Curling

Canada double dips for world curling champions

2008-04-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Kevin Martin and the Canadian men’s curling team won the world championship on Sunday.
The team curled at a 91% shot percentage in the final, beating Scotland 6-3. Canada lost to Scotland in the 1-2 game, and then had to get by Finland in the semi-final to get another crack at Scotland.
That makes are men and women world curling champions this year. I don’t know when the last time was that it happened, maybe never, but I am sure it has been a long while.
It was nice to see Kevin Martin win the championship because it was about the only thing that was missing from his curling resume.
Congratulations to both the men’s and women’s teams.

Sincerely Walt Webb

Canadian Women Win Gold

2008-04-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

Team Canada saved its best game for when it counted most. Having been beaten by China in the 1 vs. 2 game to get the bye to the final. Canada squeaked out a victory over a very good Japanese team in the semi-final to get another crack at the Chinese.
In the final the Chinese team looked human because until the final the whole team had pretty well curled mistake free and all were shooting at over 90%. In the final though, the Chinese team shot at about 80% collectively to give Canada the openings they needed.

Jennifer Jones only curled at about 85% but the rest of the team helped her out by shooting at over 90%. In the end it was enough and Canada prevailed for the gold metal by a final score of 7-4.

It had been quite awhile since a Canadian women’s curling team had won gold on Canadian soil.

Both the Chinese and Japanese teams served notice though that they will be teams to be reckoned with coming up to the Olympics.

Sincerely Walt Webb

Canada Gunning for Curling Gold

2008-04-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

There has been a surprise at the women’s worlds for curling this year. It is not the fact that Jennifer Jones is sitting in top spot with an 8-1 record. I mean usually the Canadian teams (in both women’s and men’s) have stiffer competition just trying to represent the country than they do once they get there. No the surprise I am talking about is the Chinese team which is skipped by Bingyu Wang. They are currently right up there with Canada also at 8-1. They suffered their first lost tonight against Switzerland by a 9-7 count. Earlier it was the Chinese that handed Canada their only loss so for by that same 9-7 score.

Jennifer Jones had high praise for the Chinese even before Tuesday's match up. And I quote.
"They've always been technically sound," Jones said earlier in the week. "They make a lot of open shots. They've obviously improved their finesse and their strategy, which comes with experience."
Hold on here, could there be a Chinese vs. Canada for the gold coming this year. I am not sure but I think it will be a first, if it happens.

Sincerely Walt Webb