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Nugget Column #11 – Tuesday December 1st, 2015
North Bay’s 10th annual senior open bonspiel sponsored by Assante Wealth Management at 101 McIntyre was a roaring success with a growing number of teams from across the province taking part.
Defending champions, Team Munro, maneuvered their way back to Sunday however would not have to return to the ice after lunch with a championship final featuring Team Rob Gordon of Sudbury and Team Larry Pallot of Sault Ste. Marie.
Bonspiel Chairman, Bob Budreau, says that the high quality of play in the final game was indicative of the great curling displayed throughout the weekend and that when it came down to last rock, in the last end, between the last two undefeated teams, a precise hit and stick was executed by two-time Northern Ontario men’s champion to claim the victory.
The champions: Rob Gordon, Ron Henderson, Dion Dumontelle, and Doug Hong also represented the Northern Ontario Curling Association at the 2012 and 2014 Canadian Seniors.
In the “B” Division Michael Venhola, Kathleen Venhola, Madeline Makowiczuk, and Bernie Stockerman defeated Team Mel Cox.
In the “C” Division Rick Miller, Jim Lisk, Vince Pugliese, and Don Peterson defeated Team Real Gagnon.
And In the “D” Division Peter Canning, Dave Bondett, Bob Budreau, and Tom Boyd defeated Team Moe Laporte.
(View all event winners here.)
The committee wishes to thank all the teams, volunteers, staff, and others who contributed to the success of this year’s bonspiel and hope to see all competitors return in 2016.
Checking in with local bantam and junior women’s curler, Kate Sherry, we learnt that her rink, Team Smith of the Sudbury Curling Club, went undefeated at their regional playdown event this weekend to qualify for Junior Provincials is Sioux Lookout January 2nd – 6th, 2016.
Smith defeated last year’s champion Krysta Burns twice by scores of 7-4 and 8-7 in addition to logging wins over Team Daly and Team Ouelett. With Sherry and teammates ever improving, this team looks poised to win their first provincial championship and represent Northern Ontario at the Canadian Juniors in Stratford, ON.
But before all of this unfolds, Sherry’s bantam team will head to Orillia this weekend to playoff against Southern Ontario’s bantam champion and decide who will represent all of Ontario at the U18 World Championships in Alberta come the New Year.
Our local men’s team, Team Jeff Brown, was away for their second Ontario Curling Tour event of the season this past weekend in Port Perry. Brown with Gavan Jamieson, Steve Decary, and Bobby Ray picked up one more win than their previous outing and are now looking forward to their first playdown event January 7th – 10th in Thunder Bay. Should they qualify at either of their next two events, the team will compete in the Traveler’s Men’s Provincials February 10th – 14th at the North Bay Granite Club; an event that will also feature Olympic Gold Medalist, Team Brad Jacobs.
You can purchase your full event tickets in time for the holiday season by calling the club at 705-472-6740. Passes are $80.
Bobby Ray General Manager North Bay Granite Club