Banquet completes season, recognizes curlers
The curling season came to an official close on Saturday night, April 10 with the annual banquet and awards ceremonies.
Trophies and plaques were handed out for regular league play and note was made of the key results of the year. The Chester club won both the Bateman and Nunn Cups. Each challenge trophies with the Windsor Curling club. Richard Barker's rink from Windsor took some measure of revenge and the Snowball championship.
Click here for a complete list.
Eight ender
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From left, Kathy Marczak, Jean Ryan, Beth Atherton, Marlene Stevens and Mary Cross receive a plaque to mark thier eight ender.
Eight ender
One of the highlights of the year's play was only the second eight-ender in club history.
The feat was accomplished in the sixth end on the first night of Ladies league play by a team made up mostly of newcomers to the sport. Some didn't even realize at the time they had scored the curling equivelent of a hole in one. A commemorative plaque was presented to Kathy Marczak, Jean Ryan, Beth Atherton, Marlene Stevens and Mary Cross.
The team was skipped by veteran Marlene Stevens but Kathy and Jean were making their curling debuts and Mary and Beth have only been curling for a couple of years.
Shinyei winner
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President Cathy Rafuse (left) presents the Doug Shinyei Award to 2009-10 recipient, Sherry Chandler.
Doug Shinyei Award
The Doug Shinyei plaque is awarded to a member who explified Doug's many contributions to the club. He was always willing to help others, and improve the club. He had a sportsmanlike attitide, gave of his of time and presented a positive attitude with a gentle approach and genuine concern.
This year's winner was Sherry Chandler who has not only been a willing participant in so many club actvities but was the driving force behind the success of the Snowball Mixed Bonpiel over the last three years.
Executive Appreciation Award
Executive Appreciation Award
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Sherry Chandler (left) presents the Executive Appreciation Award to M. J. Barkhouse
There is no doubt a strong club starts with a strong executive, but they do not operate the club in isolation. Each year they recognize one club member, who is not on the executive, and who has stepped up to make an exceptional contribution to the club and assisted the executive in making the club a better place for all the members, either on or off the ice.
President Cathy Rafuse presented the Executive Appreciation Award for the 2009-10 season to Mary Jane Barkhouse. Known around the club by her initials, M. J. she has arranged for meals from finger food to banquets for the past number of years to rave reviews. When a club event requires a food and M. J. is on the case, it's one thing the executive and event organizers don't have to worry about.
Re-Rocking the House: Adopt a Rock Program
Update: Only 10 stones left
Project Chair Graham Breckon reports that sales are going well. As of Monday afternoon (April 5) there were only 10 of the 64 stones left. Click here to print the form and then mail it and your cheque to the club at 190 Pig Loop Rd, Chester, NS, B0J 1J0.
The goal is to have all 64 rock "sold" by the club banquet to be held this Saturday, April 10.
The Chester Curling club stones are now over forty years old and are showing signs of wear and tear.
Virtually any curler who threw one while we had the pleasure using the Nova Scotia Curling Association stones during the preparation for the 2009 Tankard commented on the improvement over the Chester club rocks.
Click here for a video on how it's done
The club executive has made the decision to "tune up" the rocks. That is done by cutting out the running surfaces and inserting new pieces of granite.
The club executive has decided to go ahead with this project, to be headed by Past President Graham Brekon. The total cost will be about $20,000.00. To defray some of the expense the club has embarked upon an Adopt-a-Rock program.
Members will be able to sponsor a rock. The donation amount is $115.00 per rock. The sponsor's name or a name of the sponsor's choice will be engraved on the rock. This will give sponsors an opportunity to remember past curlers if they wish.
There are 64 rocks in the club and Graham's goal is to have them all adopted in time for the closing banquet on April 10, 2010. For more details please contact Graham Breckon at 902-980-0242 or by email at: gbrecko@eastlink.ca.
The reaction around club has already been very positive. The form can be downloaded here.