As I write this the quarterfinal games are on the ice. There are some phenominal teams - three out of the four Trials teams - and one national olympic squad! It is amazing how the cream always seems to rise to the top.
The one name people may not notice is that of Kerri Flett from Winnipeg. This young skip has aligned herself with a very experienced team and has done very well so far this season. She is also on the current Manitoba Mixed Champions and by all sounds we will be hearing from her a lot in the future.
Another interesting point to note is that out of five international teams, only China...the world champion, qualified here in Calgary. Anything can happen in an event like the Olympics where 10 pre-qualified teams compete but when there is an event 32 teams deep it is nice to see our depth of teams play out.
Keep posted on the scores today....there are two world championship teams in the mix of eight, three Trials teams, one team that has only lost one game this year.....I think it is anyone's game today!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
B Finals at 5:30pm!!
There were some very interesting games this morning, creating a foursome that will play off in the B Qualifiers for the right to play on Monday. With some ice that was both fast and swingy this morning (curlers like that) we saw some different shots being made.
Sherry Middaugh and her team made quick work of the Bobbi Sauder rink from Edmonton scoring a deuce with their first two hammers and then taking control with a single point steal. This team exacted some revenge on Team Sauder who beat them in the first round!! Team Middaugh will face Team Flett, from Winnipeg who beat the young Calgary foursome of Megan Kirk.
Over on the other side of the B bracket Amber Holland started a new winning streak by beating Georgina Wheatcroft of B.C.. Amber will face Crystal Webster's Alberta team who made off like a bunch of theives stealing a point in the 7th to tie, managing to force an extra end after Chinese Skip Bingyu Wang hit and rolled out and then managing to steal a point in the extra end when Wang was tight on her last shot.
I wanted to ensure we mentioned that Kyla MacLachlan was this year's winner of the prestigious Ray Kingsmith Award. The purpose of the Ray Kingsmith Memorial Award is to recognize an individual woman for her outstanding contributions to women's curling. The key fact to note is that Kyla is only 30 years old and has already made such an unbelievable contribution to our sport. We wish Kyla and her team well in their quest to represent Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games.
Turkey is on!! See you at the club.
Paul
Sherry Middaugh and her team made quick work of the Bobbi Sauder rink from Edmonton scoring a deuce with their first two hammers and then taking control with a single point steal. This team exacted some revenge on Team Sauder who beat them in the first round!! Team Middaugh will face Team Flett, from Winnipeg who beat the young Calgary foursome of Megan Kirk.
Over on the other side of the B bracket Amber Holland started a new winning streak by beating Georgina Wheatcroft of B.C.. Amber will face Crystal Webster's Alberta team who made off like a bunch of theives stealing a point in the 7th to tie, managing to force an extra end after Chinese Skip Bingyu Wang hit and rolled out and then managing to steal a point in the extra end when Wang was tight on her last shot.
I wanted to ensure we mentioned that Kyla MacLachlan was this year's winner of the prestigious Ray Kingsmith Award. The purpose of the Ray Kingsmith Memorial Award is to recognize an individual woman for her outstanding contributions to women's curling. The key fact to note is that Kyla is only 30 years old and has already made such an unbelievable contribution to our sport. We wish Kyla and her team well in their quest to represent Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games.
Turkey is on!! See you at the club.
Paul
A Qualifiers - Bernard & Belisle....and the streak is over!
The Killer B's made it a one-two punch yesterday becoming the first two qualifiers at the Trail Appliances Curling Classic. Belisle, out of Quebec, and local favourite Bernard have earned the right to play in the skins game today and play in the quarter final playoff games on Monday.
The Bernard team put on a display of talent in their qualifier. It was a close game until Skip Cheryl Bernard made an unbelievalbe double to count three points in the forth end. They took control of the game at that point and Team Sauder will be playing in the B side today.
Team Belisle had a very tight game against formerly undefeated Team Holland. It was a game that Team Belisle seemed to control until they gave up a very untimely three ender in the 7th end to create a tied game. They retook control and pulled out the win and have ensure they will be returning home this weekend with some money in their pockets!
There are still a number of unbelievable games today with four draws of action starting at 9:30am. Be sure to get there early and get a good seat!
Cheers,
Paul
The Bernard team put on a display of talent in their qualifier. It was a close game until Skip Cheryl Bernard made an unbelievalbe double to count three points in the forth end. They took control of the game at that point and Team Sauder will be playing in the B side today.
Team Belisle had a very tight game against formerly undefeated Team Holland. It was a game that Team Belisle seemed to control until they gave up a very untimely three ender in the 7th end to create a tied game. They retook control and pulled out the win and have ensure they will be returning home this weekend with some money in their pockets!
There are still a number of unbelievable games today with four draws of action starting at 9:30am. Be sure to get there early and get a good seat!
Cheers,
Paul
Saturday, October 10, 2009
A-Qualifiers 5:30pm - Holland Still Undefeated!!!
Well two of the five teams I targetted at the start of the event are playing in the A-Qualifiers today at 5:30pm - that being Team Bernard and Team Holland. Team Holland has built their unbeaten streak to eight games (according to the WCT site)......and counting! Good luck to them as they play Quebec based Team Belisle. Bernard is squaring off against the Bobbi Sauder rink from Edmonton. Ranking wise you would have to pick Bernard and Holland, however both Sauder and Belisle have played extremely well so far and have knocked off some big names.
The good news for curling fans, because of all the upsets so far, is that there are some very big names playing all day on Sunday!! Plus the biggest prize of the day on Sunday is the Calgary Curling Club's $13.00 Thanksgiving turkey dinner...with all the fixings. Trust me.....it is well worth it - I may just have one for lunch and dinner!!
There will be some unhappy people after the 5:30 draw as the first teams will be eliminated from the tournament. Along with the two A-side qualifying games are the six first round C-side games. There are some big names playing in those games - and trust me - there have been event winners from the C-side!! It's a long road, but if you get on a run you get to continue to play versus having a day off the ice......pay attention to these teams!
Hope to see everyone out at the club today and tomorrow!
Paul
The good news for curling fans, because of all the upsets so far, is that there are some very big names playing all day on Sunday!! Plus the biggest prize of the day on Sunday is the Calgary Curling Club's $13.00 Thanksgiving turkey dinner...with all the fixings. Trust me.....it is well worth it - I may just have one for lunch and dinner!!
There will be some unhappy people after the 5:30 draw as the first teams will be eliminated from the tournament. Along with the two A-side qualifying games are the six first round C-side games. There are some big names playing in those games - and trust me - there have been event winners from the C-side!! It's a long road, but if you get on a run you get to continue to play versus having a day off the ice......pay attention to these teams!
Hope to see everyone out at the club today and tomorrow!
Paul
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wow - what a first two draws!!!
King, Middaugh, Jones, Lawton, China, Anderson, Englot - all very good teams that ended up losing their first round games....hmmmmm. Well there are a lot of reasons why - mainly it's the first game and they are simply getting familiar with the ice, and a lot of other teams are playing very well! That is the benefit of a triple knockout....there are two winners in the A, two in the B and four in the C who qualify.
One of the biggest stories developing here in Calgary is the fact that Amber Holland's Regina team have yet to lose a game this year. This is there second event and they won their first event, in Saskatchewan, undefeated - beating Kelly Scott in the final.
Team Scott, in their own show of pure talent, had a very one sided game against Team Japan. This was a payback game from the final of the Vernon event last weekend where Team Japan beat them in the semi-final and went onto the final.
Team Kleibrink, the reigning champions, looked very good in their game against June Campbell from Calgary. Watch up for this team, as they have yet to qualify this year....but if you wake a sleeping giant!!
All in all things are shaping up like a normal triple knockout event....always some big upsets, always some good teams winning - the interesting part is who plays well enough to be the top 25% of the teams in this event to qualify and play on Monday. Forteen thousand dollars will be given out to the winner of this event.
I'll be in touch!.
Paul
One of the biggest stories developing here in Calgary is the fact that Amber Holland's Regina team have yet to lose a game this year. This is there second event and they won their first event, in Saskatchewan, undefeated - beating Kelly Scott in the final.
Team Scott, in their own show of pure talent, had a very one sided game against Team Japan. This was a payback game from the final of the Vernon event last weekend where Team Japan beat them in the semi-final and went onto the final.
Team Kleibrink, the reigning champions, looked very good in their game against June Campbell from Calgary. Watch up for this team, as they have yet to qualify this year....but if you wake a sleeping giant!!
All in all things are shaping up like a normal triple knockout event....always some big upsets, always some good teams winning - the interesting part is who plays well enough to be the top 25% of the teams in this event to qualify and play on Monday. Forteen thousand dollars will be given out to the winner of this event.
I'll be in touch!.
Paul
First Draw Complete - Some Upsets!!!
The first draw in the Trail Appliances Curling Classic is complete and we have our first eight winners and our first eight teams in the B division. With the weather yesterday there were a few teams concerned with when they were getting into town but luckily we have all 32 teams accounted for!!
In the first draw action the most notable upset was local team, Megan Kirk, winning on sheet 8 versus current Canadian Champion and Olympic Trials participant Jennifer Jones. On Sheet 7 Team Denmark was in control the whole game however they ended up giving up a steal of 2 in the 8th end to archrival Team Russia!! Draw weight will be a extremely important skill to have this weekend - especially to the button. Teams are experiencing slightly straighter curl outside-in, especially when you up the weight.
The other upset on the ice was Team Guzzwell beating Team Middaugh (Team Guzzwell skipped by Bobbi Sauder...who also throws fourth stones....not sure why the name is under second Jennifer Guzzwell). Sherry Middaugh had a tough draw on her last and was a tad heavy opening up the door for Bobbi Sauder to draw for two points and the win.
Other winners were Team Bernard over Team Mouzar, Team Ott over Team Flett, Team Rankin over Team Holly Soctt,
There have been some unbelievable shots made already in this event - it is evident teams have been on the ice and practicing a lot already - and it's only October 9th!
In the first draw action the most notable upset was local team, Megan Kirk, winning on sheet 8 versus current Canadian Champion and Olympic Trials participant Jennifer Jones. On Sheet 7 Team Denmark was in control the whole game however they ended up giving up a steal of 2 in the 8th end to archrival Team Russia!! Draw weight will be a extremely important skill to have this weekend - especially to the button. Teams are experiencing slightly straighter curl outside-in, especially when you up the weight.
The other upset on the ice was Team Guzzwell beating Team Middaugh (Team Guzzwell skipped by Bobbi Sauder...who also throws fourth stones....not sure why the name is under second Jennifer Guzzwell). Sherry Middaugh had a tough draw on her last and was a tad heavy opening up the door for Bobbi Sauder to draw for two points and the win.
Other winners were Team Bernard over Team Mouzar, Team Ott over Team Flett, Team Rankin over Team Holly Soctt,
There have been some unbelievable shots made already in this event - it is evident teams have been on the ice and practicing a lot already - and it's only October 9th!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
What an Absolutely Unbelievable Field!!
Thirteen of the sixteen Olympic Trials/Pre-Trials teams in attendance, including all four of the Trials teams!!
Five international rinks - all of which will be playing at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in 129 days!!
Add in another 11 high calibre teams and this just might be the best field ever assembled for the Trail Appliances Curling Classic. These 32 teams will be battling it out for $56,000 in prize money. Defending Champion Team Kleibrink, from Calgary, definitely have their work cut out for them.
My name is Paul Webster, the National Development Coach for Canada. I run our National Training Centre here in Calgary and the committe thought I may just have some idea of how to blog!! I will give it a try with my goal to bring you some inside stories about the teams throughout the weekend as well as keeping you up to date on the teams that are hot to start the weekend.
In that light there are a few teams to take note of coming into this competition:
1. Team Jennifer Jones - haven't played a lot this year, as of yet, however the one event they did play in, over in Europe, they won - beating some of the Olympic contenders in the process
2. Team Japan - just came off a big win in Vernon last weekend beating Cheryl Bernard of Calgary in the final. They also won the inauguaral New Zealand Winter Games in August beating Team China (arch rival) in the final. They have been somewhat quiet the last few years......is this a resurgence?
3. Team Amber Holland - one their first and only event so far this year....undefeated! Beating former World Champion Kelly Scott in the final, Team Holland was extremely impressive in this Regina event.
4. Team Cheryl Bernard - two events and two second place finishes - this team is thirsty for a win. Hot off a great 2008-2009 campaign, they are ready to set the table for the 2009 Trials in December.
5. Team Kelly Scott - the former world championship team made a team change and added a new lead this year. So far they have qualied in each event they have played in. A perennial contender - they no doubt will be playing on Monday!!
Be sure to get out to the Calgary Curling Club this weekend. This will be as close to Olympic calibre curling that we will see in Calgary! Come out and support our teams!!
Yours in curling,
Paul Webster
Five international rinks - all of which will be playing at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in 129 days!!
Add in another 11 high calibre teams and this just might be the best field ever assembled for the Trail Appliances Curling Classic. These 32 teams will be battling it out for $56,000 in prize money. Defending Champion Team Kleibrink, from Calgary, definitely have their work cut out for them.
My name is Paul Webster, the National Development Coach for Canada. I run our National Training Centre here in Calgary and the committe thought I may just have some idea of how to blog!! I will give it a try with my goal to bring you some inside stories about the teams throughout the weekend as well as keeping you up to date on the teams that are hot to start the weekend.
In that light there are a few teams to take note of coming into this competition:
1. Team Jennifer Jones - haven't played a lot this year, as of yet, however the one event they did play in, over in Europe, they won - beating some of the Olympic contenders in the process
2. Team Japan - just came off a big win in Vernon last weekend beating Cheryl Bernard of Calgary in the final. They also won the inauguaral New Zealand Winter Games in August beating Team China (arch rival) in the final. They have been somewhat quiet the last few years......is this a resurgence?
3. Team Amber Holland - one their first and only event so far this year....undefeated! Beating former World Champion Kelly Scott in the final, Team Holland was extremely impressive in this Regina event.
4. Team Cheryl Bernard - two events and two second place finishes - this team is thirsty for a win. Hot off a great 2008-2009 campaign, they are ready to set the table for the 2009 Trials in December.
5. Team Kelly Scott - the former world championship team made a team change and added a new lead this year. So far they have qualied in each event they have played in. A perennial contender - they no doubt will be playing on Monday!!
Be sure to get out to the Calgary Curling Club this weekend. This will be as close to Olympic calibre curling that we will see in Calgary! Come out and support our teams!!
Yours in curling,
Paul Webster
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