1. sports
2. curling

APRIL 2015
Royals Team Competed for the National Blind Curling Title
Royals is the home of the Toronto Blind
Curling Club (TBCC) with 16 visually
impaired members and eight volunteers.
The club hosted the 2014 Ontario Blind
Curling Championship on April 5. The
championship was won by a Royals team
of Ann LaFontaine, skip, Rick Oriold, vice,
Grant Robinson, second, and Keith Doyle,
lead, with the sighted assistance of guide
John Routh and coach Kik Inouye. Ann
LaFontaine is legally blind and also skips
teams in the Women’s and Sunday Mixed
leagues. They then went on to represent
Ontario in the 11th Annual Canadian
Vision Impaired Curling Championship
(CVICC) which took place in Ottawa at
the Ottawa Curling Club from February
2-6, 2015. This event takes place each
year as part of the Canadian Council
of the Blind (CCB) annual nationwide
White Cane Week. The championship
is a showcase for persons with vision
loss to demonstrate their ability not
disability. Team Ontario, skipped by Ann
LaFontaine, finished 4th overall in the
round robin standings with a record of
4 wins & 3 losses. The 3 losses came to
the teams which finished in 1st, 2nd 3rd
place in the round robin (Alberta, BC &
Team Canada). In the round robin, Ann’s
team lost to Alberta by 1 point, had they
won that game, they would have been
in a tie breaker game to advance to the
semi-final game. The overall winner
was the Team Canada team which curls
out of the Simcoe Curling Club and will
maintain the Team Canada title for a
second consecutive year. They defeated,
Alberta in the final and British Columbia
in the semi-final game
TALK OF THE ROCK
Anne provided the answers to some
Talk of the Rock questions about blind
curling.
Championships next February in
Ottawa. The recreational division is set
up like any regular points bonspiel.
How old is the Toronto Blind Curling
Club?
What is the difference between a
team of curlers playing in a regular
club game and a competitive team of
visually impaired curlers playing in
the OBCC event?
The TBCC started in 2004 at Avonlea
Curling Club. When Avonlea closed in
2006 the TBCC scrambled to find a new
home and the Royals provided the 5-7
PM time slot on Fridays.
In a competitive OBCC event at least
one player on each team must be totally
blind. The totally blind player throws
Tell us about the Ontario Blind
his rocks and is replaced by a visually
Curling Championships (OBCC)
impaired designated sweeper. In the
There is a competitive division with four recreational division sighted sweepers
can be used. A volunteer guide holds
teams and recreational division with
the broom in the house or at the first
eight teams. The competitive teams
hog line in line with the skip’s broom.
play a round-robin and the winner of
The guide communicates the skip’s call.
the event represents Ontario in the
continued on page 2
Canadian Visually Impaired Curling
Royal Canadian Curling Club | Where Friendship is Tradition
April 2015
National Blind Curling from page 1
The guide is also the “eyes” of the
players, letting them know the
outcome of both their shots and the
competitions. The guide is not allowed
to call line or sweeping.
Can a team of four visually impaired
curlers join a regular club league?
A visually impaired team can join a
sighted league assuming they can
find a volunteer guide to come out for
games on a regular basis. When visually
impaired curlers are curling against
sighted players. The guide can also
assist the team with calling line and
sweeping.
How does a visually impaired curler
be part of a team of fully sighted
curlers?
An individual visually impaired player
can be a contributing member of a
sighted team assuming one of the team
mates is willing to learn how and where
to hold the broom and act as the guide
for the visually impaired player. I’ve
been told that learning how to do this
actually helps the sighted player with
line.
What volunteers do you need on a
regular basis & who should I contact?
The TBCC has some wonderful
volunteers that help us out every week.
It would be great to get a couple more
people interested in being a guide/
coach. Volunteers can contact Ann
LaFontaine, [email protected]
or Kik Inouye [email protected].
Gold: Paul Campbell, Scott Girdler, Sharon Girdler, Steph Johns
Pan Am Games
Since we couldn’t get curling into the Pan Am Games we did the next best
thing. We put the Pan Am games into curling.
Twenty-two teams imaginatively representing nations ranging from Canada,
USA and Trinidad & Tobago to Suriname, Nicaragua and Venezuela competed
February 21 in the Pan Am-themed Royals annual Mixed Bonspiel.
The day-long Saturday bonspiel saw three Royals teams take the podium to
receive their Pan Am-styled medals alongside three individuals who finished
on top of the draw-the-button contest.
The top six teams received Pan Am games gear – hoodies, golf shirts, t-shirts,
water bottles, coffee mugs and key chains – while Team Steve Yano went
home with the attractive apple-green Pommes Cider toques after slogging
their way to the “Friendliest Team Award.”
The 2015 Mixed Bonspiel proved to be a popular spin-off of last season’s
Olympics-themed bonspiel following the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. (But
without the Olympic-size budget.)
Our bonspiel medallists were:
Gold Team Girdler: Skip Scott Girdler, Steph Johns, Paul Campbell and
Sharon Girdler.
Silver Team Newell: Skip Glen Newell, Debra Ferguson, David Tran and
Naomi Visanji.
Bronze Team Sutherland: Darren Sutherland, Linda Dresser, Ian Kaspar and
Julian Coutts
Honorable mention Team Collins: Skip David McKillop, Susan Grandy,
Keith Davies and Nancy Collins
Draw-the-button medals went to:
Gold Anne Hewitt representing Suriname.
Silver Steph Johns representing Costa Rica.
Bronze Marilyn Burns representing Trinidad & Tobago.
Big thanks to club vice-president Naomi Visanji for taking the reins as the
prime organizer behind the bonspiel and other board and club members who
helped out.
Silver: Naomi Visanji, Debra Ferguson, Glen Newell, David Tran
Bronze: Keith Davies, Nancy Collins, David McKillop, Susan Grandy
Canadian Gay Curling Championship
Each year, LGBT curlers from across
Canada compete in the Canadian Gay
Curling Championship (CGCC), and this
year was Toronto’s turn to host. The
Riverdale Curling League here at Royals
welcomed over 200 curlers from coast to
coast to compete in the 10th annual CGCC
and the companion recreational bonspiel
tournament, “Do It On The Ice”, now in its
27th year!
This huge event featured four full days of
curling with 52 teams, a food truck called
“We Got Balls” parked out front, big parties
at the WAYLA & Pegasus bars, dozens of
raffle prizes, special welcomes from our
city councillor Paula Fletcher and Premier
Kathleen Wynne, and a performance by a
local celebrity drag queen! No wonder so The Riverdale recreational bonspiel has
many non-curlers joined us for the fun!
seven divisional champions:
After a furious playoff, the ultimate CGCC
2015 winners were the Ordog rink from
Vancouver: Chris Ordog, Aaron Lindgren,
Greg Ohashi, & Logan Chinski. They
defeated the Ingram rink of Winnipeg
on a thrilling final rock sent right to the
button. Placing third was team Newell of
Toronto, and in fourth team Mantha of
Ottawa. In the CGCC Consolation Final,
Montreal’s Bellavance rink beat Halifax’s
Weingartshofer.
TALK OF THE ROCK
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Flewwelling (over Campbell),
Adams (over Jensen),
Martin (over Rusk),
Nagle (over Leaning),
Gary O! (over Harrrd as a Rock),
Courteau (over Maloney), and
Full House (over Gale).
Nine cities across Canada have LGBTspecific leagues: Vancouver, Edmonton,
Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto,
Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax, with each
league hosting an annual recreational
bonspiel plus rotating as hosts for the
national championships. Next year’s
host is Winnipeg - time to upgrade those
winter gloves!
Learn more about the Riverdale league
and our sibling leagues across the country
at gaycurl.ca
31
5.00
TAKE A CHANCE ON
FREE CURLING NEXT SEASON
Curl for free is returning to the Royals. One lucky club member will
have their league fees applied to their club account for the 2015-2016
season. The club will hold a draw to select the two lucky curler as an
incentive for members to pay their annual dues earlier than usual.
Every year, the club offers members a discount on fees paid by May
31 or earlier. This year, members who make early fee payments will be
entered in the draw. The winner will have their league membership fees
placed in their club account for use at the bar, a locker, club bonspiels
or in the pro shop. Any funds remaining in the account at the end of
the season can be applied to the following year’s membership fees.
The earlier you enter the better your chances of winning. The club has
decided there will be a modest increase in fees for 2015-2016 and is
offering an early payment discount.
60.00
LEAGUE
BEFORE MAY 31
AFTER MAY 31
Mens
$435.00
$460.00
Tuesday
$435.00
$460.00
Womens
$435.00
$460.00
Friday
$425.00
$450.00
Sunday
$425.00
$450.00
Monday
$390.00
$410.00
ROYALS ON THE ROAD
Not all the on-ice action is confined to
Royals. Many of our members travel far
and wide for the love of the game.
Team Taylor (LtoR: Darren Sutherland,
Scott Harcourt, David McKillop and Joey
Taylor) Made the Main Event quarterfinals
at the Fairfield Marriott Challenge.
Team Ainsley (LtoR Rob Ainsley, Jesse
Stever, Scott Bishop and Tony Gilroy)
place first in the East York Curling Club
Broomspiel.
Team Pezzetti (Anthony Pezzetti,
Stephanie Johns, James Lee & Sara Clay)
finished 2nd place in the 1st draw at
the Tullamore Farms Mixed Bonspiel
at Chinguacousy Curling Club.. Team
Sangster also attended the event, (Bob
Sangster, Heike Marshall, Liz Hughes, and
Matthew Harding of Royals).
Team Lew (LtoR: Karen Lew, Deb Ferguson,
Stephanie Johns and Naomi Visanji)
Placed first in the Niagara Falls Curling
Club Women’s Bonspiel. While Team
McKay (LtoR Shelley Marks, Laura McKay,
Rebecca Purvis and Aelish McCreary) won
the party after taking the 70’s dress up
theme rather literally.
Finally huge congratulations to Team
Fleming from Royals who made the
final of this years’ Goldline TCA Men’s
Championships televised on Rogers TV.
Team Farnell (Lisa Farnell, Debra
Ferguson, Naomi Visanji and Ian Gasson)
won the 2nd division of the Edinburgh
International Curlers Gathering 2015 in
Edinburgh Scotland.
If anyone would like their team featured
in future editions of Royals on the Road
please e mail Bill a photo and information
regarding the event.
TALK OF THE ROCK
TORONTO HOSTS GRAND SLAM OF
CURLING PLAYER’S CHAMPIONSHIP IN
2015, BACK IN 2016!
Well attended by Royal’s members, the
2015 Grand Slam of Curling Player’s
Challenge at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic
Centre (formally Maple Leaf Gardens),
which brought together Canada’s and the
World’s best curlers for 5 exciting days
(April 7-12), was a tremendous success,
so much so that Toronto will host another
Grand Slam Event next spring. Some of
our members could be seen there for the
8:30 am to catch a game before work!
Now that’s dedication (or obsession)!
I knew this was something special,
but what sealed it for me was when,
following the Men’s Final Championships,
we ran into a very friendly and
approachable Kevin Martin at the pub
across the street. We briefly talked to
him about the dramatic sweeping error
giving Brad Jacob’s his first ever Players’
Challenge Championship. This kind
of access to the players is what makes
curling so special. These elite players
could be found sitting among us “regular”
curlers in the crowd; Kaitlyn Lawes,
Jennifer Jones, John Epping, Brad Jacobs,
all sitting with or walking among fans as
if they are “regular” people too. And they
really are, like us, just ordinary people
with day jobs who like to curl – only
better than any of us ever will!
Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen went into the
Finals unbeaten with a 5-0 record during
the event securing a final position after
beating Toronto’s own John Epping (7-3).
Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs secured
his Final spot after a dramatic win against
Edmonton’s Brenden Bottcher, with
“super spare” Wayne Middaugh subbing
for Bottcher when he had to return to
Edmonton to write an exam (really?). The
crowd could feel Middaugh’s hunger or
the Final spot maintaining a tight game
until Jacob’s makde a beautiful shot to
win it 6-5. In the Men’s Final, tied in the
5th end, McEwen patiently held onto the
hammer by blanking the 6th and 7th end,
but lost in an open draw to the button on
a perfectly delivered rock over-swept by
the front end for a devastating loss.
with hammer blanks the first end and
Muirhead forces her to 1 in the second.
Muirhead ties it with 1 in the 3rd end,
Sidorova takes 1 in the 4th, and Muirhead
takes 1 in the 5th to make it a tied game.
Sidorova blanks the 6th end, but then
Muirhead stole 1 point each in the 7th
and 8th end to win (final 4-2) her 3nd
career Player’s Challenge and her 2nd this
season.
Toronto’s own John Epping, a clear
crowd favorite, posted a 3-2 record in
the round-robin portion of the 12 team
event. He defeated Manitoba’s Reid
The Women’s Final was even more
Carruthers, Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton
dramatic, with Anna Sidorova of Russia
and Saskatchewan’s Steve Laycock. He
facing off against Eve Muirhead of
lost to Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs
Scotland. Muirhead had earlier beaten
and Glen Howard. In the quarter final, he
Rachael Homan of Team Canada, 8-7.
defeated Alberta’s Keven Koe setting up
Although Homan’s team seemed to
his match with Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen,
struggle at the beginning, they managed which he lost 7-3.
to keep the game close until the 6th end
Fans of Friday night’s last round robin
when Muirhead took 4 to make it 8-3.
draw had the honor of witnessing Jeff
Homan managed to take 2 in the 7th end
Stoughton’s last competitive game. The
and steal 2 in the 8th, but not enough to
crowd gave him an enthusiastic standing
beat Muirhead.. Sidorova’s team, perhaps
ovation in thanks for his many years of
the surprise of the event, with victories
play. In return, he gave the crowd two
on the heels of some impressively
of his signature spin-o-rama’s (a 360
improbable shots, would dramatically
degree spin before releasing the rock)
upset Val Sweeting who maintained
placing the rock perfectly on the pin both
control of their semi-final game leading
times (without sweeping) to the roar
3-0 until the 5th end. Sidorova took 2 in
of the appreciative crowd. Rumor has
the 5th end, then steals 2 in the 6th end,
it that Royal’s own Vic Freidin has been
steals 1 in the 7th, with a blank in the
practicing this impressive move ever
8th for the win, final 3-5. In the Women’s
since!
Final against Muirhead, Sidorova
Toronto Blind Curling Club Golf Tournament
In Conjunction With Royal Canadian Curling Club
Caledon Woods Saturday, May 9, 2015
The Toronto Blind Curling Club (TBCC), in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Curling
Club (RCCC), is hosting a charity golf tournament at Caledon Woods Golf Club, Bolton.
This is a wonderful opportunity to play a private member “Club Links” club and help
raise funds to support the TBCC. The TBCC provides social, health and recreational
benefits to blind, partially sighted and deaf/blind individuals.
Location:
Caledon Woods Golf Club, Bolton, ON http://caledonwoods.clublink.ca/
Date:
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Start time:
12:00 PM Registration & 1:00 PM Modified Shotgun Start
Format:
Scramble
Dress Code:
Shirts with collar, no jeans
Cost$150/person
• 18 holes of golf with cart
• Golf only $130
• Steak dinner or vegetarian option
• Dinner only $40 • Gifts & prizes
Early Bird Entry Due
• Entrants who have paid their entry fee in full by Feb 28, 2015 will be
Feb 28, 2015
eligible for a draw. The winner of the draw will receive a refund of their
entry fee.
Entry Fee Due
• Payments due by: Friday April 10, 2015
April 10, 2015
• Cheques payable to Toronto Blind Curling Club
• RCCC members can charge their entry fee to their RCCC account.
Entry forms and
Vic Freidin
payments are to be
99 Moore Ave, Toronto, ON M4T 1V7
mailed to
Email: [email protected]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Entry Form: Toronto Blind Curling Club Golf Tournament
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Payment
Chq Enclosed
Method
Charge To RCCC Acct
Golf Info
Players may enter as a team or as an individual. If you are part of a team, please
provide the names of the other players.
Player 1
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Please indicate any dietary restrictions (ie vegetarian)
and food allergies.
Transportation: If there is enough interest we might hire a bus to transport participants from Royals
to Caledon. There would be an additional fee of approx. $15- $20 per person. Do you want the
option of a bus? Yes or No.
Version Jan 25, 2015