For star professional athletes competing at a national level in their sport is almost a given but that opportunity for the average and non-professional player is usually something that only happens in a dream.
A number of club curlers across Canada are experiencing that dream this week as they compete for a national title at the Dominion Club Curling Championship at the Charlottetown and Cornwall curling clubs.
The tournament, which does not allow professional players to compete, is in its second year and includes men’s and women’s teams from every province and territory vying for a national championship. To qualify, each club team had to first win a tournament in its respective curling club and go on to win a provincial club title.
Jim Waite, head official and member of the tournament advisory committee, said the tournament was the brainchild of Dominion CEO George Cooke.
“He just saw the fact there was no event for the club curler, for the average Joe, and so that’s what he tried to put together with this event,” Waite said.
“None of (the participants) ever would be able to wear their provincial jacket and you only get those if you win a provincial championship and go to play in a national championship. None of these people would have ever experienced that and they would never have experienced a national championship like they’re doing here this week.” - Jim Waite, head official and member of the tournament advisory committee
In the first year, the tournament saw a 42 per cent participation rate from the various curling clubs in Canada and this year, it is expected to reach 60 per cent.
The appeal of the event is it gives the average curler a chance to represent their province at a national level, Waite said.
“None of (the participants) ever would be able to wear their provincial jacket and you only get those if you win a provincial championship and go to play in a national championship,” he said.
“None of these people would have ever experienced that and they would never have experienced a national championship like they’re doing here this week.”
No more is that true for the teams from Nanavut as the territory does not typically compete at national curling events on any level.
