February 4 – 7, 2010

Twenty four teams came together for the Schenectady Open Bonspiel (S.O.B.) this year, with two new teams from Toronto and Lacolle, QC, in addition to some new participants from the Quinte Curling Club in Ontario. Aksarben Curling Club was also represented, as was Utica, Albany, St Lambert, Broomstones, and Plainfield Curling Clubs. We also had several new Schenectady members play.

Most everyone wore their beach clothes on and off the ice throughout the event which made for a festive time. It was pretty funny considering that it’s February! The Friday entertainment included a wine tasting, and a putting contest on the ice. Later, musicians Frank Jaklitsch and John Cromie provided us with some wonderful Jimmy Buffet tunes. On Saturday night all of the participants had dinner at the homes of various Schenectady Curling Club members, and then returned to the club for dancing to the bluesy sound of Bernie Clark and the Rhythm Sharks.

Finals for the four events were held on Sunday morning. The Wurth Medal was won by "Hoopa Drives the Boat!", the previous two-time winning team of Jack Stopera, Nancy Wurth, and Dave Hooper, with a new team member, Dion Warr. They defeated the "Hasselhoffs", skipped by defending champion Bryan Fink, with Ashley Lawreck, Eric Haase, and Maureen Fodera. Eric couldn’t make the final game and was replaced by his father-in-law Dave Fink because Eric’s wife, Chrissy Haase, went into labor. Little Eric David Haase was born at 4:23 AM the next morning. Congratulations Eric and Chrissy!

The second event Manchester Medal was won by the "Sandbagging Sweeper Dudes" which was skipped by Brian Damon, and included Dan Stuhlman, Brandon Alois, and Chris Fatone. The dudes beat the "Moonshiners", a Lacolle Curling Club team of Perry and Denise Anderson, their daughter Karen Anderson, and her husband Pierre Tetreault.

The third event Icemaker medal went to "Rum Squall", a team of sailing buddies skipped by Dan Machold, with Lana Washington, Kristine Davis, and Amy Machold. Rum Squall defeated "Hang 8", consisting of Tom Lancaster, Fay Navratil, Dan Navratil, and Paula Lancaster.

The fourth event Fitzgerald medal was won by "Three Pirates and a Wench", a team skipped by Matt Green, with Paul Fantie, Rich Munro, and Carol Munro. They defeated "The Geezers" who were Bob Travis, Jack Fitzgerald, Jim Sinkins, and Jim Colton.