Achilles 25th Bonspiel Huge Success

Bob Mulig chaired his 16th Achilles Bonspiel with 22 teams participating. The spiel had six teams from Canada, 11 GNCC teams and 5 Schenectady rinks.

Bob and his beautiful silent partner (wife) Donna, did an outstanding job again this year. Things clicked like clock-work. This endeavor brings much needed monies to the treasury and is truly a club project with many, many people participating. Bob would like to thank Pete Sheehan for the long hours put in by the ice committee. The food service was expertly handled by Char Colton who was in charge of lunches, snacks and dinners and by Dotty Sheehan on breakfast. Members who served on these committees included: Bunny Allaire, Shirley Burgess, Fran Rinella, Patty Robbins, Ursula and Pete Hilborn, Bill Rolston, Matt Staccone, George Curtis, Char Fitzgerald, Jerry Miller, George Wedekind, Betty Schell, Harriet Severenko and MJ Miller. Charlie McCullough did the draw board. Thanks to all!!!

Dave Durrant of Plainfield won the first event by defeating Don Knapp's Utica team. He had Bill Peskoff, Schenectady's own Fred Mackintosh and Jason Valetutto.

The second event, Iroquois, was won by Gert Messing's Ardsley team by edging out last year's Achilles Champion, RCN Ottawa with Johnny Morrissey at skip. The third event, the Chabawab (Can't Hit A Bulls Ass With A Broom) was won by Kevin Adams of Otterburn Park. Larry South of Glenmore "unexpectedly" won the Fourth Event Stockade by besting St. Lambert's Paul Fantie.

In the Saturday afternoon finals, George Austin's team from NY Caledonian won the Fifth event and received the appropriate fifth of medicinal spirits for their efforts. Jack Stopera, Jim Sinkins, Jim Campbell, and Dan Machold were the disappointed runners-up. In the all Schenectady Grudge Match, Charlie McCullough, Jim Colton, Dave Hooper and Dion Warr prevailed over Pat Fitzgerald, Jeff Mayott, Art Merkley and Shaun-Paul Manore. As runner up, Pat Fitzgerald has the distinction of being a repeat winner in the Stosh Kowalski "I should have gone bowling" Award. Two other SCC teams that came up short were: Skip Vic Temple with Howard Knudsen, Matt Staccone and Linc Cathers and Bob Mulig's team which included Jack Fitzgerald, Dave Spencer and Pete Sheehan. Which only proves you can't run a bonspiel and win it, too!

Ten-year patches were awarded to two former SCC members, Bob Chick and Dave Fink. Dave Ryan Jr. also received a patch. Ian Nelson received a monogrammed duffel bag for having attended the spiel for 20 years. Otterburn Park Club presented us with a crest for display on our ice house wall.

The prestigious "Horse's Ass" Award was presented to Glenmore's Larry South, not only for his history of good humor and antics, but also for facilitating the appearance of one actual Horse's Ass award honoree, John Gurman and several other potential candidates both past and present. Larry's win was largely based on the down rink's assessment of their chances with Larry as skip. Go figure.

Frank Jaklitsch and Scotty West provided spirited entertainment for a lively crowd. Former SCC member, Brian Chick, provided added enjoyment on guitar while Kevin O'Connor did the vocals. If you want to know more about this event please go to our web site to see team rosters, game results and pictures, including one of Mr. Sinkins vacuuming.

HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

FUN BEGINS AT 6:00PM

SOUPS, HORS D'OEUVRES, HAM, TURKEY, BEEF
SEAFOOD NEWBURG, ALFREDO, TORTELLINI/VEGGIES
MINI-ROLLS, ASSORTED BREADS
LEMON, CHOCOLATE, COCONUT CREAM TARTS
FANCY BAR COOKIES

$10.00 PP -- CHILDREN ARE FREE

DEADLINE FOR SIGN-UP DEC 12TH

CURLAPALOOZA IS COMING!!!

What is CURLAPALOOZA? It's a fun afternoon mini-point spiel on Saturday, Dec 18th. Get that holiday shopping done or recover from the Club's Holiday party, then come have some fun on the ice. Your rink will remain the same throughout the match, but your sheet and opponent will change. When the curling is finished it's back to thw warm room for drinks and appetizers. Every player wins a T-shirt and the Winners get a special T-shirt with bragging rights for the year. Join us for CURLAPALOOZA! Sign up on bulletin board. Any questions call Jon Kunin.

FODERA TO SPEAK AT OLL

On December 3rd the OLL will have a guest presenter, Maureen Fodera. Most of you know her, but if not you should know that she has been curling for twenty years and for the last twelve years Maureen has curled competitively. She and her team regularly compete in cash spiels, GNCC and the U.S. Women's National Championships. They are currently ranked fifth in the nation. Maureen considers her strengths to be sweeping techniques, communication, and timing, so that is what she will cover for the group.

The Latest From Jimmy Ridenour

The round robin portion of the Pacific Curling CHampionship is almost over, and the field is separating into the teams that will move into the finals and have a shot at representing the Pacific Region in the Worlds and the also-rans. Coming into the morning men's draw, only the Aussies and Kiwis were undefeated. The New Zealanders managed to hang on in a nail biter to beat the Japanese by one stone. The Australians, led by skip Hugh Milliken, were not so fortunate, losing 7-3 to the Chinese team. It was an ironic outcome, as the first time the Chinese team played in the PCC, they defeated Milliken in their very first game, much to the surprise of everyone. I am told that Milliken's reaction at the time was less than gentlemanly; this time, there were no fireworks, at least not on the ice. We expect to hear more from Hugh later, however. The men have only one round robin game remaining, in which the Aussies and Kiwis will meet. The top 2 of 6 teams will go to the worlds.

On the women's side, only the Japanese are undefeated. They squeaked out a victory on the last rock last evening against the New Zealand women, as the Kiwi skip made a questionable call on which turn to use, came narrow and crashed, leaving the Japanese with a counter in the house to break a tie.

The teams from Chinese Taipei are trailing the pack on both sides of the competition. The team had spent some time training in Canada before this event. Also, I believe the Australians may have been in Utica at the cashpiel.

Making ice over here has been a bit of a challenge, as we have to go through intermediaries to turn equipment on or off, and often find ourselves having to answer the question "why" many times. Sometimes I am not sure if we make ourselves understood on the technical matters or if we just wear them down with stubbornness and persistence!

I return to Schenectady, Nov 30th. I look forward to seeing the ice shed and all of you again!

EMPIRE UPDATE

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS -- We can still use some items for our silent auction. However, we don't need anymore bath/beauty items. If you have any questions please call Carol Munro.

PARTY HORS D'OEUVRES -- Patty Robbins and Fran Rinella are requesting that you sign up for hors d'oeuvres for the Thursday, Jan. 13th opening party. The sign up is in the locker room.

CENTENNIAL HELP!!!!

For our upcoming Centennial we want to create a mascot similar to what is done at the Olympics. An example of one idea is on the left. It should be curling related and fun. If you have an idea please give it to Pete Sheehan.

GOT STONES?

Those black and white T-shirts are for sale! $10 and you can own an original design by the famous shirt designer, Victor Rodriguez. Also, still available are a few of his limited edition Curl For Life shirts ($10). Both make great holiday gifts for friends and family, advertise our club in the community and the proceeds go into our coffers. Help your club and buy three or four!