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Curling event comes down to final shot ‘Ringer’ Paul Thiessen saves the day for Team Parkinson STEINBACH, Man.—There was only one rock to be delivered. The almost annual EMC national office staff curling event (IN SYNC, for short) was held on March 9, 2010, at the Steinbach club. Though numbers were depleted (one had just returned from Nicaragua, another was out with a health concern), six staff and an imported “ringer” added their perspectives and skills. On average they made good shots; those that were too short were balanced by those that were too long. Skip Ward Parkinson brought limited curling knowledge from Morris, Man., and once helpfully stood behind a person “holding the broom” to point in a different direction. Skip Gerald Reimer socialized and quipped throughout, including when Ruth Anne Peters was in the hack, which made her laugh; her resultant delivery form was a joy to behold for the opposition (which Gerald was). For the record, Gerald owes Ruth Anne a coffee for suggesting the wrong weight for another shot. Rebecca Roman, besides placing two in the house, showed skill and speed in being able to deliver a rock, run up to it, and sweep. She only lacked the capacity to “hold the broom” in the house as she threw a rock, but she’s working on it. She delighted to keep score. Ruth Anne Peters organized the event, collected money from curlers to pay for it, and displayed good humour. She was a dedicated curler who worked at her roles with typical efficiency and grace under pressure. Tim Dyck treaded carefully on the ice, spouted witticisms, and filled in a “general” (secretary) way where needed in the line up and in the house.
Terry Smith made sweeping statements, avoided sweeping, and got to know the ice quite well. Team members traded throwing rotations, swept the opposition’s rocks, and mostly encouraged all present. Team Parkinson took leads of 3-0 and then 5-0. But Team Reimer battled back, making it 5-3 and 5-5 before taking a 7-5 lead. Team Parkinson came back 7-7, then Team Reimer went ahead 9-7. In the eighth end there were several rocks out front and each team had one in the house near the button. Team Parkinson’s final stone needed to hit the hole and Graduation stop as second shot. Throwing fourth stones was2010 an import, a “ringer” whose Spring Concert previous curling experience consisted of the seven previous 23 at 7:30 pm ends of play, a few April rocks thrown in practice, and coping with C.P. Loewen Chapel • SBC Campus 40 C heat in Burkina Faso,New Africa. featured: Creation & Free Servant performing Could Be You”.the national office’s Being a true EMCer, Paul“ItThiessen, Alumni coffee time to follow. honourable missionary-in-residence, was singularly qualified Graduation for the predicament: being unfamiliar with the fine points, or 25 atgame, 3:00 pmhe was still game! almost any points, April of the Steinbach EMC • 422 Main Street Paul’s final rockspeaker: had good line and speed, hit the hole, and Tim Houck Truth Matters Ministries with sweeping cut out Team Reimer’s stone as second shot. Alumni Barbeque Team Parkinson had scored two to tie the game. June 19 from The tie was considered by2-6pm many as a fitting result to a game SBC Campus with much camaraderie (asareusual) EMC staff persons, even All alumni invited toby come with old friends if some might havereconnect secretly desired tofrom win. college. See www.SBCollege.ca for Earlier Paul hadmore been asked how he was doing. He replied details. he could see himself again. 50 PTHcurling 12 N • Steinbach, MB •Then R5G 1T4 came the historic www.sbcollege.ca shot. Thiessen is now experienced under pressure, ready for another challenge, and prepared to join another team. Kevin Martin, are you listening? Terry Smith
Graduation 2010 SBC invites you to these special graduation events…
Spring Concert PHOTO: KEN ZACHARIAS
April 23 at 7:30 pm C.P. Loewen Chapel • SBC Campus featured: New Creation & Free Servant performing the drama, “It Could Be You”. Alumni coffee time to follow.
Graduation April 27 at 3:00 pm • Steinbach EMC • 422 Main Street speaker: Tim Houck, Truth Matters Ministries
Alumni Barbeque June 19 from 2-6pm • SBC Campus
Staff curling participants were Ruth Anne Peters, Terry Smith, Ward Parkinson, Rebecca Roman, Gerald Reimer, Tim Dyck, and (seated) ringer Paul Thiessen.
All alumni are invited to come reconnect with old friends from college. See www.SBCollege.ca for more details. 50 PTH 12 N • Steinbach, MB • R5G 1T4 www.sbcollege.ca
THE MESSENGER | April 2010
Prepared for use in The Messenger, The Recorder, The Chronicle
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