Interview with Bill Stopera & Martin Sather
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Official Newsletter of the Ardsley Curling Club December 2013 “All the News That Fits” Curling Club Makes Comeback 2 Years After Arson Ryan Hanrahan, NBCConnecticut.com North Mountain Drive Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY 10502 The town of Norfolk and cold weather are On a predictably cold December night in 2011, synonymous. Banners hang from light posts in two arsonists went on a crime spree through the center of town reading, “Norfolk: Icebox town. Kyle Majewski and Matthew Carey are Upcoming Events of Connecticut.” It’s a nickname that residents convicted of setting two fires in Norfolk, one of of the coldest and snowiest town in the state which destroyed the Norfolk Curling Club. Cool Duck (5 & Under Open) have come to embrace. Fri. Dec. 27 - Sun. Dec. 30 Jon Barbagallo has been curling in Norfolk Ardsley Curling Club The town is home to one of only two curling since he was 13 years old. He’s also a volunteer clubs in Connecticut. It’s one of a few things firefight in town. Barbagallo was putting out Cracked Bell (open) that make the town unique and it’s something hotspots at a house fire in North Norfolk on Thur. Jan. 3 - Sun. Jan. 5 residents say they love having in their backyard. Dec. 18, 2011 when he heard from the Norfolk Philadelphia Curling Club Resident Trooper about a fire on Gulf Drive. Mitchell Invitational (Men’s) continued on page 5 Thur. Jan. 9 - Sun. Jan. 12 Utica Curling Club Interview with Bill Stopera & Martin Sather Chesapeake Funspiel (Open) Thur. Jan. 16 - Sun. Jan. 19 Raymond Ullmer Chesapeake Curling Club As many of us at Ardsley know, Bill Stopera and Martin Sather, along with Plainfield-based Dean Empire State Ladies (Women’s) Gemmel, competed mid-November at the US Thur. Jan. 16 - Sun. Jan. 19 Olympic Trials in Fargo with skip Heath (Heater) Utica Curling Club McCormick. They played tough, but came up A complete calendar of GNCC just short in a few games, any one of which events is available at gncc.org had they won would have gotten them to the weekend finals. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Still, the team finished third overall and has an awful lot to be proud of. I personally Ardsley On the Road ................................2 felt that some sort of coda was needed to Ardsley Curling Club History ....................3 recognize their monumental personal efforts A Note From The Editor ...........................3 and performance. To that end, I asked Bill and 2013 Turkey Trot .......................................4 Martin if they would chat with me about their continued on page 5 MONCTONIAN Meechai and Gebauer Win 2014 BONSPIEL Mixed Doubles National Title Jerry McCarty Terry Kolesar (TEAMUSA.ORG) Jerry McCarty, Bruce Huffine, Tom Jackson from Winnipeg Manitoba, Paul Sofuolis from one game to the next. It truly is from Broomstones Mass, Bill Harper and an honor to win the championship and Peter McCrady from Prince Edward Island become Team USA. The event coordinators, competed in the 54th Monctonian Bonspiel organizers, ice crew and support staff were in mid November 2013. all amazing. The Medford crew were a well- The team curled under the New York run machine and extremely gracious hosts at Caledonian banner and won two lost three the same time.” games over three days. A total of 54 teams It took an extra end to dethrone the participated over two clubs in Moncton New champions - Pete and Maureen Stolt Brunswick. of Plymouth, Minn. - at the Medford A good time was had by all! Curling Club this afternoon as Meechai and Gebauer scored a single point in the Next year’s event will be held from overtime to secure the 7-6 victory. This is November 13 to 16, 2014. the first national championship title for the Any member interested in curling in this pair. They will be nominated to represent maritime event should contact Jerry McCarty. the U.S. at the 2014 World Mixed Doubles Championship, which will take place April 22-29 in Dumfries, Scotland. The Stolts stole two points in the third Messing Squad Wins end to grab the game’s momentum and Calder Cup at a momentary 3-1 lead. It was short-lived however, as leads can be in mixed doubles Newly-Reopened with all the rocks normally in play. Meechai Norfolk Curling Club (STEVENS POINT, Wis.) - A brand new and Gebauer struck for three points in the champion was crowned today as Joyance fourth end and added a single steal in the Gert Messing/Raymond Ullmer Meechai (New York City) and teammate fourth to advance their lead to two points. Steve Gebauer (Minneapolis, Minn.) The Minnesota couple tied the game with a Ardsley joined in celebrating the re-opening of defeated the defending champions to deuce in the sixth and had the game where the Norfolk Curling Club by sending five teams to win the 2014 USA Curling Mixed Doubles they wanted it in the eighth end with last compete there in the Calder Cup bonspiel. Gert National Championship in Medford, Wis. rock. However, the 2013 champs could Messing’s senior squad of Dennis Mellerup, Bill only score the single point and Meechai Nickle, and Bill Peskoff defeated Mike Stefanik’s “It really was a thrilling event,” Meechai said. and Gebauer got one more chance with Schenectady team to win the final. “We had great competition throughout the the final stone in the ninth end to win the week, and we hope we kept our audiences The four other teams in the Ardsley field were tournament. entertained! Our goal for the tournament skipped by George Austin, Walter Bagget, Jeff was to just keep learning and improving Final results can be found at www.usacurl.org. Lesuk, and Tim Klein. Gert reports that the new Norfolk is really Championship Final, Game Score wonderful, and that despite having only 2 sheets TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 EE FINAL the cathedral ceiling makes the rink feel much bigger. The ice conditions were excellent, fast Meechai-Gebauer 1 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 1 7 with a consistent 4 foot curl. The warm room is Stolt-Stolt 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 6 large with a fireplace that incorporates curling stones from the original club in its design. Welcome back, Norfolk! 2 Duck Soup Alexander Blanton’s Medal Geoff Broadhurst In 1948, the Blanton Medal was introduced, It is notable that most curling clubs before in memory of Alexander Blanton who had 1960 appointed only senior members to be been an ardent and well liked member of the skips and they remained skips forever. Newer Club. It replaced the Ardsley Medal, and has and younger members had to wait patiently been pursued by male ‘junior skips’, since the until some senior skip passed along. With the mid-1950’s. The first or second place winning Blanton and Windeler/Wells, the ACC adopted skips of the Blanton moved up to become the enlightened method of competition and Windeler ‘senior skips’. (The Windeler would merit which is still used today. This approach then become the “Wells” which will be covered was very progressive for its time and a large part in the next Duck Soup). All ACC men members of what makes the Ardsley Curling Club a truly are assigned to rinks in these competitions. It great and special place. affords an opportunity for even the newest members to compete with and against more experienced players. A Note From The Editor Raymond Ullmer Last month, little closer to the club, and to get to know all Road.” This is where I will need your help. Jeff Casper of you a little better. That’s already started to If you are participating in a bonspiel away wrote a happen in a very big way, and I’m very excited from the club, please take the time to snap a short note about how things will unfold throughout the couple of pictures of your team at the event, welcoming season and the seasons to come. put a short write-up together, and email it me aboard as to me when you get back. So many people the new editor There’s a few things I will be trying to do are traveling to such interesting places – this of Duck Soup. I’d like to take a moment to with Duck Soup, and this month’s issue is your chance to share that experience with thank Jeff for the hard work he’s done for the showcases some of them. I’ll be looking to the entire club! newsletter in the past, and for the inspiring have a focus piece each month on members words he had for Joe Panella and me. who are doing special things within the Thanks to everyone who has offered me club, and to that end with this issue I’m encouraging words and ideas – I really I got the gig by responding to Jeff’s email to very excited about including an interview appreciate it. A big thanks also goes to Joe the club looking for a replacement, saying with Martin Sather and Bill Stopera on their Panella who is just amazing at making Duck “If you strike out finding someone, I’ll give it Olympic Trial experiences. I’m also looking Soup look so good and turning things around a go.” That pretty much cooked my goose forward to working closely with Geoff at light-speed. What a great partner he is. (duck?) immediately – Jeff wasted no time Broadhurst on presenting a recurring feature closing the deal with me.