Donjames's Fotothing

"PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT MY PHOTOGRAPH"

As I do not have any of my own sports photographs I "nicked" this one off the internet. I'm including the story that was with this photograph.

Photo by Kristie Pearce

Kristie Pearce

Winning a curling match is all about timing, according to St. John’s, N.L. native Brad Gushue.

However, timing was not on his crew’s side during the five day Grey Power World Cup of Curling tournament held at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre. The world cup ran from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7 and is one of the four series of tournaments that make up the Capitol One Grand Slam of Curling. Though the majority of teams were Canadian, teams from Norway, Sweden and Scotland competed.

“I think our team, when we play up to our capabilities, can beat anybody out here,” said Gushue, the 2006 winter Olympic gold medalist. “Unfortunately, all the teams are so good that it comes down to the right day, the right time and whoever plays well in that game. But if we play the way we are, we’re going to have a chance on Sunday.”

In January, Gushue’s team won the 2010 Swiss Chalet National in Vernon, B.C., which is one of the four events in the Grand Slam. In quarter- finals Gushue’s team was eliminated after losing 5-4 to Jeff Stoughton from Winnipeg.

While the curling match on Nov. 4 didn’t draw a large crowd, Bill Lazinski was there for the whole tournament. ‘’’Lazinski attended the tournament with his wife, who worked as a volunteer for the event. He has been curling for 20 years and was thrilled when he found out Windsor was hosting the tournament.

“I’m enjoying it very much,” he said. “I enjoy watching Howard, Gushue and Martin.”

This year’s world cup was the ninth consecutive cup 2010 Olympic gold medalist Kevin Martin has played in. Martin holds 15 Grand Slam titles, making him the all-time leader in event titles. Over the course of his career, Martin’s team has won over $2 million.

The team arrived in Windsor Nov. 3 from the U.S., giving them a day to relax and a chance to get their “curling legs” back underneath them. In day two of competition Martin said team members needed to get adjusted to their surroundings.

“I think we just have to get a little more used to the building. “It’s all about getting comfortable and used to the ice, used to the rocks, used to the building and everything,” said the 44-year-old Martin. “I think we did an OK job with that in the first game and hopefully we can just build on that going forward.”

Martin beat 30-year-old Mike McEwen in the fourth match, but lost in an upset to him in the quarter-finals. He conceded after five ends, losing 8-3. The tournament began with 18 teams and after 49 matches it came down to Stoughton and McEwen to battle for first place. McEwen ended up winning the match 4-2 and took home the $22,500 grand prize.

“King Graham from Kingsville came to watch the matches with his niece, who curls at the Chatham Granite Club. Graham usually watches the Grand Slam on TV and was thrilled to get a chance to see his favorite skipper, Glenn Howard from Coldwater, Ont., compete live.

“I was really excited, really because I love curling,” said Graham, who used to curl at the Curling Club of Kingsville. “It’s just a great sport.”