2012 Rocky Top Bonspiel

The Canadians are coming! The Canadians are coming. We just got back from the 2012 Rocky Top Bonspiel at the Great Smoky Mountain Curling Club in Knoxville, TN. To say this year’s spiel was more challenging is an understatement. There were 14 full teams from Canada (all but the BC team from Ontario), there were two teams with at least one or two Canadians and one team with two Canadians AND a World Champion Curler (Yes Debbie McCormick) who, by the way, is the most gracious person and we are indeed fortunate to have her coming to the Classic. There were two full Triangle Teams (Lance Wright, Howie Zweifel, Clifford Gray, Lea Franklin and Sue Mitchell, Ken Kato, Patrick Rabenold and Amy Hobbie), one part team (Dave Hamilton and Jeff Turner with Beau Welling and Kerry Murphy) and Peter Zazowski playing with Bob and Carole Zazowski and Jeff DeNeen. To make a long story short Sue’s team won one game and the rest of us were shut out. There were some REALLY close games and some, well, not so close. Sue’s team had the great fortune (or misfortune depending on your point of view) to play against Debbie McCormick. This was a team that made few mistakes and if your shots were not spot on they made you pay and unfortunately Sue’s team lost, but game well played. The Cheesy Beavers were the first event winners, now they won last year as well but only the Cheesy part was the same (Heather Van Sistine and Emilia Juocys) the two beavers were different (Gerry Geurts and Sean Murray) I’m not even sure they were Beavers, anyway congrats to everyone and Thanks to all the people at the Smoky Mountain Curling.