Another year, another Nova Scotia team has claimed the Village Green Cash Spiel title.
Team Granchelli out of the Mayflower Curling Club.
Pictured left to right. Kris Granchelli, Brent MacDougall, Brad Wilson, Ian Wilson.
Kris Granchelli and his team, consisting of Brad Wilson, Ian Wilson, and Nova Scotia curling legend Brent MacDougall filling in at Vice, kept the championship in Nova Scotia. Representing the Mayflower Curling Club, Team Granchelli defeated Jamie Newson and his PEI Club Championship rink 7-4 in the final on Sunday afternoon.
The playoff picture was not finalized until the last draw on Saturday evening. Dennis Watts edged Darren Higgins in a draw-to-the-button tiebreaker, a result that sent Newson into the playoffs and into the money.
The quarterfinals featured several upsets. Ian MacAulay, who posted a perfect 4-0 record in the round robin, was knocked off by Newson. Pool B winner Connor Bruce got off to a slow start and was never able to recover, falling to the Cornwall Curling Club Champions, Team Doherty. In the other quarterfinal matchups, Granchelli defeated Peter Murdoch, while King Eddie MacKenzie used a big fourth end to upset Michelle Armstrong, the 2024 Canadian Club Curling Champions and current Nova Scotia Women’s Club Curling champions.
In the semifinals, King Eddie jumped out to an early lead against Newson but ran out of steam as Newson took control with a pair of three-enders to punch his ticket to the final. In the other semifinal, Granchelli defeated Robbie Doherty in an entertaining eight-end battle.
The championship game was a rematch of a round-robin meeting, but this time the result was different. Granchelli and his team captured the title with a 7-4 victory over Newson. A grudge match is anticipated at the National Club Curling Championship in 4 weeks.
Team Newson, out of the Crapaud Curling Club.
Pictured left to right. Jame Newson, Andrew Robison, Chris Ellis, Greg Ellis
This marked the fourth year that Village Green has graciously served as the title sponsor of the event. Nova Scotia curling legend Brent MacDougall summed up the weekend best, stating:
“The Village Green Cash Spiel is no longer a bonspiel. It’s an event that curlers should have on their schedule.”
A huge thank you goes out to Ron Matters for maintaining top-notch ice conditions throughout the weekend. Thank you also to Ian MacAulay, Mark O’Rourke, and Danny Kneabone for stepping up when the event was running behind schedule. Special appreciation goes to the bar staff for keeping players refreshed and to the Cornwall Curling Club for hosting what continues to be one of the must-attend events on the curling calendar.
(EDITORS NOTE: And once again thanks goes to Ryan Giddens who not only wrote the above article but is the main driving force behind the planning and implementation of this event!)