Eye Opener March 20th

Saturday, March 20, 2010

It’s Simply

A Current affair

Swift Current

Issue 1 – Saturday, March 20, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association.

Welcomes th The Credit Union i-plex opens its doors to the world at noon today for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship – marking the start of an exciting week of action.

The colourful event features all 12 teams dressed in official uniforms,

Young field, clear favourites... a few surprises?

pro prid for at 2

The to pro for

Honorary Team Hosts Canada

Dan Corfield - Rich

China

Shannon Doka - Sa

Denmark

Jeff Parsons - Cypr

Germany

Zane Hansen - Sas

Japan

David Cornelius - P

Latvia

Stuart Dyrland - Pi

Norway

Monte Williams - S

Russia

Amy Cudmore - P

Scotland

Ron Heeg - Pharm

Sweden

Alden Lodoen - S

Switzerland

Trish Jordan - Mon

United States

Susan Woods - Inn

Hit Us With Your

Picture Perfect is the “fan’s eye” view from capturing your favourite memories from th them in… they may just show up in The Pa

In a very young field, two clear favourites have emerged – Canada’s Jennifer Jones and China’s Bingyu Wang. Wang is the defending champion; Jones won the title two years ago in Vernon. There remains plenty of potential for upsets in Swift Current with half the field fresh off of the Olympics.

Picture Perfe Sponsor of the day

Email pictures to: partylinepics@cu

(Please note: Cameraphone images may not be of suitable

your guide to what’s goin’ on

It’s brand new for the 2010 curling season - your guide to what’s goin’ on at all the Season of Champions events. Check out The Party Line on page 9 and make sure you don’t miss a second of the fun!

T 2 S h P st n

Inexperienced field yes, but plenty of potential

Eye Opener

Page 2

Two clear faves, but...

LARRY WOOD Tankard Times Editor

S

upposedly, also purportedly, the Ford World women’s curling championship field departing the blocks today at the Credit Union Iplex is inferior to that which gathered last month in Vancouver to chase Olympic medals.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Sweden’s two-time gold medallist Anette Norberg isn’t on hand.

Switzerland’s Mirjam Ott, a double Olympic silver medallist who failed to grab a disk at Vancouver, is another absentee.

Ditto Debbie McCormick of Madison, Wis., and her U.S. Olympic team which pulled a fast fade at the latest Games.

Oh yes, and then there isn’t Canada’s Cheryl Bernard, the silver-medal winner who never has qualified for a world championship, including this one.

If experience is a key, though, Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones will direct Team Canada for the third straight Worlds and the fourth in the last six years. She’s back with her 2008 champion team of Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer and Dawn Askin intact.

Some are suggesting Jones stands a good chance to stampede through this field.

Probably not.

Defending world champion Bingyu (call me Betty) Wang of China is on hand, direct from an Olympic bronze-medal (7-and-4) effort and a bonspiel last weekend in Morris, Man. “We are tired,” Wang admitted on Friday following practice.

“But we are here and we will do our best. We hope we can play well here.”

“Yes, we may be world cham-

Chinese skip and defending champ Bingyu Wang pions but we are still a young team and there are a lot of things about the game we don’t know.”

Wang said the Olympic Games was a new experience for her team.

“It will help us grow,” she said.

Something else about the Chinese threat at the Iplex. The team is comfortable playing in Canada. It’s like a second home because the Chinese compete here most of the season and have a Canadian coach in Dan Rafael of Montreal.

“We feel comfortable here because we know so many people and they are so friendly,” said Wang. “There are so many great

curlers and so many big games in Canada. And our teacher is a great coach from Canada who teaches us so many things we don’t know. Some little things and some mental things.”

The key to defending the title, said Wang, will be “teamwork”.

“We will have to try everything and not be afraid,” she said.

Other Olympians stepping into the Iplex hacks include Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont (Angelina Jensen skipping), who booted Jones out the exit door a year ago in the bronze-medal tiff at Gangneung, Korea, but was 4-5 at Vancouver; Japan’s Moe Meguro (3-6), Russia’s youth-

ful Liudmila Privivkova team of Moscow (3-6) who won the 2006 world junior title, German veteran and former world champion and Olympic demo gold-medallist Andrea Schoepp of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (3-6) who is playing in her 17th world championship, and rocketlaunching Scottish youngster Eve Muirhead (3-6) of Dunkeld.

Winner of the world junior title the last three years, two of them as skip, the 19-year-old Muirhead isn’t fazed by knocking heads with relative long-in-the-tooth strategists.

“I’m getting lots of experience I can bank,” admitted Muirhead

on Friday.

“But I think I’ve been around long enough to know you can’t go out there shivering-wreck scared, it’s not going to get you anywhere. You just have to relax and enjoy it. I think I’ve handled the pressure pretty well.

“All in all, it (the Olympics) didn’t go that well and I was initially annoyed, but if you sit back and look at the big picture, you realize you have to know how to win and how to lose. It’s something that will come with time.”

Please see WOOD, Page 3

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Page 3

WOOD From Page 3

Teams look to improve on Olympics Maybe even this week. There’s a definite feeling some of these teams will be looking to improve their lot of so-so Olympic performances. In some European countries, you understand, poor results lead to disappearing acts.

“I don’t think a lot of the teams had a good Olympic showing so I’m assuming that they’re all going to be up and ready to play well,” Canada third Cathy OvertonClapham told Jim Bender of Sun Media. “And they all like playing in Canada so, we’re going to have our hands full.”

Some of the rookie skips in the field really are less-than-rookies, too.

Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher won a silver medal at the 2006 Olympics playing third for Mirjam Ott. Since taking over her own team, she’s been around the top of the heap in her own bailiwick. And the betting is her unit won’t fare any worse than her old skip at Vancouver who lost the bronze-medal tilt but still struggled mightily throughout.

Feltscher is in the Worlds field because of her win in the Swiss championship. Ott was unable to compete in her national event due to her participation in the Olympics.

“We have been the No. 2 team in Switzerland all year,” said Feltscher. “We just hope we can win a medal but, if not, this participation will help us in the future.”

Erika Brown of the U.S. has won silver at the Worlds, playing third for Lisa Schoeneberg in 1996. This will be Brown’s first Ford Worlds skipping assignment but she’s no stranger to teeheads.

Norway’s Linn Githmark isn’t new to the skipping position, either. She directed the 2004 world junior champ.

Sweden’s 22-year-old Cecilia Ostlund of Karlstad won silver at the world junior in 2008, losing the final to Muirhead.

Latvia’s Iveta Stasa-Sarsune is the one blatant rookie in the field.

In fact, Lativa never before has fielded a team in a world curling championship — men’s, women’s or junior.

“It’s never a weaker event,” Canadian second Jill Officer told Sun Media. “The teams are representing their countries for a reason and I think half the field is Olympic teams and the other half, aside from maybe Latvia, are teams with international experience. So, it’s going to be tough, regardless.”

Skip Jones joined the fourth estate for the Olympics, reporting for Yahoo.com.

In that role, she was able to scout some of the teams she’ll be facing this week.

Germany’s Andrea Schoepp is competing in her 17th World Championship.

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Eye Opener

Page 4

Facts and figures from the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship

ut the Mouse in your House.

WHERE Credit Union Iplex, Swift Current, SK., Seating capacity, 2,400.

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SPONSOR Ford Motor Company of Canada is title sponsor. Monsanto Canada Inc., is presenting sponsor.

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HISTORY The World women’s championship began in 1979 in Perth, Scotland, and has been held every year since. This will be the 31st edition of the event, which was last previously held in Saskatchewan at Moose Jaw in 1983.

• Parental Controls • E-mail Virus Scanning • Spam Filtering • Anytime Help Desk Support • Bundle Savings To sign up or for more information on our Internet packages and promotions, visit a SaskTel Authorized Dealer, SaskTel Store, sasktel.com or call 1-800-SASKTEL (1-800-727-5835).

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COMPETITION There will be 12 teams, one from each of the 12 qualifying nations. A round-robin preliminary format will be followed by a four-team Page playoff competition where the first-place team plays the second-place team, and the third-place team plays the fourth-place team. The winner of the 1 vs. 2 will advance directly to the championship final. A semifinal will be played between the loser of the 1 vs. 2 playoff match and the winner of the 3 vs. 4 playoff match. The winner of the semifinal meets the winner of the 1 vs. 2 playoff match in Sunday’s (March 28) final.

TROPHY The Ford Women’s Curling Championship Trophy EVENTS Saturday, March 20: Opening ceremonies, 12 noon; Draw One, 2 p.m., Draw Two, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 21: Draws at 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 7 p.m.

Monday-Friday, March 22-26: Draws at 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 26: Draws will depend on the necessity of tiebreakers. Either the Page One-Two playoff match or Page Three-Four playoff match will be played at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 27: Either the Page Three-Four playoff match or Page One-Two playoff match will be played at 12 noon; Semi-final match at 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 28: Bronze-medal match at 10 a.m. World final match at 3 p.m.

KEITH’S PATCH The Keith’s Patch will open at 11 a.m. through 1 a.m. from Saturday, March 20 through Saturday, March 27, and from 11 a.m. through 12 midnight on Sunday, March 28.

Live bands appearing during

the week: Bakersfield, Chevelles, The Hickies, Men Without Shame, Vern Michaels Band, Wonderland.

TELEVISION COVERAGE TSN will provide comprehensive coverage of the Ford Worlds including all matches involving Team Canada, the Page playoffs, semi-final and final. Coverage begins Saturday, March 20 at 7 p.m. CT as Canada takes on Sweden.

THE INTERNET All editions of the Eye Opener, plus drawby-draw reports, results and all other Ford Worlds Brier information will be available visually at www.curling.ca or www.seasonofchampions.ca

Saturday, March 20, 2010

CITYofSC_EyeOpener_DAY1.pdf

1/14/10

5:05:45 PM

U.S. Skip Erika Brown hails from Wisconsin but lives in Oakville, Ont. She makes her return to international curling as a skip for the first time.

A long journey Erika Brown makes her international comeback in Swift Current

Larry Wood

The Eye Opener

Erika Brown is making a curling comeback of sorts.

The Madison, Wis., product who now resides in Oakville, Ont., skipped in five world junior championships back (1989-1994) and played third in her first international tournament, circa 1988.

On Saturday, she’ll step on the ice at the Credit Union Iplex and skip her first U.S. champion team in the Ford Women’s Worlds.

Brown has played third five times in the Worlds, but hasn’t skipped since junior days. She was with Lisa Schoeneberg in 1995 and 1996 when the Yanks finished runnerup to Marilyn Bodogh, then backed up Patti Lank in three Worlds (1999, 2002, 2004).

Earlier this month, she directed her current team of Nina Spatola, Ann Swisshelm and Laura Hallisey to a skin-crawling 5-4 extra-end victory over her old skip Lank in the final of the U.S. Nationals at Kalamazoo, Mich.

Hence Brown’s return to the Worlds for the first time since ’04.

Continued on Page 6

PHARMASAVE_EyeOpener_DAY-1-5-9.pdf

1/14/10

4:42:18 PM

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Eye Opener

Page 6

inn the house Innovation Credit Union is a proud gold sponsor of the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship!

Imagine the possibilities. www.innovationcu.ca 778.1700 or 800.381.5502

From Page 5

U.S.A : Brown has 17 nationals to her credit; back for more

A 37-year-old physician’s assistant, Brown played nine seasons in all with Lank and has played in 17 U.S. Nationals.

“My expectation going into the week was that we would meet Patti in the final and it would be a tight game, going 10 or 11 ends,” Brown told Terry Kolesar of Curling U.S.A. “But, to me, it wasn’t really about who we were playing. This (a win) would feel fantastic against anybody.”

Lank’s teams have been runner-up eight times in 16 national championships since 1994. She has won the title four times. Born in Midale, Sask., she also competed in six Canadian provincial championships.

It took Brown five ends to wrestle control of the game away from her former mate with a go-ahead deuce.

“It took that long before we finally took advantage of some opportunities,” said Brown. “We were waiting and waiting. The fifth end was huge. We were happy to be back on top, and to have done something with the hammer.”

After blanking the sixth, Lank eventually was forced to hit for one and tie the count.

Then Brown threw a precise takeout and

remained for an eighth-end single looking at three opposition counters.

Lank’s team was efficient at blanking the ninth end to retain the last-rock advantage heading home in the 10th. But she had to settle for the tying point and Brown was left in the 11th with a partially open hit at the back of the four-foot.

“I could see just about all of it,” said Brown. “I’d thrown that shot a lot. I felt really good about it.”

And she made it.

Brown is also an accomplished golfer; she was Wisconsin State High School champion in 1990 and ’91, was on the University of Wisconsin 1994 Big Ten Championship team, and was twice the City of Madison women’s champion.

Brown is an accomplished golfer as well as a top U.S. curler.

She won her first State junior championship (21 and under) at age 12.

Brown has studied French and Swahili, and holds degrees in political science and women’s studies from the University of Wisconsin. She recently completed graduate school in the physician assistant program at Finch University of Health Sciences.

“My first experience in a curling club,” recalls Brown, “was at eight days old when my mother brought me to the Milwaukee men’s bonspiel to watch my father play.

“He has been my coach since the beginning, and basically taught me everything I know about the game. He has incredible mental focus and is a great motivator.”

Steve Brown is a three-time U.S.A. champion.

“He had me practicing at quite a young age (about 7),” says Brown. “In fact, because I was too small to handle the 42-pound stones we routinely substituted Kleenex boxes and ashtrays which I would toss down the sheet instead.”

Brown’s take on the game: “Curling is a very intense, strategic sport that, like golf, can never be perfected and keeps you coming back for more.”

Friends of the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship Chamber of Commerce Coffee News GES Canada Jet Ice Ltd. Photography By Corla Weins Agtech

Saturday, March 20, 2010

2010 Brier hits a new benchmark

Page 7

Koe/Howard Halifax final on TSN most-watched ever The Eye Opener

While Kevin Koe’s Team Alberta swept away the competition Sunday night, TSN swept up a new audience record as the final of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier became the mostwatched broadcast in tournament history.

Preliminary data from BBM Canada confirmed an average audience of 1.6 million viewers watched Koe win his first Brier title against Glenn Howard’s previously undefeated Team Ontario in an exciting extra-end finish.

This marks the highest audience ever for a non-Olympic Games curling broadcast on Canadian television. Last year’s final attracted an average audience of 873,000 viewers.

Audience levels for the final peaked at 2.5 million viewers at 10:11 p.m. ET, as Koe’s impressive hit-and-roll shot in the dramatic 10th end forced Howard to draw for one point with the hammer, tying the game at five points apiece and forcing an extra end.

Overall audiences for the Brier on TSN averaged 631,000 viewers, a 42 per cent increase compared to last year’s average. In total, TSN delivered 66 hours of Brier coverage live from Halifax.

TSN coverage also set records at the Scotties last month in Sault Ste. Marie.

The highest television audience ever recorded in the tournament’s history — an average of 1.2 million viewers —watched Team Canada’s Jennifer Jones win the final.

Overall audiences for 2010 Scotties Tournament Of Hearts on TSN averaged 508,000 viewers, a 27 per cent increase compared to last year’s average. TSN delivered 70 hours of 1.6 million viewers watched Kevin Koe (above) defeat Glenn Howard (above, right) in the Halifax Tim Hortons Brier final. live Scotties coverage.

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The Party Line • Your guide to what’s goin’ on

Page 8

your guide to what’s goin’ on

NC

GO

OD

E1

98 2

Ready to Take on the World!

I ’S TIM N I ES BREW

The Season of Champions is experiencing overwhelming growth and popularity as Canada’s “roaring game” roars more than ever before.

Hundreds of thousands of fans across the country have been drawn to the excitement, drama and strategy of our sport.

They’ve also discovered that curling comes with an incomparable party atmosphere!

The Party Line is a new feature this year… it’s your guide to what’s goin’ on here at the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship. We’ll be bringing it to you every day to keep you on top of all the festivities here in Swift Current.

Keith’s Patch is party central all week long, pulsating with excitement as fans, volunteers – and at times, even the competitors – gather for a roaring celebration.

The Patch features an appetizing array of food and all your favourite beverages. You can dance to the beat of a steady lineup of live entertainers.

Plus, the host MC – Stuart Brown – will be leading the way with all kinds of crazy competitions and games.

So stay tuned to The Party Line and we’ll keep you in touch with every second of the fun!

on stage Sunday, March 21 – The Hickey’s • 11:30 pm Monday, March 22 – Vern Michaels Band • 10:30 pm Tuesday, March 23 – Vern Michaels Band • 10:30 pm Wednesday, March 24 – Bakersfield • 10:30 pm Thursday, March 25 – Wonderland • 10:30 pm Friday, March 26 – The Chevelles • 10:30 pm Saturday, March 27 – The Chevelles • 3:00 pm & 10:30 pm Sunday, March 28 – Bakersfield • 8:30 pm

Take a

Free Ride

It all happens in Keith’s Patch – and at 10:30 pm, the party really starts rockin’ when Men Without Shame take over the stage with a performance that keeps the curling crowds on their feet all night long.

One of Saskatchewan’s most renowned cover bands, Men Without Shame has solidified a place as one of the “Legends of the Patch”. The group has played in front of appreciative audiences at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier. This year they’re here in Swift Current to take on the “World’s”!

Men Without Shame is noted for their highly polished delivery and outlandish stage presence. Decked out in classic bell bottoms and platform shoes, these guys know what entertainment is all about.

If you don’t think they like to have fun, just check out their names… Mike “Stinky” B, Chris “Speedy” Smith, Irv “Pappy” Fines, Niel “Takin’ the R outta Drum” K and Carey “Shake It Twice” Brears. And, for many gigs they’re joined on stage by a giant dancing Gumby.

Get ready for the ultimate 70’s stage show when Men Without Shame kick off a wonderful week in Keith’s Patch!

Complementary shuttle buses - provided by Tim Hortons and the City of Swift Current - offer transportation between the Credit Union i-plex and destinations throughout the city.

The complete schedule will be at the Information Booth.

Today bus runs begin at the Credit Union i-plex at the bottom of the hour from 10:30 am to 1:00 am

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Page 9

It’s Simply Swift Current

Welcomes the World The Credit Union i-plex opens its doors to the world at noon today for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship – marking the start of an exciting week of action.

The colourful event features all 12 teams dressed in official uniforms,

proudly displaying their national pride. The ceremonies set the stage for the opening draw of competition at 2:00 pm.

The Host Committee extends thanks to Innovation Credit Union for providing the flags and Pharmasave for medical supplies.

Twenty-four young curlers - representing clubs in Swift Current and communities throughout Saskatchewan were selected as Junior Stars through a random draw of applicants.

Today’s feature stars are: Team Scotland • 2:00 pm

Honorary Team Hosts

Kyra Behm, Swift Current Lane Larochelle, Ponteix

Canada

Dan Corfield - Richardson International

Team Canada • 7:00 pm

China

Shannon Doka - SaskEnergy

Bailey Senicar, Vanguard Shane Robertson, Waldeck

Denmark

Jeff Parsons - Cypress Motors

Germany

Zane Hansen - Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority

Japan

David Cornelius - PMA Canada

Latvia

Stuart Dyrland - Pioneer Coop

Norway

Russia

Scotland

Ron Heeg - Pharmasave

Sweden

Alden Lodoen - SGI

Switzerland

United States

The Coolest Competition in Keith’s Patch!

Monte Williams - Sasktel

The competition on the ice at the Credit Union i-plex will be hot all week – in Keith’s Patch it will be extremely cool!

Amy Cudmore - Peller Estates

Cool Curling has become one of the biggest hits of the 2010 Season of Champions, attracting hundred of fans to the Patch to play the tabletop version of the roaring game.

Trish Jordan - Monsanto Canada Susan Woods - Innovation Credit Union

The Cool Curlers will be at it again this week for the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship. It’s great fun with great prizes! So if you think you’ve got what it takes, grab a partner and sign up at the Patch.

The competition gets underway Monday.

Hit Us With Your Best Shots!

Picture Perfect is the “fan’s eye” view from Swift Current. When you’re capturing your favourite memories from the Ford World Women’s, send them in… they may just show up in The Party Line.

The Great Tastes of the Patch

Picture Perfect Email pictures to: partylinepics@curling.ca

Keith’s Patch is the perfect place to enjoy a beverage and a bite. Choose from an appetizing array of menus from our featured food vendors:

Extreme Pita Vern’s Pizza/Extreme Donair Soups n Such Elmwood Golf Club Gramma Bep’s

(Please note: Cameraphone images may not be of suitable quality to reproduce.)

The Pioneer Co-op is privileged to welcome the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championships to Swift Current. Formed in July 1936, Pioneer Co-op has become a fixture in the Swift Current Community.

Pioneer Co-op has grown from a simple service station to a place that will satisfy all your shopping needs. The Pioneer Co-op is locally owned and

controlled by its members. Profit is returned to the members based on patronage. There are two major department stores, which include two service stations and the Marketplace Family Restaurant in the city and 14 rural branches. Please stop by one of our locations while in Swift Current and we would be pleased to assist you.

Sponsor of the Day

Who will wear the crown?

The Eye Opener makes its fearless 2010 Worlds picks

DENMARK

Jennifer Jones: Likes home cooking

This team is young yet it seems to have been around forever.

Knocked Canada off the medal podium last year. Less successful at the Olympics. A tough pick.

Spoilers at best U.S.A.

Brown hasn’t been around for a time, but a new face was needed from below the 49th after that disastrous Olympic debacle. Could be world-beaters, could be a bust.

SWEDEN

Young team showed well at the World Juniors a couple of years ago. But it’s stepping up in class. A bonus: Peja Lindholm is the coach. Stayed tuned.

Don’t overlook . . .

JAPAN

Came within a hair of the medals at Vernon. Seems to have progressed in reverse since then. Meguro, though, can be a redhot shooter.

GERMANY

Schoepp has been to so many of these events her eyes must be glazing over. She won one, too, but it was a long time ago.

Team a nice mix of experience and youth.

Enjoying the experience NORWAY

Former world junior champ Githmark is back after an absence. It’s likely this team will need a race . . . or maybe three

RUSSIA

Once a world junior champ and a promising entity, this group has been a shambles of late with confused team members being shuffled position-toposition at will.

LATVIA

New kids on the block never have competed at this level and likely will be in for a rude awakening.

Eye Opener

Playoff bound . . .

CANADA

St. Vital Curling Club, Winnipeg Skip: Jennifer Jones; Third: Cathy Overton-Clapham; Second: Jill Officer; Lead: Dawn Askin.

The skinny: Jones likes to compete for world titles in her home country. Her only previous win was two years ago at Vernon. Following a giant disappointment at the Canadian Olympic trials, Jones rebounded to win another Scotties title.

A follow-up world tiara could conceivably be in the cards.

CHINA

Harbin Curling Club, Harbin Skip: Bingyu Wang; Third: Yin Liu; Second: Qingshuang Yue; Lead: Yan Zhou.

The skinny: Defending world champion experienced a disappointing Olympic Games and still won the bronze medal. This team is capable of running up a big winning streak, even running the table. It will depend on its start this weekend.

SWITZERLAND

Flims PurePower Curling Club, Flims Skip: Binia Feltscher; Third: Corinne Bourquin; Second: Heike Schwaller; Lead: Sandra Ramstein-Attinger.

The skinny: Feltscher played the vice-skip role for veteran Mirjam Ott in an Olympic Games and a previous world championship. She also has taken her team to North American tour events. But the stars will have to align for ultimate success here.

SCOTLAND

Dunkeld Curling Club, Dunkeld.

Skip: Eve Muirhead; Third: Kelly Wood; Second: Lorna Vevers; Lead: Anne Laird The skinny: Muirhead could become known as the female version of Kevin Martin. She throws rockets.

She also has won three world junior titles. But she was unable to harness all that rocket-power at the Olympics.

Maybe now can shake off the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Games just past they must be considered a strong contender.

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Page 10

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Page 11

Time out for Ford World Women’s trivia

Always plan a safe ride home.

The 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship promises to be one of the best parties to ever hit Swift Current. But before you jump into the fun at the various events, make plans for a safe ride home.

Larry Wood

Eye Opener Editor

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Canadian teams have missed the playoffs (top four round-robin finishers) only twice in the 29-year history of the world women’s curling championship. Name the skips of the Canadian teams and the years of the championships.

2. What was Canada’s record that year and where was the championship played?

3. How about Canada’s record in the other failed season and the venue?

4. Who won those world championships (skips and nations).

5. Only three Swiss teams in history ever have won 10 or more games at the world women’s curling championship? Who were the skips, in which years and where?

6. How many wins for each?

7. Name the first skip from any nation to win 11 games at the world women’s championship.

8. Skipping which nation, in which year and where?

9. Who won that championship?

10. Canada has placed fourth in only four world women’s championships.

Who were the skips?

11. In which years and where?

12. Who won those championships.

Answers QofD — Colleen Jones, 1982 and 1999 1. Jones lost a tiebreaker in 1982 to Trine Trulsen of Norway.

2. 6 wins, 5 losses at Geneva, Switzerland.

3. 4 wins, 5 losses in 1999 at Saint John, N.B. 4. Marianne Jorgensen of Denmark won in 1982, Elisabet Gustafson of Sweden won in 1999.

5. Gaby Casanova in 1979 at Perth, Scotland; Erika Mueller in 1983 at Moose Jaw; Mirjam Ott, 2008.

6. Each won 10 games.

7. Cassie (Johnson) Potter 8. U.S.A. in 2005 at Paisley, Scotland.

9. Sweden’s Anette Norberg 10. Penny LaRocque, Colleen Jones, Jennifer Jones (twice).

11. LaRocque in 1983 at Moose Jaw, Colleen Jones in 2002 at Bismarck, N.D.; Jennifer Jones in 2005 at Paisley, Scotland, Jones in 2009 in Gangneung. Korea.

12. Erika Mueller (Switzerland) in 1983, Jackie Lockhart (Scotland) in 2002, Anette Norberg (Sweden) in 2005, Bingyu Wang (China) in 2009.

1. In one of these years, Team Canada lost in a tiebreaker. Which year and who (skip and nation) eliminated Canada from the playoffs?

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It takes

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Eye Opener

Page 12

Sweden’s Cecilia Ostlund

Editor: Larry Wood Associate Editor: Fred Rinne

A Current affair Issue 1 – Saturday, March 20, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association.

Young field, clear favourites... a few surprises?

Photography: Michael Burns, Jr.

is proud to be the official wine supplier of Ford World Women’s Curling 2010

Your Best Shot

In a very young field, two clear favourites have emerged – Canada’s Jennifer Jones and China’s Bingyu Wang. Wang is the defending champion; Jones won the title two years ago in Vernon. There remains plenty of potential for upsets in Swift Current with half the field fresh off of the Olympics.

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The Southwest Booster is the official newspaper and supplier of the “Eye Opener” to the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curlng Championship.

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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Page 13

2010 FORD WORLD WOMEN’S CURLING: THE PLAYING FIELD

St. Vital Curling Club Winnipeg

Canada

Harbin Curling Club Harbin

China

Tarnby Curling Club Tarnby (Copenhagen)

Denmark

Germany

Experience factor — 14 Skip — Jennifer Jones (35-4) 3rd — Cathy OvertonClapham (40-5) 2nd— Jill Officer (34-4) Lead — Dawn Askin (293) Alternate — Jennifer Clark-Rouire (34-3).

Coach — Janet Arnott Last year’s record: Jennifer Jones, Winnipeg 9-4, finished fourth.

Experience factor — 20 Skip — Bingyu Wang (25-6) 3rd — Yin Liu (28-6) 2nd— Qingshuang Yue (24-6) Lead — Yan Zhou (27-6) Alternate — Xindi Zang (25-1).

Coach — Dan Rafael, Weidong Tan Last year’s record: Bingyu Wang, 12-1, finished first.

Experience factor — 22 Skip (second rock) — Angelina Jensen (36-6) 3rd (fourth rock)— Madeleine Dupont (22-7) 2nd (third rock) — Denise Dupont (25-8) Lead — Camilla Jensen (27-5) Alternate — Ivana Bratic (21-1).

Coach — Renee Sonnenberg Last year’s record: Angelina Jensen, Tarnby 10-4, finished third.

SC Riessersee, GarmischPartenkirchen

Japan

Latvia

Aomori Curling Club Aomori

Jelgava Curling Club Jelgava

Experience factor — 32 Skip — Andrea Schoepp (45-17) 3rd — Melanie Robillard (27-3) 2nd — Monika Wagner (45-14) Lead — Stella Heiss (17-2) Alternate— Corinna Scholz (20-1).

Coach — Rainer Schoepp Last year’s record: Andrea Schoepp, Garmish-Partenkirchen, 6-5, finished sixth

Experience factor — 13 Skip — Moe Meguro (25-3) 3rd — Anna Ohmiya (202) 2nd — Mari Motohashi (23-5) Lead — Kotomi Ishizaki (31-5) Alternate — Mayo Yamaura (25-3).

Coach — Shinya Abe Last year’s record: Failed to qualify

Experience factor — 0 Skip— Ivana Stasia-Sarsune (33-1) 3rd — Una Grava-Germane (38-1) 2nd — Ieva Krusta (33-1) Lead — Zanda Bikse (39-1) Alternate— Dace Munca (38-1).

Coach — Brian Gray Last year’s record: Failed to qualify

Stabekk Curling Club Stabekk (Oslo)

Moskvitch Curling Club Moscow

Dunkeld Curling Club.

Dunkeld

Karlstads Curling Club Karlstad

Sweden

Switzerland Films PurePower Curling Club Flims

Madison Curling Club Madison, Wis.

Experience factor — 12 Skip — Linn Githmark (27-2) 3rd — Henriette Lovar (30-2) 2nd — Ingrid Strensrud (23-2).

Lead— Kristin Skaslein (24-3) Alternate — Kristin Tosse Lovseth (36-8).

Coach — Kristin Tosse Lovseth Last year’s record: Marianne Rorvik, Oslo 1-10, finished 11th.

Experience factor — 18 Skip — Liudmila Privivkova (23-6) 3rd— Anna Sidorova (19-1) 2nd — Nkeiruka Ezekh (26-8) Lead — Ekaterina Galkina (21-5) Alternate — Margarita Fomina (21-3).

Coach — Olga Andrianova Last year’s record: Liudmila Privivkova, Moscow 5-6, finished seventh.

Experience factor — 13 Skip — Eve Muirhead (19-2) 3rd — Kelly Wood (28-5 2nd— Lorna Vevers (294) Lead — Anne Laird (39-6) Alternate— Sarah Reid (24-1).

Coach — Nancy Murdoch Last year’s record: Eve Muirhead, 5-6, finished eighth.

Experience factor — 1 Skip — Cecilia Ostlund (22-1) 3rd — Sara Carlsson (23-1) 2nd— Anna Domeij (22-1) Lead — Lisolette (Lotta) Lennartsson (22-1) Alternate — Sabina Kraupp (23-2) Coach: Peja Lindholm Last year’s record: Anette Norberg, Harnosand, 9-5, finished second.

Experience factor — 11 Skip — Binia Feltscher (31-2) 3rd — Corinne Bourquin (28-1) 2nd— Heike Schwaller (41-9) Lead — Sandra Ramstein-Attinger (26-3).

Alternate — Marisa Winkelhausen (21-1) Coach — Gaudenz Beeli Last year’s record: Mirjam Ott, Davos 6-5, finished fifh.

Experience Factor – 9 Skip — Erika Brown (376) 3rd — Nina Spatola (211) 2nd — Ann Swisshelm (42-4) Lead — Laura Hallisey (23-1) Alternate — Jessica Schultz (25-2) Coach — Bill Todhunter Last year’s record: Debbie McCormick, Madison, 4-7, finished ninth.

Norway

Russia

Scotland

U.S.A.

(player’s age and total Worlds appearances, including 2010 and as a fifth player, in brackets) Norway’s Linn Githmark

Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher

Eye Opener

Page 14

2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship: TOURNAMENT DRAW

Time Draw Today

2 p.m.

7 p.m.

1 2

Sheet A

Sheet B

C hina vs. Germany Latvia vs Russia

Russia vs. U.S.A. Canada vs. Sweden

Denmark vs. China Sweden vs. Norway U.S.A. vs. Latvia Germany vs. Denmark Norway vs. Canada

Sheet C Japan vs. Latvia Norway vs. Swiss

Sheet D Scotland vs. Denmark Japan vs.U.S.A.

Sunday

8:30 a.m. 3 1:30 p.m. 4 7 p.m.

5

Monday

8:30 a.m.

6 1:30 p.m.

7 7:30 p.m. 8

Tuesday

8:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

9 10 11

Wednesday

8:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

12 13 14

Japan vs. Canada S wiss vs. Scotland China vs. Russia

Russia vs. Norway Sweden vs. Denmark Germany vs. Japan

Latvia vs. Sweden Norway vs. China Scotland vs. U.S.A.

U.S.A. vs. Switzerland Canada vs. Germany Denmark vs. Latvia

Thursday

8:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

15 16 17

U .S.A. vs. Sweden Germany vs. Latvia Norway vs. Denmark

Latvia vs. Switzerland China vs. U.S.A. Canada vs. Scotland

Russia vs. Canada Denmark vs. Japan Swiss vs. Germany

Japan vs. Norway Scotland vs. Russia Sweden vs. China

S cotland vs. Japan Russia vs. Switss Canada vs. China

Sweden vs. Germany Denmark vs. U.S.A. Latvia vs. Norway

Tiebreakers Friday, March 12

One draw — 8:30 a.m.

Two draws — 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Three draws — 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Denmark vs. Russia Japan vs. Sweden Norway vs. Germany

Playoffs

Saturday, March 13

8 p.m. — Page Playoff 1-2 game (or Page Three-Four playoff)

Noon — Page Playoff 3-4 game (or Page One-Two playoff) 5 p.m. — Semifinal

1301 North Service Road East Swift Current, SK S9H 3X6 Phone: (306) 773-8288 Fax: (306) 773-8289

holidayinnexpress.com SCORE

1

1

1

2

3

2

0

0

China vs. Latvia U.S.A. vs. Norway Sweden vs. Scotland

Germany vs. U.S.A Latvia vs. Canada Swiss vs. Denmark

Switzerlands vs. China Canada vs. Denmark Norway vs. Scotland Scotland vs. Latvia Germany vs. Russia China vs. Japan U.S.A. vs. Canada Japan vs. Switzerland Russia vs. Sweden

Friday, March 12

0

Scotland vs. Germany Russia vs. Japan Canada vs. Switzerland Switzerland vs. Sweden China vs. Scotland

4

5

6

7

You Manage the Game Plan, We’ll Manage the Road Trip!

8

Sunday, March 14 3 p.m. — Championship final

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Scotland’s Eve Muirhead.

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Eye Opener

Page 16

REMEMBERING MICHAEL BURNS SR.

He captured the game like no other

Larry Wood

Eye Opener Editor

H

e was one of the original have-lens-willtravel shooters in the world of sport.

To say nothing of, possibly, the best.

The word ‘original’ is appropo, too, because nobody prior to Michael Burns Sr., produced sports photos — and specifically curling photos — to match his pictorials for originality.

Most were so unique, in fact, that any still are easily recognizeable as Burns’s work. Unlike some examples of genuine great art, they do not require even a signature.

Burns joined the curling fraternity along about the time the Scotch Whisky Association unveiled the world curling championship, then known as the Scotch Cup. It figured when you consider Burns was born in Edinburgh. His Scottish roots rarely failed to show through even though he immigrated to Canada when he was 11 months old.

Much better known as a horse-racing photog to that point, he was the official camera guy for Woodbine and the Ontario Jockey Club in Toronto throughout his illustrious career which spanned 60 years and some change. He started his career in 1943.

But he also became known as the nation’s official curling lensman. And the curling world became a vacant place last month when Michael Francis Donnelly Burns passed away at the age of 84.

Burns was one of the genuinely nice guys this sport has proffered over the years. He rarely was without a smile. He rarely was without a quip and a kind word.

Back in the old days, a gaggle of Brier and

Silver Broom regulars formed a society known as The Zoo. Mike’s wife Helen was anointed Queen Of the Zoo. Burns was that group’s official photographer, too.

He was the only photographer in history to win three Eclipse Awards for outstanding thoroughbred photography in North America. He also won a record seven Sovereign Awards for outstanding thoroughbred photography, his most recent honour arriving just a year ago.

He also was the Canadian government’s official photographer at five editions of the Olympic Games. He fulfilled copious similar assignments at the Commonwealth Games and Pan-Am Games. He shot National Hockey League hockey action at Maple Leaf Gardens. He shot auto racing as Mosport in addition to Indy and Formula One. Canadian athletes of vintage who don’t have a framed Burns photo in their collection of memorabilia number a precious few.

Relative latecomers to curling will know that the guy with the cameras at most Briers and world championships these days still carries the Burns moniker.

Michael Burns Jr., took over both the national curling and Ontario horse racing positions on his own in 1995.

The elder Burns is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.

Among other things, Burns made a significant donation of more than 30,000 negatives to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Capturing more than 30 different sports from the late 1940s to the present, these photos are available for viewing on a section of the Hall’s website — The Michael Burns Photography Collection.

It’s an impressive anthology that’s worth far more than brief inspection. It’s a memorial worthy of a life of value and distinction.

Michael Burns Sr.’s photography always captured the essence of the spirit of the contest, such as this memorable image of Don Walchuk’s memorable leap of victory in 1989.