew them away. If they could be so lucky!
Organizationally, Phil Wilson, Bonspiel Chair, and his team of volunteers,
kept the schedule on track, on time, for a well-run affair. Well done
Phil! The 32 rinks included curlers from Oshawa, London, Ottawa, Quinte,
Tweed and many other closer clubs. The Milne team, from Richmond, use
this bonspiel every year as a reunion of college mates and includes one
curler from France who keeps coming back to Napanee. His accumulated air
miles may be of a future 50/50 draw prize.
The competition this year was
excellent, with many extra end games, and may be connected to the fact
Napanee will host the OCA Zone Playoffs 8/9 Dec. The Zone winners will
playoff later to determine which team will represent Ontario at the
Brier. Several of the rinks in our bonspiel will return to compete for
the OCA Zones. The winners for this year were: A event- John Collins,
Quinte and Runner up Ivan Suddergaard, Cataraqui; B event- Cam McFadyen,
NDCC and Runner-up Ian Munro, NDCC; C event- Andre Chapman, Quinte and
Runner-up Ed Warren, Carleton Heights; and D event- Bob Tester, Cataraqui
and Runner Up Kevin McLean, NDCC. Congratulations to the winners and
thanks to all participants for making this a great spiel.
Then there
was the food! It’s hard to believe so few men could eat so much in one
weekend. There was a lot of sweeping this weekend and most were there
without their wives. What’s to hold them back? Even good food requires
organization and Sandi McNamee, our Kitchen Director, provided that for
us. She had able Captains, and their teams, to look after every meal:
Friday night Captains Sharon VanGent, Eleanor and Christine Ramshaw;
Saturday breakfast Diane Davie, Saturday lunch Linda Blake and Saturday
dinner Joan Ives; Sunday breakfast Shirley Bush and Sunday lunch Liz
Graham. The lady volunteers waited on the men all weekend in a manner
they were unaccustomed to, and the men loved every minute of it. Thank
you ladies. Let’s hope the men are willing and able to do as well at the
Ladies’ Open Bonspiel next weekend.
Not to mention those responsible for the
excellent ice everyone enjoyed would be a major oversight. The club
gives a special thanks to Frank Dunham, Don Currier and their many
assistants for a job well done. According to our visitors, our ice is as
good as any ice in Eastern Ontario. Keep it up guys!
 |
November 11th, 2007 |
Welcome back all last year’s curlers and a
special hello to our new curlers. Where else in the neighbourhood can
you get regular exercise, good clean fun, fellowship and weekly winter
social opportunities for such a reasonable price? The NDCC is still the
best kept secret in Town.
As you
should note, Sandy Eastlake has moved on from this column after many
years of dedicated contributions. All members of our curling club are
in debt to her for the many facets of the club she had directed, some of
which she is still doing. I’m sure many are unaware of what she does
year after year so here are some facts. The Membership Director, that’s
Sandy, organizes the membership applications, registration days, takes
all that info and puts it into the database (that includes identifying
those curling in each league, new curlers, those only curling in one
league, volunteers in all aspects of our club and those wishing
lockers), sends league lists to each league Director, sends relevant
volunteer lists to each functional Director, sends membership lists to
OCA and Treasurer, coordinates e-mail address distribution and types,
copies and distributes our annual telephone directory. Now the rest of
us can start to curl. Of course, she is still busy organizing the
clinics for our new curlers and allocating lockers to all those who had
requested. If you consider the number of curlers in our club, hopefully
you will realize all the work that this lady has done for some time.
Next time you see Sandy at the club, thank her for her dedication and
the hard work she has done/continues to do for our curling club. Heck,
demonstrate your gratitude, buy her a drink!
Each year
the Club is fortunate to have local sponsors advertise in our Club which
provides much appreciated revenue. These have been done in three
categories this year: wall advertisement (Barry Brummell – Wagar & Myatt,
Goodyear Canada, Doyle’s Windows, Geo A Grant Insurance Brokers, Napanee
Beaver, Pringle’s, Giant Tiger, M & M Meats, D&L Carpentry, Colio Estate
Wines, Cdn Awning & Canvas, Hart N’ Hart, Napanee Bulk Food, North Key
Construction & Orkney Residential and the Dominion of Canada General
Insurance); on ice advertisement (Colour Connection, A & M Sports, Country
Traditions, Exit Reality, Tim Hortons, Shear Magic Hair Styling & Spa,
Napanee Opticians and Dairy Queen) and the button advertisements (Tammy’s
Country Kitchen, Scotia Bank, Home Hardware and Bert’s Golf). If you have
the opportunity, please support our sponsors.
A reminder
to check the list of volunteers posted by Kitchen Director Sandi McNamee
to see when you might be doing breakfast next or if you are to bring pie
or cookies for the Men’s Open Bonspiel this weekend, 16-18 November. The
general public is welcome to watch curling any time but a very good time
would be during that weekend when the quality of competition is expected
to be very high. Hope to see you at the Club.
"On the Button" - By Sandy
Eastlake
(as featured in the Napanee Beaver)
 |
November 7th, 2007 (including info not published
October 31st) |
Welcome back to another fun filled season of curling. This year we have
270 members; 31 of whom are new to the club and/or to curling in
general. I would like to thank Joe Jackemeck, Gayle Johnson, Craig
Manley, Beau Maracle, Cam McFayden, Ian Munro, Andy Palmer and Kim
Pringle for all their time insuring our new and returning members had
full instruction prior to their first game. Steve Eastlake and
Frank Dunham, our new Ice Technician heartfully thank Don Currier, Rick
Siegner, Dave Travers, Ian Munro, Andy Graham, Chuck Gray, Brian Hobin,
John Deman, Chris Ramshaw and Tom Ayling for their assistance in the
preparation of the ice which took many, many extra hours because of the
installation of the new Headers (pipes). This expensive Header
replacement was completed upon receipt of a grant from the Ontario
Trillium Foundation and we thank them immensely. Our House
Director Jennifer Clarkson give thanks to Cor Vandenberg, Tom Ayling,
Ian Munro, John Deman, Shirley Bush, Chris Ramshaw, Chuck Mercer, Steve
Eastlake, Jim Angel and Frank Dunham for helping ‘spruce up the club’.
The 5th annual Swing and Sweep showed members and friends a great day on
the links/on the ice thanks to co-ordinators Heather Ramshaw and Kim
Dickson. I heard that the weather conditions were much more friendly
than last year. Lunch was ready and served at the curling club
(soup and sandwiches) by Eleanor Ramshaw. Jim and Ann Angel had the bar
open and Bill Ryan and Shirley MacDonald help keep everyone served all
afternoon. Curling was played by all participants on the great ice
prepared by Frank Dunham. Dinner was prepared by Chris Moore, Eleanor &
Heather Ramshaw, Sandi McNamee and a few other curlers. Beth Clancey
helped out as well in the kitchen all day. All participants helped
with the clean up of the club and dishes. Jim Sunstrum's team of
Hugh Sharpe, John Deman and Jeff Sunstrum won the spiel with the Ian
Munro's team a close runner-up. Gift baskets prepared by Jennifer
Clarkson and the Wilton Cheese Factory as well as a picture donated by
Christine Ramshaw from the Playground Childcare Centre were raffled off
at the end of the night with monies going towards the 2007-2008
Fundraising campaign. Heather and Kim thank all participants, volunteers
and supporters for an
excellent day once again; and a special thanks to Eleanor Ramshaw and
Chris Moore, their mothers’ for their endless help with any activity
their girls volunteer for.
Your new Board of Directors (and assistants): President/Mens-Mixed
Bonspiels - John Deman, VicePresident/Mens Games - Bill Hogg, Mixed Games
- Diane Shea, Kitchen - Sandi McNamee, Junior - Ian Munro, Ladies Bonspiel
- Heather Ramshaw/Jordan VanVlack, Fundraising - Christine Ramshaw, Ice -
Steve Eastlake, House - Jennifer Clarkson, Ladies Games - Janet Hobin/Gayle
Johnson, Bar/Rental - Jim Angel/Tom Ayling/Shirley Bush and myself
your Membership Director welcome you to another fully scheduled winter of
curling. Your treasurer Lia Dufour and secretary Elizabeth Vandenberg are
busy with one set of books or another.
Our leagues this season
have: Mon Men - 20 teams; Wed Men - 10 teams; Thurs Men - 10 teams; Tues
Up & At'Em - 17 teams; Tues Mixed - 15 teams; Fri Mixed - 26 teams; Wed
Ladies - 7 teams; Thurs Ladies - 11 teams. Juniors have 20 curlers with
more to register. Remember, juniors get to try without paying until the
third week and no expensive equipment is needed so call Ian Munro
354-1828.
Your Bar and Kitchen
Directors have compiled their lists for volunteer duties, so please check
for your name as to which Bonspiel, event, duty you are slated for.
The Volunteer Chart in the foyer is posted for your viewing pleasure!!! I
believe Sandi is still looking for a few Captains – come on ladies – it is
just “cooking’ after all.
The
telephone directories are ready for you to pick up thanks to the
sponsorship of Burkes’ Printing and there are lots of other
periodicals/notices at the Information Centre and on various bulletin
boards
Remember to mark your calendar for the Mens Open Bonspiel - 16th
– 18th November; Ladies Open - 24th
November and the General Meeting Sunday the 2nd of December at 1 pm.
I
want to thank The Napanee Beaver for letting me be ‘a little wordy’ in
this my first and last article of this curling season. I am remiss in not
getting part of this published last Wednesday. I have thoroughly enjoyed
writing to you and I know my successor, Ted Davie will also keep you well
informed with club happenings/events. It is time for you to see someone
elses smiling face each week in our On The Button’ article.
See you on the ice or in the lounge…..I have been heard to say more than
once “Its twelve o’clock somewhere”.
 |
October 31st, 2007 |
The Napanee & District Curling Club has now completed its first week of
curling with 270 members; 31 of whom are new to the club and/or to
curling in general. I would like to thank Joe Jackemeck, Gayle Johnson,
Craig Manley, Beau Maracle, Cam McFayden, Ian Munro, Andy Palmer and Kim
Pringle for all their time insuring our new and returning members had
full instruction prior to their first game. Steve Eastlake and Frank
Dunham, our new Ice Technician heartfully thank Don Currier, Rick
Siegner, Dave Travers, Ian Munro, Andy Graham, Chuck Gray, Brian Hobin,
John Deman, Chris Ramshaw and Tom Ayling for their assistance in the
preparation of the ice which took many, many extra hours because of the
installation of the new Headers (pipes). This expensive Header
replacement was completed upon receipt of a grant from the Ontario
Trillium Foundation and we thank them immensely. Our House Director
Jennifer Clarkson give thanks to Cor Vandenberg, Tom Ayling, Ian Munro,
John Deman, Shirley Bush, Chris Ramshaw, Chuck Mercer, Steve Eastlake,
Jim Angel and Frank Dunham for helping ‘spruce up the club’.
Your new Board of Directors (and assistants): President/Men's-Mixed
Bonspiels - John Deman, VicePresident/Mens Games - Bill Hogg, Mixed
Games - Diane Shea, Kitchen - Sandi McNamee, Junior - Ian Munro, Ladies
Bonspiel - Heather Ramshaw/Jordan VanVlack, Fundraising - Christine
Ramshaw, Ice - Steve Eastlake, House - Jennifer Clarkson, Ladies Games -
Janet Hobin/Gayle Johnson, Bar/Rental - Jim Angel/Tom Ayling/Shirley
Bush and myself your Membership Director welcome you to another fun
filled winter of curling. Your treasurer Lia Dufour and secretary
Elizabeth Vandenberg are busy with one set of books or another.
The 5th annual Swing and Sweep was another success thanks to
co-coordinators Heather Ramshaw and Kim Dickson. I heard that the weather
conditions were much more friendly than last year. Lunch was ready and
served at the curling club (soup and sandwiches) by Eleanor Ramshaw. Jim
and Ann Angel had the bar open and Bill Ryan and Shirley MacDonald help
keep everyone served all afternoon. Curling was played by all participants
on the great ice prepared by Frank Dunham. Dinner was prepared by Chris
Moore, Eleanor & Heather Ramshaw, Sandi McNamee and a few other curlers.
Beth Clancey helped out as well in the kitchen all day. All participants
helped with the clean up of the club and dishes. Jim Sunstrum's team of
Hugh Sharpe, John Deman and Jeff Sunstrum won the spiel with the Ian
Munro's team a close runner-up. Gift baskets prepared by Jennifer
Clarkson and the Wilton Cheese Factory as well as a picture donated by
Christine Ramshaw from the Playground Childcare Centre were raffled off at
the end of the night with monies going towards the 2007-2008 Fundraising
campaign. Heather and Kim thank all participants, volunteers and
supporters for an
excellent day once again; and a special thanks to Eleanor Ramshaw and
Chris Moore, their mothers’ for their endless help with any activity their
girls volunteer for.
Remember to mark your calendar for the Men's Open Bonspiel - 16th
– 18th November; Ladies Open - 24th November
and the General Meeting Sunday the 2nd of December at 1 pm.
 |
April 4th, 2007 |
As I write this article, the second last of the season I do it with mixed
feelings. I really want to get into my flower gardens but I also wouldn’t
mind being on the ice. The General Meeting went well and we thank all
those who attended. John Deman thanked the outgoing Directors, Ken and
Joan Ives, Chris Ramshaw, Ron Graham, Liz Graham and Linda Smith for all
their many hours spent for the betterment of the club. There were no major
issues to report for the minutes but we welcomed the new Directors Janet
Hobin/Gayle Johnson, Christine Ramshaw, Sandi McNamee, Jim Angel and Bill
Hogg. Unfortunately we did not get a nominee for the Ladies Bonspiel
position and we would like all of you ladies to consider volunteering and
filling this position.
On a better note I want to congratulate all the third draw
winners. Starting with Monday Mens Club Championship – Steve Angel, Paul
Dickson, Daryl Latimer, Darrell Pritchard with Don Curriers rink taking
the runner up spot; followed by Wednesday Senior winner Walter Genereux,
Ron Graham, Al Thompson, Walter Bell; then Thursday Mens winner Marc
Babcock, Daryl Latimer, Scott Chadwick, Moe Drew. Next in line was the
Tuesday Up & At’Em with winner Walter Genereux, Elaine Badgley, Paul
Spooner, Anne Angel; the Tuesday Mixed winner Cam McFayden, Kirk and
Ingeborg Donald, Beth Primeau. The Friday Mixed winner was Ken and Beth
Clancey, Daryl and Lana Latimer. Last but certainly not least was the
Ladies winners of Wednesday of Linda Blake, Jane Pearson, Anne Knapp,
Laurie VanStraalen; then the Thursday ladies winner Janet Hobin, Elaine
Badgley, Marilyn Cole, Norma Clarkson. Good curling to all of you.
The Martin and Walters held last Saturday showed 24 teams
having to draw from the dreaded envelope. Thanks to John Deman and his
committee of Joan Ives, Shirley Foley, Paul McDonald, Ken Ives and myself
the day was a great success with Liz Grahams’ team taking the top position
with Don Pearson, Terry Young and Ray Moore. All participants made it to
the glittering prize table and then proceeded to enjoy a three table pot
luck. Lana Latimer won the eventful turkey toss later in the evening and a
few of our members’ children enjoyed a final skate before the ice plant
was shut down.
Last on our agenda for the 50th season is our
annual banquet on Friday 27th April. If you somehow did not get
your ticket please call me 354-7138. This is going to be the biggest
banquet ever as ex curling members and honored past presidents have been
invited. The Beaver will be graciously covering this event so I will say
adieus for this season; leaving you with this reminder --- invite all your
friends to join us next year for another fun filled season at the Napanee
& District Curling Club and call me with their address so I can send them
an application early next fall. Have a great, fun summer and see you on
the ice in the fall…….
 |
March 28th, 2007 |
The 2nd annual Hot Shot competition last Saturday was great
fun. Thanks to the sponsorship of (Ford of Canada) Larry Pringle the lucky
winner Bill Hogg now gets a chance to win a two year lease on one of their
gorgeous vehicles. The convenor Chris Ramshaw did a great job keeping
statistics with the help of Ron Graham, Bill Hogg, Heather Ramshaw and
many of the participants. Eleanor Ramshaw, Barb Graham and Joan Ives
served up a delicious Chili and Salad lunch with various kinds of chili
prepared by Eleanor and Ron.
By the afternoon the event was down to the final four curlers:
Tom Ayling, Bill Hogg, Heather Ramshaw and Frank Dunham. Ayling and Hogg
both made the dreaded “double takeout” resulting in a tie so they had to
do a “closest to the button” shoot out. As all the rest of the
participants watched with fingernails in mouth, Hogg bested Ayling by only
a rocks’ difference. Great curling to both of you and thank you Chris for
a fun filled day at this the second last Saturday of this 2006/2007
curling season.
Next up is the closing Martin & Walters, Saturday the 31st and
I am pleased to say we have three draws this year. Further information
call John Deman 352-5523. Last, prior to the Banquet on the 27th
April, is the closing General Meeting on Sunday, 1st of April
at 1 pm. This meeting is for all members to voice their opinions and views
on the day to day running of YOUR curling club.
 |
March 21st, 2007 |
The Napanee & District Curling is now into its last two weeks of curling
for the 2006/2007 season. With this being the 50th year of the
club, Eleanor Ramshaw and her committee of Sharon VanGent, Benita Murphy
and Sally Lambert are busy with the preparations of making this the best
banquet ever. Ron Graham convenor of the banquet still can use your help
with set up or clean up, so sign up today on the kitchen bulletin board
and make our preparations easier and faster (as the saying goes “the more
the merrier”). You should have no trouble getting your ticket(s) for this
banquet, just ask Shirley Bush, Liz Graham, Chris Ramshaw, Jane Hough,
Angela Cronk or myself.
The club was well represented last week at the Sterling Ladies
St Patrick bonspiel on Wednesday by two of our ladies teams. Shirley Bush,
Sandi McNamee, Liz Graham, Cheryl Scrivens ended up 3rd and
Myself, Michele Penner, Barb Graham, Lorraine Wilson came 8th.
We also had two teams in the Tweed Ladies bonspiel last Saturday and we at
least made the draw come out even. I am not naming names but we had a
great time.
I am sure you all know by now there sign up sheets on the
easel for the Hot Shot competition on the 24th and the closing
Martin & Walters on the 31st. The Hot Shots is a lot of fun as
we all try to copy the TV elite curlers making double takeouts, draws to
button…and so on. For further information call Chris Ramshaw 354-2003. The
closing Martin & Walters is for curlers to finish the season playing a
game or two with their teammates but also it is for any member wanting to
get in one more game prior to season shutdown. The sign up sheet has team
listings AND individual listings. Individuals will be curling too so if
you signed up as an individual please check – your name is already in a
team position or will be shortly. This is a closing FUNSPIEL so join us
with family and friends. Call John Deman at 352-5523 if you have further
questions about this fun day.
For all you winning teams, presentations and awards will be
made next week, the last week of the season. Congratulations to all of
you!! This leaves a lot more time for dancing at the banquet and by the
way, my dance card is not full yet……….
 |
March 14th, 2007 |
The Napanee & District Curling Clubs’ “Little Rockers” (a newly formed
team of young juniors) competed at the zone 4 playdowns in Belleville on
Saturday March 3rd. The team consisted of Thomas Hatch (lead), John
Edwards (second), Gabriel Charlebois (vice) and Lian Kennelly (skip). The
team finished the day with an impressive one win and one loss record.The
first game was against the Trenton club. Each team took three ends with
the Napanee group finishing on top with a score of 6-4. The second game
was against a challenging group from Quinte. After losing the first four
ends the Napanee group rallied back to take the final two ends losing 5-2.
The curlers would like to thank Ian Munro, Janet Hobin and Scott Chadwick
for helping them develop their skills throughout the 2006 - 2007 season.
The team will compete again on March 25th in the Reid's Dairy second
annual little rock Moo-spiel in Trenton and we wish them good luck, good
curling and a lot of fun.The little rock program is showing more and more
young juniors trying the sport of curling as these rock react the same as
a regular curling rock but are half the weight.
From one extreme to the other, two of our Senior Mens teams
are also due a congratulations for making it to the winners circle at the
annual Quinte Seniors Mens Bonspiel. In this 3-6 end game event Walter
Genereaux, Ken Clancey, Kees VanGent and Ken Healy placed third while the
team of Ed File, Brian Chadwick, Frank Banks and Andy Graham placed sixth.
Great curling gentlemen.
Our annual Banquet on the 27th of April will be
extra special in this our 50th season at the club. You can get
your ticket from Shirley Bush, Liz Graham, Chris Ramshaw, Andy Palmer,
Angela Cronk or myself. There is a lot of set up and clean up for this
annual event and we are looking for help with the set up and/or the clean
up of the club for the banquet, so please volunteer and do your part to
make it a little easier on the Directors and organizers of this your 50th
Anniversary banquet. The sign up poster is on the bulletin board near the
kitchen waiting for your signature.
As the season winds down you still need to ensure your
calendar is marked for the Hot Shot competition on the 24th;
the closing Martin & Walters on the 31st and the closing
General Meeting on the 1st of April at 1pm. All members should
have received their agenda by now but if not please check the mail box on
the kitchen counter. If yours is email and you did not receive it let me
know. There are extra copies at the back of the mail box. You should
consider filling one of the six directors positions and ask your friends
to do the same. Included in the agenda package is a nomination form with
the six positions listed and a brief description of their duties. A full
statement of duties is hanging near the minutes and also beside the
nomination box. Feel free to talk to the current director and he/she will
give you an even fuller description of what is involved for the position
you are planning on volunteering for.
 |
March 7th, 2007 |
The club hosted the OCA Regional playdowns last weekend and thanks to the
long hours of kitchen captain Eleanor Ramshaw and her crew of Charlene
Huffman, Sandy Cassleman, Elizabeth Goldie, Sandra Semple, Sue Mercer,
Shirley MacDonald, Lorraine Willows, Janet Hobin and Anne Angel she
managed to keep all 64 curlers well nourished from morning snacks, lunch
and supper from Saturday morning until late Sunday. Our OCA representative
Steve Eastlake thanked Andy Palmer for his assistance and the ice crew of
Gary Cound, Frank Dunham and Ray Moore. The curlers gave their thanks to
Paul McDonald and HankJohn Reinink for quenching their thirsts.
I imagine most of you have been watching the Briar this week
and have seen the Ford “HotShots” competition that all the teams
participate in each and every year. We will be having our 2nd
annual Ford HotShots at the club on Saturday 24th March so make
sure you mark your calendar. Chris Ramshaw is busy preparing the sign up
sheet so be on the look out for it on the bulletin board.
Congratulations are in order for Chris Ramshaw, Ron Graham,
Christine Ramshaw and Chuck Mercer on their 3 game win and third place
position at the Stick Bonspiel at the beautiful new Royal Kingston Curling
Club last weekend. I have it from a good source that Mercer actually got
to practice in his league game last Tuesday….way to go Shirley.
A few other happenings around the club are drawing near so be
sure to look for the posters advertising the closing Martin & Walters on
the 31st of March and the General Meeting on the 1st
of April --- and no it is not an “April Fools” joke. As an owner of the
Curling Club it is in your best interest to attend this General Meeting to
keep yourself informed on the events and finances of your club. The
tickets for the banquet on the 27th of April are now available
for purchase; please see Shirley Bush, Liz Graham, Chris Ramshaw, Andy
Palmer, Angela Cronk or myself. With this being our 50th season
many guests are being invited and we urge you to help by getting your
ticket as soon as possible. We are looking for help with the set up and/or
the clean up of the club for the banquet, so please volunteer and do your
part to make it a little easier on the Directors and organizers of this
your 50th Anniversary banquet. The sign up poster is probably
already hanging in the lounge waiting for your signature.
 |
February 28th, 2007 |
All the leagues are now into the last draw of this the 50th
anniversary season at the Napanee & District Curling Club. Your directors
are now busy preparing for the closing General Meeting on the 1st
of April and getting ready for your annual banquet on Friday, April 27th.
I am happy to announce the last of the second draw winners and
as with the first draw most of these leagues had to wait for the very last
game to find out the winner. This really shows the competitiveness of each
team whether they are self picked or drawn from “that sometimes dreaded
hat”. I have heard it from a good source that Earle Bush has even been
threatened and/or bribed when it comes to drawing those team names.
Congratulations to the Tuesday Mixed winners Bill & Sandy
Casselman, Mike & Trish Szafranski, with runner up Marc & Vicki Babcock,
Merv & Anne Connery. Next is the winning team from the Up & At’Em league –
Linda Smith, Sandi McNamee, Carmen Milligan, Gail Spencer followed closely
by Ron Graham, Jacquie Brown, Liz Griffiths, Wayne Tunstead. The Wednesday
ladies ended their draw with Joanne Jones, Susi Reinink, Brenda Charette,
Jane McQueen winning their draw with the runner up team of Liz Graham,
June Hicks, Anne WhalenKnapp, Joan Reynolds. The Thursday ladies league
ended with Sandi McNamee, June Hicks, Barb Graham, Elizabeth Goldiewinning
the draw and Benita Murphy, Susi Reinink, Pat Benn, Marilyn Cole right on
their coattails as runner up. Last, but with 24 teams, definitely not
least is the Friday Mixed winning team of Ken & Beth Clancey, Daryl & Lana
Latimer followed by 3 teams tieing for runnerup due to the closeness in
the standings – 1st - Jack & Sandi McNamee, Kees & Sharon
VanGent; 2nd - Paul Dickson, Lana Jaeger, Brian & Cynthia
Woodcock; 3rd - Don & Debbie Currier, Hugh & Elizabeth Goldie.
Congratulations again to all of you. I also have some good news for a
couple of the Friday teams on the first draw results. After recalculating
and finding some lost data, Diane Shea announced there was three teams in
contention for the winning position and because of byes, etc she has named
all three 1st draw winners: Ken Clanceys’ team (listed above) and Jim &
Peggy Sunstrum, Grant & Cindy Crowson and Scott Dickson, Kim Dickson, Paul
& Jane McQueen with the team of Paul Dickson (listed above) taking the
runner up position.
We are hosting the Regional Intermediate men and women play
downs this weekend, 3rd- 4th; so come out and see some terrific
curling games. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our annual closing
Martin & Walters funspiel set for Saturday the 31st of March
this year.
 |
February 21st, 2007 |
Last
week was a busy one at the Curling club. The Sweetheart Dinner convened by
Ron Graham with helpers John Deman, Shirley Bush, Lia Dufour, Jennifer
Clarkson, Connie Pritchard, Sharon VanGent and Brock Laing showed our lady
members how elegant our men can be all dressed up in “not curling” garb.
The ladies had only oohs and aahs for the delicious meal prepared by Jim
Angel with helpers Ted Davie, Chuck Mercer, Bill Ryan, Roger Cole, Andy
Graham and served to the ladies in 5 courses by John Deman, Kees VanGent,
Joe Jackemeck, Bill Hogg, Darrell Pritchard, Chuck Gray and Jim Sunstrum.
At the bar Earle Bush and Jack Barker kept all thirsts quenched and Mr.
Tim Hall provided entertainment for the ladies throughout the evening. Mr
weatherman kept myself and a few others from enjoying this festive night
out but I have heard it from many sources that the entire evening was
terrific. Ron Graham gave his thanks to all his helpers and to all the
kind sponsors of Wallaces Drugs, Mayhew Jewellers, The Basket Case,
Pritchard Linens, Colio Estate Wine, Smarts Florists, Marie Davy, Wellness
in the Woods, Sherry Pringle, Michele Penner, MaryAlice Paul, Jennifer
Clarkson and Marg Pearce.
The
Highland Lassie Bonspiel last Saturday gave us another notch in our
successful bonspiel belt. Linda Smith thanked her committee of Michele
Penner, Shirley Bush. Bea Moore and drawmaster Ron Graham for helping her
obtain this notch. Linda went on to thank all her sponsors for enabling
her to present a gorgeous prize table – Marj Pearce, Lynja Injections,
Lockharts Fine Linens, Gray’s IDA and the Silver Corkscrew. The winning
team from Cataraqui Roberta Hutchins thanked all the helpers for a great
day and especially the kitchen crew. Our Kitchen Captains Shirley Bush,
Gloria Cawley and Joan Ives presented hearty meals all day long and they
thanked their helpers of Penny Flaro, Jane Hough, Marg Martin, Shelley
Hudgins, Tricia Cammaart, Mary Alice Paul, Ken Ives, Joan & Frank Banks,
Ann & Merv Connery, Shirley Foley and Marilyn Cole. The second place team
from RKCC, Donna Smith continued with a thank you to Earle Bush, Andy
Graham and Ken Ives at the bar and Gary Cound, Rick Siegner, Robert Hough
for great ice to curl on. The Napanee teams did well with Heather Ramshaw
coming third, Shirley Bush fourth, Jean Morrison fifth and Jordan VanVlack
eighth. Thanks Linda for all your work…..it really showed on Saturday.
Another highlight of the evening was a presentation by Fran Clooney and
Linda Miller of RKCC who gave our club a 50th anniversary
quilted wall hanging depicting our curling club pin/years of operation and
various quilted rocks. This presentation shows the closeness and
camaraderie of all the curling clubs in this area and we thank RKCC
immensely.
In my
next On the Button article, I will have a list of the second draw winners
which are still being compiled and are not ready for me to publish yet.
 |
February 14th, 2007 |
Happy Valentines’
Day. I am going thru my wardrobe looking for something comfortable to wear
tonight to our 2nd Annual Sweetheart dinner at the Napanee &
District Curling Club. I imagine our gentlemen servers are sorting through
their closet and ironing their outfit for tonight also.
The Town &
Country bonspiel held last Wednesday was another success for the club. The
winning team of Robert McPherson from Belleville thanked Jack McNamee/Hugh
Sharpe and their committee of Robert Hough, Paul Murphy and Robert Paul
for an excellent day of curling, dining and socializing. Hugh Sharpe
thanked all the sponsors for letting him present the wide variety of
prizes for the winning teams: Home Hardware, O’Neill Farm Supply, Country
Depot, Clow Farm Equipment, Moore Bros.,RONA, Hank John Reinink and Sharpe
himself. Ian Munro the 2nd place winner went on to thank Sandi
McNamee and her crew of Michele Penner, Susi Reinink, Joan Reynolds,
Marjorie Elliott for a delicious dinner; Carmen Milligan and George
Elliott for keeping all the 64 curlers glasses topped up and Gary’s crew
of Frank Dunham and Rick Siegner for great ice to curl on.
The
Monday night Men’s League is now into the Club Championship playoffs with
the top 16 teams playing a double knockout format. The teams of Robert
Paul, John Deman, Ken Clancey, Rob Dickson, Chris Ramshaw, Ian Munro, Ed
File, Andy Palmer, Don Currier, Frank Dunham, Paul Dickson, Kevin MacLean,
Ken Healy, Tom Hayes, Ken Ives and Reg Gore will be battling it out over
the next 7 weeks for that coveted name on the trophy winning position. The
second draw winners were A division – Robert Paul, Robert Hough, Paul
McDonald, Paul Murphy; B division – John Deman, Ted Davie, Paul Spooner,
Bart MacLean; C division – Tom Hayes, Gerry Haggerty, Jim Head, Steve
Cooper. Honorable mention goes to Rob Dickson, Don Currier, Bob Eamer and
their team mates for winning the runnerup positions in this 2nd
round of curling.
Come out
to the club on Saturday 17th for our Highland Lassie bonspiel
and watch some more terrific shot making by 16 ladies teams from all over
the area. See you there……….
 |
February 7th, 2007 |
Some of your league directors are busy preparing lists for the final draw
of the season while others are busy tracking the win/loss ratio of their
league(s). The winter this year – or lack thereof, until now – seems to
have simply past me by. If your leagues’ second draw is nearing
completion, please remember to sign up for the last draw of this the
2006/2007 curling season.
The volunteer board is filling nicely with the check marks I wait
patiently to see and I thank you all for your continued help with the bar,
kitchen, ice and the list goes on. Thanks to Robert
Hough, who takes a lot of time welding and fixing all the broken chairs
that happen to “fall apart” during the season, we all have a place to sit
when we arrive at the club. However, if you haven’t had time or been
approached to help yet – and now have an hour or three to spare - contact
one of the directors – and lend a hand. Once each of you look at the
Volunteer Board you will see how ALL of you are needed to pitch in and
keep the club looking nice, running smoothly, and financially prosperous.
There are still a lot of events from now until the end of the season
needing bar, kitchen, committee or just general setup/clean up helpers.
Still to come is the Town & Country Bonspiel, Wed 7th and the
Highland Lassie Bonspiel, Saturday 17th. I am also looking
forward to the “Sweetheart Dinner” on Wednesday, 14th February.
Full information about our club happenings are available at
www.ndcc.ca thanks to Heather Ramshaw and as I write this article,
Bill Hogg is busy preparing February’s Newsletter.
 |
January 31st, 2007 |
During the curling season each and every year a lot of club curlers form
teams and enter Bonspiels at other area clubs. Congratulations to
Andy/Cathy Palmer and Robert/Jane Hough on their B division win at
Cataraqui last weekend. Great curling to Hugh Sharpe, Robert Paul, Bill
Casselman and John Deman who won their division at the Mens’ Brighton
bonspiel.
Our
annual Mixed Bonspiel was another great success thanks to Rebecca Murphy
and her helpers Jane and Kelsey Pearson, Brenda Charette, John Deman,
Sherry Pringle. All 96 curlers walked into the club Friday and were
immediately put in a dancing mood by all the “50’s” decorations. Thanks to
Jean Morrison The Napanee Beaver, Chris Good – Commonsense Financial and
Goodyear Napanee; Rebecca was able to present a very impressive selection
of prizes for the winners of this 3 day bonspiel. Ian Munro’s team of Liz
Graham, Andy Graham and Lia Dufour won the spiel this year with the
assistance of spare John Deman for the final game against Andy Palmer on
Sunday afternoon. John thanked all the many, many volunteers starting with
the ice crew of Gary Cound, Steve Eastlake, Ray Moore, Rick Siegner, Frank
Dunham and Andy Graham. Walter Genereux, the C division winner thanked the
drawmasters’ Ted Davie, Tom Ayling, John Immersel and Hugh Sharpe for
their many hours of calculations and went on to thank the kitchen staff
for keeping his team and the other 23 teams well fed all weekend long.
Kitchen Captains Vicky Babcock, Cynthia Woodcock, Joanne Jones, Cindy
Crowson and Joan Ives gave their thanks to helpers Bob Deline, Lucille
McDonald, Marc Babcock, Alice Clarke, Laurie Vanstraalen, Diane Davie,
Alison Madden, Margaret Martin, Donna Poirier, Lynn Trueman, Joan
Reynolds, Anne Angel, Lori Morris and Jane Pearson. The D winner Jack
McNamee asked for a round of applause to the bar staff of Captain Ken
Clancey and helpers Paul McDonald, Daryl Latimer, Gerry and Jean
McCracken, Joan and Ken Ives, Arnold VanHeighten and Jim Mullin who made
sure all thirsts were quenched. Ken Clancey the B winner thanked Rebecca
and her committee for another great weekend of curling, socializing and
fun.
There
are still a few tickets available for the 2nd annual
“Sweetheart Dinner” February 14th .Be sure to ask your friends
and neighbors to join you for an evening of being catered to from the
minute you walk in the door until the serving of desert. I understand that
Ron has a waiting list of male members wanting the privilege of catering
to our every whim (not sure if this is fact or fiction). Call Ron Graham
378-0401 for guest tickets.
Be sure to visit our
website
www.ndcc.ca ; updated weekly by webmaster: Heather Ramshaw. Next up on
our calendar of events is the Mens Town & Country on the 8th of
February followed by the Highland Lassie on the 17th of
February. I believe both of these events have a full slate of 16 teams.
 |
January 24th, 2007 |
 |
I am happy to
congratulate the top four teams with the most points at the Ladies
Funspiel on the 14th January. Good curling goes to Jo Sutton,
Lorraine Willows, Vibeke Brooks, Bea Moore and Lia Dufour, Sharon
VanGent, Missy Hutcheson, Joan Banks and Sherry Pringle, Susi Reinink,
Anne Angel, Diane Davie and Janet Hobin, Lori Morris, Shirley MacDonald,
Doris Ogley, Jacquie Brown. These four teams are not necessarily in
point winning order – I seem to have misplaced my rough notes!!. All
club ladies are in agreement that this should become an annual event; to
repeat last Wednesday’s pat on the back -- great job Liz Graham and
committee.
Continuing with
congratulations, I now have the last of the 1st draw winners.
The Wednesday Senior Mens league was won by Joe Jackemeck, Paul Spooner,
Phil Berry, Ron Reynolds with runner up Robert Paul, George Elliott,
Bert Kea, Steve Cooper. The Thursday Mens Club league was won by Marc
Babcock, Brian Chadwick, Phil Berry, Bill Creighton with the runner up
of Walter Genereux, Scott Chadwick, Paul McDonald, Hugh Sharpe. Great
curling gentlemen.
The “Sweetheart
Dinner” February 14th committee promises all our ladies a
fancy night of wining and dining. If you still require a ticket call Ron
Graham 378-0401. Rebecca Murphy and her committee are busy preparing for
the Mixed Bonspiel this weekend 26-28th January so please
call Rebecca if you can find time to help her out with decorating, etc.
This year we are honoring the 50th season of the club; so
drop by and watch some competitive curling games and see what 1957 was
all about.
Next up on our
calendar of events is the Mens Town & Country on the 8th of
February followed by the Highland Lassie on the 17th of
February. I believe both of these events have a full slate of 16 teams.
You can find these and much, much more about the club and club
activities past and present on our website
www.ndcc.ca ; beautifully designed by webmaster: Heather Ramshaw.
|
 |
January 17th, 2007 |
 |
Senior Mens Bonspiel held last Saturday was a great success and
showed a lot of spectators some terrific curling. After thanking Walter
Genereux and Ron Graham for hosting another rememberable bonspiel; the
overall winner Larry Waller from RKCC thanked all the kitchen and bar
staff who ensured that each and every curler never went hungry or
thirsty. Jacquie Brown, Michele Penner and Gerry McCracken looked after
the 64 curlers thirsts while Kitchen Captains Jane Hough and Elizabeth
Vandenberg served up delicious meals for lunch and supper. These two
gals thanked all their many helpers starting with Pat Benn, Diane Davie,
Lorraine Wilson, Brenda Charette, Elizabeth Goldie, Robert Hough, Gloria
Cawley, Eleanor Allison, Barb Graham, Liz Griffiths, June Hicks, Diane
StLouis, Sue Sharpe along with Shirley Bush who provided the breakfast
snacks. Walter thanked Hugh Sharpe, Bob Cawley, Ace Allison, Cor
Vandenberg for their drawmaster/misc duties and went on to thank Gary
Cound and his crew of Steve Eastlake, Dave Travers and Ray Moore for
providing excellent ice to curl on. Last but definitely not least are
the kind sponsors without whom this bonspiel could not present the
decorative array of prize items: Briar Fox Gold & Country Club, Quinn’s
Meats and Goodyear. Way to go Wally……
The Ladies Club
Funspiel last Sunday was another great success. Our first in many, many
years showed over 64 lady members curling two 6 end games to make it
first to the very colourful prize table. Liz Graham, Benita Murphy,
Eleanor Ramshaw, Lorraine Wilson, Janet Hobin all worked very hard
setting this day up and ensuring all curlers were enjoying the entire
day. Andy Graham did a great job with the tallying; we were met at the
door by Jim Angel, Chuck Mercer, Brian Hobin; while Frank Dunham, Rick
Siegner, Chuck Mercer made sure the ice was in top notch condition.
Lunch was provided by Eleanor Ramshaw, Robert Hough, Bill Ryan, Jim
Angel, John Foster, Chris Ramshaw, Sandi McNamee, Chuck Gray and Frank
Banks. Barry Brummel and his crew of Earle Bush, Bill Ryan, Jim Angel
and Chris Ramshaw ensured all drinks were topped up as/when necessary.
Along with the colourful prizes, Liz thanked Christine Ramshaw, Sally
Lambert and many other members for donating Raffle Prizes. I must tell
you though – as I type this article I have muscles I did not know I had
up to yesterday and I am sure many of our regular SKIPS are in the same
sore situation. It was fun being out of the house and entering into all
the gab sessions that happen each and every game by the front end as
they glide up and down the ice. I imagine the VICES of our club got a
real eye opener on the strategy and concentration needed to win a
curling game. Great job Liz…….
The “Sweetheart
Dinner” February 14th committee is busy selling tickets now,
so if you do not have yours yet – please call Ron Graham – 378-0401 as
there are probably only a few left. Shirley Bush has been busy filling
our rental calendar and there are not many opening left, so if you are
still deciding whether to have a curling event for your staff/workers
this season, you better call her 354-5659 and book it as soon as
possible. |
 |
January 10th, 2007 |
 |
Welcome back to
the second half of curling at the Napanee & District Curling Club for
the 2006-2007 season. I hope you all had a great Xmas and a happy New
Years’ Eve with friends and family. I am happy to announce
some other 1st draw winners (the others were in the Friday
Dec 15th edition of The Beaver) and as you will see a lot of
teams were very close in each and every draw. Good luck in the second
draw and try to take that extra end or two – it just may make you one of
the second draw winners!!! The Wednesday and Thursday Mens leagues are
both still completing their 1st draw and I will have their
results later this month. The Tues Up & At’Em ended close as
usual with the last game of the season being needed to decide the
winner. At least 6 teams were in contention. My team of Kees VanGent,
Joan Banks, Wayne Tunstead won the draw with the team of Ed File, Gerry
McCracken, Steve Cooper, Bea Moore right behind us point wise. The
Friday Mixed showed two teams as winners due to ties in the number of
wins and the number of ends – congratulations goes to the teams of Jim
Sunstrum, Peg Sunstrum, Grant Crowson, Cindy Crowson and Scott Dickson,
Kim Dickson, Paul McQueen, Jane McQueen. The runner up team was Ken
Clancey, Beth Clancey, Daryl Latimer, Lana Latimer. The Wednesday ladies
winner was Gayle Johnson, Jo Sutton, Sue Mercer, Penny Flaro with the
runner up team being June Hicks, Susi Reinink, Bernice Pringle, Joyce
McClelland. The winners circle for the Thursday was the team of Jacquie
Brown, Susi Reinink, Helen Brown, Marg Martin with runner up Liz Graham,
Janet Hobin, Sue Mercer, Liz Griffiths. This league also had to wait
until after the last game to decide the winner as there were 4 teams in
contention for this coveted position. Next up on our calendar
is the Senior Mens Bonspiel January 13th which has a full
slate of 16 teams participating. On the 14th of January Liz
Graham and her committee are hosting a 50th anniversary
special club ladies funspiel and it will be a full slate of over 64
curlers ending with a potluck dinner. If you have not been called yet on
your team and time, please call Liz. Our 24 team Mixed Bonspiel is the
26-28th January weekend and I believe it is also full (or
close to being). The theme this year is “The 50’s Happy Days”, so put on
your thinking caps and come out and show off your best dressed Fonzie.
We have even more bonspiels/events for you to mark your calendar for
starting with the Town & Country the 7th of February, the 2nd
annual Sweetheart Dinner the 14th of February, the Highland
Lassie the 17th of February and finally the closing Martin &
Walters booked for Saturday the 31st of March 2007. I will
have more on these events and a few others as the season
progresses. See you on the ice………… |
 |
December 13th, 2006 |
 |
The Monday Mens’
Flight League have now finished their 1st draw and are
starting the 2nd. In the Monday Mens there are 3 divisions,
and after the first draw the bottom two teams in A move down, the top
two in B move up, the bottom two in B move down and the top two in C
move up. Points are amassed from the 1st and 2nd
draws to determine who plays for the Club Championship trophy.
Congratulations to the 1st draw winners: A – Robert Paul,
Robert Hough, Paul McDonald, Paul Murphy; B – Frank Dunham, Mark Dunham,
Scott Chadwick, Steve Paul; C – John Deman, Ted Davie, Paul Spooner,
Bart McClean. The runners up in B and C also move up – B to A – Robert
Dickson, C to B – Jim Sunstrum. The newly formed divisions will play
another round robin and points will be added to the teams’ yearly
standing for each win or tie.
The Tuesday Mixed
is also starting their second draw and congratulations goes to the
Robert Hough rink with Linda Blake, Steve Cooper, Jane Hough on their 1st
draw win. The runner up team of Bill Casselman with Sandra Casselman,
Dave Coles, Deb Coles were a very close second. In fact they were tied
all through the draw but the tie had to be broken with ends taken
because when the played each other they tied the game.
The rest of the
leagues are completing their 1st draws and the 2nd
will not start until January. Again, a number of teams in each league
are very close win wise, so the names at the top right now may not be
the Draw Winners when all the rest of the two games have been played.
Starting with the Wed Seniors - the Hogg/Walter/Sharpe rinks are all
tied for first spot; the Thursday Mens has the Babcock rink in the lead;
the Wednesday Ladies is the Gayle Johnson rink; the Thursday Ladies is
the Liz Graham rink; Friday Mixed has the Sunstrum/Hudgins ring neck to
neck and last but not least is the Up & At ‘Em Tuesday morning leader
Sandy Eastlake with Frank Banks right on her tail.
This will be my
last article until the new year so I wish all of you good curling and
good luck for the two games still to be played this year. Remember to
mark your 2007 calendar with our “still to come” events. The Senior Mens
– 13 Jan; Mixed Open – 26,27,28 Jan; Town & Country – 7 Feb; Highland
Lassie – 17 Feb and the OCA Regional playdowns – 3-4 March.
Have a very Merry
Xmas and a Happy New Year………See you all on the ice in 2007!!!!
|
 |
December 6th, 2006 |
 |
As we enter the
month of December, your league directors are all busy preparing sheets
for you to sign up for the 2nd draw starting early January. Actually
some of the leagues are starting their second draw later this month so
be sure to check each pertinent bulletin board for the leagues you
belong in. If you do not see a sign up sheet please call the League
Director to ensure your spot in the next draw. If you are not in a
certain league now but would like to be in the next draw (ie Tuesday Up
& At’Em – sign on the sheet posted AND call Shirley or Sandy).
We are having a
refresher clinic on Sunday the 6th of January and there is a
sign up sheet on the big easel. Mark your calendar and come out between
1 and 3 pm for instruction or even if you just want to throw a few
rocks.
Heather Ramshaw,
our WebSite hostess has lots of information posted for your attention so
remember to periodically check out this well organized Site –
www.ndcc.ca . Sometimes the draw sheets are all used up and you
missed getting one --- they are also on the website.
Our semi-annual
General Meeting held last Sunday had to be adjourned due to a lack of a
quorum. The Board of Directors worked hard getting their reports ready
for you, our auditors worked over the summer ensuring our finances
were/are in order and thanks to our Treasurer and Secretary all was
ready for this --- your General Meeting. Your directors thank those who
did come out and we did answer questions asked; as we can and will do
for any member who asks for club information. I am a little – no a lot -
disappointed in the 286 members we have this year for not caring enough
to support the running operation of this ‘member owned’ Napanee &
District Curling Club. |
 |
November 30th, 2006 |
 |
Prior to calling
up the winning team of Donna Smith from RKCC at the Ladies Open bonspiel
last Saturday, Linda Smith thanked her committee of Bea Moore, Michele
Penner, Shirley Bush and Mike Smith. Linda went on to give a heartfelt
thanks to the kind sponsorship of VanGent Enterprises, Grant Insurance,
Silver Corkscrew, Lockharts Fine Linens for allowing her to present such
a wide variety of prizes for the 8 winning teams to pick from. Donna
Smith went on to compliment Napanee on another successful bonspiel by
thanking Ron Graham, the Drawmaster; Gary Cound, Steve Eastlake, Rick
Siegner, Frank Dunham and Ray Moore for great ice which added to her
teams’ ability to win two games and make if first to the prize table.
One of our teams skipped by Heather Ramshaw placed 5th and
continued the thank you’s by saluting the bar staff Earle Bush, Brock
Laing, Shirley Bush and the Kitchen helpers for morning nibblies, a
delicious lunch followed by a scrumptious supper. Kitchen Captains
Shirley Bush, Norma Clarkson, Beth Clancey took a bow and thanked all
their helpers starting with Vibeke Brooks, Kirk & Ingeborg Donald,
Brenda Travers, Maggie Moniz, Diana Harrington, Doug & Joyce Meredith,
Cindy Emmons, Gail Spencer, Chuck & Scott Gray. Returning to the mike to
make the door prize draws, Linda thanked Brenda Travers, Shirley Bush,
Michele Penner, Sue Sharpe, Eleanor Ramshaw, Helen Brown, Liz Griffiths,
Elizabeth Vandenberg and myself for making and donating a wide variety
of door prizes to be won by 9 lucky winners.
To celebrate
our 50th season, our Fundraising Director Ron Graham now has
beautiful new 1957/2007 club pins for sale. Also, if you talk to Norma
Jackemeck ($65.65) and Joyce Meredith winning ($70.50) two of our lucky
50/50 draw winners it will remind you to register now (a LOONIE a week)
as next weeks’ winner might be you. For you new members who are not
sure how the 50/50 draw works, names are drawn every week and if a
member has not registered another name is drawn until there is a winner.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the General Semi-Annual Meeting Sunday, December 03rd
at 1 pm.
|
 |
November 23rd, 2006 |
 |
The
finals at the Men's Open on Sunday was a breath holding, nail biting
super finish to a terrific weekend of great curling and great fun. With
the help of Connor who had everything he could possibly cross crossed;
his uncle Robert Dickson made an extra end (tap back and stay) take out
to win the bonspiel for Napanee/Stirling with his teammates of Ryan,
Scott and Jeff. Phil Wilson thanked his committee of Sharon
VanGent, John Deman, Paul McDonald, Chris Ramshaw, Jim Head, Jack
McNamee and Tom Shillington for making this years’ spiel another easy
one to convene. Drawmasters and umpires Phil Harrington, Hugh
Sharpe and Ace Allison did a great yet tiring job of keeping all the
statistics in order. Phil went on to thank all the sponsors for enabling
him to present such an impressive prize table; Gibbard Furniture,
Clarica, Home Hardware, Joyces Meat & Deli, Burke Printing, Princess
Auto, George A. Grant Ins., M&M Meat Shops, James R. McCutcheon Ins.,
Wagar & Myatt, Dr. Andy Palmer, Mainstay Natural Foods, Moore Bros,
Goodyear, McKeown & Wood, Final Lap, AM Sports, Battlefield Eqpt, Selby
Livestock, Access Auto, Hart N Hart, Briar Fox, State Farm-Gerry
Haggerty, CI Investments,Sub & Griddle, Napanee Golf & Country Club.
As the
winning teams took their turn at the table they thanked Gary Cound,,
Dave Travers, Rick Siegner, Frank Dunham, Andy Graham and Jack McNamee
for excellent ice. The Bar Director Ken Ives and Head Captain David
VanVlack thanked Jim Head, Jacquie Brown, Kim Dickson,
Heather/Christine,/Eleanor Ramshaw, Shannon Stevens, Terry Young, Jordan
VanVlack, George Moniz, Bill Ryan, Doug Scrivens for their tireless
manning of the bar over these enjoyable three days. As every year the
participants commented over and over again - the food is the reason we
keep returning (along with the curling of course!!). Our Kitchen
Director Joan Ives thanked her Captains Sharon VanGent, Eleanor Ramshaw,
Maureen McDonald, Linda Blake and Liz Graham for organizing all
the helpers needed to keep 128 curlers coming back for more all weekend
long. Starting with Friday lunch, sandwiches, wing ding; Saturday
breakfast, lunch, delicious roast beef dinner; and ending with Sunday
breakfast and lunch. Great work ladies and gentlemen – Heather Ramshaw,
Sandi McNamee, Norma Jackemeck, Paul McDonald, Brock Laing, Debbie
Currier, Bob Woodcock, Alice Clarke, Phil Berry, Ann & Cathy Whalen,
Frank & Joan Banks, Liz Griffiths, Cynthia Woodcock, Bernice Pringle, Jo
Sutton, Lana Jaegaer, Benita Murphy, Pat Keech-Stevens, Tamara Mitchell,
Hugh Sharpe, Ken Ives, Valerie Gore, Janet Hobin, Ellyn McEwen, Doreen
Brummell and the meat cookers plus all the pie making experts. Thanks
Phil for another very successful bonspiel at the Napanee & District
Curling Club.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the Ladies Open - 25th November and the
General Semi-Annual Meeting Sunday, December 03th at 1 pm.
|
 |
November 15th, 2006 |
 |
All the leagues
are settled into their game(s) and are trying their best to get their
name on one or more of the Draw Winner trophies. Although all curlers
want to win, one of the nice things about this great game is we really
do not care if we lose either. The important thing to most members is to
have “a good, close game”. As I have stated before it is the only sport
where the winner buys the first round ; whether it is coffee or
something stronger.
Steve Eastlake
your OCA Representative has all the OCA events that you can enter posted
on the bulletin boards; so if you are thinking of entering one of these
events, please make sure you check the closing date on each entry. It is
imperative that you ensure you are able to make all levels of each event
because after you win the Zones, there are the Regionals and in some
cases Nationals for you to attend. All these Zone events are what leads
up to the great curling you see on TSN, maybe you can be one of them.
Ken Ives, your Bar
Director thanks David VanVlack, Jack McNamee, Barry Brummell, Carmen
Milligan and Paul McDonald for joining him as his monthly Head Captains.
Their volunteering takes some of the work load away from Ken but each of
you who signed up to help with the bar will lessen his load even more so
please say yes when called by one of these Head Captains to fill a bar
duty slot. There is a full list of events on the main calendar so if you
would like to do a ‘little bit more’ maybe you can call Ken and be an
Event Captain (someone who gets helpers for a certain event on a certain
day).
The Mens Open
Bonspiel starting on Friday the 17th with the finals on
Sunday afternoon has a full slate of 32 teams and promises you some
terrific curling; so if you have time drop in and watch a game or two.
Next weekend on Saturday 25th November is our Ladies Open and
it also has a full slate of 16 teams. In fact with only 4 teams of club
ladies being allowed in – three teams were drawn out and my team was one
of them –drats!!! However, it is ensuring to know we have so many
interested bonspielers at our club. Maybe some of you might decide to
check out the OCA events I mentioned above.
The other clubs in
our area support all our bonspiels and we try to send teams to all of
their bonspiels too. If you have thought about “maybe” entering one of
these, do not hesitate to check out all of them on the various bulletin
boards around the club. Take a novice curler with you as
beginner’s luck works in the game of curling also!!
|
 |
November 8th, 2006 |
 |
It is great to be
back curling and the long winter never seems so long when we all spend
so many hours ‘on the ice’.
If you have had a
chance to look on the kitchen bulletin board you will have
noticed that your Kitchen Director Joan Ives
has most of our seasonal positions filled; however she is still short a
few Captains. Please consider filling one of these vacancies. There is a
very thorough book of “how to” and after all, it is just cooking for a
crowd which all of us have done at one family reunion or another.
As you look at the
very colorful, clean and fast ice you need to remember it is our
sponsors (and naturally Gary Cound) who make all this possible. We
heartfully thank A&M Sports, Wagar & Myatt - Barry Brummell, Bert Kea,
Colio Estate Wines, Colour Connections, Country Traditions, D&L Kitchen
& Bath, Dairy Queen, Doyles Windows, Exit Realty, Giant Tiger, Goodyear,
Grants Insurance, Hampton Inn, Home Hardware, Lynja Injections, M&M
Meats, Napanee Beaver, Napanee Opticians, Pringle Ford, Scotia Bank,
Shear Magic Hair, Tammy’s Country Kitchen, Tim Hortons for their
continuing support of the Curling Club.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the Mens Open Bonspiel - 17-19h November;
Ladies Open - 25th November and the General Annual Meeting
Sunday, December 03rd at
1 pm.
You should have the agenda by email by now or if not, it is ready for
pick up at the club.
Our Juniors are
still registering so call Ian Munro 354-1828 if your children are
interested in curling. We now have a set of Little Rocks to accommodate
the smaller new members. For further info please call myself at
354-7138. All new Juniors get to try curling for two weeks prior to
paying their dues, just in case they do not like curling (although I do
not see how anyone cannot love the game of curling).
This seasons’
telephone directory is available at the
Information
Center thanks to
the sponsorship of Burkes Printing. The Name Tag sign up sheet will be
removed so I can order the name tags next Tuesday the 14th so
if you want a name tag please sign up soonest. There is always lots of
information posted on different bulletin boards around the club, so take
a minute and update yourself on club events and happenings.
See you in the
hack!!!. |
 |
November 1st, 2006 |
 |
Welcome to the 50th season of curling at the Napanee &
District Curling Club. This season we have 282 members which include 36
new members, 25 of who took our free clinic. I would like to thank Joe
Jackemeck, Gayle Johnson, Craig Manley, Beau Maracle, Cam McFayden, Ian
Munro and Andy Palmer for all their time insuring our new members had
full instruction prior to their first game. They also gave some helpful
advice to some of our returning members. Steve and Gary thank Frank and
Mark Dunham, Rick Siegner and Dave Travers for their assistance in the
installation of the ice. Our Bar and Kitchen Directors Ken and Joan
Ives along with our House Director Jennifer Clarkson give thanks to Barb
Graham, Eleanor Ramshaw, Lorraine Wilson, Jim Angel and Anna Kerr for
their help in preseason clean up and the new washroom plaques. It seems
neither Jim nor Anna are even curling, yet we put them to work – thanks
Jim and Anna. Jennifers’ hard work sure shows around the club and
Eleanor Ramshaw has completed the “50 years of the Napanee & District
Curling Club” albums which are available for all to take a trip down
memory lane. Great job Eleanor – your many, many hours of work can now
be viewed by all members.
Our Monday Mens
has 23 teams; Tuesday Up & At’Em has 20; Tuesday Mixed – 14; Wednesday
Seniors – 12; Wednesday Ladies – 7; Thursday Ladies – 12; Thursday Men –
12; and Friday mixed has 25 teams. All the league directors Chris
Ramshaw – Mens; Liz Graham – Ladies; Up & At’Em – Shirley Bush and
myself; and Mixed – Diane Shea and Andy Palmer have done an outstanding
job setting up the draws for the first round of the season.
John Deman and Linda Smith have all our Open
Bonspiels organized, Ron Graham is busy collecting your money, Ian Munro
is registering new Juniors, Lia Dufour is rubbing her hands together
after each hefty deposit, Elizabeth Vandenberg is typing away getting
the agenda ready for the General Meeting Sunday 3rd December;
Shirley Bush has been busy filling our rental calendar and there are
very few openings left to rent so if you think you want to host a
curling day you should call as soon as possible and last but I hope not
least my duties as Membership Director are slowing down and I can almost
stop hounding everyone. Oops I forgot There is always lots of
information both on the tables and on our many bulletin boards to keep
all members up to date on club happenings. Our monthly Newsletter is
available for your reading thanks to the detective work done by Bill
Hogg. Please take a minute, look around and read all that is available.
It goes without saying that any member with a question or problem should
seek out one of the Directors whose names are listed directly above the
main bulletin board.
The 4th annual
Swing and Sweep was the first notch in this seasons successful bonspiel
belt, thanks to co-coordinators Heather Ramshaw and Kim Dickson. Lunch
was ready and served at the curling club (soup and sandwiches) by
Eleanor Ramshaw and helper Shirley MacDonald. Bill Ryan and Shirley
MacDonald had the bar open and served till later in the afternoon when
Ken and Joan Ives took over till after dinner. Curling was played by all
participants on the great "fast" ice prepared by Gary Cound once again.
Dinner was prepared by Chris & Bea Moore, Eleanor, Christine, Heather
Ramshaw, Kim Dickson, Sandi McNamee and a few of the curlers. Bill
Hogg's team of Gloria Cawley, Ron Graham and Elizabeth Vandenberg won
with the Chris Ramshaw team only a half a point behind. All participants
helped with the clean up of the club and dishes. Heather and Kim thank
all participants, volunteers and supporters for an excellent day once
again; and a special thanks to Eleanor Ramshaw and Chris Moore, their
mothers’ for their endless help with any activity their girls volunteer
for.
Remember to mark your calendar for the Mens Open Bonspiel - 17th
– 19th November; Ladies Open - 25th
November and the General Meeting Sunday the 3rd of December
at 1 pm. |
 |
October 11th, 2006 |
 | Here we are, almost ready for another great season at
the Napanee & District Curling Club. This is the 50th Anniversary
of the club so your Directors and our Anniversary Committee are
busy planning some special tributes. The ice is being installed as I
write this and all your Directors are busy putting paperwork together.
Please feel free to drop in for some curling advice or just throw a few
rocks from 7pm to 9pm on Thurs 19th and Friday 20th of October.
Come out and see some curling at our annual Swing & Sweep, Saturday
afternoon on the 21st. For all you "soon to be" curling pros -- if you
have not received a call on our free new member/curler clinic on
Sunday 22nd October by Wednesday 18th, please call Sandy
Eastlake at 354-7138. |
 |
April 5th, 2006 |
 |
The closing
Martin & Walters funspiel held last Saturday showed the 64 curlers a
good time all day long. Convener John Deman with myself as Drawmistress
want to thank all our helpers for making this the successful day that it
was. The delicious lunch was by Shirley Bush, Lia Dufour, Eleanor
Ramshaw, Christine Ramshaw and many curling helpers. Our bartenders Ken
and Joan Ives, Paul McDonald, Christine Ramshaw did a great job
replenishing empty glasses. The ice was great thanks to Gary Cound,
Steve Eastlake and Dave Travers. Gary and Steve also thank all those who
helped carry the rocks downstairs. The famous “turkey/ham” toss was made
possible by the assistance of Daryl Latimer, Dave Travers and Phil
Wilson. Although called up to the winning table last (it was April Fools
after all) the first place team by luck alone – the 7th and 8th
ends were good to us – was the Dave & Brenda Travers/Steve and myself
Eastlake rink who will get their name on the Martin & Walters trophy and
the 2nd place team of Jack & Sandy McNamee/Kees & Sharon
VanGent will get their name on the Lynn Crossman Memorial Plaque.
In thanking all
the ice helpers in my last article I neglected to thank Casey McTaggart
for all her assistance on Wed and Friday nights. Thanks a lot Casey.
The closing
General Meeting held last Sunday ended with a full slate of Directors
and there was no new business to relate to you all. Your outgoing
President, Ron Graham thanks all those who came to the meeting and for
their continual support of the club and the Executive.
Don’t forget your
banquet ticket for Friday, April 21st. If you miss getting one this
coming week, please call me at 354-7138 and I will arrange getting
tickets to you. Heather Ramshaw is looking for helpers for setup and
cleanup so please call her and help make the banquet the best ever.
This is my last
article as “The Beaver” will be covering the banquet so I wish you all a
very happy summer and hope to see you all back again next season.
|
 |
March 29th, 2006 |
 |
Thanks to
the kind sponsorship of Larry Pringle, Pringle Ford for Ford of Canada;
the “Ford HotShot” curling tournament held last Saturday was another
great success for the Napanee & District Curling Club. Chris Ramshaw and
his committee of Heather Ramshaw, Ron Graham and Bill Hogg ensured all
31 participants had a good day drawing, raising, hitting or completely
missing set up stones on each of the four sheets of ice. Eleanor Ramshaw
served up a delicious lunch cooked by herself and Ron Graham and there
was plenty for curlers wanting more after their second try at the
HotShot competition. Ken and Joan Ives tended bar and did a great job
keeping everyone’s glass topped up. Gary Cound ensured the ice was keen
and Frank Dunham kept it clean. The winner was Jim Mullen by outdrawing
Ken Clancey who took second place followed by Linda Blake and Doug
Scrivens. The day was based on points collected just like seen on TV
and a good time was had by all. Just wait til next year, a lot of us may
not take a practice shot – they all seemed to be the one that would
score rather than the second real shot…..oh well!!
Remember to mark
your calendar for the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 2nd of
April at 1 pm. Come out and watch some “interesting” curling shots this
coming up Saturday at our annual closing Martin & Walters funspiel which
has a full slate of 16 teams.
Don’t forget your
banquet ticket for Friday, April 21st. If you miss getting one this
coming week, please call me at 354-7138 and I will arrange getting
tickets to you. Heather Ramshaw is looking for helpers for setup and
cleanup so please call her and help make the banquet the best ever. |
 |
March 22nd, 2006 |
 |
As the
Napanee & District Curling Club enters its’ last couple of weeks of
curling I want to give our thanks to all those who helped Ken Ives this
season with the bar during rentals. Each week after one of our bonspiels
all the volunteers are thanked for their many hours spent making the
event a successful one. Our rentals are very important to the club and
to the community. Without our volunteers who help make the day a success
for those who convene the event for the group that is renting the club;
we could not offer these rentals. First are the five Head Captains David
VanVlack, Darrell Pritchard, Jack McNamee, Jim Mullin, Paul McDonald who
each take a month and help Ken with the bars’ organization for that
month. Next are all the volunteers who make these rentals the success
they are: thank you: Jack Barker, Frank Burch, Earle Bush, Ken Clancey,
Bill Creighton, Mo Drew, George Elliott, George Elvins, Ed File, Ken
Healy, Bob Heintz, Brian Hobin, Shawn Hutchinson, Bert Kea, Daryl
Latimer, Jack Magilton, Beau Maracle, George Moniz, Doreen Brummell,
Robert Paul, Don Pearson, Eleanor Ramshaw, Steve Roantree, Doug Scrivens,
Rick Siegner, Tom Stevens, Al Thompson, Kees VanGent, Dave Wilson, Terry
Young. Our Ice maker, Gary Cound wants to thank Rick Siegner, Frank
Dunham, Ray Moore, and Steve Eastlake for their help keeping the ice in
good condition for these rentals. Shirley Bush, our rental
representative thank you all for making it easy for her to book the year
with all these rentals. There are probably a few volunteers I have
missed here and I thank you also.
Tickets are
now on sale for the Banquet on Friday 21st April so please
see Heather, Chris, Liz, Shirley or myself.
The sign up sheet
is posted for the closing Martin & Walters on April 1st, so
if you have not already signed up, please do so as it gets full quickly.
This is open to members and non members alike (I like to get new members
for next season from this event…haha) with two draws at 10 am and 11:30
am followed by lunch and a second game then a “four table wide” pot luck
supper. If you have any questions please call John Deman at 352-5523.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 2nd of
April at 1 pm. |
 |
March 15th, 2006 |
 |
Congratulations
are in order for the Palmer/Murphy rink on winning the C event in the
Mixed Skins Bonspiel last weekend in Trenton. Trenton hosted this spiel
involving 24 teams and I understand a great day was had by all the
curlers and the spectators. Three of our ladies rinks also did well in
Perth and Stirling at one day Point Spiels. Each of these teams won one
game and lost one game but with enough points to place in the prizes.
Way to go…..Norma Jackemeck, Shirley Bush and Sandi McNamee/Michele
Penner.
Chris Ramshaw is
still looking for curlers to play in the Hot Shot competition on the 25th
of March so make sure you sign up on the poster at the club.
All the third
draws plus a lot of other club info is always available at
www.ndcc.ca thanks to Heather Ramshaw, so take a few minutes and
check it out. There are some great photos to see also.
Any member who has
not yet received their agenda for the closing meeting on Sunday, April 3rd
should check the mail box on the kitchen counter. Any Email curlers who
have not received their copy there are spares in the same mail box in
the back but please add your name and email to the list also provided.
Tickets are now on
sale for the Banquet on Friday 21st April so please see
Heather, Chris, Liz, Shirley or myself.
. |
 |
March 8th, 2006 |
 |
I am happy to
inform you that the team of Chris Ramshaw, Ron Graham, Heather Ramshaw,
Christine Ramshaw won the Stickspiel at the Royal Kingston Curling Club
last Saturday. With 24 teams competing for this honored first to the
prize table position winning is not an easy feat. Congratulations to the
four of you.
The sign up sheet
for the Ford “Hot Shot” competition sponsored by Larry Pringle of
Pringle Ford on behalf of Ford of Canada is filling up quickly so get
your name in as soon as you can. Join us on Saturday 25th for
some great fun. Chris Ramshaw and his committee are looking forward to a
full slate of HotShot curlers all day Saturday.
You should have
received the agenda for the closing General Meeting on Sunday April 02nd
(or it is waiting for you to pick up at the club). Included with
the agenda is the slate of Director positions’ that need filling. Each
of the 12 Director positions are two year terms --- please consider
filling one of them. If you are really leery on taking on a Directorship
due to lack of experience, then in least consider becoming one of the
Directors assistants’ so you can learn the job and possibly take over
the spot in two years time. Most of the current Board of Directors have
been on the Executive quite a few years and are starting to “peter out”.
There is a Statement of Duties on the kitchen counter along with the
Nomination Box and each Director has an even more detailed list of
duties so you will know exactly what you will be committed to do. Please
remember the current Board of Directors were leery their first year too.
The plans
for the Banquet on April 21st are almost completed and
tickets are now available from Chris Ramshaw, Heather Ramshaw, Liz
Graham, Shirley Bush and myself. The convener, Heather Ramshaw is
naturally looking for a work crew so call her and help us make the
banquet another successful one. |
 |
March 1st, 2006 |
 |
All the leagues of
the Napanee & District Curling Club are now into their last draw of the
season – Boy, is it March already!!! I am happy to give you some of the
second draw winners. Monday Mens A was Ian Munro, Brian Hobin, Rick
Siegner, Andy Graham; B was Robert Paul, Robert Hough, Paul McDonald,
Paul Murphy; and C was Ken Healy, Dave Haines, HankJohn Reinink, Bert
Kea. They are now into the Club Championship and other playoff games.
Tuesday Up&Am’Em was myself, Jacquie Brown, Gerry McCracken, Marg
Martin. Tuesday Mixed was Andy Palmer, Cathy Palmer, Ed Lazier, Carol
Lazier and Friday Mixed was the Bill Hogg, Diane Shea, Chuck Gray,
Angela Cronk rink. The Wednesday ladies had Rebecca Murphy, Jane
Pearson, Kelsey Pearson, Anne Whalen-Knapp as their winner and Thursday
showed Shirley Bush, Sue Sharpe, Connie Pritchard, Joan Reynolds making
it to the winning circle. Congratulations to all you runner up teams
also. Eleanor Ramshaw hopes you are all still investigating any
curler/member you can think of for the picture gallery and for our
Honorary Membership Plaque and for the OCA Regional/Provincial pictures
and names.
There are a few
more volunteers busy around the club whom I feel need mentioning. Ian
Munro thanks Lucille McDonald and Ray Moore for all their help with the
Junior program and Heather Ramshaw coached the Schoolgirls in Arnprior –
thanks Heather. The new taps in the ladies washroom glisten thanks to
Chris Ramshaw.
Chris Ramshaw is
also convening a Ford “Hot Shot” competition with the kind sponsorship
of Larry Pringle of Pringle Ford. This is slated for all members on
Saturday, 25th March and a sign up poster is at the club
ready for your signature.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the closing Martin & Walters April 01st ---
maybe John and Linda are dreaming up a special little “fool” idea; The
Closing General Meeting Sunday April 02nd; and the Banquet on
Friday April 21st. Speaking about the Banquet, members have
expressed their concerns on the time it takes to distribute the awards
so your directors have decided that all awards will be given out the
last week of curling. The Banquet will still have the winner program on
the tables and the league Directors will still recognize these winners
in their speeches; there will just not be the handing out of the prizes.
We can then get into the dance part of the Banquet and as I am always
telling all you gentlemen, my dance card is never quite full.
|
 |
February 22nd, 2006 |
 |
The Highland
Lassie Bonspiel convened by Linda Smith and her committee of Shirley
Bush, Lorraine Wilson, Bea Moore, Sandy Eastlake and Mike Smith showed
the 12 out of town rinks another great day at the club. Four club teams
were curling against these twelve to win and make it to the beautifully
displayed prize table. Linda gave a big thanks to her sponsors Marj
Pearce, Lynja Injections, Lockhart’s Fine Linens & Gifts, Gray’s IDA,
The Silver Corkscrew for enabling her to set up this nice variety of
prizes. Linda continued to thank Susi Reinink, Norma Clarkson, Jane
Hough, Michele Penner and myself for donating items for the raffle
table.
The winning team
this year, Mary Jane Gunning from Tweed expressed her thanks to all the
helpers who make the Napanee bonspiels’ the success they are starting
with her favorite bartenders Earle Bush and Jack Barker. The ice was
great thanks to Gary and crew of Frank Dunham and Rick Siegner. The
Drawmaster, Ron Graham ensured all the figures were totaled properly and
at the end of the day; three of our four teams were fortunate enough to
make it to the prize table. The other three (two game) winners, Donna
Smith and Colleen Bennett from RKCC and Donna McQuillan from Garrison
thanked all the kitchen ladies for the never ending food they served
starting with morning snacks by Michele Penner; followed by a
scrumptious lunch by Charlene Huffman and her helpers Joyce McClelland,
Doreen Moore, Margery Elliott, Susi Reinink; and ending with a delicious
dinner by Joan Ives and her helpers, Chuck/Sue Mercer, Frank/Joan Banks,
Doug/Joyce Meredith, Barb Whitehead, Norma Jackemeck, MaryAlice Paul,
Ken Ives. Thank you Linda for another successful Napanee bonspiel.
Last Wednesday
was our first annual “Sweetheart Dinner”. As I walked into the
beautifully set up curling club lounge and my coat was taken and I was
handed a carnation, I knew my guests were going to be very pleased that
they chose to come to this event. Our Fundraising Director, Ron Graham
and his committee of Brock Laing, John Deman, Lia Dufour, Jennifer
Clarkson and Chef Roy Wilson and Chuck Mercer plus servers Phil
Harrington, Jim Sunstrum, Chuck Gray, Darryl Pritchard, Andy Graham and
Steve Cooper really overdid themselves with this the clubs’ first annual
dinner. Ron Graham thanked all the kind sponsors Smarts’ Flowers, IDA
Drug Store, Wallace Drug Store, Mayhew Jewelers, Colio Estates Winery,
Phil & Diana Harrington, Susan Snider, Sherry Pringe, Doug Meredith,
Michele Penner, Marie Davy, Home Hardware, Bert Kea, Rich Libby and
Connie Pritchard without whom this evening could not have been quite so
complete. The photographer Rich Libby will ensure this evening is never
forgotten as he was snapping away all evening, John Stimpson the
keyboard player supplied beautiful background music for the entire
evening and the ladies were further entertained by the musical voice of
Walter Genereux. Lia Dufour did the thank you speech from all the
ladies to all the above hard working men. I hear the men are already
planning the menu for next year although I am not sure if this is just a
rumour that myself and the other 79 ladies hope is true.
|
 |
February 15th, 2006 |
 |
The Town
& Country bonspiel last weekend was another great success. Sixteen teams
curled their best for the honour of making it to the well laid out prize
table. Thanks to Doug Ellis Motorsports, O’Neills Farms, Home Hardware,
Country Depot, Clow Farm Equipment, Moore Bros, Bishops Seeds and Hank
John Reinink the table displayed a wide variety of items to choose from.
Winning the bonspiel and first at the table was Ian Munro and team who
thanked Jack McNamee and his committee Robert Hough and Hugh Sharpe for
the well organized day of curling. Ian went on to thank Gary and crew
Steve Eastlake, Rick Siegner, Frank Dunham for terrific ice and the bar
staff: event captains Wendy McFarland and Joanne Coulter and helper Don
Walker for their watchful eye in keeping all thirsts quenched. Ian and
all the other 63 curlers gave a standing ovation for Kitchen Captain
Sandi McNamee, Michele Penner, Cathy Palmer, Liz Griffiths, Diane Shea
for a very filling and satisfying supper (at lunch time).
In my last
article, I mentioned Eleanor Ramshaw is coordinating a picture gallery
and she needs some help. In reviewing some of our old albums, she
noticed a couple of “Honorary Members” who are not listed on the plaque.
Over the years paperwork gets misplaced or lost and we need all of you
to put on your thinking caps and help us make the Honorary Membership
list a complete one. Also, she needs you to think about any Regional or
Provincial competitions that you or someone you know was involved in.
Bill Hogg has listed a few of them but that got us all thinking about
who else in the club over the years represented us past the Zone levels
in OCA competitions.
Next on our
seasonal calendar is the first annual “Sweetheart Dinner” on Wednesday,
15th February. Eighty women will be catered to and
entertained all evening long. I can’t wait to tell you all about it next
week.
The Highland
Lassie Bonspiel is next Saturday 18th Feb so come and see
some great curling.
|
 |
February 8th, 2006 |
 |
The Napanee &
District Curling Club hosted the OCA Colts/Trophy Zone playdowns last
weekend and thanks to Eleanor Ramshaw and her helpers Marg Martin,
Allison Madden, Christine Ramshaw all the curlers were well fed. Jim
Mullins (February Head Captain) and Christine Ramshaw kept their thirsts
quenched while Gary Cound and Steve Eastlake (also the convenor – our
club OCA Rep) ensured the ice was at its best. We had one team entered
and they made it to the B side semi’s where they lost in an extra end.
Better luck next time Frank. The winners of the Colts were Wooding from
RKCC and Barnard from Stirling; the Trophy was won by Fowlow from
Cataraqui and Bakonyi from Quinte.
In checking
our Volunteer Board in the front foyer, there are a few other club
volunteers I have been remiss in thanking. These helpers are “behind the
scene” and sometimes get missed. Liz Graham our ladies director gives
her thanks to Benita Murphy and Lorraine Wilson; Ian Munro thanks Mel
and Larry McTaggart, Marilyn Kendall, Frank Dunham for their help with
the Junior Tim Horton league; Jennifer Clarkson our house director
thanks Chris Ramshaw, Jack McNamee, Elaine Badgley, Adrienne & Brock
Laing, Ken Ives, Eleanor Ramshaw for all their help in installing the
beautiful new trophy shelves, cleaning trophies (I believe Jennifer did
a lot herself), installing lights, setting up the new picture gallery
(to come) and many, many other jobs that were needed around the club.
Robert Hough takes a lot of time welding and fixing all the broken
chairs that happen to “fall apart” during the season. There are
naturally many, many more behind the scene volunteers and I thank them
now and will continue to let you know who they are as the season
progresses. However, if you haven’t had time or been approached to help
yet – and now have an hour or two to spare - contact one of the
directors – and lend a hand. Once each of you look at the Volunteer
Board you will see how ALL of you are needed to pitch in and keep the
club looking nice, running smoothly, and financially prosperous.
Still to come is
the Town & Country Bonspiel, Wed 8th; the Highland Lassie
Bonspiel, Saturday 18th; and we are hosting the Tim Horton
Juniors again on Sunday 12th February. I am also looking
forward to the “Sweetheart Dinner” on Wednesday, 15th
February.
Full information
about our club happenings are available at
www.ndcc.ca thanks to Heather Ramshaw and as I write this article,
Bill Hogg is busy preparing February’s Newsletter.
|
 |
February 1st, 2006 |
 |
The Mixed Open
Bonspiel last weekend was another big success for the Napanee & District
Curling Club. Thanks to the sponsorship of The Napanee Beaver, Home
Hardware, Common Sense Financial (Chris Good), Goodyear Napanee, The
Playground (Christine Ramshaw), and the Michele Penner clan; the raffle
prizes and the ever sought after prize table was full of terrific prizes
as every other year. Rebecca Murphy and her committee of Phil Harrington
(Drawmaster – all weekend long), Paul Murphy, Jane and Kelsey Pearson,
John Deman, Brenda Charette, and Joanne Jones thanked these sponsors and
all the club volunteers for making her job a busy but easy one.
First to the prize
table was the Robert Dickson rink again this year followed closely by
the Ken Clancey rink. These two rinks had nothing but praise for all the
kitchen crews who served them and the other 22 rinks of curlers all
weekend long. Starting with Friday pizza and wings, Saturday morning
goodies, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner (catered by the ever popular
James Madden), Sunday morning goodies and ending with Sunday lunch not
one of the 96 curlers left the club without stating “boy am I full – I
ate too much”. Thank you Vicki Babcock and crew of Kathy Wager, Beth
Wylie, Penny Moore; Michele Penner; Joanne Jones and crew of Natalie
Cox, Cheryl Scrivens, Carol Harvey, Benita Murphy, Ann Whelan, Jane and
Kelsey Pearson; Rebecca herself for Sunday breakfast and last but never
least Melissa Harris, Lana Latimer, the Pearsons and Elizabeth
Vandenberg for the ending lunch. The B and C winners Andy Palmer and
Dave Travers thanked Gary Cound and his helpers Rick Siegner, Ray Moore,
Steve Eastlake for good and clean ice to curl on. This year Napanee
teams were fortunate and curled well enough to have teams in each of the
4 event finals. Way to go curlers and a big pat on the back to Rebecca.
The Poirier rink who have been coming for years had nothing but a huge
thank you to all the volunteers in their speech at the prize table. Wait
I almost forgot the most important helpers of any bonspiel, the BAR
staff. Thanks to Ken Ives (Director), Joan Ives, Brock and Adrienne
Laing, Bill Ryan, Shirley MacDonald, and Cindy Crowson all the curlers
glasses were kept topped up and none went thirsty for long. All of the
spectators were awed by the unusual colourful clothing worn this weekend
on and off the ice; any real hockey players attending would have been
very envious.
Remember to mark
your February calendar for the Town & Country Bonspiel, Wed 8th;
the Highland Lassie Bonspiel, Saturday 18th; and we are
hosting the Tim Horton Juniors Sunday 12th February. I am
also looking forward to the “Sweetheart Dinner” on Wednesday, 15th
February.
Check out our web
site for some Mixed “in action” pictures
www.ndcc.ca Heather will have them on soon.
|
 |
January 25th, 2006 |
 |
The
Senior Mens Bonspiel held last Saturday was a great success and showed a
lot of spectators some terrific curling. A lot of the teams were very
close to each other point wise and after the final tallying by Phil
Harrington it was nice to see a Napanee rink make it to the prize table
first for a change. The overall winner Ken Clancey and team thanked
Walter Genereux and Ron Graham for convening another great bonspiel.
Second place was also a Napanee rink and Frank Dunham thanked Gary Cound
and Steve Eastlake for great ice to curl on (actually Frank himself did
part of the maintenance). Thanks continued for the ever watchful
bartenders Jacquie Brown and Michele Penner. The 2 game high winners
from RKCC, Bill Judd and Tony Bush and all the other curlers had nothing
but good to say about our famous “feed the guys all day long” policy.
Eleanor Ramshaw thanked her lunch helpers Susan Snider, Joan Banks, Ed
Adams, Shirley Bush and Diana Harrington thanked Sue Sharpe, Elizabeth
Vandenberg, Barb Graham, Gloria Cawley, Barb McLean, Pat Benn, Diane St.
Louis for helping her prepare a scrumptious dinner. Naturally, our
skilled meat carver, Hugh Sharpe, was on hand to assist the ladies. The
prize table was well presented thanks to the sponsorship of Goodyear and
Briar Fox Golf and Country Club. Ron Graham purchased all the meat and
thanked Quinns Meats for their continued support of the bonspiel.
Next on our
Bonspiel agenda is the 24 rink Mixed Bonspiel this coming weekend 27th
to 29th; Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday; come
to the club and see some great shot making. I understand Rebecca and
committee have a new game planned for all to try!! Wonder what it is???
I can’t wait to see all the expertly made costumes of Hockey teams
arriving to play in this Bonspiel.
Remember to mark
your February calendar for the Town & Country Bonspiel, Wed 8th;
the Highland Lassie Bonspiel, Saturday 18th; and we are
hosting the Tim Horton Juniors Sunday 12th February. I am
also looking forward to the “Sweetheart Dinner” on Wednesday, 15th
February.
All this and more
is there for the reading on our well set up website thanks to Heather
Ramshaw. You need to check it out at
www.ndcc.ca
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January 18th, 2006 |
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We are now well
into the second draw here at the Napanee & District Curling Club.
Everything is running smoothly and all you members registered for the
Mixed Bonspiel are hopefully busy sewing and pinning your “Hockey Night
in Canada” costume(s). The spiel will be here before you know it. From
Friday 27th till Sunday 29th Rebecca Murphy and
her committee will be busy ensuring all curlers are well taken care of
both on and off the ice. I imagine she is looking for help with the
decorating phase of the bonspiel, one can never have enough sets of
hands; so if you have a few hours to spare please call Rebecca at
354-5445. Meanwhile, Walter Genereax is busy getting ready for his
Senior Men's Bonspiel on Saturday 21st. We are hosting the
OCA Zone play downs for the Colts and the Trophy Feb 4-5th,
so you call also see some great curling that weekend.
The
“Sweetheart Dinner” committee is busy selling tickets now, so if you do
not have yours yet – please call Ron Graham – 378-0401 as there are
probably only a few left. Shirley Bush has been busy filling our rental
calendar and there are not many opening left, so if you are still
deciding whether to have a curling due this season, you better call her
354-5659 and book it as soon as possible.
The Royal Kingston
Curling Club is running a fundraiser and has a great “package deal” for
anyone wanting to go see some of the Scott Tournament of Hearts in
London. This will include pick up at Flying Jay, bus to London, one
night hotel, games on Thurs 2nd and Fri the 3rd of
March. I will have a poster at the club with the info but you can also
see it at
www.royalkingston.com (click on Scott bus trip…..) or call me at
354-7138.
Coming
up later in February is the Town & Country Bonspiel, Wed 8th;
the Highland Lassie Bonspiel, Saturday 18th; and we are
hosting the Tim Horton Juniors Sunday 12th February; so there
continues to be lots of excellent curling to be watched at the club for
the rest of this season. Luckily, it also gives me lots to write about,
so this article will continue to be printed thanks to The Beaver staff.
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January 11th, 2006 |
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Gore Mutual
Schoolgirl “A” side Zone winners: Congratulations to…..
Casey McTaggert,
Natalie Murphy, Jessica Hinchey, Alissa Goodfellow, Dana Boldrick
The Regionals are
to be in Arnprior on February 4-5 and if the girls progress the
Provincials are in Simcoe on February 16-19th.
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January 4th, 2006 |
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Welcome
back to the second half of curling at the Napanee & District Curling
Club for the 2005-2006 season. I hope you all had a great Xmas and a
happy New Years’ Eve.
I am happy to
announce the 1st draw winners and as you will see a lot of
teams were very close in each and every draw. Good luck in the second
draw and try to take that extra end or two – it just may make you one of
the second draw winners!!!
The Monday Men’s A
Division winner – Ian Munro, Brian Hobin, Rick Siegner, Andy Graham
(5w2t) with runner up Andy Palmer, Bill Hogg, Mike Smith, Bruce Finlay ;
the B Division winner – Steve Angel, George Moniz, Kirk Donald, Al
Thompson (5w32p) with runner up Dave Travers, Steve Eastlake, John
Stimpson, Daryl Latimer; C Division winner – Tom Hayes, Gerry Haggerty,
Jim Head, Don Pearson (5w1t)with runner up Scott Chadwick, Brian
Chadwick, Mark Lyons, John McDonald. The top two teams in B & C move up
a division and the bottom two in each division move down. The Wednesday
Senior Men’s winner – Robert Paul, Dave Travers, Gerry McCracken, Bill
Creighton (9w) with runner up Walter Genereux, George Elliott, Mel
Therien, Al Thompson. The Thursday Men's winner – Ian Munro, Dave
Travers, Max Christie, Jack Magilton (7w41.5ends) with runner up Ken
Clancey, Daryl Latimer, John Stimpson, Walter Bell (7w41e). The Tuesday
Mixed winner Robert Hough, Jane Hough, Chuck Mercer, Sue Mercer (14pts)
with runner up Cam McFadyen, Linda Blake, Bert Kea, Jared Coleman. The
Friday Mixed showed three teams as winners (14pts) due to ties – Ken
Clancey, Marg Pearce-Wilson, David Wilson, Beth Clancey and Bill Hogg,
Diane Shea, Chuck Gray, Angela Cronk and Rebecca Murphy, Jane Pearson,
Paul Murphy, Don Pearson; plus an honourable mention with 12 pts to Paul
Dickson, Lana Jaeger, Phil Wilson and Shannon Stevens. The Tues Up &
At’Em was close with only a 1 end difference between the winner Jack
McNamee, June Hicks, Earle Bush, Norma Clarkson and the runner up Jane
Hough, Sharon VanGent, Chuck Mercer, Rosemary Roffey. The Wednesday
ladies winner was Liz Graham, Janet Hobin, Brenda Charette, Gwyenth
Thompson with runner up Rebecca Murphy, Jane Pearson, Kelsey Pearson,
Natalie Cox (also won the two week playdown). Last (but not least) to
the winners circle for the Thursday Ladies is my team of Janet Hobin,
Joan Banks, and Janice Noble/Shirley McDonald with runner up of Jane
Hough, Bernice Pringle, Alice Clarke, and Bea Moore. Congratulations….
Tickets are now
being sold for our “Sweetheart Dinner” on the 15th of
February so watch for posters advertising this special dinner being
cooked and served by our Male members. Any questions please call Ron
Graham at 378-0401.
Ian Munro is
expecting a lot more juniors this week (Wed and/or Sun) and if you have
still not registered your child it is not too late to do so. All new
curlers get to try a couple of weeks prior to paying their fee and all
fees are prorated till the end of the season. Please call Ian 354-1828.
Next
up on our calendar is the Senior Men’s Bonspiel January 21st
and our 24 team Mixed Bonspiel on the 27-29th January. The
theme this year is “Hockey Night in Canada”, so put on your thinking
caps and come out and show off your best dressed hockey
team.
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December 14th, 2005 |
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The
Napanee & District Curling Club hosted the Special Olympic play downs
last Sunday. Four teams of curlers from Napanee, Lindsay and Picton had
a great time both on and off the ice. Thanks to Marilyn Cole and myself
they all had morning snacks with their coffee. A delicious lunch was
prepared for them by Shirley Bush and served by Shirley, Marilyn Cole
and Marilyn Elliott. Shirley gave thanks to Les from Picton for helping
with the clean up. Steve Eastlake ensured the ice was clean, fast and
ready for each of the three games played.
The “Sweetheart
Dinner” slated for February 15th is well past the planning
stage and tickets will be available shortly. If you have any questions,
please call our fundraising director, Ron Graham 378-0401.
Ian Munro
has now visited all the schools in the area and it appears that our
Junior league will have a lot more members in the new year.
All the leagues
are into their last couple of games prior to the holiday season and I
wish all of you “good curling/good luck”.
All your directors
are busy compiling/preparing the 2nd draw of the 2005/2006
curling season and we ask you to be patient. Your new skip for January
will be calling you prior to the first game in the New Year. Some of the
leagues will have the new draw ready to hand out in the last week of
curling so make sure you check the Information Center in case your
league is one of them.
Wishing you a very
Merry Xmas and the best of New Years. See you all in 2006!!
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December 9th, 2005 - SPECIAL
FRIDAY EDITION |
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The Napanee &
District Curling Club is hosting the “Special Olympic” curling playdowns
on Sunday, Dec 11 with teams from Lindsay, Picton and Napanee
participating. This playdown will be starting at 9 am and games will be
played til approx 3 pm.
Ian Munro, one
of our Junior Directors is planning on visiting all the schools to
ensure students both senior and junior are aware of our great Junior
Program at the club. He hopes to also get the “Little Rock” program
running in early January, so if you have a child interested in trying
please call Ian at 354-1828. If you would like further info you may also
call myself at 354-7138. Our Junior leagues are on Wednesday after
school and seniors on Sunday at 7 pm. All new members get to try the
sport for a couple of weeks prior to paying for their membership. There
are no equipment costs (all children have warm clothing and a pair of
clean sneakers).
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December 7th, 2005 |
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As the Napanee &
District Curling Club enters December and the last few games of the
first draw, I thought I would let you all know the standings so far.
Starting with the Monday Men – A is Ian Munro, B is tied with Reg
Gore/Cam McFadyen, C is Tom Hayes; Tues Up & At’Em is tied with Andy
Graham/Jack McNamee; Tuesday Mixed is also tied with Cam McFadyen/Andy
Palmer; Wed Seniors is Robert Paul; Wed Ladies is Liz Graham; Thurs
Ladies is tied with Diane Shea/myself; Thurs Mens is Ken Clancey; and
finishing with Friday Mixed into a three way tie with Les Corbay/Bill
Hogg/Ken Clancey. As you can see from the amount of ties the next 3-4
games are crucial and all teams will be curling their best to be the
first draw winner. You will need to check the bulletin boards as league
directors have posted sign up sheets for any member wanting to curl in
the second draw starting 2nd January. A member not already in a
particular league now needs to sign up as soon as possible to ensure a
position is available in January. Most of the leagues have their second
draw completed prior to the last game of this draw because it is very
hard to get a hold of everyone over the holidays. This way all teams
know their mates and if a spare is necessary for the first game in
January members have the list of spares available. Another good idea is
to call the League Director responsible for a league you want to join
(if you are not already part of said league) and this will definitely
let us know who wants to curl when. All phone numbers are in our
Telephone Directory and if you do not have one, pick one up at our
information center.
Ian Munro, one of
our Junior Directors is planning on visiting all the schools to ensure
students both senior and junior are aware of our great Junior Program at
the club. He hopes to also get the “Little Rock” program running in
early January, so if you have a child interested in trying please call
Ian at 354-1828.
Our fundraising
director, Ron Graham and his committee are organizing a Valentines
Ladies Dinner – being prepared and served by our men – on Wednesday 15th
February. This dinner is for members and non-members alike, but space is
limited. For more info please call Ron at 378-0401. Watch for the sign
up sheets soon to be posted at the club and there will also be a sign up
sheet for cooks, servers, and committee members.
A refresher clinic
and a skips training clinic is slated again this January and the date is
Sunday the 8th at approx 1 pm. A poster and signup sheet is
probably already on the bulletin board as you read this article so
remember to enroll if you are interested in further curling lessons or
if you want to become a skip. |
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November 30th, 2005 |
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The Ladies Open
Bonspiel held last Saturday was a great success. Linda Smith thanked her
committee of Shirley Bush, Joan Ives, Lorraine Wilson, Marilyn Cole,
Diane St. Louis and myself for making her convenors’ job an easy one.
Actually, Linda always has these little “goodies” to assemble and I am
all fingers but with the others we got the job done. In her speech, the
winning team from Riverside, Marlene McCallum exclaimed “what do I pick
– everything is so beautiful” about Lindas’ prize table thanks to the
kind sponsorship of VanGent Enterprises, Grant Insurance, Lockhart’s
Fine Linens and The Silver Corkscrew. Ella Brisson from RKCC continued
the speeches as 2nd to the prize table and thanked the
Kitchen, the Bar and the Ice helpers for making this year another great
one for her team. Ella has been coming back year after year due to the
great food, great bar service, great ice and naturally great friendships
at our club. All the other winners had the same positive remarks and in
the same order. Our kitchen is always appreciated and helps us keep
outside teams returning year after year. This is to the thanks of all
our volunteers. Kitchen Director and Captain for all three meals was
Michele Penner. Starting with breads and fruit, followed by a delicious
lunch and ending with a scrumptious supper, Michele thanked her helpers
Rosemary Roffey, Marg Martin, Vibeke Brooks, Brock Laing, MarjPearce
Wilson, Gloria Cawley, Lori Morris and Diane St Louis. I did hear that
Michele needs to give the well presented supper dish a more exotic name.
Our Bar Captain Earle Bush and Jack Barker ensured all the ladies
special orders were looked after. The IceMaker Gary Cound thanked Casey
McTaggart, Frank Dunham and Rick Seigner for helping keep the ice clean
and fast. The drawmasters Lia Dufour and myself ensured all the numbers
tallied properly by the end of the draws for Linda to call up the top
eight teams for their prizes.
Next Sunday, 4th
December is our Semi-Annual General Meeting at 1 pm. All members are
asked to come out and support your directors and the decisions that need
to be made each and every year to keep the club viable and running
smoothly.
In the New Year we
have a full slate of many more Bonspiels. As you can see from above, our
Kitchen Director is taking on far too many Captain/kitchen helper
positions and there are so many of you who could “take up the slack”.
Please have a look of what is to come and what openings need filling
from the list on the Kitchen bulletin board and call Michele.
Our Junior league
is very small this season but it is not too late to register. Our club
also has a set of Little Rocks to help the younger curlers, so all you
members with children wanting to try curling after watching Mom/Dad for
so many years; please call myself 354-7138 or Ian Munro 354-1828 or
George Moniz 354-0129. Our Junior Leagues are now Wednesday (vice
Monday) at 4 pm and Sunday at 7 pm. There is nothing to buy prior to
your child joining – all kids have runners and warm clothing….and each
child gets to try curling for a couple of weeks before having to pay
their membership.
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November 23rd, 2005 |
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Congratulations to the winning team of Robert Dickson from Sterling
and to the Bill Hogg rink who took 2nd place in the A event
of the Mens Open held last weekend at our club. It is the second in a
row for Sterling but not for Robert as Scott skipped last year. All the
winners from A to D took a long time deciding on which prize to select
from the wide variety thanks to the sponsorship of Gibbard Furniture,
Clarica, Home Hardware, Joyces’ Meat & Deli, Burke Printing, George A.
Grant Ins., M&M Meat Shops, James R. McCutcheon Ins., Wagar & Myatt, Dr.
Andy Palmer, Mainstay Natural Foods, Moore Bros, Goodyear, McKeown &
Wood, Final Lap, AM Sports, Battlefield Eqpt, Access Auto, Nibourg Waste
Management, Hart N Hart, Briar Fox, Napanee Golf & Country Club. John
Deman thanked his committee of Sharon VanGent, Phil Wilson, Paul
McDonald, Chris Ramshaw, Jim Head and Jack McNamee for making this year’
spiel another easy one to convene. He was quoted as saying “a well oiled
machine never breaks down”. Drawmasters and umpires Phil Harrington and
Hugh Sharpe ensured all the figures were totaled correctly and the 50/50
was the highest ever thanks to Kim Dickson and Heather Ramshaw.
As the
winning teams took their turn at the table they thanked Gary Cound,
Steve Eastlake, Dave Travers, Rick Siegner and Frank Dunham for terrific
ice to curl on. The Bar Directors Ken Ives/Jacquie Brown and Head
Captain David VanVlack thanked Jim Head, Kim Dickson, Heather Ramshaw,
Frank Banks, Laurie VanStraalen, Shannon Stevens, Daryl Latimer, Terry
Young, Beau Maracle, Ed and Carol Lazier for their tireless manning of
the bar over these enjoyable three days. According to all the 128
curlers served over and over and over again all weekend long – the food
is the reason they keep returning. The Kitchen Captains Sharon VanGent,
Eleanor Ramshaw, Maureen McDonald, Linda Blake, Joan Ives, Shirley Bush,
Liz Graham and our Kitchen Director Michele Penner give a huge thank you
to all the helpers starting with Friday lunch, sandwiches, wing ding;
Saturday breakfast, lunch, delicious roast beef dinner; and ending with
Sunday breakfast and lunch. Great work ladies and gentlemen – Bernice
Pringle, Norma Jackemeck, Jane Hough, Paul McDonald, Lucille McDonald,
Alice Clarke, Lorraine Wilson, Lorraine Willows, Phil Berry, Norma
Clarkson, Tricia Cammaart, Connie Pritchard, Brenda Charette, Melissa
Harris, Helen Brown, Joan Banks, Beth Clancey, Liz Griffiths, Gail
Maracle, Moira Sickling, Sue Mercer, Valerie Gore, Janet Hobin, Joan
Reynolds, Darrell Pritchard, Hugh Sharpe and the meat cookers plus all
the pie making experts. Thanks John for another very successful bonspiel
at the Napanee & District Curling Club.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the Ladies Open - 26th November and the
General Semi-Annual Meeting Sunday, December 04th at 1 pm.
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November 16th, 2005 |
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This season we
have 277 members at the Napanee & District Curling Club. Our Monday mens
has 22 teams; Tuesday Up & At’Em has 18; Tuesday Mixed – 10; Wednesday
Seniors – 10; Wedneday Ladies – 6; Thursday Ladies – 11; Thursday Men –
10; and Friday mixed has an awesome 31 teams. All the league directors
Chris Ramshaw – Mens; Liz Graham – Ladies; Up & At’Em – Shirley Bush and
myself; and Mixed - Heather Ramshaw have done an outstanding job
setting up the draws for the first round of the season. Heather deserves
a special thanks because to give 31 teams the time they want (when
possible) on Friday night with four different times involved is not an
easy task.
We are
trying a new format this year for the Bar with a Head Captain each month
and event captains for the bonspiels with each having many helpers to
recruit. Ken Ives, with the November Head Captain, David VanVlack have
been busy getting bar teams set up for the November bonspiels, rentals
and league play. With the new format each Head Captain will set up their
crews for the month so there will not be a complete team list posted. If
you have not been contacted yet – wait for it – Ken and his Head Captain
has not forgotten you – it is a long season (HAHA). Ken has a full list
of all who volunteered at registration (over 100 members) and he also
has a sign up sheet posted on the side of the bar pop machine so you can
put your preference of duty after looking at the Bonspiel/Rental
calendar. Please also consider being one of the “event captains” and
call Ken.
Remember to mark
your calendar for the Mens Open Bonspiel - 18-20th November;
Ladies Open - 26th November and the General Semi-Annual
Meeting Sunday, December 04th at 1 pm. You would have
received your agenda by now by email or it is at the club for those
without email. I had a slight problem sending to Sympatico customers, so
if you did not get yours please let me know and/or pick one of the extra
ones up at the club.
See
you all on Sunday, December 04th…..we have ample seating for all of you. |
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November 2nd, 2005 |
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This past summer
has been a busy one at the Napanee & District Curling Club. A lot of
renovations have been completed and a major clean up was carried out by
our House Director, Jennifer Clarkson. She heartfully thanks Chris
Ramshaw, Ken Ives, Liz and Andy Graham, Ian Munro, Jack McNamee and
Frank Dunham for all their many hours at the club dry walling and
painting and stripping and…..the list goes on. Her cleaning crew of Liz
Graham, Ian Munro, John Deman, Ana & Dave Haines, Gloria Cawley, Kees
VanGent, Marg PearceWilson, Eleanor Ramshaw, Barb Graham, Lorraine
Wilson and Shirley Bush has the place shining from top to bottom.
Eleanor provided lots of delicious treats for the crew and Earle Bush
cut the grass. Michele Penner has spruced up the kitchen and Jacquie
Brown has a sparkling bar area.
As the ice lights
were turned on for each of the first draws the members were impressed
with the glaring colorful ice. Gary Cound our Ice Maker and Steve
Eastlake our Ice Director give their thanks to Rick Siegner, Frank
Dunham and Chuck Mercer for all their help over the last 5 weeks and
also Ken Clancey, Bill Ryan, Bob Heintz, Dave Travers and Chuck Gray.
The preseason
clinics had an attendance of over 24 new curlers plus many members
wanting help and I want to thank Cam McFadyen, Andy Palmer, Ian Munro,
Joe Jackemeck, Joe Maddison, Les Corbay and Beau Maracle for all their
help.
Kim Dickson and
Heather Ramshaw made sure the 3rd annual Swing and Sweep was
a huge success. I heard that it took a few hours for fingers to thaw
though. Lunch and Dinner was looked after by Christine & Bea Moore,
Eleanor, Christine & Sara Ramshaw, Jennifer Clarkson, Marg PearceWilson
and Jane Hough plus other curls who chipped in to help. Jacquie Brown
and Michele Penner tended bar and Graham Weatherby assisted in preparing
and calculating the draw figures. Jim Mullin and his brothers won the
spiel with Daryl Latimers team a close second. The excellent day was a
great kick-off for another successful season at the club.
The available
weekends for clubs or associations to rent the club are filling quickly
so if you would like to book a date, please call Shirley Bush 354-5659.
The Mens
Open Bonspiel is set for 18-20 November and our Ladies Open is set for
the 26th November. Remember to mark your calendars and come
see some great curling games. Our General Semi-Annual Meeting is slated
for Sunday, December 04th at 1 pm so watch for your agenda
which is being compiled as I type this article.
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