MEDIA

Club curlers play for championship

February 25, 2009

Dominion event set for Moncton March 6-8

Finally, a championship for the "club curler" is now a reality.

This year, for the first time, grassroots curling teams, those who throw rocks for the recreational and social aspect of the sport, will have the opportunity to compete for a provincial championship.

In New Brunswick, the Dominion Curling Club Championship, will be staged in Moncton, March 6-8.

Teams, both men's and women's, representing curling clubs from throughout the province, will take part in the championship, which is sponsored by the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company.

Curling Beausejour is hosting the event with some games being played at the Beaver Curling Club.

Whereas championships are usually reserved for the elite competitors, tourney spokesman Louis Dallaire said yesterday it's nice to see some of the regular curlers getting involved in championship play.

"It should be a lot of fun for everyone," Dallaire said. "But I expect there will be some stiff competition, too."

Dallaire said about 24 men's teams and 16 women's teams have already registered but a final tally probably won't be known until this weekend.

"We have a committee meeting on Thursday and we'll know more then," Dallaire said. "Some of the clubs around the province haven't chosen their representatives yet."

Each club in the province was able to decide how they wanted to select a team for the event. Some went with a single-day tournament while others used league results.

"It was entirely up to each club," Dallaire said. There was no pre-determined format."

The provincial winners, both men and women, will advance to the Canadian championship slated for St. George's Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke, Ont., in November.