This past weekend, the Cornwall Curling Club proudly hosted its annual Club Championship, bringing together members for a competitive and highly entertaining few days on the ice.
On the women’s side, Team Creighton: Mellissa Creighton, Jen Bodner, Sharon Campbell, and Amanda MacIntosh were acclaimed Club Champions as the sole entry in the division. While they did not see game action, the team was very much part of the weekend festivities, joining fellow members Friday evening for the always-popular social component of the championship. A win without sweeping is efficiency at its finest.
The men’s division featured eight teams divided into two pools of four. Each team played three round-robin games, with the winners of each pool advancing to a championship showdown. Meanwhile, the runners-up faced off for a chance to challenge the championship game loser for the second berth at the Provincial Mixed Championship in Crapaud, March 25–29.
Following Draw 3 on Saturday morning, Jeremy MacAulay and his team of Alex MacFadyen (Older), Michael LeBlanc, and Cody Whynot emerged undefeated in their division. They also secured hammer for the Club Championship game after a better draw to the button over Robbie Doherty’s five-player squad.
However, in the final, Doherty flipped the hammer quickly with steals in the first 2 ends and took control of the game. Maintaining that momentum throughout, he and his rink captured the Cornwall Club Championship title after 6 ends.
In the 2v2 playoff, three-time Club Champion Brock Spence was edged out by Mark MacDonald, setting up a MacAulay versus MacDonald battle for the second provincial berth. When the final stones came to rest, it was Mark MacDonald and his team of Brad Gardiner, Wayne Goodwin, and Captain Garth Cudmore who claimed victory. They will join Robbie Doherty’s rink of Anson Carmody, Alex MacFadyen (Younger), Paul MacCormack, and Ryan Giddens in representing the club at Provincials.
A sincere thank you goes out to the bar staff, who were likely busier than at a traditional bonspiel (a good problem to have), to Ron for keeping the ice in excellent condition throughout the weekend, to Sam’s Cornwall for providing quality pizza between games, and to the many spectators who came out to support the action. (Editor’s Note: A huge shout of appreciation also goes out to Ryan Giddens, who not only played in the event, but once again took it upon himself to help organize and run the event and continually looks for ways to make it better every year! He also wrote this recap. You are the man!)
Among those in attendance were last year’s Club Champions Dennis Watts, Erik Brodersen, and Shane Macdonald. Honorary Club Member Lauren Lenentine was also spotted taking strategy notes Friday evening, accompanied by her parents Robbie and Jennifer.
Best of luck to Teams Doherty, Creighton, and MacDonald as they prepare to compete in March. The Cornwall Curling Club looks forward to cheering you on and hopes to see another Provincial title make its way back home.
-Ryan Giddens
