Kearney Named to Friendship Award

Nugget Column #17 – Tuesday January 27th, 2015

This week the 36th annual Masters Bonspiel is being hosted by the Senior Men’s Section of the North Bay Granite Club.

The event’s objective is focused on “good fellowship and recreation for men 60 years of age”. Rudy Steski, a well-known Northern Ontario curler, spearheaded the inaugural event in 1980 and to this day it remains a staple of the club’s calendar.

From January 26th – 28th twenty-two teams will compete for the Rudy Steski Memorial Trophy (awarded to the winner of the A event), and the Gerry Lynett Memorial Award (awarded to the winner of the B event).

At tonight’s banquet a special someone near and dear to curling in our community will received the Milt Colyer Friendship Award, which is presented to a long time senior member who has provided valuable and extensive service to the Senior Men’s Curling Section and to the Granite Club and has not curled for a minimum of one curling season.

Wally Kearney began curling in 1968 at the CFB Curling Club and has curled for over 45 years. When the Industrial Curling League moved to the Granite Club, Wally came with it and helped coordinate the schedule along with Marcel Lefebvre. At the Granite Club he curled in the Men’s, Mixed, and Senior sections. He never hesitated to volunteer whenever and wherever he was needed which included serving as bartender. Wally was often seen helping Danny Hughes or Bruno Bin with ice maintenance.

While on the topic of old guys – Mark Brown, Keith Furevick, Luc Gelinas, and Gary McKnight will challenge the NOCA Senior Men’s Region 5 playdown this weekend, January 30th – February 1st, at the Sudbury Curling Club.

The North Bay rink will face Team Fraser from Sturgeon Falls, Team Munro of the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club, and defending champions Team Gordon who are representing the Sudbury Curling Club. Three of four teams will advance to provincials in Longlac, February 18 – 23.

The M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships are in progress this week and North Bay curlers have a vested interest seeing as Granite Club member Connor Lawes is participating as second for Team Northern Ontario. The team skipped by Tanner Horgan of Sudbury is currently sitting at 1-3 with much of the event still to come. Follow the team at curling.ca

On January 30th and 31st the Granite Club will host sixteen curling teams as part of the Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games. Many thanks are owed to Karen Cobb, Patti Callahan, Mike Callahan, Cathy McCallum and their committee charged with organizing such a laborious event. Admission is free for curling and all other competitions taking place throughout the city.

Congratulations to four more provincial ladies’ champions, who this past weekend, earned their place in the 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts: Ontario – Julie Hastings, British Colombia – Patti Knezevic, Alberta – Val Sweeting, and Manitoba – Jennifer Jones.

The Canadian Women’s Curling Championships get underway February 14 – 22 in Moose Jaw, Sakatchewan.

Bobby Ray General Manager North Bay Granite Club