This exciting event is taking place November 2nd through the 4th at The Potomac Curling Club of the National Capital Curling Center in Laurel, MD. The First Draw is Friday at 7pm, the Expected Finals are to take place Sunday at 11:30am. (Times are subject to change)
Teams of all abilities are welcome! A maximum of 16 teams can be accommodated, and they plan to adhere to a 2-tiered draw format, with both recreational and competitive levels, in keeping with the tradition of our event. The Potomac Curling Club has held many outstanding events at their location, including their yearly opener, the 2012 Inaugural Bonspiel which took place this past October. Their next big event coming up is the NGCC Junior Playdowns which will take place from December 26th to December 31st. You can find out more about this event and upcoming events by visiting www.curldc.org.
The game of curling was originally played by the Scottish and started back in the 16th century. It wasn’t until the 1830’s when the Scottish settlers brought the game to Michigan and from there it spread to the states of North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Many people are not aware of how the sport of curling has taken off with growth. Today in the U.S. there are about 135 clubs and increasing. There is a U.S. Junior National Team and a U.S. Wheelchair Team.
Here are some general key things to know about the sport of Curling:
- Be honest. There are rarely referees or umpires in curling, so the game depends on players to police themselves and one another, especially during league play. If perchance you accidentally burn a stone, it is expected that you will be the first to announce it.
- Be a good sport. Congratulate players, both teammates and opponents, when they make a good shot. By the same standard, do not embarrass a player who has missed a shot. Cheering a missed shot is considered in poor taste and poor sportsmanship. Also do not make light of any bad fortune that befalls your opponent.
- Keep the game moving. A standard eight end game takes 2 full hours to play, so it’s a courtesy to your team, your opponents, and anybody playing after you to be on time, prompt and mindful of the clock. If you start late or play slowly, do not assume that you will be able to play a complete, 8-end game. If you notice that you are a full end or two behind all the other sheets, pick up the pace.
Be sure to check out the National Governing Body for USA Curling at www.uscurl.org for more information about the sport and the organization itself! See you soon, on the ice in Maryland.
