A second generation of Norfolk curlers comes into its own

By Wiley Wood

Total concentration can be read on the face of Russell Russ as he launches his stone.

It’s been a long drought, but on Sunday, Dec. 4, a homegrown Norfolk team won the Calder Trophy at the Men’s Invitational Bonspiel, hosted by the Norfolk Curling Club (NCC). Eighteen teams competed, converging on Norfolk from Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Cape Cod, Schenectady and beyond. The winning four-man team, skipped (captained) by Jody Law, won all of its games over the four-day event, including a hard-fought final over a team from Ontario, Canada.

“It’s the first time that the Norfolk Curling Club has won in the new building,” said Russell Russ, one of the team members. It’s also the first time Russ has won the bonspiel since 1997, although he has entered it “about 10 times” since, and his teams have been consistent runner-ups, as they were last year. “We had a situation where we were always the bridesmaid and never the bride,” says Russ.

Vice-Skip Jonathan Barbagallo, in a moment of uncertainty.

In recent years when the NCC has fielded two teams, curler Jonathan Barbagallo has often formed his own team, says Russ, competing against Law, Russ and their teammate Bob Peterson. This year, he joined their team as vice-skip, to good effect.

The winning Norfolk team in 1997 was skipped by George Dyer, “a really good curler,” Russ explains, “who played in national competitions.” Dyer, a founding member of the NCC in the mid-1950’s, was also a mentor to several generations of Norfolk curlers, including his teammates at the Calder Bonspiel in 1997, who were none other than Law, Russ and Barbagallo—all three of whom are second-generation Norfolk curlers.

The Canadian team, during the final game.

The Calder Bonspiel, named in honor of John Calder, father of founding member Elisabeth Childs, has been hosted annually by the NCC since 1957. When the club burned down in December 2011, the Calder had just been held. In 2012, the club was still rebuilding, and the Nutmeg Curling Club allowed the NCC to host the bonspiel at their facility in Bridgeport, Conn. By 2013, although it was a bit of a scramble, the NCC was able to host the Calder Bonspiel at home again.

In the old building, the club was known around the curling world for its congeniality, but the ice was considered uneven. In the new facility, the NCC has worked hard at making good playing ice. And in designing the building, the club put a lot of thought into what it would need in terms of public areas to host bigger events. “We’re up in the middle of nowhere, and there aren’t a lot of places to stay, but we have a reputation for being a good little club, with very good ice,” says Russ.

“It was a good competition,” Russ adds, “and it’s nice when the home team wins their own event.”

Top photo: The winning team celebrates its trophy: (from left) Bob Peterson, Russell Russ, Jonathan Barbagallo and Jody Law. All photos courtesy of the Norfolk Curling Club.