Club de Curling Sherbrooke challenged Pointe Claire on Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 4 PM. Ideal conditions for curling with a crisp blue sky with outdoor temperature approximating minus 10 °C and ice shed temperature of plus 4 °C. The ice had been pebbled and nipped.
Opening ceremonies were officiated by Gerry Yuskowski and Russ Haliburton. The Presidents of both clubs were present: Keith Mallette from Pointe Claire and Jean Langevin (playing) from Sherbrooke. The club house was full and there was a sense of excitement in the air. The match was two teams from each club, ten ends, stacking of brooms after 5 ends and total points to determine the winner.
Sherbrooke, being the elder club (1880) was awarded the blue stones, with Pointe Claire (1921) playing the red stones. The four leads met at the bar and, fortified with a wee dram of whiskey, tossed for 1st end throwing position – Pointe Claire won the toss and elected to throw last with the hammer.
Teams were on the ice at 4 PM – the Sherbrooke teams, despite not having the hammer, won the first end by stealing 1 point on each sheet. After 5 ends and the stacking of the brooms, the scores were: Sheet 1 – Red stones 5, Blue stones 2; Sheet 3 – Red stones 6, Blue Stones 1.
All four teams retired to the clubhouse for refreshments and snacks.
Back on the ice at approximately 6 PM, ice conditions had changed, with the momentum shifting to the Blue stones. After 9 ends the scores were: Sheet 1 – Blues stones down by 2 points; Sheet 2 – Blue stones and Red stones tied. In the 10th end Red stones held the hammer, with both skips drawing to the 4 foot for the win. Final score: Sheet 1 – Red stones/Blue stones tied at 7 points each. Sheet 2 - Blue stones 9, Red stones 8. Sherbrooke was declared the winner by 1 point.
Teams congratulated each other for the fine match and retired to the club lounge area for a post-game libation. Everyone was ushered to the upper floor dining room for an excellent St. Patrick’s Day meal of a green salad and Guinness Beef Stew.
Following the meal, teams returned to the lounge for photographs and the ceremonial passing of the Cup. Pointe Claire member Quinnton Zorzes began the ritual of passing the cup among the 16 players; after 5 complete rounds, Quinnton finished the Cup with a flourish. All, with festivities winding down in the late evening, had a great day. The Quebec Challenge Cup left Pointe Claire bound for Sherbrooke who will strongly defend their right to hold the Cup.
A special thank you to the organizers and volunteers who made this event so special.
Teams: Pointe Claire: Dave Moon, Quinnton Zores, Brian Francis, Ron Torrens
Ray Giguère, Bill Arnold, Gary Hiscock, Bob Rondeau
Sherbrooke: Jean Langevin, Marc Paradis, Claude Lemieux, Gérald Lemieux
Richard Lacroix, Dominic Gilbert, Donald Boivin, Alain Beauchesne |
