Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-11-15, Page 20Page 18 Times -Advocate, November 15, 1989 C ■ ■■i■■ ■ ■ down from an army in y ba lmer and re- assembled at the new site in Exeter in May 1960. Most of the construction work was By Wayne Proctor Nof all winter sports enthu- siasts spend their time at the South Huron Rec Cen- tre. For almost 30 years now, many people young and old enjoy sever-. al nights a week in a building next to the Ausable River called the Ex- eter Curling Club. What other country can boast having both the men's and wom- en's world champions in a specific sport? Last year both the men's and women's world champions came from Canada. We have always had a rich tradition in curling at an international level. The sport is quite popular on a A game for ever one throughout the year across the province. Teams travel to other clubs for bonspiels and according to OCA rules, because they are there for so long, they must be sup- plied with a meal, which is paid for 'n from the surrounding area. According to long-time member and former men's president, Jim Chapman, curling has enjoyed its -ups grid downs in the 1960s and \'i�s. Presently there are about 120 male and 90 i female members. Chapman said the club could handle about 150 men and 120 women. here in Exeter as well, but that popularity is cresting right now due to the sucCess of Canadians internationally. Exeter has the only curling rink in the immediate area. As well as Exeter, it also serves Lucan, Ailsa Craig, Parkhill, Grand Bend, Zu- rich, Hensall and Kirkton, al- though some from the Kirkton area use the St. Marys Club. The nearest club to Exeter's is the one at Vanastra. People have been curling in Ex- eter for about 40 or 50 years, al- though the current structure has only been around for almost 30 years. Prior to the present building being erected in 1960 the old are- na was home to curling in Exeter. Although popular back then, more people are participating to- day. It seemed adequate at the time, but the need grew for curling to have a place of its own in Exet- er. A new place was needed be- cause it would have a better quali- ty of ice. Hockey skates create bad ice conditions for curling. At the end of the 1960 season land was donated by Gibb Dow, the present owner of Ironwood Golf Course, on the banks of the Wendy Anderson demonstrates for almost 20 years now and says, "I can probably do it in my sleep". The club relies heavily on the volunteers, especially at the start of the year as the ice is ready to go in. All of the cooking and•the bartend- ing is also done on a volunteer ba- sis. Each year the club tries to get an adequate amount of leagues start- ed, covering all ranges of curlers. Women curl Wednesday night and one afternoon a week. Men curl Monday, Tuesday Thursday and Sunday nigh ' e mixed action takes pla riday night, with Sen- ior's F ' y aftemoon's and Jun- ior's have the ice Tuesday after- noons. At the start of each season, the club offers a clinic in which they encourage new curlers to come out and give it a try and see how they do, with hopes they might enjoy it and want to join a regular league. The membership numbers stay quite constant. A certain amount leave each year, but they seem to be replaced each year with the new people who enjoy the sport, ac- cording to Kerslake. While curling is similar:to golf in that it is a social activity, that is probably the only similarity, said Chapman. The only equipment a curler needs is their own broom, which would cost $30 and a slider to put on their shoes, which makes it easi- er to move on the ice. A slider is about $7. A more experienced curler would probably buy his or her own pair of curling shoes instead of a slider, and maybe a pair of flexible pants., A membership is also less expen- sive than a season of golf. The membership fee at the Exeter Curl- ing Club is $145 for men, $115 for. women. It is a moderate cost for the women because they don't curl as often. The local club also has economi- cal fees for beginning and younger members. A new curler can have his or her first draw (half a sea- son), free to see if they really want to stick with it and must ortly pay for the second draw of the year. The club has sessions for Junior or High School curlers Tue§day af- proper form for releasing a rock. $65°for post se5condarry st dents The Tuesday afternoon sessions have been quite popular over the years, according to Chapman. For anyone who hasn't curled be- fore, the strategies are quite sim- ple, it's just getting them accom- plished that is tough. Each team, (or rink as they are called), is made up of four mem- bers, called the lead, second, vice and skip. The skip is the leader of volunteer basis and it was done quickly enough so that all of the curlers never missed a sweep, or take-out, they were ready to use the in the past and I would say it is about that right now. We have nev- er had a lot of curlers. We have re- mained quite constant." said Chap - same. It takes a great deal of 1 to slide your rock over 100 feet of ice to the other end of the rink and have it stop on a dime. It is 140 feet from end to end in a curling rink but a player is al - Sweeping is important in curling lowed a certain length of time, as in bowling, to release the rock. Also like bowling, if they release the rock beyond that line they re- ceive a penalty. If an opponent's rock is in the house then your player has to try and throw a take- out rock to eliminate the opposi- tion from scoring. with their entry fee. - . While nobody has ever left the Exeter Curling Club and gone on to become famous internationally, the local club has had quite a'few well- known curlers grace its ice. Recently the back-up men's team - that was chosen to compete at the 1988 Olympics curled here as well Building frame goes up in 1960 Each of the four team members as one team that went on to become throws two rocks in each end and Canadian Senior Champions last the entire game is made up from year. eight to 10 ends. The teams with It takes about two weeks, depend - the highest score at the end of the ing on the weather, to get the ice last end is declared the winner. ready for playing at the end of the The average length of a match is summer, all of which is done with about two hours. the volunteer help. The building is A bonspicl is a major game or not used at all durinthe summer Releasing the rock in middle of the house Ausable River in Exeter to create a new curling club, with the sole provisibn that a road must also be created for access to it. The building, which houses the present sheets of ice, was torn new place at the start of the next season. The lounge and locker room are- as were all built new. Although the curling club is con- sidered to be private, anyone can man. Chapman also said curlers have been more rural than urban in the local club, "although that has noth- ing to do with how good a curler you are." "I think curling is a strong k` social activity because you repla game in the lounge. t►� Planning strategy before release a Currently, the men have four nights of curling and the ladies have one night and one afternoon, while one evening is for mixed competition. The ladies do cooking for the club members during spe- cial events like bonspiels, when teams come from out of town and must be supplied with a meal. The club also has a fully -licensed liquor lounge. Last year only the lower level was licensed and only on special permits, but this year the entire building, except for the ice surface, is licensed. According to another long-time member Jim Kerslake, curling is a definite social activity, "even more go than golf," says Kerslake. "I think it is a strong social activ- ity because you can replay the en- tire game in the lounge once you— are done. Curling is•done in a more compact area, as opposed to being all spread out over a golf course. It can also get quite noisy on the ice with eight people on each rink and with four games going on simulta- neously," said Kerslake. The club has a full-time mainte- naner man, while the rest of the work must be done on a volunteer basis. Elmer Rowe has been main - All members must take turns tending bar the team and directs the others as to how hard and which direction to throw their rocks. The basic object of the game is to get your rocks, or stones, onto the bull's eye, or counting house as it is commonly called, with eight attempts per team, while prevent- ing your opponents from doing the championship. The local club hosts bonspiels almost every weekend from January to the end of the season. Bonspiels are three major games or matches all played in one day. The Ontario Curling Association is responsible for set- ting dates of all im •rtant matches months. Last year the club spent over $28,000 on renovations laying sty- rofoam below the ice surface, as in- surance it will stay level through the entire season. It was the first time in recent memory the club spent any money trying to improve what they already have. The club is always looking for new members, and encourages new blood to take the beginner clinic to sec if they like the sport. For more information on joining the Exeter Curling tClub, call 235- 0200. raining the ice surface every day Workers celebrate as building goes up in 1960 • 4