PICKERING'S RICHARD HART SKIPS TEAM TO WIN SHORTY JENKINS

by Jim Easson

The AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic 2008 Bonspiel opened the competitive curling calendar for the 2008 -2009 season. It was held at the Brockville Country Club September 18 to 21 and the defending champion skip Glenn Howard was sidelined with a hernia. Vice on the Ontario Men's Champions team, Richard Hart took the helm and a previous junior champion, Andy Ormsby was recruited to lead. Brent Laing moved to Vice, and Craig Savill played second. The foursome was up to the challenge, as they defeated Kerry Burtnyk in an extra end of the final game. The team collected $9,000 for the championship as well as extra funds for each game won. Next on the calendar for the team is the BDO Curling Classic in Oakville October 10 to 13. Glenn Howard hopes to recover from surgery and be fit in time for the Masters of Curling slated for Waterloo November 12 to 16.

The curling season at Annandale starts the day after Thanksgiving. New this year is an incentive to keep graduates from the junior ranks curling at the club. In previous years, those older than 21 were faced with paying the full membership rate. Now the junior rates are charged up to the age of 26.

Calgary will be the site for the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier. The 80th edition of the Canadian men's curling championship will be held March 7-15, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome. It will mark the sixth time that the city has hosted this event. The 2009 Brier will also be the first time that TSN will officially provide exclusive coverage of the championship. In previous years, TSN covered the round robin, and CBC televised the semi-final and final.

Curling Clinics at Annandale are coming up October 15th and 25th, 2008 for adult members only. The Junior and Bantam leagues include instruction, etiquette, and co-ordination in their program.

Jim Easson

September 21, 2008
905-427-8269