MEOTA — So good to hear the sounds of children laughing and the ho ho ho of old Saint Nick as he does his best to bring the spirit of Christmas to all. Christmas brings another exodus wave to the community. Gerry and Louise Goodheart, Marcel and Annette Duhaime and Bernie and Lucille Gregoire are all scheduled to leave to avoid this cold, cold weather. We hear from some of our sidewalk historians that 1997 was the last Christmas without snow. I will not change back to my summer tires for a couple of months yet.
The Do Drop In had another fun-filled shuffleboard tournament this past Saturday. The convenor for the day, Arlene Walker, did a great job of keeping things going. The winners were Linda Ard and Gordon Klein. Placing second were Gerry Goodheart and Janice Morton and third were Louise Goodheart and Wally Mack. In all a well-attended and welcome precursor to Christmas.
In Tuesday bridge Linda Killoran and Gerry Craig were first. Second were Linda Ard and Cletus Scherman. Barb Mitchel and David Sharpe topped the Thursday bridge session. Second were Fraser Glen and Jean Lawes and third were Donna Scherman and Eric Callbeck.
Friday canasta winners were Gwen Lacerte and Linda Ard. Second were Arlene Walker and Nestor Fransoo and third were Albert Huys and Bev McCrimmon. Norwegian Whist winner was Bev McCrimmon, Second and third in a tie were Carrol Huys and Arlene Walker.
Meota Grand Slam of Curling
Week 4 Recap
(By Derek Welford)
A sensational game highlighted the Tuesday night draw as the Collie and Weber rinks were in a high-scoring matchup that almost ran out of real estate on the scoreboard. Fast forward to the eight and final end where Weber found herself up with a 9-6 lead and looking to close the door. But just like the common box elder bug on a warm December day and just when you thought they were done, Collie took advantage of an opening and established a presence in the house. Scoring an unfathomable five points with the hammer, Al Collie alongside Michelle Roach, Karen McCaffery and Joanne Blaquiere completed the comeback and won in an 11-9 instant classic.
Randy Sharp and Don Johnson met in a battle of Prince families looking to claim Prince curling supremacy. Sharp, coming in riding a high from defeating another local last week, was hoping to take control early and assert his team as the best team from Prince. Johnson had other ideas, as he brought the Sharp family team back down to Earth and reminded him the Johnson family are the Prince favourites, as they won 10-2.
This game was circled on the calendar for both teams and was flexed to the featured sheet as former teammates Bob Bartkewich and Colin Sharp played off. The Bartkewich-supported Alm rink stuck to the game plan as they kept it clean with not much traffic in the house as both teams played conservatively leading up to the final end. Tied 5-5 coming home, Sharp managed to steal two to hold on to a 7-5 win.
Hard to tell if it's the added curling in North Battleford or if it was the return of the heart of the team, Marcel Bernier, but the Langemeade icon Zane Lacousiere and his team looked great as they took down Ed Cadrin 8-3. Two Meota curling juggernauts Pat Mohr and Gil Cadrin played in a fiercely competitive game which on a normal week would have attracted much fanfare and be a featured game but was overshadowed by the other key matchups on Tuesday night. As expected, it came down to the final shot, but Cadrin was unsuccessful as Mohr escaped with a two-point steal to win 6-4.
Thursday night had Derek Welford defeating Kenyon Laclare, 8-3 and Evan Schmidt beating Randy Orchison 6-4. Close game on the first sheet as Lee Gaunsage and Kyle Doom were in a close game where both teams were exchanging multi-point scores. It was Doom, Darnell Atchenyum, Jordan Sitter and Mercedes Snyder who prevailed as they held on
Keep your news a touch away by bookmarking The News-Optimist homepage at this link.
