FEBRUARY 2013 | Vol. 25, No. 4 Summit CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON moving South Dick Macartney, President of the GNCC 2012-2013 advises that details for this year’s annual meeting are coming along. The meeting will be on Topsail Island, North Carolina where Dick has lived since being involved in the GNCC originally as representative for Triangle Club. The meeting dates are Fri., May 17 and Sat. May 18. The meeting hotel is a recently-built Holiday Inn Express, located at 1565 NC Hwy 210 in Sneads Ferry. This property Team Korey Dropkin (far right) captured the 2013 USCA Junior Nationals is located next to the North Shore championship in January. Country Club on the Atlantic Inter- coastal Waterway, just across the bridge from the meeting location at GNCCers nab hardware at the town of North Topsail Beach’s town hall. Everything will be very competitions compact providing you choose to book a room at the Holiday Inn. Due From a press release Dropkin’s side will now represent the to seasonal demand starting about Red, White & Blue at the 2013 World the time of our meeting, there are Korey Dropkin (Southborough, Junior Championships from Feb. 28- limited rooms available. However, Mass.) defended his national Juniors March 10 at Ice Cube Curling Center in once bookings are made, more title in early February by claiming his Sochi, Russia. rooms will be released. second consecutive title. Dropkin and teammates Thomas Please call the hotel at 910-327- Dropkin’s team prevailed over Howell (Brick, N.J.), 8282 and mention ‘GNCC Meeting’ Washington’s Jake Vukich, 8-6, to earn (Bemidji, Minn.) and Alex Fenson to get one of the blocked rooms. the men’s title. Dropkin, in contrast, did (Bemidji, Minn.) had control of most of The rate for a King or two Queens not need to throw his final stone as its match against Vukich’s squad from is $99 plus tax and includes a complimentary hot breakfast. Vukich, needing to steal two points, Seattle’s Granite Curling Club. After came up light on his final draw into the See CHAMPS, Page 4 > See MEETING, Page 2 > house.

Bucks County tabbed to host Arena tilt Read more inside Bucks County Curling in Arena curlers are the fastest-growing Warminster, Pa., has been sect among the GNCC. BOOK YOUR TRIP SOUTH TODAY Meeting resgistration, Page 3 selected as the host of the This is the fourth year for the Arena 2013 Arena Club Club Championships. Bucks County GNCC RINK TAKES SR. GOLD Championship. ended Pittsburgh Curling’s two-year run Ardsley/Plainfield rink to worlds, Page 5 A date has not yet been confirmed for as the top club among arenas. this annual summertime bonspiel that An expanded field and top-notch ice CLUBS ACTIVE AT HOME Dispatches from around GNCC Page 6 determines the best rinks from clubs quality are expected. Check your emails playing on ice arenas as opposed to and hear from your GNCC Rep when a PROJECT 2014 UNDERWAY dedicated ice facilities. date is confirmed. Is your club ready for Sochi? Page 7 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Annual meeting heading South for first time > MEETING from Front GNCC to grow membership governance, and a few by members of any curling club based on interest in Olympic law changes. The best part to get involved with the Please make your plans Curling. Next year’s will be reviewing the success regional organization. Come today even if you are not Olympics in Sochi, Russia of our GNCC curling to the annual meeting, test certain as reservations can should be even greater in championships and the your golf, throw quoits, drink be cancelled and the hotel generating public curiosity successes our GNCC a cocktail, and revive will sell out as Topsail Island about curling and we expect curlers are achieving friendships made on the ice is a get great week-end our US curlers to be very nationally and world-wide. with other curlers. Do all of getaway from Easter to competitive and plans have Finally the day will wind up this in May on Topsail Island Thanksgiving. Other been announce announced with a banquet featuring the where it is beach weather housing options include to have even more curling seafaring traditions of and the beaches are among seasonal rentals of ocean televised. So our GNCC Sneads Ferry with local the best in North America. front houses and other clubs need to have in place shrimp cocktails and crab Please use the form smaller hotels but we plans for houses, learn cakes followed by prime rib elsewhere in the newsletter encourage you to come to to curls, and systems to or crab stuffed flounder. to commit to coming to the the meeting. process inquiries. It will be Triangle Curling Club will annual meeting. Friday afternoon there will good for us to plan to do this host the cocktail party and Some may choose to fly; be the annual GNCC golf even in areas where there is will share the plans for their Wilmington ILM is 60 Tournament and the Bell not a nearby club. After new 4 sheet dedicated minutes by car. Jacksonville Medal Quoits completion 2010 the GNCC was able to facility that will put any profits OAJ is 45 minutes, and competition will be contested start a number of new curling into construction in the Raleigh RDU is about 2½ outside the bar area at the clubs, so we hope for similar coming months. hours by car. We will try to North Shore Country Club success. It needs the help The GNCC stretches from help with transportation during the President’s of all curlers to pass on our Maine to Florida and West to provided by local curlers if cocktail reception. passion for the roaring game. Ohio. We have a large renting a car is something Saturday morning a The afternoon annual geographical area and even you do not want to do and workshop called Project business meeting will feature though North Carolina may are flying. 2014 will be conducted it will elections for new officers, an seem far away from some it be patterned about Project update from the USCA is nearly in the center of that 2010 which was used for the directors including the status geography. I encourage all of last year’s hot issue—

GNCC Curling News is published by the Grand National Curling Club of America, Inc. The newsletter is distributed Grand National Curling Club free to members of the Grand National Curling Club. The Officers and Directors annual subscription rate for non-members is $10.00 (US). President Dick Macartney Advertising rates are available upon request. 1st Vice President Sally MacKenzie 2nd Vice President Chris Banino All correspondence should be sent to: Secretary Mary Colacchio GNCC Curling News Treasurer Howard “Bunkie” Harmon 6 Mary Street Immediate Past Carl Thomas Pottsville, Pa. 17901 President At Large Directors Rob LeVine Editor: Joshua Sophy, [email protected] Maryann Vermeulen George Shirk Contributors: Sally MacKenzie, Carl Thomas, Chris Banino, Charlene Fitzgerald, Rob LeVine, Mary P. Colacchio, Gwen Krailo, Val Schmitt, USA Curling, Norfolk Curling Club. North Shore Country Club 101 North Shore Drive, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 910-327-2410 Holiday Inn Express 1565 NC Hwy 210, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 910-327-8282 North Topsail Beach Town Hall, 2008 Loggerhead Court, NTB, NC 28460 910-328-1349 GNCC�2013�Spring�Meeting Topsail�Island,�North�Carolina

Please indicate the activities you plan to attend:

Name: Club

Day Activity Cost Yes No

1:00 pm Golf Tournament - GNCC Trophy Award for Men's & Women's Low Gross Winners - Submit USGA handicap index with $ 35.00 entry as indicated in the next column (under the cost) USGA North Shore Country Club 101 North Shore Dr., Sneads Ferry NC H/I: The only Coastal Carolina 4 star Golf Course reviewed by Golf Digest _____ Friday with beautiful seaside views and a challenging course. Cost includes greens fee and carts. Lunch menu not available. May 17

5:00 pm GNCC Bell Quoits Competition - Medal Award No North Shore Country Club 101 North Shore Drive, Sneads Ferry NC Charge

6:00 pm President’s Reception Cocktail Party No North Shore Country Club 101 North Shore Drive, Sneads Ferry NC Charge

8:00 am – 9:30 Committee meetings including GNCC Executive TBD Committee at North Shore Country Club, Sneads Ferry NC

9:30 am - 11:30 am Project 2014 General Meeting Session with presentation of plans and materials for member curling clubs to take No full advantage of February 2014 Olympic Curling Television coverage Charge from the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia North Shore Country Club 101 North Shore Dr., Sneads Ferry, NC

11:30 pm - 1:15 pm Rick’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, 510 Pete’s Way Saturday ½ mile from the Country Club is available for a casual Lunch or at N/A May 18 other very nearby eateries of your choice & cost

1:15 pm - 5:45 pm GNCC Annual General Meeting No Town of North Topsail Beach – Town Hall, 2008 Loggerhead Court, Charge North Topsail Beach NC 28460 - Agenda to follow

7:00 pm Banquet Dinner T’s After Hours, 2004 Highway 172 Sneads Ferry NC 28460 $ 35.00 Entrée Choice _____ Prime Rib _____ Crab Stuffed Flounder

TOTAL ENCLOSED: $

You may also submit this information via e-mail to [email protected]

Checks for the Golf and Banquet Dinner on Saturday should be made payable to: GNCC and mailed to the Secretary along with this form and send to:

Mary P. Colacchio, GNCC Secretary - 294 Cairn Ridge Road - East Falmouth MA 02536-7929 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON Dropkin repeats at Junior Nationals < CHAMPS from Front > giving the Wash. an open draw into the rings. Dropkin, exchanging single points however, responded with a through two, Dropkin’s team draw for two in the following grabbed a decisive deuce in end to retain control of the the 3rd end to take an early game. Vukich had the final (From left: McDonald, Palmer, Joseph, Greely, Lino.) USCA photo advantage. Vukich was end set up well to steal, or at forced to make a takeout for least pressure Dropkin into a a single in the 4th and gave tough shot for the win, but Team USA competing for Dropkin a hit for two in the Vukich’s final stone came up World Wheelchair title following end when Vukich light as they tried to brush it missed his final shot. Vukich into second scoring position Team USA’s Wheelchair The main reason for the finally earned his deuce in the and Dropkin never had to Curling team recently visited Team USA visit was to play 6th end when Dropkin rolled throw his final rock. Cape Cod Curling Club and prepare for the ongoing out on his final takeout, looking for as much ice time World Wheelchair Curling as they could get in Championship Games held in S. Anderson picked as Fifth preparation for the impending Sochi, Russia, between for Team Brown at Worlds World Championships. February 15 and 23. Philly’s , World Championship event The team enjoyed four Meghan Lino and David fresh off Skipping at the as the team’s Fifth. games against Cape Cod Palmer on this USA Team National Championship Anderson’s rink went 2-7 members and had plenty of curl at Cape Cod. James tournament, has been picked at the recent tournament in practice time on the ice which Joseph is from Utica Curling. to represent Team Erika Green Bay and was runner-up the club made available to Best of luck to them and the Brown at the upcoming at the Junior Nationals. them. entire team.

2013 USA NATIONALS REVIEW

McCormick, Lank edged from Playoffs; Team Anderson picks up two wins GNCC’s representation at the 2013 USA Curling to defeat Team Mike Farbelow. Overall, McCormick National Championships may have come home without new achieved a 7-5 record at the tournament. baubles to add to their trophy cases but they defended a title On the Women’s side, Team Patti Lank (Lewistwn, N.Y.) well and made inroads for the future. finished Qualifying with a 5-4 record but was eliminated Team Heath McCormick (Plainfield) was eliminated in in a tie-breaker for the No. 4 seed in the Page Playoff. the 3 vs. 4 Page Playoff game against eventual champion Team Sarah Anderson (Phila.), in its first national Team , of Seattle’s Granite Curling. To clinch championship, finished the Qualifying round with a 2-7 the No. 4 seed in the Playoffs, the defending champs had record with two losses decided by a point each. GNCC Jrs. continue excellent play By Ashley Lawreck

The GNCC Junior Regional Playdowns and Championship took place from Dec. 26-30, where 10 junior men’s and 5 junior women’s teams competed for the title of GNCC Junior Champion, as well as 3 berths (1 men’s berth and 2 women’s berths) into the 2013 USA Curling Junior National Championship. Morrison (Rochester), and lead Becky GNCC Seniors The National Championship was held Vanarsdall (Potomac). at Broomstones Curling Club on Jan. Also, congratulations to Team take USA, head to 26-Feb. 2. Anderson from Philadelphia. This team worlds in April Congratulations to our GNCC Junior placed second in the women's Men’s Champion, Team Dunnam from tournament, and will represent the A team representing several clubs Philadelphia, who will represent the GNCC at Junior Nationals as well. within the GNCC recently captured the GNCC at Junior Nationals. Skipped by Skipped by Sarah Anderson 2013 Senior Men’s National Scott Dunnam (Philadelphia), this team (Philadelphia), this team also includes Championship. also includes vice Andrew Stopera vice Kathleen Dubberstein (Madison, The team of Gert Messing (Ardsley) (Ardsley), second Steven Szemple Wisc.), second and teammates Dennis Mellerup (Plainfield), and lead Andrew Dunnam (Philadelphia), lead Leilani Dubberstein (Ardsley), Bill Nickle (Planfield), and (Philadelphia). (Madison), and fifth Abigail Suslavich Bill Peskoff (Plainfield) was alone in Congratulations to our GNCC Junior (Nutmeg). going undefeated in round robin play and Women’s Champion, Team Ely from Also recently, Anderson’s rink then defeated North Dakota’s Dave Rochester, who will represent the qualified for the just-completed 2013 Jensen, 7-4, to win the team’s first trip GNCC at Junior Nationals. Skipped by USA Curling National Championships to the World Senior Championships. Hannah Ely (Rochester), this team also by finishing its time at the Women’s They will be representing the United includes vice Emily Walker Challenge Round, with a berth on the State at the Senior Worlds in (Broomstones), second Abigail line, in victory. Fredericton, N.B., Canada, from April 13-20. Broomstones rink captures Gordon Emmett Medal A rink from Broomstones (Mass.) This was the 141st event in the Curling Club captured GNCC’s time- Gordon Emmett Medal history. The honored Gordon Emmett bonspiel this bonspiel serves as the GNCC’s annual past weekend at a bonspiel in Men’s championship. On a historical Schenectady, N.Y. note, Sam Chandler is a third generation The winning team consisted of Skip two-time winner (2011, 2013) of the Bryan Fink, Vice Eric Paul, Second Paul Gordon Medal. Bryan Fink and Eric Marseglia, and Lead Sam Chandler. Paul are three-time winners of the They defeated a rink from host Gordon Medal (2009, 2011, 2013). Paul Schenectady Curling Club that was Marseglia is a two-time winner of the Skipped by Dean Wadland and included Gordon Medal (2011, 2013). Vice Charlie Brown, Matt Daly at Second and Lead Jim Sinkins. AROUND THE GNCC An Open House can lead to … Just four years ago, Juniors Abbey Suslavich and Kent Suslavich attended one of Nutmeg Curling Club’s Fall Open Houses, leading them to play in their high school league and to various bonspiels and camps, including the ’s Junior Summer Camp in Fussen, Germany. Now, four years later, Abbey, a freshman at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, has qualified to move forward with GNCC Junior Women’s Team Anderson (Philadelphia) to compete in the USCA’s Junior Nationals held from Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2013. Good curling Abbey! (from Nutmeg Curling’s in-house newsletter, Hit n Roll) * Charlotte Centre Curling Club is very proud to announce we will be hosting the best and most popular traveling curling camp in North America on April 26-28, 2013. This is the first time a Hot Shots camp has been held in the South. Curlers of the Southeast now have the opportunity to take part in this outstanding training camp locally! Visit hotshotscurling.com/register-char.php to register soon, as limited spots remain for this exciting event. * Coastal Carolina Curling Club is accepting registrations for its Lighthouse Beach Spiel. The bonspiel starts Saturday, June 8, at 8 a.m. This is a 16-team, 3-game pointspiel format. Potomac Curling Club in Laurel, Md., is hosting the Dykes Memorial bonspiel on Feb. 27. Members are busy making preparations including The fee is $280. More information is available from Peggy adding a new tap system, installing microphones above the ice, and Hollen at [email protected]. preparing fantastic bonspiel food. Hope you remembered to register! * Catch the live stream online at http://curldc.org. GNCC Representatives: Submit happenings from your club for publication in future editions of the newsletter and on the GNCC Web site. Email photos, league updates, club news, etc., to [email protected]. * Tell it to the world: Tag photos from your local league nights or with your team at a bonspiel with the hashtag #GNCC on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag photos and updates on the GNCC’s Facebook page, too.

Equinox Curling Club in Manchester, Vt., recently hosted a local Cub Scout troop for a Learn to Curl event. No Olympic letdown as arena club growth continues Arena clubs within the GNCC continued to see steady growth last year and the organization grew nominally as a whole in the same time. Despite one arena club closing, the organization registered 120 more members in those clubs than it did during 2011, 742 from 622 the year prior and a 19 percent increase. Arena clubs continue to see growth from the 2010 Olympics, when they saw A blizzard that brought three feet of snow to some areas of New England didn’t hamper the Learn to Curl plans of Mt. Washington a jump to 483 members, up from 293 the year before the Valley Curling in New Hampshire. As soon as the storm moved on, Vancouver Games. the club was busy the next day introducing a fairly large crowd of At the same time, dedicated ice clubs saw a small dip in locals to the sport. (Photo by Paul Valle, MWVC) membership numbers from the year before and it’s the second straight year with a drop in membership at these clubs. There Blizzard doesn’t slow Mt. were 3,086 members at dedicated clubs last year, down from 3,196 in 2011 and a high of 3,383 in 2010. The drop from 2011 Washington Valley club to 2012 is less than one-half percent overall. By Scot Henley day, roughly forty curious There are 47 clubs within the GNCC. An equal number, 18 participants enjoyed first- are dedicated and arena clubs. There are seven “piggyback” Under a picture-perfect time curling lessons and clubs curling at dedicated facilities and seven “paper” clubs. blue sky, just one day after a learned some strategy by historic blizzard hit much of watching the exhibition GNCC 2012 Membership Data New England, the Mount match. 2012 2011 2010 2009 +/- LY Washington Valley Curling “Our fledgling club has Club staged its first-ever seen tremendous growth Arena 742 622 483 293 ↑120 outdoor curling exhibition. since its founding in 2011. The February 10 event took This outdoor curling Dedicated 3086 3196 3383 2797 ↓110 place in the heart of North exhibition not only drew Conway Village, a four- additional attention to our season resort community Club, it also sparked an Is your club ready for nestled in New Hampshire’s interest in the sport among White Mountains. the eager participants that Project 2014 and Sochi? Despite receiving nearly took part in the event,” says two feet of snow over the Pat Kittle, president of the The 2014 Olympics are 2. Identify what areas your previous two days, the ice Mount Washington Valley being held in February 2014 club would like included in was cleared and ready for the Curling Club. and that sounds like a long Project 2014 Club’s arrival on the Mother Nature was at it time, but it’ll creep up fast. Please send me the contact morning of the event. Club once again the next day, as During the upcoming annual information for the person that members transported stones, the North Conway area meeting the GNCC will host a will be the Project 2014 brooms and sliders to experienced another big workshop for clubs to begin representative from your club historic Schouler Park from winter storm. “Somehow, their preparation. This will be as well as any areas that you its home arena, and worked we pulled it off! The curling an update to the 2010 Olympic would like to see included in hard to prepare the ice for gods must really like our preparation, and enhance on the Project 2014 workshop. the two-hour event. Two Club,” joked Kittle. information areas clubs have Feel free to contact Carl curling sheets were created For more information requested. Thomas with any questions, for the exhibition, including about Mount Washington Here is what’s needed now comments, or concerns by one for a demonstration Valley Curling Club, go to from individual clubs: email at match and another for their Web site at, 1. All clubs to assign a [email protected] or by instruction. www.mwvcurling.org. person to be their Project 2014 phone at (315) 831-4253. While many winter sports contact person. enthusiasts took to the slopes on this spectacular February NBC Sports broadcasts national semis, finals From a press release National Sports and NBC Sports Games on that channel. The Champion- Network on Feb. 15 and 16. Finals were shown live that Twelve hours of live ships. The On the 15th, Universal Saturday, on NBC Sports playoff action was broadcast draws were Sports aired both the Network. by NBC Sports/Comcast televised on women’s semifinal and the from the 2013 USA Curling Universal men’s semifinal games live.

Curling: Inflate to play. Curlers at Ocean State Curling in Rhode Island certainly enjoy a unique atmosphere during this recent Winter League www.goldline.ca night. If you have a photo of your club in action, be it a league night, trophy presentation, or even an off-ice social event, share it with the rest of the organization; email Joshua Sophy at [email protected].