WHERE FRIENDSHIP IS A

TRADITION

UNIONVILLE CURLING CLUB NEWS

VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1

December 2000

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

 

Welcome back to all our returning members and a special welcome to our new members. I hope you all have a great season of fun and good curling. 

 

This past April our season ended on a high  note with a very successful  auction.  A  special thank you to Linda McKendry, the committee, contributing sponsors and all the participants.  Proceeds from this auction go towards improvements around the Club and keep us financially healthy.  It was an excellent event and you can plan  now to attend the 2001 U.C.C. Auction on Saturday, February 24. 

 

Unionville C.C. will be hosting the Provincial Junior Championships December 18 to 23, 2001.  Ron and Gail Beveridge  have agreed to  chair this event.  Look for volunteer sign-up sheets soon.  It  is a great way to meet new friends and have a lot  of  fun as we all pull together to stage a successful event. 

Remember the ’89 Worlds??

    The sign-up sheet for the New Year”s Eve Gala is now posted and filling up quickly, so sign up today.

    

All the best in the upcoming season! 

GOOD CURLING!

 

DENNIS OSBORNE

PRESIDENT

 

 

CLINICS A GREAT SUCCESS

 

Once again this year U.C.C. has demonstrated its commitment to curler development with four successful clinics that were held as the curling season got underway.  Each clinic was planned, organized

and delivered by our own members.  We are fortunate at U.C.C. to have so many certified instructors who have the skills and commitment to provide this valuable support to new and seasoned curlers alike.

 

Sixty-four members attended one of two novice clinics under the leadership  of Blanche  Leslie and Pat Seawright..  The instructors working with Blanche

  included Gail Beveridge, Art Leganchuk, Andrea Kerr, Sheri Cordina, Mary Ann Artkin, Paul Couperthwaite, Joan Allen and Janet Brown..  Pat’s committee included Peter Mitchell, Fran Allan, Les Dickson, Lois Roberts, Heather Nicol and Don Garland.  Great improvement was noted in the skill levels of the participants on completion of this six-hour clinic.  It is so very important that our beginning curlers are taught the proper mechanics, theory and etiquette of the game and these clinics do just that.

 

Thirty-nine members participated in the intermediate skills analysis clinic, which provided a review of the mechanics of sweeping, and delivery and challenged the participants to hone their individual skills.  There were many “aha” moments as curlers identified and corrected their errors.  Al Gates, who ably chaired this clinic, had a strong cohort of Level 2 instructors to work with…  They included Marilyn Parsons, Andrea Kerr, John Nicol, Deb Nicol, Laura Ferguson, Lynn Brown and Dave Busato.

 

2

The Unionville News

 

Our youngest and newest curlers also got their season off to a good start as well with three Little Rock Clinics.  Deb Nicol provided leadership to an instructor corps that included Paul Couperthwaite, Mary Ann Artkin Joan Allen, Lynn Brown, Lois Dickson, Evelyn Reid and Marilyn Lowe.  These youngsters showed great enthusiasm as they got comfortable moving up and down the ice, practised their deliveries and chanted “rock back, foot back, rock forward, foot forward, slide”.

 

A very big “thank you” is extended to all of our instructors who were involved in this year’s clinics.  We have more comfortable and confident curlers as a result of their efforts.  Thanks are also extended to Ann Dann and Jane Morgan who

 organized all of the wonderful snacks and meals.    These clinics were a great team effort!

 

MARILYN LOWE

CLINIC COORDINATOR

 

Congratulations to our Ladies Section Senior Zones Winners:

       Pat Seawright

       Carole Murray

       Connie McDermott

        Blanche Leslie       

 

GOOD LUCK AT THE REGIONALS

 

Regional A Side Winners Terenet Junior Women from U.C.C.

Kelly Cochrane

Melissa Wagner

Heather Nicol

Tammy Sale

 

Good Luck at the Provincials in Forest January 2-7.

 

MEN’ SECTION

 

Welcome back to a new season of curling.  I hope you are all satisfied  with the way things have been going early in the season.  As most of you know, the men’s league was able to obtain four additional sheets of ice on Thursday nights.  Thanks to the board of Directors for making this possible.  This pretty well eliminated the unfortunate task of drawing out curlers from schedules due to overwhelming numbers..  Hats off to Ian Fockler and John Ferneley for their expanded juggling act while filling up the time slots.

 

Once again, our team entry challenge league has a full compliment of 27 teams this year.  Jim Bell is making sure things run smoothly.  Our summer  survey showed that people are happy with the current playoff formats for both draw and team entry leagues.

Unfortunately, the men’s fall bonspiel was cancelled due to lost playing time during the regular schedule and around

 

 

Christmas and New Years. We will be playing the annual spring Dixon-Garland Bonspiel in March.

 

The annual BRICK sponsored TCA tournament will be starting on Saturday, January 6th.

Those teams interested should sign up in their chosen event A.S.A.P.  The sheet should be up by the time you are reading this.  Any questions can be directed to Al Gates or myself.

 

In February the Club will be hosting its annual Unionville Men’s Open Bonspiel.  Team entries are limited based on the number of entries from outside clubs.  We are currently seeking a new committee to head up this event, as well as some possible sponsorship.  I’d like to thank Glenn Nelson and his team for the fine work they’ve done running this event during the past few years. Please let me know if you can donate your time for this Bonspiel.  Glenn can provide all the information you need.

 

That’s it for now.  I’ll be able to post results from the current draw and team entry schedules in the next newsletter.

 

Good curling everyone!

          

LORNE FRANKLIN
MEN’S SECTION

 

3

The Unionville News

 

 LADIES SECTION

 

Our Ladies Section is thriving well again year with 117 members, 11 new members and 4 from other sections.  Welcome to all our new members and welcome back to our returning members.

 

CARD NIGHT

Our annual card night was held April 27 and organized by Pat McDougall,, Marj Sayeau, Connie Taylor, Ruth Oster, Chris Wightman and Bonnie Cochrane.  Thank you to everyone who participated in this fun event.  Our profit

Was $683.18.

 

GOLF DAY

 

Our annual golf day was held on June 7 and organized by Anne Dann.  Congratulations to Mary Anne McLeod, our trophy winner this year.  It was a beautiful day, with a great lunch back at the Club, and a fabulous prize table.  To Unionville Golf Centre, a special “thank you” for their generous sponsorship of this event.

 

CLINICS

Thanks to Anne Dann and Jane Morgan who worked together to provide the food for all those participating in the Novice and Skills Analysis Clinics held this falI.

 

 

FIRST SCHEDULE

 

Robbyn Greene and Connie McDermott, our Ice and Co-ice this year, have been working hard organizing our first schedule.  The playoffs will be held on Tuesday December 12 at 9:00 AM, before the Christmas Luncheon.  If you are not in the playoffs, please come out  early for the luncheon and cheer on the finalists.

 

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

 

Make sure you sign up for this luncheon which is held Tuesday, December 12, following the first schedule playoffs.  It promises to be fun and exciting, with prize presentations, entertainment and gift exchange.

 

MINI CLINICS

 

If you are looking for a little help with your delivery, please check the bulletin board for a list of mini clinics held on most Tuesdays at 3:15 PM.  The instructors provide this special ‘free of charge’ perk so don’t be shy, come on out.

 

TRIZEC HAHN CHALLENGE

We are very grateful to the Trizec Hahn Corporation for sponsoring our challenge team entry again this year.  The committee, Colleen Hamar, Marilyn Parsons, Karen Blackman and Mary Anne McLeod have been

hard at work organizing the challenge and have done a great job with 12 teams entered.

 

PAST PRESIDENT’S BONSPIEL

 

With the generous sponsorship from our own Honourary Member, Helen Jewett, the Past President's Bonspiel was a huge success..  Helen provides four wonderful figurines and four pins to the winners.  Thank you Helen, and many thanks to Marj Sayeau and her committee.

Congratulations to the winners:

MAIN EVENT

1st   Fran Allan, Dorothy Boynton, Barb  Otani, Marilyn Jannett

2nd   Pat Seawright, Vera Wilkins, Mary Aiken, Judy Young

3rd    Carole Murray, Anne Dann, Aileen Damp, Judith O’Brien

4th     Lois Roberts, Sandra Davies, Karen Blackman, Joyce Morgan.

 

SECOND EVENT

1st    Blanche Leslie, Dawn Webb, Lorene Reid, Lynne Irwin

2nd    Linda Payzant, Evelyn Reid, Marcie Dercola, Gail Gayman

 

THIRD EVENT

1st     Mary Grant, Gail Closs, Carolyn Northcott, Joan Izzett

2nd    Jane t Stover, Donna Fitzpatrick, Betsy Roberts, Sharon Murray

 

4

The Unionville News

 

GAY LEA TORONTO & DISTRICT BONNSPIEL

 

The host club this year was the Brampton Curling Club.  This event was held November 14, 15 & 16, with the finals and victory dinner at the Brampton Golf Club.  Unionville had 10 teams and 5 made it to the finals.

 

OPEN – MAIN EVENT CONSOLATION WINNERS

Andrea Kerr, Fran Allan, Janet Stover, Dawn Webb

 

Runners-up

Anne Azlin, Elly Stam, Karen Blackman, Chris Wightman

 

OPEN  - 3RD EVENT RUNNERS-UP

Gail Closs, Vera Wilkins, Anne Dann, Joanne Schoch

 

SENIORS – MAIN EVENT RUNNERS-UP

Pat Seawright, Carole Murray, Connie McDermott, Blanche Leslie

 

SENIORS – 3RD EVENT WINNERS

Mary Gellard, Gail Beveridge, Pat Graham, Terri Savoury

 

WELL DONE LADIES!!

 

SECOND SCHEDULE

 

You MUST SIGN UP for the second schedule..  You are not automatically included so please check the bulletin board for the sign-up sheet.  The draw will be made up the first week of December.

 

To all of our generous sponsors who make our curling events throughout the season possible, thank you very much.!

 

On behalf of the Ladies Executive, we wish you and yours Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season

 

MARY KULMALA

LADIES CHAIRPERSON

 

 

BUSINESS WOMEN

 

As always the UCC Business Women eagerly anticipate the upcoming curling season – and of course we pray that we will curl better than last season!

 

Our annual Wine and Cheese provided us the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and meet and greet our new members.  The social committee chaired by Angela Singleton and co-chaired by Tina Vincent

hosted the evening and prepared a wonderful array of goodies to feast on.  Our thanks go out to Angela’s mother for her wonderful contributions

 

As we begin our first schedule we have a full complement of 96 curlers.  We extend a warm welcome to our new curlers:

Laura Andrews, Hila Ben-Tsur, Joan Chapman, Kerry Corturillo, Sue Edwards, Pam Hopkins, Elaine Laking,

 

Donna Lambert, Joyce McKay, Linda McKellar, Jane Ruttan, Cathy Wanlin, Jennifer Worthington-Schuk, Amanda Yeldon. 

Thanks to Sally Sandiford our Membership chair for organizing and compiling our member roster. 

Ice committee chair, Marion McMahon and co-chair Robyn Scott worked tirelessly to ensure that teams were completed and ready to curl for the first schedule - thank you!

 

Our Treasurer, Michelle McFadden, has done a fantastic job of keeping us apprised of our financial status.  Thanks Michelle!

 

Ann Millard, our prize chair, has been busy purchasing an incredible assortment of prizes for upcoming schedule and bonspiel winners – a super job Ann!

 

Lynn Brown, vice chair has been responsible for the Business Women’s calendar, co-chairing executive meetings and working on the UCC website – thanks Lynn!

 

Our secretary, Judy O’Brien, very graciously agreed to take on the onerous task of recording all of the various committee members’ reports – many thanks Judy!

 

On Saturday November 4 Nancy Smith and co-chair Sophie Mathews hosted the Annual Pasta Spiel which

 

5

The Unionville News

 

was attended by 32 curlers.  After curling 2 very competitive 6 end games teams skipped by Gayle Coleman and Carolyn Nicholson ended in a tie for first place.  A wonderful lunch, prepared by the Bonspiel Committee was enjoyed by all.

 

Our first clinic of the season was held on Monday evening, November 6.  Lois Dickson instructed vices and skips in a strategy clinic and Laura Ferguson, Marion McMahon and Jane Morgan reviewed sweeping/delivery techniques to leads and seconds.

 

Important dates to note:

January 13 – Guest Day

February 17 – Curl for Heart

Please contact Nancy Smith for more information about either of these events!

Thanks to all of our members we’ve gotten off to a roaring start and we look forward to a great season of curling!

 

JANE MORGAN

BUSINESS WOMEN CHAIR

 

 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

This year marks the debut of Special Olympics curling at UCC.  The mission of Ontario Special Olympics is to  provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for

children and adults with mental disabilities.

 

Through on-ice practice sessions, off-ice simulated games and the use of videos, the athletes will learn the fundamentals of the game and prepare for in-house competitions. In the future we hope to challenge other O.S.O. affiliated curling clubs.

 

Six very excited athletes from Markham are registered to curl on Monday evenings from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  An enthusiastic welcome goes out to Greg O’Brien, Jesse Harrington, Carole Witte, Dominic Gigante, Anthony Caggianello, Brad Ansell and their families.

 

Volunteers Carolyn Nicholson, Mardy Emmerson, Lois Dickson, Marion McMahon, Laura Ferguson, Shanna Brander and Harry Sear anticipate a most rewarding experience working with our Special Olympians.

 

JANE MORGAN

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

 

 

 

 

MIXED SECTION

 

The Mixed Committee would like to welcome all mixed curlers to the 2000/2001 curling season.

This year’s committee, co-chaired by Fran and Ray Mount is:  Bill and Barb Pentecost, Judy Robertson, Norm and Cheryl Craven, Bette and Ivan Amery, Norm and Hannele Hobb, Brian MacMillan, Mark and Sara Crawley, and Mike McCormick.  Please feel free to approach any of the committee members with your thoughts, ideas or concerns regarding mixed curling.

The first draw is well underway with 163 participants and we look forward to many exciting games this curling season.  Thanks to Kent Tomasik for arranging the teams and draws for the first session.  Brian MacMillan will be working with Kent to learn the ropes during the second session and will be taking over the planning for the third session.  Please bring questions regarding the draws to Brian or any of the other mixed committee members.

The mixed “Pot Luck” Bonspiel held on October 21 was well attended with 68 curlers.  Each team played two games and counted points for win/loss, numbers of ends won, and total points scored.  The team of Gord Tonkin, Robb Thompson, Joan Izzett and Heather Robertson won first crack at the smoked salmon on the buffet table – but there were

 

6

The Unionville News

 

 

plenty of meatballs for everyone.  The team of Bob Coughlin, Judy Robertson, Linda Band and Sandy Whalen came in a close second..  In third place was Bill Pentecost, Angela Singleton, Maureen Buckley and Cheryl Craven.  Thanks to Bette and Ivan Amery for their organization and a special thanks to a former UCC member, Wayne Morrison, for volunteering his time to scorekeep.

 

The next event is the “Nuts and Bolts Bonspiel” organized by Norm Craven and Mike McCormick.  Look for bonspiel results in the next issue of the TRADITION.

 

Upcoming events include the Clinic Spiel on January 20 and “Life’s an Irish Pub Bonspiel” on February 9 and 10.   Look for sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the Club in the New Year.

 

MIKE McCORMICK

MIXED SECTION 

 

 

JUNIOR SECTION

 

A generous adjustment of ice times has allowed two levels of teenage curling for 2000/2001: the “intermediates” (ages 12-14) and the Juniors (ages 15-19) in the traditional time-slot at noon on Sundays.  Enrollment is encouraging, with over 40 curlers, but we

are hoping for continued increase allowed by this new format.  Many thanks to the Club members who mounted the pre-season clinics which are mandatory for all our novices in the first 2 years of curling

 

Besides the regular curling each Sunday, most participants are working on one level or another in the excellent Curl Ontario skills program, a stepped sequence of badges systematically building up their abilities and hence their enjoyment in curling.  Tristan Bergauer-Free took the honour of achieving the first badge of the year, completing the 2nd level Blue Badge requirements.  Special thanks to the parents who support this endeavour by their willingness to act as coaches/testers during this portion of each Sunday’s programme.

 

A busy schedule of “special events” will complement our weekly schedule.  We look forward to hosting the Regional Junior Men’s and Women’s competition on November 25 and 26.  UCC has two entries in the Women’s event:  Heather Nicol, Tammy Sale, Kelly Cochrane, Melissa Wagner and Hollie Nicol,, Kim Brown, Sarah Noorden and Jackie Masongsong are our two teams.  Good luck to both teams!  Also, we are planning to continue a tradition revived last

year, by holding the all-day in-house Seawright Bonspiel on Saturday, December 3 – generously sponsored by Pat Seawright.

 

Two bantam-age competitive teams represent UCC in a mixed inter-club league playing at Richmond Hill, Bayview and Thornhill Curling Clubs.  Brandon Warne, Linsey Warne, Andrew Lowe and Cassandra Warne constitute one squad coached by Doug Warne, accompanied the team of Kyle Brown, Caleigh O’Neill, Danielle Hubbert and Michael Noorden coached by Lynn Brown, along with several other curlers forming a pool of willing spares for these teams.  From these, we are hopeful for entries into both men’s and women’s playdowns at the Bantam Regionals early in the New Year.

 

PETER MITCHELL

JUNIOR SECTION CHAIR

 

 

LITTLE ROCKS

 

Welcome to the 2000/2001

Curling season!  I hope everyone had a great summer.. 

Little Rock curling got underway with 3 clinics to teach our new members and remind the other Little Rockers how to curl.

Special thanks to Deb Nicol, Marilyn Lowe, Evelyn Reid,

 

7

The Unionville News

 

Lois Dickson, Paul Couperthwaite and all of the other instructors who offered their time to come out and help us!

We are now playing our first games of just 3 or 4 ends.  The 30 kids are really enjoying themselves on and off the ice.  Hot chocolate is a nice treat after a game!

Anyone who would like to come join us on Sundays at 3 PM to give our Little Rockers a hand, please contact myself or Judy Robertson.

 

KELLY TOOLEY

LITTLE ROCK CHAIRPERSON

 

 

ONTARIO JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

2001/2002

 

We hope you all know by now Unionville CC is hosting the Provincial Junior Championships for the 2001/2002 season.  Plans are well underway and we will be looking for volunteers for our committees in the New Year.

We were thrown a curve by the O.C.A.  They have moved the date from January 2002 back to December 2001.  The event is to be held December 18 to 23, 2001.  It is a busy time for everyone but with some advance planning it will be a great success.

 

 

Look for notices on the board at the Club.

 

RON BEVERIDGE

ONTARIO JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP CHAIR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

 

 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members and their families a Very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

 

 

 

 

MARILYN PARSONS

EDITOR  

 

 

 

Typist,

Wendy Sear