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OK. This has nothing to do with curling at all.
As you've no doubt noticed, I've taken a little break from the blog during the holidays. I'll be back posting in earnest come Tuesday night.
To take you through, here's a little something I found on You Tube.
The sound is terrible, the video shaky, but it's a stunning clip of Stewart Copeland proving he still has the chops after all of these years... What could have been without the egos to break up the Police...
Enjoy!
I finally figured out how to upload my podcasts to a third party server, so here's my first demo.
It's my short interview with Randy Neufeld after he downed Richard Muntain in the final of the Thistle Integrity Stakes played recently at the Asham Arena.
Podcast
Thanks for participating.
It was nice to head back to the ice tonight and play in a meaningful game.
We were up against Dave Smith in our Asham Major League tilt, and we were in a great match. We were down one without coming home, and Smith had to make a tricky pick-out takeout to seal it with his last rock.
Derek was unable to make it, so we had to go with three, and we held up pretty well.
Lorne and I are working on lining up two players to enter the rural zones out of Beausejour, so we're hoping to secure our line up for that shortly.
We're both itchin' to play in zones and the MCA Bonspiel, so we'll do what we can to make it work.
RANDOM THOUGHTS TIME: The music was a bit loud on sheet 1 at Asham Arena tonight, as we were right by the right speaker, but it's still cool to have music going while you curl as it seems to take the edge off... Congrats to Team Carruthers for the excellent run in the Canada Cup qualifier. With a better draw, they would have qualified for sure, but running into a hot Martin was a tough break. It's inspiring to see a fellow Major League squad (admittedly, a much BETTER Asham Major League squad) break through in the Slam scene... Speaking of breakthroughs, hats off to the Karen Porritt team for qualifying for the Canada Cup - practice and hard work really do pay off... Here's a stat for you to consider: Don Spriggs is getting ready to play in his 20th provincial playdown! I'm scratching and biting to get to my first! Tremendous, tremendous career, and the only thing that would make it better would be a trip to the Brier... I've been throwing 42 to 50 rocks per practice session over the past two weeks, and it seems to make a difference with muscle memory and control. It also helps the confidence to throw 12 consecutive tee line draws in practice... Speaking of practice, I was chatting with Steve Gould last week before he headed west with Team Stoughton to make it to the semis of the Canada Cup qualifier. He was saying how he's probably thrown 50 rocks a day for 18 years! That's dedication, and it shows in his consistent play... I'm very impressed with the new president of the MCA, Mitch Tarapasky. As this is my first full year as a regional director for the MCA, it's my first time through the meeting and email loop. Mitch really cuts to the chase while understanding the need for clubs to secure a stable future. I'm looking forward to many positive changes in the months ahead.
Cheers, and thanks for reading!
If you or your company would be interested in sponsoring live blog coverage in Portage on the weekend, I'd like to hear from you. It’s not worth my while financially to provide full weekend coverage without a sponsor, so I’m trying to find someone to cover my expenses.
You would receive a full banner ad on the main page of the site, as well as a static graphic ad on every post.
Full banner sample:
Graphic ad sample:
There is no TV coverage planned for the event. The winner receives a berth into the provincial Safeway Selects.
It’s a focused demographic, and participants would see your ad every time I added a new update.
It's been a couple of days, and there have been several developments, so let's get at 'er!
FOSTER'S LAUDED: Kyle Foster, who almost hooked up with Team Bender at the start of the season, proved to be a gamer by downing Dave Boehmer Monday night in the Zone 3 final in Riverton. Very impressive result, Kyle! Having never been in the luxurious position of winning a zone and using the MCA Bonspiel as a tune up instead of a last-gasp attempt to grab a badge, I can only imagine the boost of confidence Kyle's team earned with the win.
NOT MUCH HOOPLA: The MCT Championships begin Friday at noon in Portage... were you aware of that? There have been few updates on the MCT website, no promotions of the event in Winnipeg, and little talk of coverage in the mainstream media. I realize that the MCT is working with a tight budget, but I'm thinking fans would want to know who is curling in Portage so they realize the level of play going on just down Hwy. 1. It would be fairly easy to grab a digital voice recorder, get a few quotes from the top-ranked teams, and post those on the website, as well as run a couple on OB as a promo. One of the big problems is moving this event into December - it gets lost among all of the other events this weekend. Having said that, I'm about to add the draw to the blog, so watch for that update this afternoon.
MEGA-PRACTICE AFTER POOR OUTING: I threw 64 rocks at practice today, partly as punishment for playing so poorly in last night's Asham Major League game against Doug Riach. Granted, I was fighting a migraine, and fought for my balance all night. However, that's no excuse for coming out with such nasty draw weight. A pick on Derek's last rock in the first end meant a five for Riach, and it was all but over right away. I see most of the same people at the Granite for noon-hour practice: Jeff Stoughton, Ryan Fry, Kerry Burtnyk, Dan Kammerlock, Cory Nahernie (occasionally), Winston Warren (he's there more than Tony, the ice maker), Doug Harrison, Bob Sigurdson, Karen Porritt and Janet Harvey, and that dude who looks like a professor with the throwing stick. Most people don't realize the amount of hours that the top teams are putting into their craft. All the public usually sees are these peeps arriving at the rink for the big game and kicking butt... And, this does not take into account the night practices that most of these teams add on to their noon regimen. I'm surely putting in the time and sweat, I'm just waiting for the rewards of team success.
It's time to have a quick look around the news as we enter the crazy season - zones and berth events at full speed.
FAMILIAR NAMES RETURN: Terry McNamee is heading back to the Safeway Selects after capturing the berth spot out of the Brandon spiel. His team edged Mike McEwen in the key game. Kyle Foster and Dave Boehmer play tonight in the A-B final of Zone 3 in Riverton. That should be an interesting game. So far there are only 22 teams entered into the MCT Championships in Portage, which starts Friday. As Chris Galbraith said on Curling Zone, it's hard to believe they are having to put the call out for teams in an event with a Select Spot on the line. As predicted in my previous post, Randy Neufeld won the final MCT event of the season in Morris with a dominant performance in the final. Congrats, Randy and good luck in Dauphin.
PRACTICE NETS RESULTS: I practised with intensity last week, and the results are coming. My Thursday session included an hour of work with Connie Laliberte, who closely scrutinized my delivery, keying on my release. After taking a lower body position and altering the timing of my release, I threw a bunch of rocks with positive outcomes. It was the first time I'd thrown 64 rocks in one practice in some time.
APPLE ROCKS: I picked up a new MacBook late last week, and the multimedia functionality on this thing is astounding. It's fast, easy and looks cool, to boot. I'll be tweaking it up this week in anticipation of my coverage of the MCT Championships in Portage, which is still to be confirmed.
Thanks go out again to Jim Bender and his continued support of my blog.
Here's the latest from Jim in today's Biter section of his column:
BITER: Curlers are raving about the highlights of MCT games that competitive curler John White has started to show on a blog linked to the MCT website. In fact, MCT event co-ordinator Bob Picken even used it to get updates for his radio reports. The MCT may even engage White in an official capacity, at least by offering him an honorarium of sorts. "He needs to do a little better job of presenting it but if he comes to us for some support, we'd be glad to do it," Picken said. "But he hasn't approached us other than asking permission to do it."
You have to give props to Peter Prokopowich for going undefeated in Dauphin to capture the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy cash spiel.
In fact, rural teams did very well out there, as they did at the Thistle event. Whoever said all of the great teams are found within the Perimeter Highway is not paying attention.
The next event is the Enns Brothers Classic in Morris, and Randy Neufeld has to be considered one the favourites, as he continues to roll towards his next Selects appearance.
I'll be attending the MCA Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, so I will not be covering the Morris event, but I'll look to return to live blog coverage of the MCT Championships in Portage, if all goes according to plan.
Thanks for participating!
After a simple takeout, Muntain's only shot was a scud missile up the middle, which drifted on him, so Neufeld takes the title and the $2,000 top prize.
Here's a quick post-game interview that I did with Randy after the win:
Link to interview
Muntain takes $1,200 as the runner up.
Neufeld may be in the clear, now, as Muntain just ticked the guard and rolled into the open.
After a Neufeld takeout, Muntain needs to freeze shot rock on the back button to stay alive.
Muntain is running out of places to hide, as Anderson just made a clutch takeout. Bender's second rock of the 10th seemed to pick out of his hands, but it still managed to tick a guard and roll in for third shot. It's not over yet.
Neufeld's looking good now, with two in the top four. Muntain has one top 12 a foot in front of a Neufeld rock.
Here's Bender's bump:
Hlatkey's last shot of the end picked as it was drawing into the house, so it's not frozen.
Muntain might be able to get his two... he has two stones in play on the top four, one on each edge of the four foot circle. Neufeld is counting one on top of the button.
Randy Neufeld played a strong end and drew for four to take command, as Muntain needs two to tie coming home.
Muntain just rubbed a Neufeld guard out front, and Neufeld may be lying three with one to come. It could be the turning point of the match.
Here's the clip:
YouTube clip
Bender came through again making the open double and roll against Neufeld. Neufeld is still lying one behind cover.
Here's Anderson's draw:
It's nice and messy in nine, as we're into second's rocks. It looks like Neufeld is sitting one behind cover, and Cramer's rock is gliding right on top of it to count two.
Muntain's successful double runback with the last rock of the end was enough to score one, as Neufeld pinned one to the button on top of Muntain's other counter. It's 5-3 Muntain playing nine.
Another pick that works for Muntain - his first rock of the end looks heavy but picks just behind the tee line. Neufeld then froze one corner of Muntain's shot rock, and he might be shot.
Neufeld's hit attempt rubbed the guard but had enough momentum to take out one of Muntain's counters.
Sure enough, Bender made the open double, and now Muntain lies three with hammer. Randy's throwing his first of the end.
Neufeld's managed to junk things up well in the eighth end, but Anderson's light bump may have opened up the double for Bender.
After Muntain made a great double takeout, Neufeld was forced to draw for one, which he makes. He drew pin for good measure. It's 4-3 Muntain playing eight.
Here's Muntain's double:
Muntain managed to move things around with a nice angle runback, but Neufeld still sits one with a chance to get another one in the top four.
Anderson made a perfect angle raise behind a ton of cover to sit two, and Muntain has his work cut out for him playing seven... his first skip's stone is to come.
Muntain goes up 4-2 after six after stealing one when Neufeld's triple kill attempt only takes one out, leaving a Muntain counter top four.
Here's Muntain's draw:
After a great double takeout by Bender, Muntain takes advantage of a pick on Neufeld's last shot draw attempt, and draws for three to make it 3-2 Muntain playing six.
Here's Neufeld's draw attempt:
It's over on sheet 2, as Chartrand wins the consolation event.
Muntain is setting up well in six, grabbing the momentum from Neufeld.
Bender made a key double in an end that was setting up well for Neufeld. Now Muntain has one on the back 12, with a guard out front.
Chartrand took four against Steski in the fifth end, and he leads 7-2 playing six.
Neufeld is looking really good in five, with two counters up the middle and a centre guard.
Muntain's last rock draw in 10 goes a little deep, leaving Neufeld a steal of one and a bit of momentum.
It's 3-2 Chartrand playing five.
Neufeld throws another great draw, freezing his own on the back four behind cover, forcing a draw for one against two for Muntain.
Here's Muntain's up-weight hit attempt:
Neufeld draws top button partly covered with his first rock of the end. Muntain has two rocks to come.
It's 3-2 Chartrand playing five in the consolation final.
Bender crashes on a guard trying the come-around hit, but his shooter rolls across thehouse and bumps out the Neufeld biter. Neufeld will try to bury one around the centre guard.
Hlatkey's double runback works, but it leaves a possible biter on the outside edge of the 12 foot.
Anderson just played a nice split and Neufeld sits two, maybe three. Bender is forced to try a tricky hit. It's a nose, and he sits top 12 exposed.
Neufeld has two counters in front of the tee line and is playing a guard with his second's first stone.
After jamming the Muntain rock onto his back 12 rock, Neufeld settles for one in three, and it's 1-0 playing four.
Chartrand leads Steski 3-1 playing four.
Neufeld's first rock of the end is a nose hit, leaving Muntain a tricky double attempt. He throws a good stone, takes the first out, but only bumps the second one to the outside fringe of the 12 foot.
Neufeld has a hit and stick for two.
Bender's nose hit on the shot stone leaves Anderson (Neufeld's third) with a similar shot to lie two, maybe three.
Hlatkey came out a little tight and crashed on the guard, so Neufeld's lying one, playing a hit to lie three, which he makes, although his shooter may not be in the rings.
Neufeld's sitting two after a hit and roll on a Schwab stone that came a little deep and rolled on a freeze attempt.
Hlatkey took one out in a double attempt and rolled to top 12 on the outside edge, leaving Neufeld counting one back eight with a chance for two.
Maybe we'll see some rocks in play in the third, has Muntain has a centre guard set up.
Hey, Bob... if you're pulling scores off of my blog, a mention of the source would be great! (manitoba curling dot blogspot dot com)
It's wide open again in the second... we're still waiting for the game to start.
As expected, Neufeld blanked the first end.
It's been pretty wide open in the consolation final as well, with a blank in the first end there.
So far Neufeld is keeping it wide open.
The winner gets $2,000 and the loser $1,200.
Randy Neufeld won the toss, so Richard Muntain is up first in the final of the Thistle Integrity Stakes.
Chartrand and Steski are playing on sheet 2 in the consolation final.
After Waterhouse managed to wick and roll into the top four behind a Muntain rock:
Muntain threw a runback attempt that was wide at first, but picked inside the hog line and almost over curled before making the runback for the win. A fitting finish in a game full of picks.
Steski managed to draw four foot against four Zachary counters to make it to the consolation final.
We're into the first of skips' rocks in 10 in the main.
We're into third stones and Muntain is sitting three, one behind cover.
Zachary is still looking to steal out in 10... he has three counters on the outside of the four foot, but Steski has last rock.
Waterhouse's second made a sweet wick and roll behind cover to lie one. Muntain followed that up with a peel of a front stone.
Muntain is calling a tricky double peel, but Ryan Hlatkey overthrew it a touch and it drifted out, hitting one of his own counters in the top eight foot.
Waterhouse has a chance to get into the house behind cover, now.
It's 5-5 in both games playing 10... Muntain's drawing in early, behind a long Waterhouse guard.
Zachary is setting up well into skips stones.
Waterhouse is looking at an open hit with his last rock of the ninth, and he makes it to score one.
Muntain needs one to win with hammer coming home.
It's tied at 5-5 in the consolation semi.
I'm not sure what's going on with the ice, but there was just another dramatic pick... Waterhouse's third's last stone literally went sideways, and it was a takeout. Now Muntain has a realistic shot at forcing Waterhouse.
Muntain is sitting one behind cover in the middle of the left side eight foot, into third stones.
The true test of a team is not how they react to a good situation, but how they recover from adversity. Losing a rock to a pick in eight is painful, but Muntain needs to regroup.
Zachary and Steski are still going in the other consolation semi.
Randy Neufeld has qualified for the final with a win over McEwen.
Chartrand wins the consolation semi after eight ends.
Muntain was drawing for his deuce, but his rock picked halfway down. It almost had enough to make it in despite the debris, but it came up short, and got swiftly kicked to the boards.
Muntain's sitting two after making a pick-out hit, Waterhouse has one to come. He tried the up-weight double, but it leaves one Muntain counter, so he has a free draw for two.
Plenty of rocks in play in eight, as Muntain looks to score a big end. Waterhouse is counting one, half buried, but Muntain has two top eight lined up well.
Waterhouse was forced to hit and stick for one in seven, so it's 4-4 playing eight, and Muntain has hammer.
It's 4-4 into skips rocks in seven between Zachary and Steski.
Chartrand leads Zammitt 7-2 playing seven.
Muntain's getting ready to throw his first in seven, facing one Waterhouse counter half buried in the tee line.
Glen Howard defeated Randy Ferbey in the final of the Slam event in Waterloo.
Waterhouse is sitting two behind a center guard, with the last of second rocks to come in the seventh end.
What is the traditional protocol for putting your names on your jackets? Do you need to have Select experience? Do you need to have a cashpiel win under your belt? I just wonder who is sitting behind the glass trying to figure out who's who in a club game or a tier 2 spiel?
I feel like I'm right on the ice, as it's as cold in the lounge as it is on the ice...
Waterhouse is blanking the sixth, so it'll be 5-4 Muntain playing seven, and Waterhouse maintains hammer.
All three of Waterhouse's sweepers pounded it to get the shot rock, half covered by the guard.
Waterhouse is throwing his first of the sixth end, and he has a guard halfway out, covering the edge of the right four foot line. He's trying to draw around now.
Ferbey and Howard are tied at 4-4 with one to play, and Howard has hammer coming home.
It's wide open now on sheet 2, as McEwen successfully doubled out a couple of Neufeld counters.
Bryce McEwen is looking at three Neufeld counters into third stones in five.
Zammitt and Chartrand are tied 2-2 playing six.
Steski leads Zachary 4-3 playing six.
Dan Bender just made a nice hit and roll behind cover to lie two for Muntain, but Waterhouse matched that shot with a runback double. They're going toe to toe in the sixth.
Muntain has control of the score zone in the front third of the house with three counters behind cover playing six.
Waterhouse's second just made a great runback double to leave Mutnain sitting one in the open.
Muntain got the two back with a brilliant angle raise takeout of a Waterhouse rock buried on the back of the button. It's 4-3 Muntain after five ends.
Steski leads Zachary 4-2 playing five.
Neufeld leads McEwen 3-1 playing four.
Zammitt leads 2-1 over Chartrand playing five.
In the Slam, Howard leads Ferbey 4-3 playing seven, and Ferbey has hammer.
Waterhouse successfully made the open hit and stick to take two after Muntain failed to roll behind cover with his last rock hit.
Waterhouse is lying two, with one on the edge of the 12 foot and the other on the other side of the house, top eight. Muntain's looking at a long double, or a hit and roll behind cover.
Waterhouse is sitting top eight, partly covered, and Muntain is playing a bump, but he crashes on the guard. Waterhouse has a shot at setting up his deuce.
Muntain successfully draws for one against a Waterhouse counter and it's 2-1 playing four.
Steski leads 3-2 over Zachary playing four.
Waterhouse came in with perfect draw weight to freeze the Muntain counter at the back four foot. Muntain is having a look at his options.
Our feature game is 1-1 playing three, with cautious starts from both teams.
There are several rocks in play now, though.
The ice appears to be straighter than it has been earlier in the spiel.
Neufeld took three in the first end to take an early edge in momentum against McEwen.
It's 2-2 between Zachary and Steski.
Chartrand is up 1-0 after scoring one in the first and the second was blanked.
I'm back at the Asham Arena for the semi-finals of the Thistle Integrity Stakes.
Coming through the 10 a.m. draw in the main event:
Muntain over Loreth/Haight
McEwen over Gauthier
Coming through in the consolation event:
Steski over Georges
Zammitt over Elford
Playing right now in the main event:
Tyler Waterhouse vs. Richard Muntain (our feature game on sheet 4)
Bryce McEwen vs. Randt Neufeld on sheet 2
In the consolation semi-finals:
Brian Zachary vs. Grant Steski on sheet 3
Dean Zammitt vs. Lionel Chartrand on sheet 5
Looking ahead to the playoffs tomorrow... we have Muntain vs. Haight and McEwen vs. Gauthier at 10 a.m.
Waterhouse is waiting for the winner of the Muntain/Haight match, while Gauthier awaits the winner of the other game. The semis are set for 1 p.m.
Here's Irving's last attempt at an angle raise in 10:
Irving's fourth rock of the end crashed on a guard, and it's pretty much in the books now.
It's an empty house into thirds' stones in nine, as Haight is successfully keeping it clean.
Irving managed to hit and stick to score one and keep the game going against Haight. It's 8-6 Haight playing nine, and Haight's trying to keep it clean.
Here's the hit and stick:
Here's Haight's hit and roll:
Muntain qualified by downing Hamilton 6-2 in eight ends. Hamilton did not throw his last rock.
We're left with Irving playing Haight in the feature game on sheet 4. We're into skips' rocks with Irving lying one.
It's 6-2 Muntain playing eight.
With the hit for three for Haight, they are leading 8-5 playing eight.
McEwen is up 6-3 playing eight on sheet 2.
Muntain's played a smart end and he's set up for three with one more to come from Hamilton.
Bryce McEwen is up 6-3 over Rob Cosens playing seven.
It's 3-2 Muntain over Hamilton playing seven.
And, our feature game is tied at 5-5 playing seven.
Troy Hamilton drew the pin against a back button counter to score one in six to make it 3-2 Muntain.
Irving made a bump to score two to tie the game 5-5 after six, coming back from Haight's big four-ender in the fifth.
Hamilton has a touchy bump to score two in eight to tie.
Muntain takes one in five to go up 3-1, while Cosens was forced to draw for one in the fifth to make the score 4-3 McEwen.
Several rocks in play in the Irving/Haight game... with skips' rocks to come.
Ferbey ran Martin out of rocks in eight and it's over in Waterloo, as Glen Howard will face Randy Ferbey in tomorrow's final on CBC, if CBC can recover from their Liberal convention orgy.
McEwen grabbed another two points in the fourth end against Cosens, making it 4-2 playing five.
Oops... had the wrong colours there... It's Cosens struggling to find a way into the house against three counters.
Hamilton took one in four to tie things up 2-2.
Irving is up 3-1 playing five.
It's 8-5 Ferbey over Martin playing the eighth end in Waterloo.
Haight froze to the shot stone in the four foot to make it tough on Irving. Irving had to make a gentle tick draw and roll to the button to score one, which he executes perfectly.
Cosens is set up with three counters - two behind cover - with McEwen looking for an exit strategy.
A tremendous effort from the front end allowed Irving to make a hit and roll behind cover. Haight's in a bit of a pickle with his last rock of the end, with one more to come from Irving.
Haight just made a nice freeze with his first stone in four, giving Irving something to look at.
It's a one-point lead for Irving as Haight took one in three, as his last rock draw for two was short and tight.
Here's Irving's earlier bump attempt:
It's 2-2 playing four between Cosens and McEwen, and 2-0 Muntain over Hamilton playing four.
In Slam news, it's 8-4 Ferbey over Martin playing seven.
It looks like Muntain's third Dan Bender is in the zone in his game against Hamilton, with a perfect freeze playing in the third end.
It's 4-4 playing six in the semi-final of the Slam between Martin and Ferbey. Sounds like yet another classic battle.
Brad Haight came deep with his last rock draw facing two Irving counters, so it's 2-0 Irving after two.
Rob Cosens took one in the second end, so it's 1-1 playing three.
It's game on between Muntain and Hamilton in the second end, with many rocks in play.
Hamilton has a tricky takeout possible to score a few with his last rock.
Loreth just caught a piece and he rolled out. Irving will try to bring another one in to force Loreth to take one with the hammer.
Irving has an open hit and roll to lie two. He threw bump weight and sat on the tee line in the middle of the eight foot, wide open. Loreth's chance to hit and roll
There were blanks on sheets 3 and 4, and McEwen took one against Cosens on sheet 2.
All three first ends are wide open, with each skip keeping it clean until they gain the feel of the ice, which has changed throughout the weekend with the continued cold temperatures and fluctuating humidity levels.
Glen Howard nailed a six against Base and they shook hands after five ends.
Ferbey is up 4-2 over Martin playing five.
We're back for the B side qualifiers, with:
Haight vs. Irving (our feature game on sheet 4)
Muntain vs. Hamilton
McEwen vs. Cosens
The playoffs go Sunday, with games at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and the finals at 4 p.m.
Muntain managed to finish off DeFoort in 10 ends by running them out of rocks, so they play again at 9 p.m., or in about 24 minutes. Makes for a long, MCA Bonspiel-like day.
Ferbey and Martin are tied at 2 after three ends, while Howard and Base are still playing the third end.
There's another McEwen on the money list, as Bryce McEwen has advanced with a victory over Wayne Ewasko in nine ends. His reward is another game at 9 p.m.
DeFoort is doing his best to make it interesting in 10... he's got two on the top four, partly behind cover, into second's rocks.
DeFoort managed to score one, so it's 7-4 Muntain playing 10, and Muntain has last rock. It's academic, now.
They're pushing the rocks back and laughing on sheet 2, so Loreth advances to the next round.
Muntain is set up well in nine, bumping a rock on the top 12 back to the top four.
Ferbey is up 2-1 playing three over Martin, while Howard is up to 2-0 playing three.
DeFoort cornered his own rock in the top eight, forcing Muntain to throw the double, which he makes to score one. It's 7-3 after eight.
It's 9-5 Loreth playing nine.
Bryce McEwen has a free draw for four against Ewasko in the eighth, which he makes. It's 8-5 McEwen playing nine.
That's it... what the headline says... no first end result yet in the marquee game between Ferbey and Martin.
DeFoort's first rock was a corner freeze attempt that was a few inches short, so Muntain has a chance to pick out the rock. He was tight and it jammed the DeFoort rock onto his own, and it open the door a little.
Bender threw an up weight hit to peel out the frozen stone and he rolled partly behind cover, forcing DeFoort to try another corner freeze.
Ewasko's up 5-4 playing eight after taking a single in seven.
Loreth is sitting three in eight with three rocks to come.
In the feature game, Muntain is sitting top four, open, while DeFoort is trying to freeze. He manages to corner freeze with his third's last rock.
DeFoort has a chance for a deuce in the seventh end with an open draw, after Muntain jammed on a double takeout attempt. And, he makes it, so the score is 6-3 playing eight.
Here's a tip... keep your camera power chord under the tables, so you don't trip on it and whap your forehead on the glass, leaving a skid mark and disrupting the game. This is general information and was not borne out of my own experience... really.
Beavis scored one in seven, and it's 7-5 Loreth playing eight.
Ewasko is sitting two behind cover with skips' rocks to come in eight.
Glen Howard has hammer over John Base in one semi, while Martin has hammer over Ferbey as they begin play in Waterloo.
Muntain kept things clean in six and ended up with an easy hit for two, which he made. The score is 6-1 playing seven.
Loreth took three in six and is up 7-4 playing seven.
Ewasko and McEwen had a ton of granite in the house, and it ended up with McEwen stealing one, so it's 4-4 playing seven.
DeFoort has one top 12 and one top four, with two Muntain rocks behind the tee into second's rocks.
Bryce McEwen has fought back to make it 4-3 Ewasko playing six.
It's 4-4 in the Loreth/Beavis match, also playing six.
DeFoort scored one in five to make it 4-1 Muntain.
DeFoort's in-off draw attempt didn't quite roll far enough, and Muntain stole a fourth consecutive single (a pattern has developed).
Speaking of consecutive... there were consecutive hogged rocks in the Loreth/Beavis match... looks like the slide-path might be breaking down. It's 4-3 Loreth playing five.
DeFoort came up short on the freeze attempt, so Muntain has a chance to really put the pins to DeFoort.
Muntain has split the house with two rocks on the T line, forcing DeFoort to try a freeze to the rock on the edge of the four foot.
Jeff Stoughton and Kerry Burtnyk come back to Manitoba with 2-3 records, out of the playoffs.
It's Howard, Base, Ferbey and Martin in the semis tonight. I'll keep an eye on those scores for you.
Muntain stole a third consecutive single after DeFoort's last rock bump attempt came up short. Muntain's keeping a lot of rocks in play into second's rocks in four.
It looks like Loreth is up 4-1 playing the fourth end after taking another deuce in three.
Ewasko cracked a four in the third end to jump out in front in that game.
Both of Muntain's draw attempts were light in the second end, leaving DeFoort with a hit for two through a port. DeFoort's attempt glided, and he chipped and rolled into the house, but it went a few inches too far leaving Muntain with another steal of one.
DeFoort's last draw attempt was short, so Muntain stole one in the first end. Muntain is setting up well for another steal in the second with one in the top eight and one half-covered in the back eight.
DeFoort glided heavy on his freeze attempt so Muntain has a chance to force him with a perfect guard.
DeFoort's third sailed through the house on his draw attempt, so Muntain has the chance to put two behind cover on the edge of the eight foot. Muntain's third, Dan Bender was a touch heavy and bumped his shot stone and rolled exposed. DeFoort's third made up for his earlier miss with a double takeout and roll behind cover.
Our feature game on sheet 4 is Richard Muntain vs. Jay DeFoort, and it's wide open into third's stones. DeFoort has hammer.
The Hamilton/Neufeld game was a weird one, with Neufeld vaulting into a 6-1 lead, only to give up a four to let Hamilton back in late and make it close. Neufeld ran away with it in the end, and moved into the playoff round.
Here's Hamilton's final double attempt that drastically over curled... and it was handshakes afterwards.
Here's a summary of results so far in Saturday action at Asham Arena in the Thistle Integrity Stakes:
9 a.m. draw:
Waterhouse over Chartrand
Loreth over Georges
Neufeld over Zachary
Cosens over Ewasko
Hamilton over McEwen
12 noon draw:
Beavis over Steski
Muntain over Elford
DeFoort over Zammitt
McEwen over Zachary
Ewasko over Chartrand
3 p.m. draw:
Neufeld over Hamilton
Waterhouse over Cosens
Gauthier over Irving
6 p.m. draw:
Loreth vs. Beavis
Muntain vs. DeFoort (our feature game)
McEwen vs. Ewasko
I finally managed to get YouTube to accept the video of Ewasko's game clinching in-off against Muntain last night.
Thanks to some dreadful upload speed, my final two highlights will have to wait until the morning.
Speaking of the morning... here's the line up for the 9 a.m. draw:
A Division:
Waterhouse vs. Chartrand
Neufeld vs. Zachary
Cosens vs. Ewasko
McEwen vs. Hamilton
B Division:
Loreth vs. Georges
After Ewasko made a sensational hit and roll to lie four, Muntain's only option was to try to draw the outside edge of the button with his last rock. He was a few inches heavy, and Ewasko stole two and it was handshake time with a 10-3 final for Ewasko.
Here's the highlight of Muntain's draw attempt:
Same for sheet 5, as Irving took that contest in seven ends.
Irving just made a beautiful runback double to clear the house with his first rock in six, but Zammitt then delivered on his first rock of the end with a draw three-quarters buried on the button.
Muntain just wrecked on a guard with his last rock, and Ewasko drew for two to go up 8-3 after five ends.
Irving chipped out Zammitt's counter, leaving a blank for Zammitt.
Zammitt's looking to score here with one behind cover on top of the button.
Muntain JUST got his guard over the hogline in five, but Ewasko has an open hit on the shot rock. Hlatkey and Schwab deserve beers for that sweeping effort.
With blowouts occuring all over the place, it could be an early one here tonight. If Ewasko scores a deuce, that game could be over, and Irving could wrap things up on sheet 5 with a steal.
Andrew Irving took a four in the fifth end to go up 6-1 over Zammitt.
Muntain took a deuce in four to make it 6-3 Ewasko. Ewasko's successfully keeping things clean playing five.
Gauthier missed on a raise attempt, so DeFoort now has a split for three. He crashed on a guard out front and scored two, but they're shaking hands, so Gauthier advances.
Kevin Martin ran Kerry Burtnyk out of rocks in Waterloo, winning 6-3 in eight ends.
Down 8-1 after four ends, DeFoort is just playing for the experience, now. Gauthier's keeping things clean playing in five.
Here's DeFoort's takeout attempt that rolls out in four.
Ewasko took one more against Muntain, so it's 6-1 playing four.
It's handshakes on three as Waterhouse finished off Elford in four ends.
Gauthier made the most of his opportunity in three, scoring two after DeFoort's brush with a chunk of gravel. It's 5-1 playing four, and Gauthier's setting up to steal with one on the top four. DeFoort has one on the edge of the four foot behind cover.
Here's DeFoort's double, before Gauthier's shot for two.
Wayne Ewasko made the double takeout in the second end and took a huge five against Muntain. It's 5-1 Ewasko playing three.
It's 5-1 Waterhouse playing four.
Irving leads Zammitt 2-0 playing four.
In the Slam game, between Martin and Burtnyk, it's 3-3 in seven.
Salina executes a nice hit and roll partially behind cover, and DeFoort has to chase him on the outside of the rings. Unfortunately, his takeout attempt picked something, and went sideways to the boards.
On sheet 2, Muntain leads 1-0 over Ewasko playing two, with Ewasko looking to score four with an attempted double with his last rock.
Waterhouse leads Elford 3-1 playing three.
Irving leads Zammitt 1-0, although they have not marked the score from the second end.
Gauthier just made a hit and roll across the house to lie two, forcing DeFoort to draw eight foot for a single. DeFoort draws the pin, and it's 3-1 Gauthier after two.
Charlie Salina (third for Gauthier) hits and rolls out with his last rock of the end. DeFoort is trying an outside hit and roll, but it rolls out and Gauthier is lying two on the outside left of the house.
DeFoort is sitting one on the edge of the button, with several Gauthier rocks around the outside. He's playing a centre guard with the fifth rock of the end. It overcurled a touch, and Gauthier has a straight line to the shot rock.
Jay DeFoort's final rock of the first end, a draw attempt against three, was a touch heavy and it glided to the outside of Gauthier's shot rock on the four foot. Gauthier stole three and takes command early in this contest.
It appears Kevin Gromnisky is not playing with DeFoort in this event, as I first thought. Too bad... could have had some inside jokes on here. Guess I'll have to play it straight.
Ron Gauthier has the coolest jacket in curling... it's a Ferrari polar fleece... It's the most interesting jacket to hit the tour since Merv Saitherwaite's snowmobile racers a few years back.
We're into the first end between Gauthier and DeFoort on sheet 4.
Gauthier's setting up well so far, although DeFoort has the hammer. Gauthier's lying one partially behind cover on the back four foot.
Elsewhere:
Richard Muntain vs. Wayne Ewasko on sheet 2
Russ Elford vs. Tyler Waterhouse on sheet 3
Dean Zammitt vs. Andrew Irving on sheet 5
I'll monitor the Burtnyk vs. Martin game from Waterloo as we go... Martin's up 2-1 after three ends.
We're 15 minutes away from game time... as teams are arriving for the 9 p.m. draw, I can see the standings from the Asham Major League from my chair. They we are in last place tied with Coy, Jenion and Strand. Really not surprising as we had to scramble to find a replacement skip early on in the season.
Riach and Grassie are tied atop the leaderboard with James Kirkness in second spot.
Time for some random observations...
This is the first time in many years that I've watched this many curling games - I'm usually playing in these events. I've learned a lot by observing, though, as you pick up things by watching other teams, both in strategy and how they read the ice and interact with each other... I've never seen Kerry Burtnyk look as confident as he did in winning the Stonewall event. He was totally focused from start to finish.
Time for another shout-out to Tony at the Granite for prepping outstanding practice ice at the Granite every lunch hour. It makes a major impact on your development when you can count on game-ready ice for practice sessions. I've actually been blessed with tremendous ice conditions all year, at the Granite and the Asham Arena.
Arnold's done a tremendous job fixing up the old Valour Road club, refreshing the paint in both the ice shed and the lounge. You also have to give him props for the support he gives the developing teams in the Major League.
Bryce McEwen wins his first match of the spiel with a tricky bump to leave three counters.
Loreth/Haight came a little deep on their last draw in nine, giving McEwen a chance to bump for three.
It's 6-4 Hamilton after eight ends.
It looks like McEwen has a decent shot at a deuce in nine in a tie game.
Georges made a strong double takeout to minimize the damage in nine. Loreth is now attempting to draw in.
Trevor Loreth and Bryce McEwen are even at seven playing nine. McEwen is looking at one counter behind cover into third's stones.
Georges is throwing a draw attempt against two Hamilton counters with his last rock in eight, and it drifts just a touch wide of the target, leaving Hamilton a quiet bump to score three and grab a comfortable lead.
I turn my attention to Neufeld vs. Steski, and Steski just drifted deep in a draw attempt around cover against a Neufeld shot stone on the back four foot.
Neufeld has a free draw for three, which he makes, and they shake hands after eight ends. It's an 8-3 final for the newly crowned Northern Berth champions.
It's old home week for me tonight, as my former skip twice removed - Kevin Gromnisky - will be playing in the feature game at 9 p.m. with Jay DeFoort against Ron Gauthier, who is coming off of the consolation title at the Stonewall event.
After hitting an outside rock a little too thick in an in-off double attempt, Beavis shook hands with Cosens after giving up a steal in the eighth end.
Cosens advances to the second round after a solid game.
Cosens' third Jim Ireland just drew edge button, a foot in front of a Beavis stone on the back four foot, partially behind cover.
Steski stole two in six to get back into his match against Neufeld - it's 5-3 Neufeld playing seven.
Cosens' second just made a nice double peel against Beavis, taking the wind out of their sails as they attempt a comeback in eight.
Beavis made a great draw partially around cover, but Cosens matched him by making the double takeout, and he rolled out to blank for good measure.
Cosens hit the shot rock too thin and rolled out leaving Beavis an open draw. Cosens has last rock, though.
Beavis just rubbed a guard with his first draw attempt of the end, but it had enough momentum to roll in for second shot. Cosens is now attempting the hit and roll.
Having played Cosens many times at West St. Paul, I recognize his game plan when he is up big in the middle of a game... keep everything clean.
With a miss from Cosens' third, Beavis has a shot at setting up a decent end playing seven.
Over on sheet 2, Georges is trying a tricky angle raise with his last stone... and it overcurls, leaving Hamilton a steal of one. It's 5-3 after six.
Beavis attempted to draw for two, but came up short, taking one, and making the score 7-3 after six ends.
Beavis just crashed on the guard out front, leaving Cosens a shot at the frozen stone on the button.
Just as I say that, Friesen pinned one on the button, frozen against a Cosens stone.
Cosens is lying five into third's stones, after several excellent hits, and a few freeze attempts by Beavis that were just a hair off the mark.
It appeared that Beavis' last rock double attempt picked out of his hand leaving a steal of two for Cosens. It's 7-2 playing five.
Beavis drew close to his other counter with his first rock, so Cosens successfully played the double to sit two on the right side of the house.
Bevis is playing the double to get out of the end.
Beavis is sitting three on the left side of the house, with Cosens throwing his first of the end - an attempted triple takeout.
Cosens takes two out to leave Beavis lying one.
Cosens played the perfect end to take three against Beavis in the fourth end. He's up 5-2 after four.
Rob Cosens just executed a tremendous hit and roll to lie two behind cover. Beavis only has a draw with his last rock, and Rob still has one to come.
Other games playing four:
Sheet 1:
McEwen 4 Loreth 2
Sheet 2:
Georges 1 Hamilton 1
Sheet 3:
Neufeld 1 Steski 0
Our feature game in the 6 p.m. draw is Cosens vs. Beavis, and we're tied at 2-2 after three ends.
There were consecutive runbacks thrown by the respective thirds, with Beavis lying one of the top four behind cover.
We're into the early stages of the fourth end of the first draw in the Thistle Integrity Stakes at the Asham Arena.
The feature game in this draw is Rob Cosens vs. Ian Beavis, on sheet 4.
Other games in progress in this 18-team event:
Sheet 1:
Trevor Loreth vs. Bryce McEwen
Sheet 2:
Mark Georges vs. Troy Hamilton
Sheet 3:
Greg Steski vs. Randy Neufeld
