Off the Broom - Kincardine Curling Club news

The Kincardine Curling Club held its annual Opening Bonspiel, with the theme being “The Wig and Moustache Bash.” This is the spiel where the in-town curlers play against the out-of-town curlers.
The Outties were in the lead after the first round, winning two out of the three games, but the Innies won by sweeping the final games. This is the third year in a row, after a long losing drought, that the Innies have won.
This year, we also incorporated a “Raise the Roof” fundraiser for the curling club. Prizes were given out for the Best Fake Moustaches - Jeremy Courtan and Linda Humphrey; Best Wigs - Carter Fenton and Emily Ferrairi; Best Real Moustache - Mark Luckhardt; and the Best Beard - David Plourde. Skips for the Innies were Robert Ross, Barb Kester and David Plourde.

The Grand Masters competition was held over two days in December, with three teams participating: Listowel, Wingham and Kincardine which was represented by the team of Barb Kester, Robert and Barb Ross, and Ray Kester. Wingham was eliminated early, losing  both its games. The championship game between Doug Rathwell of Listowel and Kester’s team, was a very well-played one with Listowel taking the win. That team will advance to the provincials in Thornhill in March.

Wednesday, Dec. 12, the Kincardine team of Jim Roberts, Mark Luckhardt, Glyn Pinkney, and Bob Urie, finished fourth at the Grey Bruce Seniors Bonspiel in Hanover, with a 1-1 record. After losing on the last rock to Durham (which won the bonspiel) in the first game, Kincardine finished strong with a victory in the final match.

Barb Kester, Beth Mimnagh, Barb Ross and Rhonda Persechilli took part in the St. Thomas ladies' bonspiel and came home winners in the “B” event. Good going, ladies!

The annual Men’s Bonspiel was held last Saturday, and what a reversal from the year before when the roads were closed and the snow was blowing! This year, a full slate of 16 teams enjoyed the day which was filled with food, fun, more food, prizes and maybe a libation or two.
The curlers were well taken care of by a great crew of volunteers which, as always, deserves a big thank you.  
Team David Plourde, with Noel and Jarrett MacIntosh and Bob Lockwood, beat out skip Pete Newton and his team of Mike Bunker, Dave Robinson and Jon Brodati, to take first place in the Early Draw. Dave Robinson’s “Team Ulsrud's” pants were the coolest! Other skips in that draw were Jim Roberts, Pat Pringle, Gord Shantz, Chris Gleason, Mr. Fitch (Wingham) and Lucas Haugh.  



Early Draw winners at the Kincardine Men's Bonspiel, are Bob Lockwood (left), Jarrett  MacIntosh, Noel MacIntosh, and David Plourde; photos courtesy of the Kincardine Curling Club

The Late Draw winners were another Kincardine team. Skip Robert Ross, along with his son, Rob, John (always smiling) Farrell and Frank Paquet bested Mark McFadyen of the GTA. Other  participants in the late draw were Les Shane, B. McFadyen, Brian MacEachern, J.D. Matheson, Peter Kirkpatrick and Sam Corbett.



Late Draw winners at the Kincardine Men's Bonspiel, are Frank Paquet (left), John  Farrell, Robert Ross and his son, Rob Ross

Local curler Les Shane and his Masters team, curling out of the Paisley Curling Club, are participating in the provincials in Ingersoll this week after coming out winners at the regional in Penetanguishene. Last year, this team made it all the way to the Canadian finals in British Columbia and is hoping to do so again. Good luck to skip Al Hutchinson, Don Shane, Gary Cobean and Les Shane!