As the BKT World Men’s Curling competitions near the mid-point of the draws, and as I burrow into my seat on the downstairs couch in front of the television, I couldn’t help but think back to the days when bonspiels were part of the radio sportscaster’s schedule.
Move over hockey: curling season was sweeping into the homes of the province and the nation.
Back as a youngster, I didn’t know that much about curling, other than my brother was on a team and the devotion of that team to weekend bonspiels was not to be questioned. In those days cash prizes were limited to the A side winners. And often prizes were merchandise rather than cash, hence the tea pots his team won one year as they ended up out of first place.
Through those rock-by-rock radio broadcasts my family was able to follow the fortunes of the Curling Campbells from Avonlea, Sask. With a member of my family being employed by the Campbells, it was our obligation to pay attention to the fact that in 1959 the team of Garnet, Glen, Don and Lloyd won the men’s Brier in 1955, the very first Saskatchewan team to make it to the top stand of the podium.
That Brier was held in Regina in the old stadium and so it was virtually a home crowd win for the Campbells, the team that went undefeated in the round robin of 11 teams, defeating opponents by 126-53 over the course of the competition.
Garnet Campbell competed in 10 Briers, playing more than 100 Brier games through his career.
The World Men’s competitions didn’t start until 1959 but if there had been such an event in 1955, there is a very real chance that The Curling Campbells would have occupied the top spot in the world.
As one looks at the history of the men’s world competition over the past years, it should be noted that Canadian teams have won 57 medals since 1959: 36 gold, 14 silver and 7 bronze, making Canada the leader among nations.
Second place is held by Scotland with 36 medals: 6 gold, 21 silver and 9 bronze. Third is Sweden with 27 medals: 12 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze.
The Ernie Richardson team from Regina stood atop the gold medal perch in 1959, 1960, 1962 and 1963.
It should be noted that in 2015 a team skipped by Moose Jaw’s Pat Simmons won the bronze medal.
Canada’s representative this year, a team skipped by Brad Jacobs, won silver in 2013 with a different set of team mates. With a home country cheering him on, there is a definite chance the Canadian domination of the competition could continue.
Good luck to the Jacobs’ team from fans in the stands, and from fans at home, not listening on radio, but watching shot by shot on TSN, explained in detail by an excellent group of analysts.
And Good Job, Moose Jaw, for bringing this world class event to the city.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
