BY IAN THORPE
In keeping with the colder weather, we step onto the ice this week, catching up on happenings at the Nanaimo Curling Centre on Wall Street. With the Christmas break behind us, the second half of the local season is now underway featuring both league play and bonspiel action.
The club is a busy place with daytime and evening curling involving leagues for men, women, mixed teams, senior men, senior women and senior mixed teams. There are also times for stick curling, doubles curling, a novice league and a popular junior curling program. Returning for his second season in Nanaimo is club manager Matt Boll. Helen Pearson is administrative assistant/pro shop attendant, Linnia Etmannski runs the coffee shop and former head ice technician Darren Horton has recently been giving advice on ice-making.
Heading up the NCC executive this year is president Tom Weinreich, who takes over from past president Mary Ellen Konyer. Blair Franklin returns as vice-president, Liz Christopher is treasurer and Cate Barratt is secretary. A number of directors round out the board, including Terry Miller, Ron Thompson, Bob Palynchuk, Debbie Erdos and Janice Ainsworth.
The first half of the curling season featured several bonspiels held at the club. Kicking things off last fall was a 16-team Halloween Open Spiel. The A event final was won by the team of Jeff Guild, Jarrod Koster, Capri Koster and Janille Michell, with the runners-up being Keith Ainsley, Susan Chepil, Tom Freeman and Carol Dorman. In B event, sponsored by the Sign Zone, the top team was Frank Voysey, Bob Franklin, Ken Wilson and Eleanor Voysey, who got past Tanner McQuarrie, Tracey Taylor, Russ Pawliuk and Kayla Cutmore in the final. Winner of C event was the entry of Ron Thompson, Steve Franklin, Trevor Franklin and Aric Thompson. Runners-up were Aaron Kirkbride, Dan Bailey, Godfrey Vee and Tom Bucraft. In a special novice division which paired new curlers with experienced teammates, winners were Earle Plain, Paul Konyer, Aaron Grant and Mike McCarney. In second place came the team of Terry Miller, Janice Ainsworth, Warren Baugh and Mirko Budimir.
In November, the Sunday Hangover Men’s League hosted its annual bonspiel, which attracted a number of entries from out of town. Eventual winner was the May foursome from Campbell River. Earning second place overall was the Nanaimo entry of skip Bob Cavezza, third Louis Cavezza, second Tom Weinreich and lead Gary Howk.
Next came the Nanaimo Masters’ Bonspiel organized by Bob Larsen, Muir Meredith and a team of volunteers. The A division was sponsored by Reta Chlan in memory of her late husband Bob, an avid curler for many years. Top spot went to the Nanaimo/Gabriola team of skip Frank Voysey together with Kyle Clifford, Rob Brockley and Mike Leduc. Runner-up was the Rick Dunn entry from Parksville. In third place came Ron Kulai’s Nanaimo foursome.
The bonspiel’s B event was sponsored by long-time local curler Ron Kaneen and Nanaimo teams claimed all three top spots. In first place was the foursome of Anita Chambers, Tanis Wilson, Michelle Plamondon and Carol Tromans. Runners-up were Brian Scorer, Jim, Bond, Muir Meredith and Ed Stonehouse and in third was the Mary Ellen Konyer team.
In C division, sponsored by Lance Sullivan of Concept Photography, Duncan-area teams skipped by Cam Foster and Dee Jenkins claimed first and second places. In third was the local entry of skip Heather Lindsay-Lecuyer together with Ruth Thorpe, E.T. Mitton and Carol Dorman. Nanaimo Honda was the sponsor for D event, dominated by local teams. In first place was skip Marg Obee along with an expanded team of Sharon Stonehouse, Capri Koster, Jill McGlenen, Joanne Phillips and Moyra Graham. Second place went to Ron Membery, Terry Miller, Burnie Smith and Barry Ostrand, with the Dennis Shupe team in third.
Coming up, the Ladies’ Open Bonspiel will be Feb. 2-4.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
