| BONSPIEL WORTH THE SHORTY DRIVE |
| Wednesday, 12 September 2012 06:44 | |||
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Joe Pavia, Ottawa Sun
It’s a Shorty drive.
The Brockville Country Club is hosting the 16th annual AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Curling Classic, beginning Thursday. The drive is worth it to see the plethora of early-season curling talent compete. “The list of competitors reads like a Who’s Who of curling, with teams skipped by world champions Jeff Stoughton, Kevin Koe, 2006 Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue (and 2006 Brier champ) Jean-Michel Menard,” said event chairman Gord McCrady Jr. On the women’s side, four-time junior world champion Eve Muirhead from Scotland will be on hand, as will three squads likely to battle for Ontario Scotties honours — two are past Shorty champs — Sherry Middaugh (2011) and Rachel Homan (2009, ’10) as well as last year’s provincial Scotties winner Tracy Horgan. John Epping, who won the men’s title last year, is returning. Menard and Gushue won the Shorty in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Due to work conflicts Glenn Howard will not be playing, but his lead, Craig Savill, is subbing as second on Koe. The new-look Brad Jacobs rink from the Soo is headed to the Shorty after winning the Ontario Curling Tour championship on Sunday. Jacobs is in the same pool as Gushue, whose former player, Ryan Fry, is now curling for Jacobs. The action begins Thursday at 4, with the finals scheduled for Sunday at 3. Tickets are available at the door. Go tobrockvillecountryclub.com/shorty for more information. WINNER’S CIRCLE The Sinclair family — Jamie, Neil, Alex and Graham — won the inaugural Grits ’N Granite bonspiel in Charlotte, N.C ... It wasn’t enough for Jamie, as she led her team to victory at the Carleton Heights Junior bonspiel on Sept. 2. With her were Holly Donaldson, Erin Jenkins and Katelyn Wasylkiw. At the same venue, Almonte’s Lauren Horton, with her team of Andrea Sinclair, Leigh Gustafson and Jessica Armstrong, captured the Women’s Cashspiel. In Scotch Doubles, Ben Miskew and Brett Lyon-Hatcher earned the crown. NEW ’SPIEL The Navy will host the Falling Rocks Novice Open cashspiel Sept. 28-30. It’s designed for players with less than five years of experience. Contact Stephanie McClennan at 613-875-5909 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . WHERE TO PLAY If you or your children are looking for a place to curl visit the Ottawa Valley Curling Association website. It has a simple chart that lists which facilities have openings. Some great news for bantam recreational curlers as well. Last season this column criticized the fact that youth have nowhere to curl just for fun. It raised quite the howl across the country. The Manotick Curling Center is starting a recreational league for youth every Wednesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. There will be no set teams. Contact Roz Kee at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . That same center is seeking curlers for Tuesday women league, Saturday evening mixed and Tuesday and Thursday mixed draw. Contact Steve at 613 523-0693. They also have three s
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