Game 4 - McLeod vs Stauth

Showing up for curling on Halloween evening was an adventure! Prior to going to the rink I was able to walk around the block with our son and watch him trick or treat! As a parent I really enjoy watching the kids go crazy. He got spoiled with candy, but that's okay.

Since we are curling in the mens league and it was the late game, I did not really expect anyone to show dressed up. Unfortunately no one disappointed, and everyone only dressed up as a curler.

The game stared with the coin toss and we won, giving our team hammer. Team Stauth picked blue rocks, so we were designated red. The stats indicate that this is the first time this year we played blue so we were hoping it was as good to us as a red.

The first round we played a tight game with lots of rocks around the button. Each team had it's share of misses (as expected in the first end) and we were not able to capitalize on last rock. We ended the end with scoring a single point.

The second and third end played out much like the first where both teams were trying to setup to score multiple points by coming around guards and playing top house rocks. We didn't get multiples, but we did steal one each end.

With a lead of 3, we changed our strategy to keep the rings clean and just give them (1) point so that we could have hammer back. However, it did not work out like that. With Sean's final rock left the house had only (1) Stauth rock in the rings. Unfortunately the delivery on the rock faltered and ending up sailing past the rock in the rings. Leaving an open draw for (2) which they easily achieved.

Having got the hammer back we thought we would try the same thing again. Only our guards were not perfectly placed and we ended up in trouble. Soon they added another (2) to the score board.

This changed the momentum of the game and we needed to work hard to get it back. We tried a number of ways to get our rocks closest to the button and a beautiful hit and roll on an outside rock put us back on the scoreboard with a single.

The next end we gave it back with the Stauth team taking (2) again.

In the final end it came down to Sean having to throw a crazy split shot for a tie game. We were fortunate enough to roll one in, but not 2..

------
Stauth - 6
McLeod - 4

Game 3 - McLeod vs Senft

Tonight's game was the first "early" game we have played all year. These games are so much nicer to play since after you are off the ice you and enjoy some time sitting around having a drink and relaxing.

At 6:45pm we went out to sheet 1 and met the Senft team. Unfortunately, they only had one player, the other (2) that were coming were running a little late. So we waited for about (5) minutes then they all showed up and we could get the game underway.

We lost the coin toss, but they decided because we waited that they would give us hammer! Nice gentleman move!

The first end things got a little messy. Lots of rocks in the house around the button, with little opportunity to move stones when it came skips rocks. Luckily it was our team that had the button surrounded. We ended the end with (3). A really nice way to start the game.

Everyone on our team was playing great. Often when Sean called line and weight he got it! When that happens, it's really hard for the opposition to score points.  

The next ends went:

- 1 stolen 

- 1 Senft

- 3 Taken

- 5 Stolen

- End of game.

Game 2 - McLeod vs Schroter

This evening we had the late game against team Schroter. I'm not sure if we have played them before, but being the beginning of the season most teams are just trying to get their game plans and execution ironed out.

In the famous phrase of Ray.. Shawn, you can have line or weight. But you can not have both

After a quick handshake and meeting of the players we flipped a nickel (thanks ray). We won color (lost the toss) and choose lucky red.

Having played on sheet 8 in previous years I was expecting something funny to happen as it's an outside sheet and usually has a straight path or crazy curl. However this evening's game it was perfect.  Lower weight shots curled, higher weight shots stayed straight.

Usually, we try and keep the end pretty clean to start out with, however for some reason half way into the first end there was a mess of rocks in the house. Due to superior skip skill. It was mostly our rocks! We ended up scoring a huge (3) pointer to get the night going!

Of course, a start like this really makes you feel good. Especially when your a team that often gives up (3) then chases down for the win.

We followed up the (3) with a (1) and another (1)... But that's when the trouble began.

The 5th end started with a rock outside of the house. This allowed Team Schroter to start to come into the house and the did so perfectly. Soon after the start there were many rocks lined up in the house and it was impossible to get in. We through a couple of big weight shots to try and clear out the house. But they only ended up peeling the original rocks. Team Schroter scored a well deserved (3).

The next end was shaping up really nice for us. We had four rock right around the button and almost no way in. The opponents were forced to throw a circus shot to try and bounce one of their rock off ours on the button. This shot they executed beautifully and left Sean in a tough position.  As Sean and I were discussion options for his last shot Geoff came down with a shot he loved. A hit and roll to the button using the opponents rock as backing and hitting it out of the house. Once we all looked at it, it seemed like the best option.

Sean through the rock and a called the line. Geoff and Ray swept.. The throwing rock hit the stationary rock perfect! The stars aligned and the trajectory to The Schroter rock was perfect. We walked away with (2), and they called the game.

McLeod 7
Schroter 3

Back on the ice

Golfing and curling on the same day was on Geoff's bucket list. Since the Monday was beautiful, we booked a tee time at Inglewood golf course. Everyone except Ray was able to make the pre-game golf game.

I last knocked the dust off the clubs over a month ago so, I was really happy to be included in this event. I have also never golfed at Inglewood before I was in for an adventure!! I alway love showing up at a new course and not having any idea where the safe place to play is. So, in true style, I always risk it... After all, it's only a golf ball :)

During the round I noticed a few things:

- The course is beautiful

- The fairways are wide

- The bunkers have great sand

- My golfing needs improvement

We all had a great time walking around the course and I think our scores were pretty close. However with just (2) holes left. Shawn lost his driver head cover and the score card. So, I've just got to assume mid ninety's. Thanks Shawn!

Once we completed the round of golf and put some food from the club house into our bellies, we were off to Airdire to hit the ice!

The first few slides of the year are alway soo crazy. Balance is off, shoulders are down and generally, everything feels wrong. I find one of the hardest things to do is to focus on the leg kick so that your not trying to adjust the rock.. But you have forgot the speeds you need to kick.

We lost the coin toss, so the first end we tried to play clean. Rocks in the house, and takeouts. Starting like this helps get a feel for the rocks, the weight, and just remembering how dang slippery the ice is. It worked out pretty good because we only gave up (1) point.

We played a really good game and in one end grabbed a nice (3) points. However, we did follow last years lead and gave it right back. Coming into the final end we were tied in points and had hammer. Most of the rocks were played into the house and we could not seem to clear them. Luckily their skip made a little error by putting his second last rock too deep which allowed a hit and roll behind cover for the win.

The first game of the year is really hard. And I'm going to be sore tomorrow.

Game 1 -Win

When - Final end skips first rock

Welcome to CurlingForBeer!

This site is dedicated to telling the stories of four middle-age guys throwing rocks for laughs and competition.

Team McLeod  curls out of Airdrie, Alberta and travels to (1) drinking speil in banff per season. The super stars of the team are:

(1) Ray
(2) Geoff
(3) Blaine
(4) Shawn