GRAND NATIONAL CLUB INSIDE 2 Paralympic Camp 2 Free Curling Software 3 Message from the President 4 GNCC Club Updates The Official Newsletter of the GNCC February 2015 | Vol. 26, No. 1 News 8 Spirit of Curling Awardees 9 Junior Championships Wheelchair Curling Reaches New Heights in GNCC 10 Davies Rink 8-Ender by Matt Berwick 11 GNCC Senior Women’s Now practiced in 24 countries, wheelchair We had an exciting and challenging 11 GNCC Club Playdowns curling had its beginnings in the US in weekend facing some very talented 12 USCA Volunteer of the Year the 1990s. Games are played with the teams from all over the world. On Friday, same rocks on the same ice as regular we played Quebec in a very close game curling, and just about anyone with but suffered a loss in the final end. We access to a wheelchair also played the USA – paraplegics, Veterans team and GNCC Curlers quadriplegics, came out successful! Qualified for Nationals amputees, post-polios, Saturday brought people with MS, us an early morning Congratulations to all of the many spina bifida, people match versus Team GNCC Curlers that have qualified for recovering from USA 2, and once Nationals! We wish the best of luck strokes – can play. again we were to this amazing group of curlers. I had the pleasure victorious. The next of curling in the two games we played 9th Annual U.S. were not quite as Open Wheelchair fortuitous, with It’s an Exciting Time International Bonspiel, losses both to Team to Be a Curler! held this season, Ottawa 1 and Team December 5-7, at the Toronto. Sunday, Arena clubs continue to make great Utica Curling Club. the last day of the strides in the GNCC. The Jersey Fourteen teams participated, including tournament, we had an early 7:45am Pinelands Curling Club makes its teams from Scotland, Russia ,and Korea, game against Team Russia, the Silver official debut in the GNCC while as well as several teams each from Canada Medalist from the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Bucks County continues to grow and the US. The GNCC was very well games. We played really well as a team, and introduce the sport to new curlers. represented. I was a member of Team USA had them on the edge the entire game, Triangle and Charlotte Curling Clubs 3, but we could have just as easily been and when it came down to the last end wrap up building dedicated facilites called “the GNCC Team Plus One”. Our we were able to force a tie. This was and to make NC a curling destination. team consisted of Bob Prenoveau (skip), enormous success, given that we knocked and Mark Taylor (vice), both from The Utica Team Russia out of the gold medal game Curling Club. I hail from The Pittsburgh and pitted us against Team Nova Scotia. Curling Club, and our 4th spot was We played really well and once again alternately filled by a Russian or Korean came out victorious. Over all, our team, spare. made up of 3 members from the GNCC. finished 3-3-1 and in 5th place out of 14 teams from around the world. Free Curling Software Paralympic Veteran Curling Camp Held on Olympic Ice submitted by Howard Griffin submitted by Amber McKernan

Over the past several years, the Potomac Curling Club has developed custom written software to help manage our volunteer opportunities, open house crowds, and other smaller event reservations. In 2012 the Chesapeake Curling Club asked if I knew of a timer to help keep friendly games and bonspiels moving forward in a timely manner. I didn’t know of one so a simple game timer application was developed to keep friendly games and bonspiels moving along. A “virtual” strategy board suitable for video projections for larger crowds was also developed. All of the software developed by Following on the heels of the 2014 camp, with some hailing from as far the PCC is available to any club Paralympic Winter Games, the US away as Washington state, Missouri, or organization, absolutely free Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Team, Texas, Wisconsin, and closer to home, of charge. Point your favorite web their coaches and support staff, and 11 Massachusetts and New York state. browser to howardgriffin.org, try Disabled Veterans arrived in Lake Placid At the Olympic training facility, the applications out online, and then on Wednesday evening, September participants were introduced to the sport, download any that you wish to use. 3rd, to train and to participate in a 3-day some for the first time, with an overview Paralympic Veteran Curling Camp at the of the game, terminology, equipment USA Rink of the Olympic Ice Center. The and the rules of the game. On-ice camp was organized by Marc DePerno of Master Webmaster(s) instruction in the USA Rink was provided Utica, NY, National Director of Paralympic by coaches, support staff, Team USA Needed for the GNCC Curling, and supported by our local Paralympians, and local curlers. Website curling club, Lake Placid Curling Club, whose members play weekly at the In early November, Wheelchair Curlers played to qualify for the 2014-2015 We are currently seeking someone with Saranac Lake Civic Center, and by Jim TEAM USA National Wheelchair Curling experience in Content Management Ridenour, Certified Ice Technician of the Team, which will represent the US in System software (such as Joomla) who Schenectady Curling Club. national and international competition. wants to work on a feature-rich website Veterans, Paralympians, and their (trust me, there’s far more behind the coaches came from all over the scenes than the average user sees). United States to participate in this A lot of work is involved regarding mailing lists, membership data, and event calendars. Contact Rob LeVine, [email protected] if you are interested or know someone who is. Message from the President Grand National Curling Club submitted by Sally MacKenzie Officers and Directors

Welcome to the 2014- players. Events like these cannot happen President Sally MacKenzie 2015 curling season! without your time, resources, and 1st Vice President Chris Banino We apologize for not hard work. Results are included in this 2nd Vice President Dan Boerger being able to send newsletter. Secretary Joel Leneker out a fall newsletter. Detailed information about this year’s Treasurer Gwen Krailo-Lyons However, our website Annual Meeting, to be held again in Immediate Past has been undergoing a major overhaul, Norwalk, CT, May 15-17, 2005, will soon President and we are still working out the kinks be forthcoming. The primary topic to be Dick Macartney of how to send out email blasts to covered will be insurance, and we will At Large Directors George Shirk, the members and uploading the new have a representative from our insurance Maryann Vermeulen, Marj Moore member information. Please check company, Loomis & LaPann, speak about GNCC News out the new website when you have a the insurance needs and requirements is published by the chance. Many thanks to Rob LeVine for for our GNCC clubs, as well as answering Grand National Curling Club of putting in hours of work for the new site. your questions. America, Inc. The newsletter is distributed free to members of the We just completed the Men’s and Wishing everyone keen ice and great Grand National Curling Club. The Women’s Club Playdowns, as well as shots! annual subscription rate for non- the Junior Playdowns. Many thanks to members is $10.00 (US). Advertising the clubs that hosted these events, and rates are available upon request. to all of the volunteers and officials and All correspondence should be sent to: GNCC Curling News 46 Ledgewood Drive Norwalk CT 06850

Editor & Art Director Jacki Temple, [email protected]

Contributors Matt Berwick, Sally MacKenzie, Howard Griffin, Maryann Vermeulen, Amber McKernan, Steve McKee, Barb Murphy, Jane Rink Equip. Ltd. Sharp, Murray Jackson, Keith Scott, Jay Davies, Carol Arakelian, Kristen Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Conrad, Ashley Lawreck Toll Free Phone 1-888-832-3728

Celebrating 44 years of service to the curling world Manufacturer of curling stones & curling rink equipment Originator of the Rent/Purchase curling stone agreement Check all the videos on our website at www.thompsonrinkequip.com GNCC Club Updates

Charlotte Curling Club by Steve McKee, President, and Kristen Conrad

The Charlotte Curling Association invited the public to visit its new dedicated facility on Saturday, December 13th. The Grand Opening began with the curling tradition of a bagpiper leading guests into the building, and then following a brief welcome, visitors were invited to tour the facility, view live curling action, try throwing a curling stone, and sign-up for discounted Learn-to-Curl sessions, all while Charlotte Curling members were on hand to explain the sport’s rules and history and answer any questions. Hourly drawings were held for chances to win free Learn-to- Curl sessions. Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen on Wheels was on-site with food for purchase. The Charlotte Curling Association is a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization founded in 2010 and has grown to include more than 80 junior, adult, and senior members, ranging from zero to 50+ years of curling experience. This brand new 17,000-square-foot facility features 12,000-square feet of ice, plus locker rooms, a warm room, and other amenities. It allows expanded curling opportunities for participants of all ages, including women’s, men’s, college and youth leagues, in addition to opportunities for the visually impaired and other differently-abled participants. Additionally, the club recently received a grant of $6,000 from the U.S. Curling Association’s Darwin Curtis Fund to install a lift that will allow curlers with mobility challenges to access the ice surface. Charlotte also plans to expand its tournament schedule, which currently includes the wildly popular Grits ‘n’ Granite and Pajama Curl bonspiels, both attracting teams from across the United States and Canada. For more information about the club and bonspiel updates, please visit our website at www.charlottecurling.com. Bucks County Curling Club by Barb Murphy

As we mark our fifth anniversary, it has been an exciting year for Bucks County, given that 2014 was an Olympic year, and we saw an increase in our Learn-to-Curl classes and in membership overall. We also had the bonus of the National Championship being hosted just outside of Philadelphia. We took full advantage of the fact that people had been watching curling on TV and then had the opportunity to see it live in their own community. As a result, we held a very successful open house, and saw an increase in membership. This season started off in high gear, and we’re having great fun with it. We’ve had several successful bonspiels, we’ve had a team travel to San Francisco, CA, and three of our teams had an especially memorable time at the USWCA 5 and under at the Norfolk Curling Club. All 3 teams went on to the finals. One skip has less than 1 year of curling experience, and 2 other players had never been to a bonspiel before. Last, but certainly not least, on Sunday, December 7th, Bucks County had its very first 8-ender! How awesome is that? All the other games stopped play to watch the final stone as it was delivered and made its way into the house. Cheers rang out. It’s hard to fill an arena, but our cheers did. What a terrific way to mark our 5th year!

The official Equipment Supplier of the GNCC GNCC Club Updates continued Triangle Curling Club submitted by Murray Jackson and Keith Scott

Great progress is being made on Triangle’s new dedicated facility! Our first board meeting was held on a cool December night, and many club members volunteered to lay over 6 miles of one inch pvc piping laid. Following that, many more were back to help tie down the rebar needed for the ice pad concrete floor. The concrete was poured on December 8th, and the chiller was installed on December 13th by Everything Ice. This volunteer involvement is a significant contribution to the club in terms of cost savings. It also serves to provide members a better understanding of what goes into building a curling club. Still on track for a February 14th grand opening, we projected that we should be able to start building ice around January 5th. By January 6th, interior plumbing and electrical work had passed inspection and was ready for drywall to be hung. Interior lighting has already been installed, and outside work is wrapping up on the gutters and trim. Because of an unseasonably wet fall and winter, the work on the retention pond continues to be ongoing. The big key is getting full power to the building so we can turn on the chiller! House cameras have been hung, and we’re getting excited to play on our own ice. It’s so close! We’ve already begun planning for our first spiel, which will take place the weekend of April 24-26. The Housewarming Spiel promises to be the start of a long history of good curling in Durham. With Charlotte Curling Club’s new facility already up and running, North Carolina is fast becoming the new curling capital. Jersey Pinelands Curling Club by Jane Sharp

The sound of bagpipes on Canada Day, Tuesday July 1, 2014, ushered in the first game of the Jersey Pinelands Curling Club at the Igloo Ice Rink in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Our toast to the piper was led by Bert Yost, our 82 year-old Honorary First Member. Bert brought in a curling trophy she won in Alaska, in 1962, playing outside with corn-strand brooms brought from home. Also with us the first night were John Wilman (President of Plainfield Curling Club) and Maryann Vermeulen (GNCC representative) as well as reporters from two local newspapers. Maryann’s photo ended up on the cover of our local paper. With the help of experienced players from Plainfield, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, we introduced 22 new players to curling. Over the summer we held a logo contest among our members and now have club pins to trade at bonspiels. For the fall and winter seasons, we have continued to play at the Igloo and hold Learn-to-Curls every month to introduce more people to curling. We’ve also benefitted from expert coaching from Plainfield members and Don Arsenault. Our members participated in a Friendly with Plainfield on October 11th, and on November 29th, we hosted a Friends and Family event in which 70 people, from preschoolers to grandparents, showed up to play games of “shorties.” In December, we launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to help cover our start-up expenses. Even though we are a new club, we have dreams of our own facility and have formed an exploratory “We Need a Home” committee to investigate possibilities. The idea for Jersey Pinelands Curling Club (JPCC) originated during the 2014 Olympics after a group of Medford, NJ, residents tried curling on a local lake. JPCC would not be possible without the generous assistance of the broader curling community, including the GNCC, Granite and Ice Inc., Brooms Up Curling Supplies, and our local clubs. Special thanks go to the management and staff of The Igloo Ice Rink for being incredibly accommodating and supportive. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has come out to help us, and we invite everyone to come play any time. Our league schedule is on our website (www.jerseycurling. org), and photos of our activities can be found at Curl South Jersey on Facebook. The Spirit and Love of the Game submitted by Ashley Lawreck

The GNCC Spirit of Curling awards were presented to Team Schoder (L-R: Susan Dudt, Ellen Schoder- skip, Sarah Ogawa, Sere Politano) and Team White (L-R: Jonathan Beldner, Sean White-skip, Christopher Basciani, Kyle Bensink-not pictured) at the 2014- 2015 GNCC Junior Playdown and Championship on December 30, 2014, for exemplifying the true spirit of curling. These teams were selected by their peers for playing honorably and for being a team of fierce competitors on ice, but most importantly, always friendly and respectful off the ice. This award was developed and is presented in honor Eydie Savett, a longtime official at Junior Championship events. The GNCC Junior Championship and Playdown held a special place in her heart, and she worked to ensure a positive experience for all who participated. Eydie is remembered fondly by past junior GNCC curlers as “perfect for officiating” with her “direct and disciplined, yet genuine and caring” demeanor. She was “completely selfless and truly passionate” in dedicating herself to a competition that she believed hugely important. Her commitment to sportsmanship and fairness helped many junior curlers grow and develop into the adults they are today. Eydie had a special way of making each junior curler feel worthy and capable. She was the essence of the spirit of curling. The pin presented with this award was designed by Phyllis and Hannah Ely (Rochester Curling Club). Phyllis provided a wonderful explanation of the design: “The design represents Eydie’s bright spirit, love of the sport, and especially her love for junior curlers. The three flames symbolize qualities that were important to and demonstrated by Eydie herself: sportsmanship, friendship, and citizenship.” Congratulations to Team Schoder and Team White, for preserving the spirit and love of this game that Eydie held so dear.

Proud Partners of the GNCC GNCC Junior Championships and Playdowns submitted by Ashley Lawreck

The 2014-2015 GNCC Junior Men’s Championship and Playdown was held December 26-30, at the Rochester Curling Club in Rochester, NY. During this event, six teams from across the GNCC competed in a round robin, with the top two teams advancing to the 2015 US Junior Curling Nationals. Team Clawson (Hunter Clawson, Caleb Clawson, Ethan Kennedy, and Tyler Oliver) finished the double round robin undefeated to become the GNCC Champion and will represent the GNCC at Junior Nationals. Team Clouser (Cody Clouser, Daniel Dudt, Andrew Dunnam, and Andrew Dudt) also advanced and will represent Pennsylvania. The 2014-2015 GNCC Junior Women’s Championship and Playdown was held December 26-30 at Rochester Curling Club in Rochester, NY. During this event, four teams from across the GNCC competed in a double round robin, with the top two teams advancing to the 2015 US Junior Curling Nationals. Team Bear (Madison Bear, Jenna Burchesky, Allison Howell, and Annmarie Dubberstein) finished the double round robin with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss to become the GNCC Champion. They will represent the GNCC at Junior Nationals. Team Cousins (Elizabeth Cousins, Elizabeth Pettee, Ivy Mancuso, and Sydney Mullaney) finished the round robin with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses also advanced and will and represent Massachusetts. The 2015 US Curling Junior Nationals will be held at Devils Lake, North Dakota, from January 16-24, 2015. All of a Sudden, There Were Eight! submitted by Jay Davies

At the Potomac Curling Club in Laurel, MD, on Thursday, November 20th during an open league game, the Jay Davies rink accomplished the nearly impossible by finishing an end with all eight of their rocks in the house. The games on other sheets paused, and the whole club came to a standstill when this occurred, giving everyone an opportunity to see the house and take photos. Davies’s team was having a lot of success curling draw shots around a front guard to the 4 foot, where they already had 3 other rocks. The opposition tried freezing up against their rocks but went a bit heavy and “pin- balled” through. There was also some help by the opponents to advance their rocks during the course of the end. Davies had the hammer and both skips suddenly realized the final count was for 8. The other 3 sheets had stopped play as word of the possible 8-ender spread around the rink, and all the other curlers watched the final successful draw shot, then broke into applause. Both teams were surprised by this event occurring during a Thursday night league game. Of the Davies Rink, James and Kathy Carr are in their 4th year of curling, while Matt Wiles is in his 2nd year. Jay has been curling for 50 years and has never before been present at a game in which an 8-ender occurred, making it a wild event for all 4 members of the team.

Vernon Davis submitted by Jay Davies

Are you ready to hit the broom? If you are in New Yorkin March, then we have an exciting event for you. NFL star Vernon Davis will be there, and he is taking his support skills to the curling ice once more. The San Francisco 49ers tight end is scheduled to join U.S. Olympians and Jessica Schultz for the Manhattan Curling Cup, an interactive event to be held at the Sky Rink in New York’s Chelsea Piers neighborhood March 12. Davis, who served as honorary captain at the 2014 and 2010 Olympics for the Americans, will help coach participants competing for Manhattan bragging rights and a traveling trophy. The USA Curling competition will pit teams from the worlds of tech, media, finance, and marketing against each other in a battle for those bragging rights. Need some training? We’ve got that handled. Pete Fenson, 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, and Jessica Schultz, two-time Olympian (2014, 2006) will be on hand to make sure you know how to throw stones and sweep hard with the best. And every competitor will take home exclusive curling supplies and more. This one-of-a-kind event has room for only20 teams. Hurry hard to get your team registered today! http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Events/Manhattan-Curling-Cup GNCC Senior Women’s Championship by Carol Arakelian

The 5th GNCC Senior Women’s Championship “Falmouth in the Fall” was hosted at Cape Cod Curling Club. The three-day event began on November 7, 2014. Twenty teams from eleven different clubs competed, making this the largest field of teams ever to participate in this event and bringing together longtime friends and new additions to the senior bonspiels. The Philadelphia team, skipped by Rosemary Morgan, won the first event over Jennifer Stannard’s Nutmeg team. Cape Cod, skipped by Mary Colacchio, won the second event over Tish Orr’s Green Mountain team. Broomstones, Shelley Dropkin’s team, won the third event over a composite Schenectady/Albany team, skipped by Charlene Fitzgerald. Albany, skipped by Martha Naber, won the fourth event over Utica’s team, skipped by Kathy Palazzoli.

GNCC Club Playdowns submitted by Sally MacKenzie

Congratulations Team Stopera (Ardsley - Andrew Stopera, Bill Stopera, Peter Austin, George Austin, ) for winning the GNCC Men’s Club Championship and Team Findlay (Potomac - Dawn Findlay, Majik Jones, Susan Armiger, Dominique Banville) for winning the GNCC Women’s Club championship. Both teams will represent the GNCC and compete against 9 other men’s and 9 other women’s teams at the Club Nationals at the Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club in Fargo, North Dakota, March 7-14, 2015. Best of luck to both teams! USCA Volunteer of the Year adapted from the United States Curling News

Congratulations to Mary Fanette, recognized by the USCA for her resilient, well- organized, and very determined leadership in the wake of the arson and sunsequent rebuilding of the Norfolk Curling Club. Her energy and leadership have been described by club vice president Ted Stone as instrumental in getting the club rebuilt less than two years after the tragic fire, and it’s worth noting that club members so wholeheartedly supported her efforts and leadership that they voted to amend the club bylaws to allow her to serve a thrid term as president. The United States Curling Association Volunteer of the Year Award was established in 2012 to provide recognition for the work that curlers throughout the nation do to advance curling on the club level, with primary consideration going to members who volunteer in their own clubs. And though Fanette’s own club nominated her for this award, she gives full credit for the success of the club to each of the members. Club secretary Vickie Brown states, “Mary would be very upset if we did not give credit to all the hardworking members of the Norfolk Curling Club, who put in so many hours to make our dream happen, as well as to the general curling community who so graciously gave their support in so many ways.”