Riley Masters Werenich in Brier Fina
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Monday, March 12,1984 — 9 s p o r t s Mark Allan, sports editor. 562*2441. Thr C itiz e n MANITOBA RINK TO SILVER BROOM Riley masters Werenich in Brier fina VICTORIA (CP) — Three times lucky was not an ap Dobson of New Brunswick and Gary Bryden of Sasbeen intimidated by more experienced teams such as plicable adage Sunday for Ed Werenich. katchewan, then eliminated Alberta’s Ed Lukowich in a Werenich’s. The veteran Ontario skip was looking for his first vic semi-final Saturday. “ I’m really looking forward to Duluth. It’ll probably tory in three meetings this year against Mike Riley’s Riley beat Werenich in a cashspiel earlier in the sea be the first time we’ve gone into a tournament as fa Manitoba kingpins. son and won 7-4 in their round-robin play here. vorites. It wasn’t to be as the veteran Winnipeg skip directed Werenich, 35, a Toronto fireman, looked up at Riley “ I don’t know how that will affect us. We weren’t the a 7-4 assault of the Werenich team from Toronto to winduring the closing ceremony and warned gooid-natured-favorites here. We weren’t the favorites from the begin the province’s 22nd Canadian men’s curling championly it wouldn’t happen a fourth time. ning because we’re a first-year team. But we always ship. He won’t get another opportunity to meet the Winknew if we continued playing the way we were we’d be Urged on by 500 Manitobans in the 4,500-seat Memorinipeg team this year. Riley has no more big games for right up there.” al Arena, among them three planeloads from the Bran his crew until the world championship in Duluth, Minn., Riley said being a darkhorse entry at the start of the don district, Riley and his teammates took the advan April 2 to 8. week didn’t hurt his team. tage early and never let the defending Labatt Brier and “ We’ll go out and throw a few rocks, but no more big“ It’s a nice feeling to be in the background. A ll the world champions off the hook. games,” said the 40-year-old investment counsellor. attention was on everybody else.” The little-known Winnipeg rink, which included third Reminded that the last two Manitoba rinks to go to While many of the skips anticipated Riley’s rink Brian Toews, second John Helston and lead Russ Woo-the world championships — Kerry Burtnyk in 1981 and would be at a disadvantage against the semi-final win key, came quietly out of the pack midway through the Barry Fry in 1979 — had flopped, Riley said their re ner, who had played on the centre ice sheet Saturday, Mike Riley (centre) and teammate John Helston 12-rink, round-robin competition to clinch first placesults at didn’t put any pressure on him. Riley said the rest day didn’t hurt his team mentally or raise their brooms in triumph as Ed Werenich the end of 15 draws Friday afternoon. “ They didn’t win it,” he admitted. “ This time maybe physically. watches mournfully. Werenich stumbled through a 1-3 start to win nine ofwe’ll win it.” “ One day of not playing and relaxing did us more his next 10 games, including the playoffs. He squeaked Riley said the Manitoban champs have played with good than anything else. When you get down to the finalWerenich said his rink, on the basis of its play this into the tiebreaker round with a 7-4 record, beat Am ie confidence all year, one of the reasons they haven’t it’s a 50-50 chance of winning. week, didn’t deserve to be in the championship game. Handball title on special day by MARK ALLAN Duncan Werbecky battled back Sports editor from a 9-5 deficit in a tiebreaker to A day often filled with trauma be outlast Kevin Conway of New West came a day of triumph Sunday for minster 11-9 in the B final. Werbe Danny Thibert at the B.C. closed cky, ecstatic with his championship, handball championships. has been playing handball only a Playing at the Prince George YM- couple of years. YWCA on his 30th birthday, the Gerry Peckham downed Rod Koh- fourth-seeded Thibert overcame fel len in the all-Prince George B conso low Vancouverite Jeff Wilson 19-21,lation. 21-11,11-7 to win the men’s open sin Defending Canadian masters gles championship. The lanky cham champion Dave Ross of New West pion built an 8-1 lead in the tiebreakminster took Bob Wilson in the 40- er and held on against the shorter and-older division, with Peter Wilson, his junior by 10 years. Bryant of New Westminster downing Thibert, who upset defending Dave Jenkins of Prince George in champion and number one seedthe consolation. Keith Gracey of New Westminster In C, Brian Lanz of New Westmin 11-7 in a semi-final tiebreaker Satur ster beat Phil Delgiglio of North day, almost didn’t enter singles. He Vancouver and Kelly Smith of North originally intended to enter onlyVancouver defeated Bob Gibb of open doubles to defend the title he Williams Lake in the consolation. and partner Larry Mamoser won Ian Ross of New Westminster beat last year. Stan Saki in the 15-and-younger jun Mamoser and Thibert were elimi ior final, with Jim Harrington win nated from doubles Sunday morningning the consolation. Tyler Hamel and Thibert subsequently was de took the 13-and-younger title by de lighted he’d entered singles, an feating Kirby Fisher and Tim Dunk- event he really started to feel he ley won the consolation. could win when he toppled Gracey. Vicki Brown of North Vancouver “ After beating Keith I figured I beat was the women’s champion, with the number one player in the tourDebbie Carmichael runner-up and nament.” Janet Doknick the consolation win ner. His wins against Wilson and the Stuart Antonenko got the novice ti 24-year-old Gracey were his firs t tle with a win against Steve Syoie against them in tournament playand Richard Ryan downed Hank and Thibert admits he was more de Baker in the consolation. termined than usual, because of his A1 Husband and Stan Jontz de relatively advanced age. “ These feated George Guy and Lloyd Clav kids are so young and this might befor the golden masters title, ah my last chance.” event that was held largely for “ You can’t win them a ll” and “ he Jontz’ benefit. A Victoria resident (Thibert) was the better player now, Jontz is credited with starting yesterday (Saturday)” were some of handball in Prince George. Gracey’s comments about his semi B— — — — MB— M—8MTTTTWMiana) final upset loss. Gracey has won three provincial singles champion ships, including last year. Witherspoon Jim G riffin of Vancouver won the open consolation title. wins but loses Bill Johnson (centre) celebrates his win, while runner-up Helmet Hoeflehner (left) of Austria and third-place Pirmin Zurbriggen Wilsonof didn’t do any better in the LAS VEGAS (AP) — Boxer Tim Switzerland spectate. open doubles final as he and his faWitherspoon spent some expensive ther Bob fell 21-12, 21-16 to George time in the ring Friday night while Sauve of Prince George and Craighe was winning the world heavy Kulch of Vancouver. The consolation weight boxing championship. was won by Mel Brown of North Metro police Lieut. Wilbur Jack Acrobatic Johnson wins at Whistler Vancouver and Bill Adams of North son said while Witherspoon was Vancouver. WHISTLER, B.C. (CP) - B ill Johnson has be out and won three in a row like I have.” course. Podborski ended his career with eight Meanwhile, another Prince George fighting Greg Page, someone bur come America’s hero in downhill ski racing. Johnson, the 1984 Olympic champion, won Worldhis Cup victories and the 1982 World Cupplayer qualified to go to the Canaglarized his hotel room and made off The brash 23-year-old from Van Nuys, Calif., third World Cup downhill of the season with a downhill championship. dian championships in Quebec Citywith $31,000 worth of jewelry. likes to have fun and put on a show for spectac-time o f two minutes, 2.85 seconds. Johnson hadGary Athans of Kelowna who finished 11th a in May. tors. earlier won at Wengen, Switzerland, and lastweek earlier at Aspen, was a disappointed 34th at “ I felt good all the way down even though I wasweekend at Aspen, Colo. Whistler in 2:07.45. doing a few acrobatics off the bumps,” JohnsonHe was well ahead of second-place Hemlut Hoe Paul Boivin of Montreal, who fell during the said Sunday after winning his second straightflehner of Austria in 2:03.17 and Pirmin Zubrigginfirst training run, was the third-best Canadian by race at the Molson World Downhill on Whistler of Switzerland in 2:03.18. finishing 25th in 2:06.25. Chris Kent of Calgary Mountain. was 28th in 2:06.63, Felix Belczyk of Castlegar Brooker, with two second-place World Cup fin was 33rd in 2:07.27 and Robin MacLeish of Kana- m “ I kept it together and kept the skis rolling. Iishes this season, was looking to end his injury- ta, Ont., was 35th in 2:07.55. V. was pretty loose. I was putting on a world showplagued season with a victory when he started Peter Mueller of Switzerland, who won a World and having some fun.” from the number one position.