- Ottawa Curling Club
-
Coordinates: 45°24′39″N 75°41′25″W / 45.410814545619°N 75.690148465303°W
Ottawa Curling Club 
Ottawa Curling Club LogoLocation 440 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1W4Information Established 1851 Founder(s) Allan Gilmour Club type Dedicated Ice CCA region OCA Zone 1 Sheets of ice Five Rock colours Red and Black Website http://www.ottawacurlingclub.com/ The Ottawa Curling Club is an historic curling club located in downtown Ottawa on O'Connor Street. It is the oldest curling club in Ottawa, established in 1851 by Allan Gilmour as the Bytown Curling Club. The Club first played on the Rideau Canal until 1858. It subsequently moved to different locations around the city until finally settling at its current location on O'Connor in 1916. In 1931 the Club was expanded to the current capacity of 5 curling sheets. Artificial ice was also installed at that time. In 1998 and 1999, former club member John Morris won the Junior Men's World Curling Championship. The Ottawa Curling Club is one of two clubs in Downtown Ottawa, the other is the Rideau Curling Club, which maintains a rivalry with the Ottawa.
Contents
History
The By Town Curling Club was established in 1851 under the presidency of lumber businessman Allan Gilmour. Its earliest facility was a rudimentary shed located near Lisgar Street adjoining the Rideau Canal. Canal water was used to construct the single ice sheet. The club constructed a new rink on Albert Street east of O'Connor in 1867, expanding play to two sheets. In 1878, the club spent $510 to move the building structure to a property near Wellington Street west of Kent on the former Vittoria Street which is today federal property in the Supreme Court district. The rink structure was replaced by a brick building which opened in December 1906. In 1914, the club lost the land due to a significant federal government expropriation.[1]
The club's present location was opened on December 1916 when premises on O'Connor Street were provided through a gift by James Manuel, a wealthy local businessman, curler and club president.[1] In 1927, the club was threatened with eviction by Toronto General Trust which represented Manuel's estate at that time. The club maintained that the terms of agreement with Manuel that it had rightful control of the property as long as the facilities were maintained for curling.[2] In the following year, the courts ruled that the club had no formal claim to the property due to the club's unincorporated status at that time, combined with the lack of a written will or agreement regarding Manuel's wishes. The club therefore was required to purchase the property from the estate.[3]
Formal incorporation of the Ottawa Curling Club Limited was completed in 1929.[1] Artificial ice and expansion from four to five lanes followed in 1931.[1]
Presidents
- 1851-1895: Col. Allan Gilmour
- 1895-1914: John Manuel
- 1914-1917: James Manuel
- 1918-1921: William Manuel
- 1922-1936: George F. Henderson, KC
- 1936-1942: Hugh Carson
- 1942-1950: Darcy Finn
- 1950-1952: Olin Beach
- 1952-1955: W.E. Hodgins
- 1955-1958: Ted Moffat
- 1958-1961: B. Brocklesby
- 1961-1963: Howard Grills
- 1964-1966: Alan Brown
- 1966-1968: Gordie Perry
- 1968-1970: Harold Scrim
- 1970-1972: Bill Davis
- 1972-1974: E. Macdonald
- 1974-1976: Don MacKinnon
- 1976-1978: Dick Rich
- 1978-1980: Dave Smith
- 1980-1982: Stan Grover
- 1982-1984: Ted Root
- 1984-1986: Pat Craig
- 1986-1988: Bob York
- 1988-1990: Rod Matheson
- 1990-1992: Sandra Chisholm
- 1992-1994: Brad Shinn
- 1994-1996: Steve Mitchell
- 1996-1998: Eric Johannsen
- 1998-2000: Barbara Brown
- 2000-2002: Terry Clark
- 2002-2004: Gord Perry
- 2004-2006: Gayle Greene
- 2006-2008: Gord Critch
- 2008-2010: Geoff Colley
Leagues
The Ottawa Curling Club has a number of different curling leagues that participate at the club. Some are club leagues, while others (like the teachers league or the Rainbow Rockers Curling League) are rentals. Official leagues at the club are the Monday Ladder (open). Business Women (Tuesday), Open Cash (Wednesday), Business Men (Thursday), Mixed (Friday), Saturday Men, Sunday Open, Daytime League, Little rocks/bantam and the University/College League.
Cash League
The cash league which runs Wednesday evenings is the league with the highest calibre of curling. Some of the top curlers in the world curl in the cash league at the Ottawa Curling Club. Winners of games receive money, which can vary depending on the level the teams involved are at. The league is open, so there are both men's and women's teams.
University / College League
For the 2006-07 season, the Ottawa Curling Club introduced a league on Sunday nights for students in the Ottawa area to participate. No university in the city currently has a curling team, so this league was created to facilitate interest in curling from students in Ottawa. At the end of the year, the first championship was played between Carleton University and the University of Ottawa with Carleton winning 6-4.[4]
Club Champions
The club championship is held annually. It is a playoff round featuring the top teams from each of the leagues at the club.
Current famous curlers
- Jenn Hanna - 2005 Scott Tournament of Hearts runner-up, current World Curling Tour participant
- Earle Morris - 1985 Ontario men's champion (represented the R.C.N. Curling Club); 1982 Quebec champion; 1980 Manitoba champion, invented the Stabilizer curling broom, coach of the Australian curling team skipped by Hugh Millikin)
- Jean-Michel Ménard - 2006 Brier Champion and World Championships runner-up
- Eldon Coombe, 1972 provincial champion
- Craig Savill - 2007 Brier and World Champion lead for Glenn Howard
- Rachel Homan - Four time provincial bantam champion, 2006 Canada Games gold medalist, 2010 Canadian Junior champion.
- Andrew Mikkelsen - 1996 Canadian Junior Champion
- Gilles Allaire - 2004 Northern Ontario Mixed Champion
- Chris Gardner - former provincial bantam and junior mixed champion
- Stephanie Hanna - 2005 Scott Tournament of Hearts runner-up (with sister Jenn)
- Matt Paul - 2005 Canada Cup of Curling participant
- Michael Raby - former World Deaf Curling Champion
- Neil Sinclair - 2007 Canada Games silver medalist
- Robyn Mattie - 2003 Canadian Junior Runner-up
- Emma Miskew - Four time provincial bantam champion, 2006 Canada Games gold medalist, 2010 Canadian Junior Champion (third for Rachel Homan)
Source: 2006-07 Ottawa Curling Club Directory. See also Hall of Fame
Famous past members
- Sir Sanford Fleming, inventor of standard time[5]
- Alexander Mackenzie, former Prime Minister of Canada[5]
- John Morris & Brent Laing, 1998 & 1999 World Junior Champions[6]
- Brad Gushue - Alternate for John Morris at the 1998 World Junior Championships (Member in name only)[6]
- Melanie Robillard - curled with Jenn Hanna in 2000 and posed nude in a curling calendar in 2005[7]
- Markku Uusipaavalniemi - skip of the 2006 Olympic silver medalist Finnish team
- Hugh Millikin - skip of the Australian national team
Events
Each year, the Ottawa and Rideau Curling Clubs host the John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier. In 2003, both clubs hosted the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. The club also hosted the 2006 and 2007 Canadian Blind Curling Championships.
Provincial champions
Year Event Skip Third Second Lead Record at Nationals Record at Worlds 1972 Women's Juniors Judy Jamieson Debbie Grant Lynn Britt Denise Allan ? - 1972 British Consols Eldon Coombe Keith Forgues Jim Patrick Barry Provost 4th (6-4) N/A 1979 Men's Masters Ted Root Ralph Smith Bob Martin Elwyn MacDonald N/A N/A 1985 Intermediate Men's Russ Taylor Bruce Lonsbery Al Reed Jack Casserly N/A N/A 1990 Men's Masters Ken Hart Roy James Cec Morris Rae Brown N/A N/A 1993 Silver Tankard Brad Shinn
Ian MacAulayJohn Theriault
Bill GambleDave Korim
Richard GroulxGeoff Colley
Barry ConradN/A N/A 1993 Challenge Terry Clark Jack Casserly Wayne Lennon Ian MacAulay N/A N/A 1995 Men's Colts Ken Campbell John Galligan James Sutherland Steve O'Brien N/A N/A 1997 Men's Masters Rod Matheson Jack Ross Bob McKenzie Gord Cummings N/A N/A 1997 Senior Mixed Paul Engelbrecht Bonnie Matheson Rod Matheson Darlene Engelrecht N/A N/A 1997 Men's Juniors John Morris Craig Savill Matt St. Louis Mark Homan 2nd (10-6) 1998 Women's Juniors Jenn Hanna Amanda Vanderspank Julie Colquhoun Stephanie Hanna 2nd (10-3) - 1998 Men's Juniors John Morris Craig Savill Andy Ormsby Brent Laing 1st (12-3) 1st (11-0) 1999 Women's Trophy Laurie Shields Barb Wheatley Andrea Leganchuk Sandra Ribey N/A N/A 1999 Men's Juniors John Morris Craig Savill Jason Young Brent Laing 1st (11-4) 1st (10-1) 2000 Senior Mixed Reg Plaster Donna Lamoureux Randy Garland Dianne Sullivan N/A N/A 2002 Women's Trophy Eveline Shaw Laurie Shields Andrea Leganchuk Sue Kollar N/A N/A 2002 Women's Tankard Eveline Shaw
Joyce PotterLaurie Shields
Muriel PotterMargaret Pross
Janelle SadlerSue Kollar
Faye LinsemanN/A N/A 2003 Senior Mixed Randy Garland Eveline Shaw Roger Shaw Margaret Pross N/A N/A 2003 Senior Women's Joyce Potter Muriel Potter Janelle Sadler Faye Linseman 3rd (9-3) - 2005 Men's Masters Rod Matheson Eldon Coombe Ron Brown Georges Bourgon 3rd (5-3) N/A 2005 Scott Tournament of Hearts Jenn Hanna Pascale Letendre Dawn Askin Stephanie Hanna 2nd (11-6) - 2009 Women's Juniors Rachel Homan Emma Miskew Alison Kreviazuk Lynn Kreviazuk 2nd (10-3) - 2010 Women's Juniors Rachel Homan Emma Miskew Laura Crocker Lynn Kreviazuk 1st (13-0) 2nd (9-2) 2011 Men's Juniors Mathew Camm Scott Howard David Mathers Andrew Hamilton 2nd (12-4) - 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Rachel Homan Emma Miskew Alison Kreviazuk Lisa Weagle 4th (9-5) - 2011 Men's Masters Layne Noble Rick Bachand Randy Garland Cal Hegge N/A References
- ^ a b c d Gladish, W. M. (17 February 1951). "Centennial Bonspiel Foremost Competition". Ottawa Citizen. p. 20. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=wv8uAAAAIBAJ&pg=7255,3010869. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
- ^ "Curling Club Claims Property Ownership". Ottawa Citizen. 15 March 1927. p. 2. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=gjg0AAAAIBAJ&pg=7341,6953139. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
- ^ "Ottawa Curling Club Must Now Purchase Plant". Ottawa Citizen. 9 April 1928. p. 1. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=KXMuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4021,3084810. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
- ^ The Charlatan - Students catch curling fever
- ^ a b Ottawa Curling Club Through the Years
- ^ a b http://www.worldcurling.org/Statistics/tournament.asp?tid=131
- ^ Ottawa Curling Club Playdown Results
External links
Categories:- Sports clubs established in 1851
- Curling clubs in Canada
- Sports venues in Ottawa
- Curling in Ottawa
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
