Jeremy Freeborn – Olympics Examiner
Edmonton’s Kevin Martin and Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones are the first two skips to qualify for the 2013 Canadian Curling Trials in Winnipeg.
The winner of the trials represents Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Martin, the 2010 Olympic Champion, defeated Glenn Howard 7-4 on Sunday at the Canada Cup of Curling in Cranbrook, British Columbia. While, Jones defeated Chelsea Carey of Winnipeg 9-4.
For Jones, she will have home ice advantage at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. Martin, meanwhile went a perfect 7-0 in the event.
The 2011 Canada Cup is one of three events that are used exclusively to determine who will qualify for the Canadian Curling Trials. The other two events are the 2012 Canada Cup in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and the 2013 Pre-Olympic Trials event at a location still to be determined.
The other five teams are decided based on a ranking system from 2011-2013.
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By Royal Caledonian Curling Club
Hew Chalmers, a director of British Curling, the company that manages and develops elite curling in Britain, has been elected to the board of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
Chalmers, from Stranraer, was nominated by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) – the BOA’s decision and policy-making body – to represent the interests of the winter Olympic sports on the BOA’s board. He replaces David Cranston of the British Biathlon Union, who is standing down.
A director of British Curling since its inception four years ago, Chalmers has considerable experience in the field of high-performance sport and Olympic competition, having coached national teams to medal success at European and World Curling Championships. He has also attended multiple Winter Olympic Games – including the 2010 Games in Vancouver earlier this year – as a team leader and team manager. Chalmers is currently a representative member of curling’s international body, the World Curling Federation (WCF).
Lord Colin Moynihan, chairman of the BOA, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Hew Chalmers as the new winter sports representative on the BOA’s board. We had excellent winter sport candidates running for election, which shows the commitment and support of the winter sports. I am sure that Hew’s expertise will greatly benefit the board. ”
Hew Chalmers said: “I am delighted to join the BOA board and look forward to working with my colleagues to further develop winter sports here in the UK. I will also support existing relationships to ensure that the BOA continues to have a strong, independent and powerful voice both here in the UK and internationally. London 2012 is a unique opportunity and will shine a bright light on all Olympic sports, both summer and winter, creating the platform to transform lives through the power of the Olympic values and success of Team GB.”
Dr Mike Gillespie, chairman elect of British Curling, said: “I’d like to extend my congratulations to Hew on his election to this post. Having had the pleasure of working with Hew on the board of British Curling for the past four years, I know he will bring a huge amount of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to the role.
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By Brandon Hicks, CBC Sports
Kevin Martin
One of the greatest curling skips in history had to wait eight long years for another shot at elusive Olympic gold. And when he got another chance at it in Vancouver, he wasn’t going to be denied. Martin and his rink went a perfect 11-0 in the Olympic tournament, outscoring opponents 87-42 over that span, and capped it all off by cruising to a 6-3 win over Norway in the gold-medal game.
What is he up to? If you think he’s going to rest on his laurels after finally winning Olympic gold, think again. He and his Edmonton-based rink have already won nearly every curling honour you can think of, but they are determined to defend their Olympic title in four years in Sochi.
For now, Martin and his rink of Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert and John Morris, will busy themselves with the Grand Slam of Curling season.
Oh, and also make guest spots on CBC’s curling-themed sitcoms.
Martin, dubbed “The Old Bear,” is targeting 18 Grand Slam victories – the equivalent of Jack Nicklaus’ (The “Golden Bear”) total number of golf majors. He’s on 15 right now. But he came up short at the World Cup of Curling over the weekend, as his rink was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
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He’s the new Russian Bear, Canuck style, so the early returns on this intriguing experiment have been a success.
Winnipeg’s Jason Gunnlaugson, who was recruited by the Russian Curling Federation to help develop their game in time to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, won the Russian men’s championship in Tver, Russia (just north of Moscow) on the weekend.
Gunnlaugson did it with fellow Manitobans Justin Richter and Tyler Forrest and two Russian recruits — Alexander Kozyrev and Alexey Stukalsky.
“It certainly feels a whole lot better than failing,” said Gunnlaugson, who returned to Winnipeg late Tuesday. “It was probably the most stressful event we’ve ever been in. Actually, the whole beginning of our season was like that, dealing with different expectations.”
That’s because if they lost, the Russians would have cut ties with them. Now, the hired hands will represent Russia at the European Championship in Champerny, Switzerland, Dec. 3-11. But, to represent their adopted country, they must officially become Russian citizens before that starts and that process is now getting fast-tracked.
“I have no idea when that becomes official,” Gunnlaugson said. “It could happen the first day we are in Switzerland.”
If so, and Gunnlaugson finishes in the top eight at the Euros, his team will represent Russia at the men’s world championship in Regina in April.
Meanwhile, his squad will compete in World/Manitoba Curling Tour events in Swan River and Stonewall the next couple of weeks.
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