RICHMOND CURLING CLUB MEMBERS HANDBOOK Revision Date: 2016 ~1~ Welcome! We are so glad you have chosen to become a member of the Richmond Curling Club. We are committed to serving our membership, so please do not hesitate to contact any one of our Club Directors with any questions, concerns or compliments. We welcome your suggestions and advice and will make every effort to earn your continued support. As a member, it is your privilege to participate in the many different activities the Club offers. Please keep in mind that our Club’s ability to offer its varied services and events depends greatly on the active participation of the membership, so we encourage you to volunteer whenever and wherever you can. Volunteering is also a great way to get to know other Club members. TABLE OF CONTENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................................................................................. 3 ICE TECHNICIAN & CLUB ADMINISTRATOR ........................................................... 3 CURLING IN RICHMOND ............................................................................................... 4 YOUR MEMBERSHIP ...................................................................................................... 4 CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT ...................................................................................... 5 CLOTHING .................................................................................................................... 5 EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................................. 6 SAFETY ............................................................................................................................. 6 TEAM COMPOSITION ..................................................................................................... 7 LEAD .............................................................................................................................. 7 SECOND......................................................................................................................... 7 THIRD/VICE .................................................................................................................. 7 SKIP ................................................................................................................................ 8 SWEEPING ........................................................................................................................ 8 SCORING ........................................................................................................................... 8 SCOREBOARD .................................................................................................................. 9 ACCESS TO THE CURLING RINK ............................................................................... 10 INSTRUCTION ................................................................................................................ 10 MEMBER COMMUNICATION ..................................................................................... 11 ETIQUETTE/RULES ....................................................................................................... 12 THE CURLING SHEET................................................................................................... 14 CURLING TERMS .......................................................................................................... 15 LEAGUES ........................................................................................................................ 17 CLUB ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................................... 19 LIST OF SOCIAL EVENTS / CLINICS ......................................................................... 20 ~2~ BOARD OF DIRECTORS The following positions comprise the Board of Directors: (for a list of the current names on the BOD, please see webpage http://richmond.ovca.com/boardofdirectors.php) President First Vice President Second Vice President Past President Secretary Treasurer Membership Kitchen Daytime Draw Junior Programs Social Bar Ice and Facilities The Club also has unelected volunteers who act as representatives for the OCA (Ontario Curling Association), the LCA (Ladies Curling Association) and as Historian The Board of Directors elections are held at the Annual General Meeting in June. All members are encouraged to attend. Most positions are for a one-year term. We are an incorporated Not-For-Profit organization run by a voluntary Board of Directors to ensure our constitution is administered for the benefit of our members. We rely on an extensive network of volunteers and encourage each of you to get involved and contribute to the success of our Club. ICE TECHNICIAN & CLUB ADMINISTRATOR Terri Suffel is our Ice Technician. Although she is not a member of the Board, she is an integral part of the Club. Thanks to her, our ice is the best in Ottawa and the Valley. Terri also operates our Club pro shop. Sue McFadzen is the Club Administrator. She is the one who keeps the Club running smoothly. Her office hours are generally 10 am to 2 pm Monday to Friday. The telephone number for the curling Club is 613-838-5244 and the email address is [email protected]. ~3~ CURLING IN RICHMOND The Richmond Curling Club was established in 1960. Photographs of all the Club’s PastPresidents have been mounted on the Wall of Fame upstairs in the dining area. The original Club was located in the arched metal building next door and had two sheets of natural ice. The first rock was thrown on December 16th, 1960. In 1980, with the help of a Wintario Grant, the current Club was built. YOUR MEMBERSHIP As a playing member, your membership includes: League Play – You can curl in the league(s) or draw(s) for which you signed up and paid your membership Sparing – You can spare in any draw for which you are eligible. For eligibility, contact the draw chair for that event. Bonspiels and Competitions – You are entitled to enter any bonspiel or competition you choose in our Club or any other club or association provided you comply with the rules of entry. Information on bonspiels and competitions can be found on Club bulletin boards and/or on the website. Practice Ice – Practice ice sheets are sometimes available through the week. It is always good to check with the ice technician or Club administrator for availability and ensure the Club is open. The Club telephone is 613-838-5244. Rules of Play – We subscribe to the rules of the Canadian Curling Association (CCA), www.curling.ca and the Ontario Curling Association (OCA), www.ontcurl.com. Missing a game – If you are unable to play your game, you are responsible for arranging a spare and informing your Skip as early as possible. There is usually a list of spares for your draw, however you may call any member or ask the people who are curling before or after your game. Cancelling your game – If your game needs to be cancelled or rescheduled, the Skip is responsible to inform his/her team and the Skip of the opposing team as early as possible. (S)He should also inform the Draw Chair. Social Events and Club Spiels – You can participate in all Club social events and Club Spiels for which you are eligible for the nominal fee charged for those specific events. Eligibility is usually posted with the event sign up. These are really fun events and give you an opportunity to get to know members who may not curl in your league. We encourage participation in these events and in some events, welcome the participation of your friends who are not members. Check the bulletin boards and the Club website regularly as new events are posted throughout the season. Events are confirmed as soon as adequate ticket sales and/or registration numbers have been achieved. Volunteering – All members are encouraged to support the Club by volunteering. Richmond Curling Club is run by the generosity and dedication of its volunteers. ~4~ There are many areas where your expertise is welcomed. Board members can be contacted at any time to inform you of any volunteer opportunities that you might enjoy. Their contact numbers are available on the Club’s website and in the Club telephone directory, which will be available a few weeks after registration. A volunteer sign-up sheet is also available at registration and specific opportunities to volunteer will be posted on the Club bulletin boards. We are able to maintain our low membership fees based on the assumption that each and every member will volunteer at least once throughout the year. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT CLOTHING Curling is a sport where ease of movement is critical. It requires bending and stretching during the course of the game. During a game you will spend about two (2) hours on the ice surface, but you will also wish to be comfortable as you enjoy both pre- and postgame chats. A pair of curling shoes is nice but if you are just starting this sport, a clean pair of running shoes worn only while curling will do nicely. They MUST NOT be worn outside because even the smallest bit of dirt on the ice surface can cause a rock to go off course. If your shoes are not insulated you will probably wish to wear a very warm pair of socks. There are also insoles made of reflective material that you can place in your shoes to provide a barrier between your foot and the cold surface. Your pants should be such that they will allow for plenty of stretch and free movement both during delivery and sweeping. Available on the market are curling pants, jogging suits, stretch leggings, and yoga pants. Most people find it difficult or uncomfortable to curl in jeans, cords or dress pants. It is also recommended that curling pants not be worn outside in case they may come in contact with road salt or grit, which could then be transferred to the ice surface. Dressing in layers is suggested for your upper body. At the start of a game you may find it cold or damp on the ice. As the game progresses, with increased movement you may wish to peel off the outer layer. Some people layer, for example, turtleneck, vest, sweater/fleece and jacket. It is preferable not to have fleece as your outermost layer anytime during the game. The constant rubbing of your arms against your body causes small bits of material to fall on the ice. These can get caught under the rock, causing it to go off course. It will not take you long to know what works best for you. (Skips tend to dress warmly as they sweep less.) Generally, people wear curling gloves or mitts that have a non-slip palm, which keeps the hands warm and protects them while sweeping. ~5~ A considerable amount of body heat is lost through your head; some people like to wear a hat. Curling clothing and equipment can be purchased from Club pro shops or retail outlets such as Goldline. These are suggestions and in short order you will find your own comfortable way to dress. EQUIPMENT Little equipment is needed to enjoy this sport. A slider is a piece of Teflon worn on the bottom of your shoe, which allows you to slide smoothly while delivering your rock. The slider can be a separate article that attaches to your shoe with an elasticized band or it can be attached directly to your shoe. If your slider is attached to your shoe you will also need a gripper, a rubber cover to protect the slider from dirt and to keep you from losing your footing on the carpeted area at each end of the ice. Some curlers also slide when they are sweeping, but it is recommended to use a two gripper sweeping method, taught and advocated by CCA. A broom is the other piece of equipment that is required; they come in a variety of shapes, textures and handle configurations. If you choose not to purchase a broom, there are “Club” brooms available for your use. SAFETY The safety of curlers is our utmost concern. If you see any curler who is unsteady or having difficulty, please ensure that appropriate steps are taken to have them assisted off the ice. The Skip or another involved curler should notify the Convener of the draw of these situations as soon as possible. Following these simple suggestions will help prevent both falls and injuries on the ice: Step onto the ice, gripper foot first. Step off the ice, slider foot first. Warm up before starting the game. Face the skip when sweeping (this is taught at the novice and intermediate clinics) Wear a gripper when sweeping. Watch for stray rocks from other sheets. Wear a helmet or padded headband as a safety precaution against falls. DEFIBRILLATOR – When you enter the ice from the downstairs lounge, you will notice the location of the defibrillator and First Aid Kit mounted on the wall. Several ~6~ staff and members are trained in the use of the defibrillator. Instructions on its use are with the defibrillator and training is not required to use it. Trained or not, using the defibrillator can save a life! TEAM COMPOSITION A Team or Rink is made up of four players; a Lead, a Second, a Third or Vice, and a Skip. LEAD The Lead is responsible for the coin toss with the opposing Lead. The winner usually chooses to have “last rock” for the first end and allows the opposing Lead to choose rock colour, although the winner of the toss is also entitled to choose rock colour and allow the other team to have last rock. The team without last rock then delivers their rock first. The Lead delivers the first two rocks for the team. After the lead rocks have been delivered, (s)he will then sweep the rocks being delivered by the rest of the team. SECOND The Second delivers the next two rocks for their team and sweeps rocks being delivered by the rest of the team. While sweeping, s/he is also trying to determine how far the rock will travel down the ice and provides that information to the Skip. THIRD/VICE The Third/Vice delivers the third set of two rocks and is also responsible for sweeping the Lead and Second rocks. It is usually the Third who holds the broom when it is the Skip’s turn to deliver their rocks. After the Skip’s rocks have been delivered, it is the duty of the Thirds from both teams to determine the points scored in the end and perform the measure should it not be clear which rock is in scoring position. If a measure is required and you are unsure how to proceed, ask the opposing Third or the Skips for assistance. The Thirds should be the only people in the House at the conclusion of each end. It is also the responsibility of the Third to mark the score on the ice and on the draw sheets located on the boards in the lounge. ~7~ SKIP The Skip stands at the far end of the sheet and holds the broom for the delivery of the rocks by the other team members. The broom is a visual aide for the person delivering their rock. The positioning of the broom is decided by the Skip’s ability to “read” or understand the movement of the rocks on the ice. Positioning of the broom will be dependent on ice conditions, the type of shot being played, and the position of other rocks in and around the house. The Skip who delivers the last rock in the end is said to have “the Hammer”. SWEEPING While sweeping, you will need to communicate to your Skip where you believe the rock will come to rest and sweep the rock accordingly so that it ends up where the Skip has requested (no mean task). The two team members who are not currently throwing, travel beside and sweep (as necessary) the rock being delivered by their teammate. The purpose of sweeping is to help a rock travel further or keep it straight. To be safe and effective, sweepers should be positioned on opposite sides of the running rock. The Skip or Third is viewing the line of the rock as it travels down the ice. (S)He will call on the sweepers to start or stop sweeping at any given time. It is difficult for the Skip to judge the speed of the rock. Communication from the sweepers helps the Skip determine where the rock will come to rest. SCORING Most Club and bonspiel games are eight ends. Competitive games are often ten ends. In each end the rock(s) of the same colour closest to the centre of the house count as one point each. The score and any measuring is determined by the Thirds of both teams; all other players should remain outside the Hog line. At the end of the game, the Third should note the final score and the number of ends won by their team. This information is then recorded on the draw sheet in the lounge. As a courtesy, often the winning Third will record the information for both teams. ~8~ SCOREBOARD The scoreboard in our Club is International style and the score is marked in the same manner as on a baseball scoreboard. The Ends are at the top of the scoreboard. There is a box below the scoreboard containing numbers. The scoring team’s Third chooses the number that corresponds to the number of points scored in each end and hangs it beside the colour of rocks that were in scoring position and under the corresponding End. Baseball-style scoreboard Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final Canada 0 2 1 1 0 6 0 0 x x 10 Finland 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 x x 4 Many of the Clubs in Ottawa and the Valley use a Club style scoreboard where the points are on the board and the numbers in the box represent the End. Depending on which team has scored, the end number is hung either under or above the number that represents the total number of points scored to that point in the game. Curling Club-style scoreboard Canada 2 3 4 6 10 Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Blank ends Finland 2 3 4 4 ~9~ ACCESS TO THE CURLING RINK Generally, the front door to the Club is open when there are draws taking place. For security reasons, the door will be locked in the evening until approximately 30 minutes before a draw time. Should you arrive at curling time and the door is locked, please ring the door buzzer located to the right of the doors. This will sound in the bar area and the bartender will open the door. Access to the Sheets of Ice: Access to the ice is by the door from the downstairs lounge. Please use this entrance as footwear can be cleaned on the brush provided at that entrance. Please do not enter the ice surface using the door from the upper lounge, as there is no boot cleaner at that entrance. INSTRUCTION A curling clinic for novice curlers is held in the early part of the season. As a member, you are welcome to attend this clinic, but please register so we know how many people to expect. Information is available at registration or contact the Club. Intermediate and Advanced clinics are offered each year. These clinics are offered when there is sufficient interest, for a nominal fee. Please register to show your interest in attending. Sign up is available at registration and sign up sheets will also be posted on the bulletin boards in the lounge. If there is sufficient interest, we will attempt to offer additional clinics dependent upon availability of ice and coaching staff. Please watch the bulletin boards for news of additional clinics which may be offered later in the season. Learn to Curl Program. The Learn to Curl (LTC) program is aimed at people that have not curled before but would be interested in trying the sport and any other curlers who would like to increase their curling skill and knowledge. The LTC course was developed by the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) and supported by the Ottawa Valley Curling Association (OVCA). At our Club, the course is run by dedicated, experienced Club volunteers. Unlike the traditional one-day clinic, the program helps entry level and novice curlers get progressively better through continued weekly instruction and skill development. By the end of the 10 week course the students will have a very good insight into the sport of curling. The LTC course covers all aspects of the game from technique and strategy to the physics of the sport. The course will include the etiquette and the social side of curling. The Richmond Curling Club will provide LTC students with foot grippers and sliders as well as brooms for the duration of the course. In general, each session will consist of one hour of instruction and one hour of curling per session. There will be an experienced curler assigned to each sheet of ice. The course will run each Sunday for ten sessions tentatively between mid-October to end-December. Following the course, if the participants wish to join a league and space is available, there will be a fee for the second half of the curling season. ~ 10 ~ MEMBER COMMUNICATION The Drawmaster or your Skip will advise you of your first curling time sometime during the week before the start of curling. Curling generally starts after Thanksgiving. After that, your team’s schedule of game times and sheet of ice assignments will be posted on the Club’s website, in the ladies’ or men’s change room, or on one of the bulletin boards in the downstairs lounge of the curling Club. Ask members of your draw where to look for your draw posting, if you are unsure where it is. Occasional mass mailings are required by Club management, pertaining to member information. It is most efficient to send this information out via email to our members. Please provide your email address at registration time. We do not give out this email information to any outside parties. It will be used for Club business and given to the draw masters of draws you are scheduled for. Newsletter: We are very fortunate that our Club Historian, creates a Richmond Curling Club Newsletter. It is informative and interesting. The newsletter is distributed to members via email, 2 or 3 times a year. Website: The Club’s website can be found at http://richmond.ovca.com/ Please check it out often. You will be able to find contact information and your schedule of draws and upcoming events on the site. Bulletin Boards: There are bulletin boards placed strategically around the Club that provide you with information and sign-up opportunities for various events. Information regarding Bonspiels, Competitions, Friendlies and Social Events can all be found on the various boards in the lounge. Some are located in the change rooms, as they pertain specifically to men or women. Others are located around the walls in the downstairs lounge area. Please take the time to browse around the bulletin boards and familiarize yourself with the areas of interest to you. Ask other people on your draw where to find information pertaining to your draw. Take the time to read the information about bonspiels hosted by other clubs. There are even bonspiels for novice curlers under 5 years. These provide a great opportunity to meet other new curlers and they are a lot of fun. ~ 11 ~ ETIQUETTE/RULES At the beginning of a game you shake hands, introduce yourself and wish the other team “good curling”. The Leads of each team then toss a coin to determine who has hammer. An eight end game should take no more than two hours to play – allow 15 minutes per end. This goal can be achieved if the skips plan their strategy while the opposition is delivering their rocks. All team members should be ready to deliver their rock when it is their turn. As soon as the person before you has released their rock, you can step into the hack, clean your rock and be ready to play as soon as your Skip calls your shot. Keeping the pace of play maintains interest and aids in concentration in the game. The teams using the ice after you will appreciate it also! When the opposing team is delivering a rock, stand well back to the sides of your sheet between the two hog lines (only the Skips and Thirds should be behind the House) so as not to obstruct the view of the player delivering the next rock. If you find that you are walking back towards the hack when someone is delivering their rock, you should stand still and remain motionless during the opposing team’s delivery and while their hand is still on the handle. Remain relatively quiet so the person delivering will not be distracted. Also, keep your broom down and out of the way, but not on the ice surface – the only broom in a stationary position on the ice should belong to the person who has control of the house. Compliment a good shot. One of the nicest curling traditions is that players and spectators compliment a good shot by either side while not remarking on a poor shot or a competitor’s misfortune. Any member of the team may sweep their team’s rock up to the T-line; only one sweeper may do so after the rock has crossed the T-line. The opposing team’s rock may only be swept by you after it crosses the T-line. You are not permitted to “warm up the ice”, i.e. sweep any rock that is stationary. You may only sweep a rock that is in motion. No member of either team, except the Thirds, should be in the House when the end is being scored or when a measurement is taken. Do not move any rock until the Thirds have given the okay. After the end is completed all rocks should be returned to their designated area; being in proper order is not necessary. This will also help keep the game on pace. The Lead who is delivering the first rock in the new end should be getting ready while the rocks are being gathered. ~ 12 ~ When the game is over, you again shake hands. Each member of the winning team offers to buy a beverage for the corresponding position on the other team. Later, the other team reciprocates. Drinks are available in our downstairs bar/lounge. Please do not bring alcoholic drinks into the ice area. Recently, many teams have been having difficulty completing all eight ends in two hours. Play can be sped up by observing the courtesies of the game. Here is a list of suggestions: ALL TEAM MEMBERS Be on time. Be ready to throw your first rock right on time. If you are playing the first scheduled game of the draw your ice will be ready before you get there. Occasionally the game before you may finish early. Get to the Club in time to change and warm up before your start time. When you are late you are holding up seven other players. If you know you may be late, let your Skip know; they can start without you. There may be occasions when you are unable to curl as scheduled. It is your responsibility to get a substitute. Call your skip and give the name of the curler sparing for you or the names of the people you have called. No shows are a no-no! If your team leads off on any particular end, the Lead should gather their rock, clean it and do their pre-shot routine while the Third and the Second put the rocks away. Players should always be ready to deliver their rock as soon as the Skip asks for it. Do not wait until the Skip places the broom to clean your rock. Be courteous. Don’t distract the person in the hack. Sweepers, be sure to walk back to the delivering end as close to the sidelines as possible so as not to block the line of delivery of the next person. Skips, keep the game moving by minimizing delays in making decisions. Avoid long conferences, you are in charge of the game. It’s rock science, not rocket science. THE SPIRIT OF CURLING No curler ever deliberately breaks a rule of the game or any of its traditions. But if (s)he should do so inadvertently and be aware of it, (s)he should be the first to divulge the breach. For instance, if you ‘burn a rock’ (touch it while sweeping), let your Skip know but do not stop or otherwise touch the rock, as it is the opposition skip’s prerogative to decide what to do with the “burned rock”. ~ 13 ~ THE CURLING SHEET ~ 14 ~ CURLING TERMS A Sheet of Ice is the surface where a game is played. Our Club has four (4) sheets. Each sheet is made up of two houses and accompanying lines and hacks. The game is played by two teams of four players alternating the delivery of rocks from the hack at one end of the sheet toward the house at the other end. An End consists of each team delivering 8 rocks each. An End is complete when all 16 rocks have been delivered and points decided by the Thirds. The Hack is the set of two rubber foot rests at each end of each sheet where you place your foot when you deliver your rock. If you are right-handed your right foot rests in the left hack and if you are left-handed your left foot rests in the right hack. The group of painted circles at each end of each sheet is called the House. The middle circle is called the Button; the next is the Four-foot, the next is the Eight-foot; and the outermost is the Twelve-foot. The Back Line is the line running horizontally across the back of the house nearest the hack. Any rock stopping on the Back Line stays in play. The line running horizontally across the centre of the house is known as the T-line. The thick line running horizontally across the ice, approximately 15 feet in front of the house is called the Hog Line. Any rock that does not completely cross this line is taken out of play unless it is stopped because of a rock that is in the play area. A rock being delivered must be released before the near Hog Line or it will be removed from play. The line running the length of the ice, up the centre of each sheet is the Center Line. The thin line that runs on either side of the Four-foot ring to the Hog Line is called the Four-foot Line (sometimes referred to as the Tram Line). At some clubs, this line runs the full length of the sheet, while at others it is absent altogether. The Free Guard Zone is the area of the ice surface between the Hog Line and the T-line that is not within the House. Free Guard refers to the first four rocks delivered in each end. They may not be removed from play by an opposing team’s rock if they are in the Free Guard Zone until the first rock delivered by the Second. They may be removed, however, if they are in or touching the House. ~ 15 ~ A Guard is a rock strategically placed to protect another one from being knocked out by the other team, or placed with the intent to later curl another rock around it. Blanking an End refers to the strategy of deliberately not scoring in a particular end in order to retain the Hammer or last rock advantage and the chance to score more than one point in the next end. A Freeze is a finesse shot that has a delivered rock come to rest directly against a stationary rock in the House. Handle refers not only to the part of the rock you hold, but the rotation that is imparted on a delivered rock. There are two handles to consider, clockwise and counter-clockwise. Your Skip will advise which handle or turn they wish you to throw by raising an arm in the appropriate direction. You may also hear the terms In-turn and Out-turn – for a right-handed thrower In-turn is clockwise and Out-turn is counter-clockwise. Of course the opposite is true for lefties! Junk simply means many rocks in play. Peel refers to the amount of momentum a delivered rock has. A Peel weight rock should remove the rock it hits and roll out of play itself. A Raise means to move a stationary rock into play by bumping it with another. Shot Rock is the one that sits closest to the button. Burned Rock. If you touch a rock in play, it has been Burned. If this happens you should indicate this, and allow the rock to finish moving. The Skip on the opposing team then has the option to leave the rock where it comes to rest and play on or remove the Burned rock from play and replace any rocks affected by that rock to their original place on the sheet. If a previously thrown rock is accidentally moved by a player’s broom or foot, the opposing Skip has the option to move it back where (s)he believes it was or leave it where it is. A Spare is someone you get to replace you, if you are unable to make a game. There should be a list of available people on your game schedule. If you can’t find one, ask your Skip for suggestions. Bonspiel is the curling equivalent of a tournament. Most are open to anyone. If you see one you are interested in and are unsure, ask any member for assistance. We organize several in-house fun bonspiels each year. All bonspiels are posted on the Club’s bulletin boards. Curlers often have a language all their own, so only a few terms are mentioned here to get you started in this wonderful sport. If in doubt, ask! Everyone has to start some place. ~ 16 ~ LEAGUES Our Club is organized under the direction of the Draw Chair into Leagues. Briefly, they are: Monday; Daytime Cash League – 8:30 am and 10:45 am - open to all members on a team entry basis, small entry fee Daytime Draw – 1:00 pm - individual entries, open to all members, teams formed by committee Bantam/Junior – 4:30 – 6:00 pm - Bantam open to all members aged 13 – 16 - Junior open to all members aged 17 - 20 Men’s Evening – 6:45 & 9:00 pm - individual entries, open to all male members, teams formed by committee - bantam and junior members eligible, but are placed on a team on an as needed basis, they are eligible to spare (light rocks are not excluded, but draw times may not be suitable for younger curlers) Tuesday; Daytime – 8:30 am, 10:30 am (and 1 pm – see below) - teams formed with people who arrive to curl at each draw time - lunch, euchre and bridge are available for attendees - the 1pm draw is individual entries, open to all members, teams formed by committee for the length of the draw Light Rocks – 4:30 – 6:00 pm - open to all members aged 8 – 12 - 12 year olds may be moved to Bantam level depending on registration numbers Ladies Evening – 7:00 & 9:00 pm - individual entries, open to all female members, teams formed by committee - bantam and junior curlers eligible, but are placed on a team on an as needed basis, they are eligible to spare (light rocks are not excluded, but draw times may not be suitable for younger curlers) ~ 17 ~ Wednesday: Daytime – 1:00 pm - individual entries, open to all members, teams formed by committee for the length of the draw Ladies – 5:00 pm - restricted to 9 teams - team entries - preference is given to returning teams Open Competitive – 7:00 & 9:00 pm - open to all members on a team entry basis, any combination of players is allowed - depending on the number of teams, there may be byes and/or overflow games may be played on Tuesdays Wednesday (as per schedule) Friendlies: Members available for daytime curling are invited to sign up for positions on 4 teams (first 16 curlers who sign up). These 4 teams compete against 4 teams from a neighbouring curling club. After an 8 end game, everyone enjoys lunch together. This is usually reciprocal with Richmond hosting and the other club returning the invitation. Friendlies are held normally on a Wednesday and may occur 6 to 8 times during the season, affording the opportunity to meet daytime curlers from 3 to 4 neighbouring clubs. Valley Competitive – fixed teams of either men or women for inter-club play Thursday; Daytime – 8:45 am, 11 am, 1 pm - number of draws depends on number of entries - individual entries, open to all members, teams formed by committee for the length of the draw Fixed Mixed – 7:00 & 9:00 pm - open to all members on a team entry basis, must be 2 male and 2 female - team positions must alternate male/female or female/male - depending on number of teams, there may be byes and/or overflow games may be played on Sunday afternoon Friday; Gray Cup Competitive – 8:30 & 11:00 am - open to all members on a team entry basis Ladies Development League – 1:00 to 3:00 pm -open to all members, individual entries, teams formed by committee Mixed Social – 7:00 & 9:00 pm - individual entries, teams formed by committee, all members eligible ~ 18 ~ Saturday; Bonspiels or Rentals Sunday; Learn to Curl – 10:30 am Sunday Mixed Social – 12:30 pm Fixed Mixed (from Thursday) – overflow depending on numbers – 3 pm Bonspiels or Rentals CLUB ACTIVITIES Volunteers run our Club: we are a non-profit organization! The key word is VOLUNTEERS!! Many people helping out, allows for greater input into your Club and less work for all. So please feel free to volunteer and lend your expertise to the Club. It is a great way to get to know people. Please talk to the Board members at registration or any time throughout the season to learn about volunteer opportunities that may interest you. Our curling year begins with our Annual General Meeting which takes place on the third Thursday in June. Registration takes place the third weekend in September (the weekend following Richmond Fair). Curling begins after Thanksgiving and a Novice clinic is usually planned soon thereafter. Intermediate and advanced clinics are generally scheduled in November. The clinics are open to everyone wanting to learn new skills or brush up on the basics. ~ 19 ~ LIST OF SOCIAL EVENTS / CLINICS PLEASE REFER TO THE WEBSITE AND CLUB BULLETING BOARDS FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS RELATED TO SOCIAL EVENTS/CLINICS. ~ 20 ~
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