Norfolk takes the runner up

By Ted Stone

Sixteen teams from the Grand National Curling Club (GNCC) competed in the Norfolk Curling Club’s fiftieth men’s bonspiel, which was held from November 30 to December 3 in Norfolk. The GNCC is comprised of 36 clubs from the eastern part of the United States. Among the sixteen teams at the bonspiel were seven GNCC Tour Teams. These are competitive teams which are vying to represent the GNCC in the United States men’s championship and in the 2013 Olympic trials. On the first two days, teams were on the ice continuously from 8:45 in the morning until 10 at night, with excellent competition throughout. The Norfolk club served meals to the combatants and guests all weekend, with the banquet featuring char broiled steak on a hardwood fire. At the end of the weekend the first event, the Calder Cup, was won by Ardsley 2 and the runner up was New York Caledonian. The second event was won by the Canadian Club of Boston with Ardsley 1 the runner up. The winners and runner ups for the third and fourth events were Plainfield 1 and Norfolk in the third event and Schenectady and Utica in the fourth. All the teams are expected to return for next year’s bonspiel. Anyone interested in curling may visit the club’s website at www.norfolkcurlingclub.org or stop by the club on Country Club Road and watch a game. There is league play on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.. During the season there are open houses where newcomers can try the sport, and a new curlers’ league will be formed later this season. Visitors are always welcomed. Ted Stone is the president of the Norfolk Curling Club.