ANNANDALE HELD 44TH ST.PATS BONSPIEL

by Jim Easson

Last Saturday March 14th, 2009, Annandale held the 44th Annual St Pat’s Mixed Bonspiel.  It included three six-end games, snacks, lunch, dinner, dance and prizes.  The overall winning team with first pick of the prize table was a home rink of Craig Jewer, Bonnie Klepadlo, Dale Neely and Lee Anne Jewer.  Second place went to Blair Metrakos, Marilynne Gordon, Andy Gordon, and Courtney Gordon also of Annandale.  Of the 26 teams competing, entries came from Winchester, North Granville, and Port Perry.  The convenor Arlene Joly said there was positive feedback that the event ran smoothly, and complimented George Nicolaou  for his great meals.

An Annandale Curling Club team won the A side of the Regional Junior Mixed Playdown in Fenelon Falls March 8. Josh Hall teamed up with Spencer Anderson, James McPherson, and Yvonne Lalonde and coach Donna Hall.  They advance to Marmora & Area Curling Club March 25 to 28 compete in the Provincial Finals.  There is no Canadian title for this event.

The Ontario Men’s Champions Team Glenn Howard, with Pickering resident Richard Hart at vice, and Brent Laing and Craig Savill competed in their fourth  Tim Hortons Brier in a row.  The event ran in Calgary March 7 to 15.  The previous three Canadian Championships saw Team Howard win their way to the final game, but the team was victorious only in 2007 and went on to be crowned World Champions.  This trip, they ended a successful round robin with a 9 -2 record, but ended with an unprecedented three losses in a row.  They were upset in the last round robin game, then the Page Playoff 1 vs. 2, and then the semi-final.  They still come away with cresting revenue and results funds.

At the Calgary Brier, all the players had a chance to win the Ford Hot Shots competition with the final on March 7.  The Ontario lead, Craig Savill, was the victor and won a 2 year lease on a new Ford with a value over $20,000.

 Richard Hart said that the team was enjoying the crowds showing up to view the competition.  The total attendance was the third ranked coming in at 246,126.  Saskatoon was second in 2000 but Edmonton still brags that 281,985 attended there at the 2005 Brier.  The winning team of the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier, Kevin Martin of Alberta,  will  represent Canada at the Ford world men's curling championship in Moncton, New Brunswick, April 4-12.

Jim Easson,
March 15, 2009

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