Competitive league week 4

Teams Mannik and Surka continue to roll along, both without a loss on the ledger. Lots of blowouts last night. Just the way the ice curls sometimes.

Good match next week as Team J. Smith takes on Team Surka. Will Team Surka be brought back to the pack? The next three weeks see all the top teams play each other. Once the dust clears who will still be at the top? Only the pebble knows for sure.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.

Competitive league week 2

The big battle last night was Smith vs Smith, which sounds like a divorce proceeding or a cough drop challenge. But it was a huge battle on the ice instead. Team T. Smith (nee Haggis) gave team J. Smith (nee Canada) all they could handle for 8 ends. It came down to the final skips rocks with Terry having a tough come around tap back to try and steal. Close but no cigar as the saying goes and Joseph and team prevailed.

Team Surka started there run with a win in the first time on the ice. Team Bagley put a beat down on Team Purkey/Stannard. Team Mannik (without any Manniks) dropped a big 4 ender on Team Hannon to seal a victory.

The game of the week next time is Team Surka v Team Hannon (without any Hannons). Derek is not too concerned since he only loses this game in December.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.
JH

Competitive League week 1

Opening night of the league saw some good games and a huge surprise, Derek and Charrissa did not win. Well, they had the bye so I guess they did not lose either.

Nine teams make up the league this year with mostly the same players. A few new faces have joined the crowd. Ann Karrick and Donn Malner joining Team Alward. Donn is a new member who is returning to curling after a bit of a layoff. Nice looking tuck slide Donn. Team Alward took on Team Mannik and gave them a run for the money, making Steve make the final shot in the eighth to win.

Team Chebetar took it to Team Haggis (T. Smith) and handed them an early season loss. Maybe not enough haggis before the game.

Team J. Smith handed Team Bagley a loss as well. Those Canadians just seem to get started easier plus he has been throwing a lot of rocks.

Team Hannon staged a furious comeback against Team Purkey/Stannard to pull out the win. Falling behind 5-0 after two ends, Team Hannon stole their way back to the lead and finished it off at the end.

Rob Chebetar is providing some tasty treats these days as he practices his baking skills and brings the results to the club. Bacon, cheddar biscuits, scones, corn bread.....yum yum.

Interesting match up next week, battle of the Smiths as Joseph takes on Terry.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.
JH

Competitive League week 7

A shake up at the top as Team Hannon handed Team Surka their first loss of the season. In the battle of the Smiths, team J Smith kept pace with a win over team T Smith. Three teams tied at the top right now with one loss each.

In the upset of the season so far, Team Purkey dropped Team Mannick into second place by winning their first game. Team Purkey dropped a five on team Mannick in the second end and never looked back.

The after game festivities ran late as most games started late. The Merritt was closed and 95 was a parking lot. Much discussion about the Golden Handle, Olympic playdowns and Club National playdowns.

Two more games to go spread over four weeks with a two week break for Christmas and New Years. Then the serious season starts with the next round robin to determine the jewelry winners.

JH

Competitive League week 5

Team Surka and Mannick continue to lead the pack with unblemished records.

In action last night, Team Bagley came very close to putting a loss on the record of Team Surka. A very well played game and Team Surka pulled it out in the end.

Team Terry Smith were missing their skip but still hung in there to win. Terry is still a bit under the weather now nursing a sore shoulder. Team Hirx got a tough break on a last rock pick to miss a chance to get back in the game.

Team Ryan played a tough game against Team Hannon. Once again a game that was much closer than the score indicated. A couple of tough breaks caused skip Rob C. to miss out on chances to win. Sitting behind the glass, Sally was heard to say "I thought Jeff was gonna lose that one."

Team J. Smith continues to roll along and kept Team Purkey on the schneid. Joseph just returned from Canada where he must have picked a little of that curling magic.

Big match next week with Team Mannick playing Team J. Smith. Steve and Sil are also in Canada this week so we will see if that plays into the equation.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.
JH

Competitive League week 4

The big news this week is Team Surka did not win. Of course, they did not play so maybe not so big.

Teams J. Smith, Mannick, Bagley and Hirx all were on the correct side of the scoreboard. First win for teams Bagley and Hirx. Both looked much improved. Team Mannick continues to roll along like a well oiled machine. Team J. Smith scored a big end on team Hannon and they just couldn't recover.

Team T. Smith was at a slight disadvantage as skip Terry is a bit under the weather. They will make a comeback once Terry gets back to his old self. Team Ryan continues to battle hard and lose very close games.

Lots of subs needed for next week if anyone is available.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.
JH

Competitive League week 3

Week 3 in the league sees three teams without a loss so far. They are team Surka, Mannick and Hannon. Team J. Smith follows closely with just one loss. Team J. Smith plays team Hannon next week in a big match.

In action last night for the first time was new experienced curler Cindy Pick, late of Ontario. Cindy moved down here for work as a nurse at Yale. She was happy to find Nutmeg and was recruited heavily for several committees at the post game table. She has little rocker coaching experience as well as entertainment experience at bonspiels. President Jennifer will have a new member of the Golden Handle chorus it looks like.

Team Bagley was looking sharp against team Hannon but couldn't find the range on a couple of draws that would have made the difference. Robert Kwan seems to be figuring out the ice at Nutmeg and looked impressive on the neighboring sheet. Opponents for that game was team Ryan and vice Rob Chebetar was making a lot of doubles to bail out his team from trouble. Team Surka played the early game against team T. Smith so not much to report from that game. In the late game, team J. Smith ran away early from team Hirx. Skip Dave reported after the game that a missed draw in the third was the difference as there was a 5 point swing on the scoreboard. It was a closer game than the scoreboard showed.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.
JH

Competitive League

Nutmeg curlers did not really travel anywhere for this event. The opening draw of the competitive league took place the other night. Lots of familar faces and a few new ones as well. Experienced curler Robert Kwan, late of Rochester, looked very good playing vice for Steve Mannick. They played a close game against George Bagley who is newly returning to the skip role. Team Hannon played the Terry Smith rink who was looking to shake off the rust. Turlough recruited a ringer for his rink after a little draw scoping but did not prevail in the end.
Team Purkey took on Team Ryan/Chebetar in a very close match. Only seven ends where played, have to get faster out there. Defending champion Team Surka returned with a new front end and continued where they left off last year, a win against Team Joseph Smith. Team Surka did some nice recruiting over the summer as they now have Phelicia "party girl" Howland at the lead spot. Always nice to have someone who really likes to play the front end and is a great sweeper. However, as the season progresses and party girl gets her sea legs back, will Derek and Charrissa be able to hang with the late night crew. Absent due to a bye was the new Team Hirx. This team could suprise some other teams as the season progresses. Team Hirx opens the season next week with a game against Team Mannick. Hey David, remember that a broom to the knee (accidentially) is totally in "the spirit of curling".

First week was all about remembering the bad habits and breaking in the bartender.

Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.
JH