It has been a busy year for the oldest, still active curling club in North America.
The Halifax Curling Club on South Bland Street is offering its first junior program in decades, recently played host to the provincial wheelchair curling championship playdowns, and from Jan. 22 to Jan. 27 will host the provincial Scotties tournament.
The outcome of that event determines which Nova Scotia women’s team will represent the province at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Kingston, Ont. next month.
Organizers of the tournament are encouraging and inviting the general public to drop by and watch the eight competitive women’s curling teams from Halifax, Sydney and Kentville as they vie for the title.
“These are the best women’s teams in the province. It will be very competitive” said Jean Everist, co-chair of the Halifax Curling Club’s Scotties tournament committee.
“They all want to go to the Scotties. It’s what they work for all year.”
The club is enhancing the viewing experience by erecting bleachers in its upstairs lounge to maximize the numbers of people who can enjoy a bird’s eye view. The bar will be open whenever draws are taking place.
Organizers are also encouraging people to participate in the Friday night (Jan. 25) ‘Mini-Purple Heart Lounge.’ Kate Campbell and Terry Blakeney will provide live music after completion of the 7 p.m. draw, which will likely be sometime around 9:30 p.m.
“If you go to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, they have live music every night for the teams and spectators. We’re trying it for that one night,” Everist said. “We’re really hoping people will come and stay after the draw and hear some great music. It should be a fun time.”
Games start on Jan. 23, with draws on the 23, 24 and 25 taking place at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. All four sheets of ice will be in use. On Jan. 26, there will be a 9 a.m. draw, and depending on tie breakers, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. games will also be played.
If there’s a need for a semifinal, it’ll be held 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27 with a final game held at 3 p.m. to determine the overall winner.
All results will be posted at www.livecurling.com and draw information will be updated at the Halifax Curling Club’s website, www.halifaxcurlingclub.com .
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
Teams participating in the provincial Scotties:
Team Arsenault from Halifax’s Mayflower Curling Club (Mary-Anne Arsenault, Colleen Jones, Kim Kelly, Jen Baxter and alternate Nancy Delahunt)
Team Breen from Mayflower Curling Club (Theresa Breen, Amanda Simpson, Jocelyn Adams, Kelly Anderson)
Team Cutcliffe from Mayflower Curling Club (Margaret Cutcliffe, Mary Sue Radford, Katarina Hakansson, Sally Saunders)
Team Duchemin from the Sydney Curling Club (Coralie Duchemin, Heidi Bishop, Patty Merrigan, Marcie Bungay and alternate Joan Latimer)
Team MacIntosh from the Dartmouth Curling Club (Kelly MacIntosh, Jennifer Crouse, Sheena Gilman, Shelley Barker and alternate Julie McEvoy)
Team Mattatall from Mayflower Curling Club (Mary Mattatall, Angie Bryant, Lisa MacLeod, Hayley Clarke)
Team Nix from Kentville’s Glooscap Curling Club (Jocelyn Nix, Andrea Saulnier, Jill Alcoe-Holland and Julie Morley)
Team Smith-Dacey from Mayflower Curling Club (Heather Smith-Dacey, Stephanie McVicar, Blisse Comstock, Teri Lake)
