Border League win for Prescott

Three teams of Morrisburg Curling Club day-time men were in Winchester last week for a friendly bonspiel where they reported the ice was fast and very slippery.

Jack Barkley, Ted Herriman, Earl Jeacle and Eric Johnson, as well as Pete Zeran, Karl Duncan, Gerry Thompson and Robert Martin won their games. The Winchester hosts eked out a victory against our third team, made up of Keith Brannen, Ray Benoit, Paul Gunther and Paul Dobry. 

A couple of their curlers fell, along with one of our men. Fortunately, all survived, and after a delicious lunch and a few stories, our fellows rolled south to our home club, looking forward to Winchester’s return visit.

Last week also, Alice Thompson, Susan McIntosh, Betty Locke and Sharon Van Allen left town for a day. They were in Ottawa, at the Riverview Ladies Club at the R. A. Centre, and reported that the ice was very fast and quite swingy. 

Their morning opponent was a Navy foursome. After figuring the ice out, and tied coming home, our ladies were counting four when Navy pulled a rock in to out-count them and take the match. After a fine meal in the restaurant, our team defeated Prescott in the afternoon and returned with very nice prizes. 

Like the McGann rink last week, our ladies were surprised with black-clad witches and other seasonal outfits. Our morning competitors this time, the Navy team, were dressed as bats, and won top prize for their costumes. These women sure love theme bonspiels! 

Mahlon Locke reports that a woman, from Cornwall, I believe, is going to try to organize a bonspiel here, perhaps in January, in support of Alzheimers patients. If she’s successful, we’ll get the information to you.

There is considerable information in the clubhouse regarding out-of-town bonspiels at various levels, for men and women, of interest to curlers in several divisions. Why not look them over, and try some of them? It’s a very pleasant way to spend a day, see other clubs, and a chance to make new friends. 

Arguably the best of the competitions is the Dominion Tankard, the O.C.A. Men’s Curling Championship, being held in Barrie from February 4-10. There’s information at the bar, and whether you’re interested in competing or observing, it’s always some of the best curling in Canada.

Glenn Cougler still has an opening for a local team in the invitational stick bonspiel. Check with him if interested.

More of our curlers are off to bonspiels this week, and we’ll report on those results next time.

We remind you that visitors are welcome at our club, and that it is open for rentals for special events such as staff parties and other activities, as well as bonspiels. It’s always wise to book early, as the club gets busier on weekends as the season goes on. Mahlon Locke, our president, can provide the details.

And finally, a note of thanks to our many sponsors whose signs are displayed at the rink, and who help our club financially. We know members and visitors will cultivate these fine corporate citizens’ businesses. 

Good curling, folks!

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  The “International Truckload Services” Atom B Rep Lions travelled to Char Lan on December 1st to take on the undefeated Rebels who picked up their ninth win of the season with an 8-4 victory.  […]

Just one stroke, maybe a missed putt or a drive that went astray, was all that separated the first place Iroquois team from the second place Cedar Glen team at the 49th running of the Men’s Valley League Golf Competition, here Sunday.

The Iroquois team claimed the 2014 championship and the D. MacLennan Trophy with a 1,236 stroke total on their home turf. It was a slim, one stroke win over second place Cedar Glen at 1,237 strokes.

Summer Heights was third with 1,274 strokes, Morrisburg fourth at 1,285 and Sandy Row claimed the basement position with 1,427.

With the handicaps factored in, Summer Heights earned the low net team win to claim the Comrie-Blakely Trophy.

The top shooter in the tournament, and the winner of the Millard Trophy for low gross in A flight, was Cedar Glen’s Kurtis Barkley with a three-under-par 69. 

It was the second consecutive win for Barkley who shot the low gross (one-under-par 71) at last year’s Valley League played in Sandy Row and won by Summer Heights.

Cedar Glen finished second in that one too.

This time out, Barkley had another solid round turning the corner with an even par 37. His only blemish was on the par three 175 yard, par three fourth hole which he double bogeyed. He fought back with birdies on five and eight for the even par 37.

On the back, he turned it up a notch and went three under with birdies on 10, 12 and 14. 

The Iroquois team had an incredibly strong effort from their A flight players as they worked their way to the team championship.

Just five players in the field of 70, broke the 80 barrier and three of them were playing in the Iroquois team’s A flight.

They were Mike Tobin with a 74, Les Gilmour with a 75 and Paul McCaslin with a 79. 

Barkley posted his 69 and Morrisburg’s Matt O’Neil carded a 79.

Also contributing to the strong Iroquois A flight results was Shawn Lapier who posted an 81.

Chipping in for the Iroquois victory in B flight were Nick McCaslin 86, Don Poland 88, Kent McDermid 89 and Maurice Kolff with a 91.

The Iroquois C flight players were Les Craig with a 96, Ed Orlicky 97, Rick MacKenzie 100 and Ross Ferguson 104. Chris Barkley shot an 87 in the senior position, and due to a no show for the junior golfer, David Cherry’s score of 89 counted.

In the individual awards, the low gross shooter and winner of the Sports Unlimited B flight trophy was Peter Hurrell of Summer Heights with an 82.

Summers Heights’ Gerry Sabourin shot a 92 for the win in C flight and the Summer Heights Fun Night trophy.

Cedar Glen took over in the senior and junior categories with Rick Barkley winning senior with an 81, and Liam Morrow winning junior, also with an 81.

Barkley was presented the T. Parker Trophy and Morrow the Highlands Trophy.

The Julien low net A flight trophy went to Mike Tobin of Iroquois whose 74 gave him a 68 net, while Jim Mooney (Summer Heights) won B low net and the Cedar Glen Trophy shooting a 95 for a 68 net. The winner of the Lorne Barkley Memorial C net trophy was Kevin Barkley of Sandy Row who shot a 98 for a 71 net.

The tournament also includes club captain and president categories, although their scores do not count in the team total. Both are recognized using their net scores.

Andy Patenaude of Morrisburg won the Fader Trophy (low net president) with a 91 score for a 72 net, and Danny Youmelle, also of Morrisburg shot a 102 for a 74 net to win the Hugh Hutchison Memorial trophy in the club captain play.

Top shooters for Cedar Glen were Barkley in A flight, Larry Harper with an 87 in B flight and Dale Whitteker in C flight with a 96.

Top shooters for Summer Heights were Bob Johnson with an 80 in A flight, Hurrell with an 82 in B and Gerry Sabourin with a 92 in C. Senior Roger Leduc shot a 92 and junior Alex Menard a 96.

Matt O’Neill led Morrisburg with a 79 in A flight, Kirk Barkley shot an 87 in B and Doug Warner was low in C with a 101. Lee Beaupre senior shot an 84 and Jordan St. Louis, junior also shot an 84.

Bill Hogaboam and Shane Vahey shots 90’s to lead the Sandy Row a flight, while Greg Chamberlain shot a 96 in B and Kevin Barkley a 98 in C.

Next year the men’s Valley League will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The tournament will be played at Summer Heights.

The first Valley League was played at Summer Heights with teams from Brockville Highlands, Iroquois, Morrisburg and Summer Heights competing. The Summer Heights team was the first to have their club name engraved on the McLennan Trophy.

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