Newsletter of the London Club February 2015

What’s better than 12 months of curling, warm weather? Imagine a paradise where it never gets cold and the curling season is 12 months a year. The bonspiels are held in the summer when arena rentals are cheaper because hockey teams have stored their gear until fall. Along with the customary handshake, the pre-game routine includes carrying 80 rocks from a freezer to a five-sheet ice surface, pebbling and installing the hacks. Welcome to Curl San Diego, a club launched in this southern California city in 2006. Canadians living there are part of the process, proving you can take a Canuck out of but you cannot take away his or her curling passion. Keven Jeffery’s attachment to curling goes back to his days playing for his high school team in Aylmer, . His career as a librarian took him to Boston, where he worked in the Boston University medical school. Jeffery and his wife were dating at the time and they decided to move closer to his wife’s parents, who had retired to Phoenix, Arizona. Her brother was living in Los Angeles. “I saw this job in San Diego at San Diego State University,” Jeffery said. It was much closer to her family and “there was no (snow) shoveling.” He got the job. Keven is a nephew of Mary Lois Cooper, who along with her husband, Bruce, is a long-time London Curling Club member. Keven missed his sport. “I went in to watch Bruce curl and I was envious.” He never found a place to curl in Boston but he did in much more southerly San Diego, just minutes from the Mexican border. At Curl San Diego, some of Jeffery’s club mates probably had never heard of London, Ontario, unless they asked him about the words on his curling jacket – “London Curling Club.” Ready to return to the sport, he bought his jacket and curling shoes at the LCC Pro Shoppe. Curling supplies are hard to find in southern California. Keven Jeffery wears London Curling With no ice arenas in San Diego, the club’s first base was in Escondido, about Club colours at the Orange County 50 kilometres from downtown San Diego. It has recently moved to Carlsbad, bonspiel in Huntington Beach, Calif. which is about the same commute but its arena offered an earlier draw time – Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. To get new members up to speed on etiquette, Curl San Diego’s website http://www.curlsandiego.org/ has an extensive list that covers all the standards Canadian clubs expect, as well as one we have never seen: “No swearing, fighting, throwing brooms or smacking teammates.” A driving force in attracting new people to curling in San Diego, elsewhere in the U.S. and even at the LCC has been the emergence of the game as an Olympic sport. Club president Brian Walsh, as a native of Chicago was as familiar with winter weather as well as most Canadians. But it wasn’t until the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 that he was inspired to start curling. Curl San Diego created a novel promotion of the sport in the lead up to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. It involved the USS Midway Museum, which had been created by renovating a decommissioned aircraft carrier. A big viewing party was expected on the flight deck and the U.S. Olympic committee contacted Walsh to ask the club to exhibit the sport of curling. They came up with a large surface that would replicate curling ice and imitation stones, much lighter than real ones. It was probably the first time anyone ever “curled” on an aircraft carrier’s deck. See SAN DIEGO Page 2

Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 2 Western Spiels aid Bantams President’s student research, Soup ousted but Column a junior champ Kitchen make progress ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 2 LCC has busy weekend schedule in second half of season The curling season is beginning to wind down, but there are still lots of activities over the last few weeks of the season. Check our club calendar and you will see virtually every weekend is full with bonspiels or clinics. At the end of March, watch for the club championship playoffs. In early April we are again the hosts for the Ontario bantam/junior mixed championships. At the Annual General Meeting in June, the highlight is the announcement of the Spirit of Curling awards. These awards recognize a man and woman who best exemplify sportsmanship and curling skills. Nomination forms are available at the bar. Please get your nominations in early. Again this year I must congratulate our volunteers, who have put on very successful clinics. Each of these clinics involves as many as a dozen coaches, the organization from the skills and development committee, the member services committee and our promotion committee. As you can see, at least 20 individuals are required for each clinic. The clinics introduce non- members to curling and skills and development to our members. They are invariably always filled and we often gain members from each of them. This is the time of year when the search goes out for volunteers for all aspects of our club. The board of directors, league convenors, bonspiel convenors, interim managers and a vast number of small to large commitments are all required for next season. When someone asks, please say “yes”. Volunteers make the LCC one of the best and most affordable clubs in Ontario. John Crosby, LCC President SAN DIEGO: Ice in multi-use arenas not as good as in dedicated rinks Like most California curling clubs, Curl San Diego faces the limitations of playing in an arena that is not solely dedicated to curling. When it moved to Carlsbad, Walsh negotiated with arena management on placing curling markings on the ice. Arena officials were worried fully painted rings for the five curling sheets would distract hockey goalies. The compromise reached was that only the outlines of each ring would be marked, with no painting in between. Unlike its first arena home, which was missing a centre line and tee-lines, The Carlsbad arena had every marking except lines to separate the individual sheets. Keven Jeffrey sent his aunt, Another issue is the ice. “Arena ice conditions are very much not the same as they are on LCC member Mary Lois dedicated (curling) ice,” says Walsh. Jeffery adds that one of the problems is that a level Cooper, a Curl San Diego playing surface is hard to come by in an arena used primarily for hockey, a sport not tee-shirt and pin. affected by unlevel ice. Bonspiels have become popular in California. A big one in the state is the Orange County bonspiel in Huntington Beach, which attracted Jeffery. Curl San Diego hopes to have its first bonspiel this year in late July or early August. That would be another building block in the making of a vibrant club. Keven Jeffery no longer needs to be envious of Uncle Bruce. Burt Dowsett

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CLUB STAFF WEBSITE Eric Duggan EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Club Manager Doug Petch http://londoncurling.ca/ President John Crosby [email protected] [email protected] Vice President Paul Pergau Past President Gord Sellery Office Manager Barb Colbourn ROCK TALK Burt Dowsett Treasurer Dave Peeling Head Ice Technician Kevin Breivik (519) 641-4948 1847 2015 Secretary Fay Weiler Ice Assistants Mark Phillips [email protected] Property Maint./Planning Dave Weber Scott Breivik [email protected] Derek Shadlock PORTFOLIO DIRECTORS Jason Laroque Issue Deadlines October 27 LONDON CURLING CLUB Advertising Don Agnew Stan Smith November 24 377 Lyle Street Leagues & OCA Bruce Thom Bruce Thom December 18 London, Ontario N5W 3RS Promotion Marjorie Dudley Bar Coordinator Les Sonier January 26 Member Services Roger Moyer Telephone (519) 432-3882 Bar Staff Billie Campbell February 23 Skills & Development Pat Boothe Email: [email protected] Katie McNaught Pro Shoppe Richard Rodgers Website: http://londoncurling.ca Housekeeper Kim Elsdon ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 3 Western student at LCC an Ontario champ, Canadian finalist Anyone watching Claire Greenlees throw a rock in Western University’s Tuesday night league at the LCC would soon guess that she probably plays at a much higher level somewhere. Indeed, she does – at the level. After winning the Ontario junior women’s championship playing third on Chelsea Brandwood’s Glendale Golf and Country Club Hamilton rink, her team came within one victory of becoming Canadian champions in the nationals at Corner Brook, Newfoundland. In nationally-televised games on Jan. 31, Greenlees and her teammates defeated 2013 Canadian champion Corryn Brown of Kamloops, B.C., 9-4, in the women’s semi-final, before losing the final 8-2 to Alberta’s Kelsey Rocque, the defending Canadian and world champion. Rocque went into the playoffs with a 9-1 record in the eight-team championship pool, while Brandwood and Brown were next, each at 7-3. In the provincials at Galt, Greenlees wasn’t the only LCC connection. Former LCC curler Joanna Francolini of London played third on Samantha Morris’s St. Catharines Golf and Country Club rink. The Brandwood rink also includes Claire’s sister, Danielle Greenlees, at lead and Brenda Holloway at second. Like most of today’s top players, Claire started curling early, at age seven, as did her childhood friend, Chelsea. “I’ve curled with her ever since I started. At bantam age we started to curl competitively, along with my sister. “When I first met Chelsea we lived down the street from each other. When her dad got her started in curling, my parents started me, too.” The fact that Chelsea’s dad, who now coaches the team, played in the Brier was CLAIRE GREENLEES a factor in Claire’s decision to take up the sport. Todd Brandwood threw third rocks on ’s Ontario rink that finished with an 8-3 record at the 2000 Brier in Saskatoon. Claire finds it “just awesome to curl with my younger sister.” She credits the support of her parents, who encouraged them and drove them to bonspiels, for their development as curlers, as well as the coaching of Todd Brandwood. Along with curling, the Greenlees sisters from Grimsby, Ontario, may have another connection this fall. Danielle hopes to join Claire at Western in the same discipline – medical science. Claire says balancing school work and a busy bonspiel schedule means she cannot try out for Western’s women’s curling team. But she’s happy to curl in the Western league, where she’s on a team skipped by Stan Smith. When the word got out of her team’s success at the provincials, on her first night back at the LCC several curlers approached her to offer congratulations. She’ll probably get further recognition for her team’s strong showing in the nationals. “I love the London Curling Club,” says Claire. “Everyone has been so welcoming and nice to me – and I love my team.” Burt Dowsett

ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 4 Prostate cancer ‘spiel to help fund testing of focal therapy When London Curling Club Past-President Gord Sellery talks about prostate cancer he has the perspective of both a medical doctor and a patient. Sellery, a retired London anesthesiologist, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 74. He underwent radical surgery to remove his prostate when he was 75. Gord, now 79 and clear of cancer, is helping fellow LCC member Ken Walmsley, who is spearheading the inauguration of a March 4 bonspiel focusing on prostate cancer. The goal of the event is to raise money for improved awareness and research into the effectiveness of minimally invasive therapies. When the diagnosis of prostate cancer was made by biopsy, Gord was given some treatment options. There was “active surveillance,” radiation, local radium implants or the surgical removal of the gland and lymph nodes. One problem with the surgery is that there is chance of complications such as incontinence and impotence. To reduce the chances of surgical complications, there is the middle-of-the-road approach, known as “focal therapy.” A London Health Sciences Foundation report describes that option GORD SELLERY this way: “Minimally invasive therapies combining imaging and the targeted removal or destruction of cancerous prostate tissue can spare a patient’s normal anatomical structures – meaning doctors can provide the very best care to patients while minimizing the risk of damage to healthy tissue. These therapies include surgical techniques and targeted energy such as radiation, laser light or high-intensity ultrasound.” In focusing on helping to fund the testing of focal therapy, the bonspiel’s contribution will go toward a community target of $300,000. This is to acquire the necessary equipment and do the clinical trials of focal therapy to ensure that this is an effective treatment. The money will go to London Health Sciences Foundation and stay in London for research work done here. This research is also taking place in some other cities. Of the estimated 100 senior men who curl at the LCC, Sellery thinks there are about 10 who have survived prostate cancer. Enter the bonspiel, pay your $40 fee, participate in the silent auction, work a pledge sheet or make a personal donation and maybe 10 years from now the survival rate will be even higher. The real purpose of March 4 is not about winning or losing on the curling ice. It’s about survival, extending lifespan and maintaining quality of life for prostate cancer patients. Burt Dowsett Curl for a Cause charity bonspiel now has a full roster The Curl for a Cause bonspiel on Feb. 11 to support the St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre now has a full roster of 12 teams. It will be a fun day of curling, good food, prizes, a raffle and silent auction items are available. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. with breakfast snacks available. Play begins at 9:30 a.m., with lunch following. The second game will begin at 1 p.m. At the conclusion of the bonspiel, winners will be announced in the upstairs lounge, where curlers can claim their raffle and silent auction items. The Soup Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch every weekday and the demand is growing. If you would like to make a financial donation an income tax receipt will be issued. Make your cheque payable to St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre and give it to Linda Round, Larry Round or Pat Bell. Your contribution would be greatly appreciated. The Women’s Daytime Section, convening the event, is still looking for raffle table and silent auction items for the event. To donate items, see Linda Round, Larry Round or Pat Bell. Thanks in advance. Linda Round

ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 5 Grandmothers bonspiel slides through despite weather “Galloping Gourmet Grannies” was the theme of the 61st Grandmothers and Over-50 bonspiel. On Jan. 7, two draws of teams enjoyed a day of good curling, good food and great fellowship. Twenty-four teams were registered but due to a terrible snowstorm, five teams were unable to attend. Standby teams of Dianne McKenna and Sylvia Leuszler joined to even out the draws. Lynda Reesor and Nancy Fadar filled in for teams that did not have all of their players. Our LCC proudly hosted in-house teams, along with teams from Aylmer, Ayr, , Chatham, Highland, Ilderton and Ingersoll. Teams from Chatham, Sarnia and St. Thomas cancelled due to poor weather and driving conditions. Draw master Fay Weiler did an outstanding job juggling ice and handling teams who arrived late. She managed to get everyone curling with full teams by contacting WDS curlers to fill in where required. The event was convened by Nellie Haig. The Ilderton rink of Linda McKnight, Lynn Baker, Alison Muirhead and Linda Clark won the first draw. Brantford’s team of Kathy Wilson, Nancy Gowing, Cheryl Staats and Wendy de Villiers won the second draw, as well as the trophy. Thanks to Heather Greenfield, Hollis Wealth, who has been the sponsor of this event for 13 years. Thanks also to the hard working committee of co-convener Marilynne Van Buskirk and draw master Fay Weiler. Helpers did a fantastic job and thanks go to Pat Bell, Sylvia Leuszler, Karen Lowry, Leslie Smith, Kathy Wilson’s Brantford rink won the Grandmothers and Over-50 Cathy Townsend and Jeanette Walker. Thanks bonspiel last month at the LCC. From left to right are bonspiel also to the LCC staff of Doug Petch, Barb sponsor Heather Greenfield, Kathy Wilson, third Nancy Colbourn, Kim Elsdon, Don Lowry (interim Gowing, second Cheryl Staats, lead Wendy de Villiers and manager) and the ice maker. convenor Nellie Haig. The six-week Goldline-sponsored event, convened by Fay Weiler and Sherry Chambers, wrapped up on Jan, 20, with 40 curlers participating. It finished in a nail-biter going to the last rock with Jan Murray’s team of Darlene ten Haaf, Joanne Diehl and Lise Tranmer in first place. In second place was the team of Cindy Thom, Rose Kuchynski, Cathy Townsend and Judi Sofalvi. Close behind in third place was team Marj Dudley, with Cheryl Adams, Marilynne Van Buskirk and Joan Bancroft. Punch and angel food cake with fruit and whipped cream was enjoyed by all following the last game. Upcoming events in February include the Nash Jewelers event on Feb. 3 convened by Marilynne Van Buskirk and Lise Tranmer. The event sponsored by Subway begins Feb. 5, convened by Darlene ten Haaf and Pat Boothe. Linda Round will convene the Curl for a Cause Bonspiel on Feb. 11. The Sheila Betkus Two-Day Bonspiel will be held on March 2 and 3, convened by Jean Walmsley. A jitney will be held on March 5. The WDS closing Jan Murray’s rink won the Goldline Event. From left to right are meeting and luncheon will be held on April 1. Murray, Darlene ten Haaf, Joanne Diehl, Lise Tranmer and convenor Fay Weiler. Pam Harrison, WDS Vice-chair

Mann’s rink loses semi-final, after going 3-1 in provincials Dave Mann’s LCC rink had a 3-1 record in the Fairfield Marriott Challenge finals in Trenton and Brighton last month, before losing in the semi-final. The other members of the Mann team are Tyler Wylie, Dave Ross and Bruce Thom. Bruce Thom, director of leagues and OCA

ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 6 LCC bantam boys ousted in regionals, but pleased with progress Skip Nathan Torrence’s LCC bantam boys team made it through the OCA zones at Chatham before losing out in the regionals at Ridgetown on Jan. 24. After winning two of their three games in the zones, the Torrence rink split their first two games at the regionals, losing the opener 8-6 but rebounding in the second game to win 6-5. They were eliminated when they lost their next game. “The boys are pleased with the improvements that they have made in their skills to get them to this level,” coach Jennifer Cuddie said. Torrence’s teammates include third Aaron Wyville, second Joseph Clements and lead Scott Thompson. Cuddie said the four teammates have all been members of LCC since Little Rocks age. Torrence, Thompson and Wyville are currently playing in the secondary school league. There is no The LCC bantam boys team that made it to the regionals team at Clements’ school. Thompson will be eligible for before bowing out consists of (from left to right) skip bantams again next season, while the other boys will move Nathan Torrence, lead Scott Thompson, second Joseph on to junior men's competition. Clements and third Aaron Wyville. The OCA playdowns aren’t over for Torrence, who will skip the LCC’s mixed bantam team in the zones at the Sarnia Golf and Country Club on Feb. 21-22. Other members of the team are third Gabrielle Mcsloy, second Hunter Csetri and lead Laura George. Cuddie will also coach this team. Bruce Thom, director of leagues and OCA

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ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 7 Teasdale league splits ranks Pergau, McFarlane rinks on top for second half of season of Winexpert first round-robin This year the Winexpert league for senior men consists of Rinks skipped by Dave Mann, Ron McLennan, Dave Weber, 11 teams, which are playing a double round-robin, followed Bob Freel, Paul Pergau and Chuck Townsend were the top by a final ladder game. six teams in the first half of the Teasdale league season. At Five points are awarded for a win, three for a tie and one the midway point of the season, the league splits into two for a loss. Dollars are paid out at the end of the season sections, with the top six teams competing for the Teasdale based on your total accumulated points. plaque and the other five playing for the Challenge prize. After the first round-robin, three teams have risen to the The first half of the season ended on Jan. 15 after a full top. Paul Pergau (with Ted Smith, Doug Wilson, Gord round-robin of 11 games, as well as a fun game of Skins on Browne and Marty Holmes), are first with 42 points, tied Dec. 18. with Bill McFarlane (with Terry Crawford, Bill McIntyre, Bob Kerwin and Ron McLennan, Convenors Larry Round and Peter Askey), who lost to Pergau. They are followed by Cam Murray (with Dave Weber, Stan Smith and Bruce Thom,) with 38 points. Please be sure to visit our Ilderton Sweepers thank LCC sponsor, Winexpert, for all your wine-making needs. for hosting Special Olympics Stan Smith, Convenor On March 29, the London Curling Club was so generous in offering ice time for the Special Olympics curling Novices slide into New Year competition. This lovely two-floor facility was perfect for a busy day of competition, renewing old and meeting new friends. The fact it was a generous donation made the event at free clinic on LCC ice so special. This event advanced two Ilderton teams to the Saturday, Jan. 3, was our annual free Learn-to-Curl Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games Jan. 30-31 in North evening at the London Curling Club. There was lots of Bay. This happened because of the London Curling Club’s interest and as usual we could not accommodate all of generosity. Ice time was not to be found due to the end of them. Hopefully we can provide another opportunity for season and most clubs had closed down for the season. them to try out the game. Several club members helped us with the seeding process The ice inside was a lot friendlier than the ice outside that and Rose Geraghty had our backs as she always does. The evening. Dan Neeb and 10 other coaches provided an hour club welcomed us with arms and we truly appreciated of instruction before freeing the newbies to join their friends it. We hope that those that attended this event are more for a fun game. We had 37 new curlers and seven club knowledgeable about Special Olympics curling and what we members participate. are about. London Special Olympics involves 22 sports and There were a few spills, none serious, a few thrills, first-time almost 400 participants. We have many volunteers and takeouts and a lot of laughter. A big thank-you to all the without them these events would not be possible. coaches who share their passion for the game. I am sure With appreciation from the coaches and the Ilderton that the opportunity to enjoy the LCC will lead to more Sweepers, people trying out Learn to Curl on Tuesday night. If you Dee Hoevenaars, know someone who missed the clinic, encourage them to come and try Tuesday night. The first two nights are free. Curling Sports manager, Ilderton Sweepers Pat Boothe, Skills and Development

ROCK TALK – February 2015 Page 8 Nucleus of local curlers makes up for absence of Glenn Howard’s failure to qualify for the curling championship this week in Dorchester cost the host committee the box-office appeal of one of the biggest names in the sport. But they did get Howard’s son, Scott, who is playing lead for ’s rink, representing the Fenelon Falls Curling Club. Probably just as important as marquee players in attracting fans is a strong nucleus of local players. The host Ingersoll District Curling Club hit pay dirt in that department. Among the local players are: Kean, originally from nearby Innerkip; Travis Fanset of Tillsonburg, throwing third stones for ’s Annandale Golf & Curling Club rink; Craig Van Ymeren, third for skip and representing Van Ymeren’s home club, the St. Thomas CC; Sarnians Mark and , third and lead respectively on ’s defending Ontario championship rink from the Glendale Golf and Country Club; long-time Ilderton curler Jake Higgs, throwing lead rocks for Ron Rumfeldt’s CC rink; Aaron Squires, who skipped a St. Thomas rink to the Ontario junior championship two years ago and is skipping a Kitchener-Waterloo Granite Club rink in this Tankard; and John Steski, formerly from Sarnia, who is playing lead for Colin Dow’s Huntley CC rink. Howard had won the Tankard and with it a ticket to the Brier for eight successive years before losing last year’s final in to Balsdon. The veteran skip’s attempt to qualify this year ended when he lost in the Challenge Round. The absence of Howard leaves the door wide open. One of contenders is likely to be John Epping, who has been close to breaking through for a few years now. Epping formed a new rink late last season, when he was joined by Travis Fanset, and . They had formerly curled with Mark Kean. Kean, now skipping Matt Camm, and , also has a shot at winning a Brier berth. The Tankard, being held at the Flight Exec Centre in Dorchester, wraps up Feb. 8. Burt Dowsett

Ontario Tankard 2015 rosters (Curlers are listed in order from skip to lead) Listowel Curling Club (team 1): Jon St. Denis, Chris Ciasnocha, Mike Aprile, Shawn Cottrill Annandale Golf & Curling Club (team 2): John Epping, Travis Fanset, Patrick Janssen, Timothy March St. Thomas Curling Club (team 3): Joe Frans, Craig Van Ymeren, Bowie Abbis-Mills, Jeff Gorda Fenelon Falls Curling Club (team 4): Mark Kean, Matt Camm, David Mathers, Scott Howard (alternate ) St. George's Golf & Country Club (team 5): Peter Corner, Graeme McCarrel, Codey Maus, Craig Kochan (alternate ) Markdale Golf & Curling Club (team 6): Cory Heggestad, Dylan Tippin, Brandon Tippin, Simon Barrick Glendale Golf & Country Club (team 7): Greg Balsdon, , Tyler Morgan, Steve Bice Guelph Curling Club (team 8): Ron Rumfeldt, , Brad Kidd, Jake Higgs RCMP Curling Club (team 9): Ian Macaulay, Steve Allen, Rick Allen, Barry Conrad Huntley Curling Club (team 10): Colin Dow, Ritchie Gillan, Bret Lyon-Hatcher, John Steski Kitchener-Waterloo Granite Club (team 11): Aaron Squires, Matt Mapletoft, Spencer Nuttall, Fraser Reid