he Osoyoos team of Dale Abrey (skip), Ron Robinson (third), John Katerenchuk (second), and Larry Gabelman (lead) won the C final in the men’s bonspiel at the Osoyoos International Curling Club on Sunday. A total of 24 teams competed in this year’s event. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
Winning bonspiels is not just about making good shots, it’s about knowing your teammates.
So says Osoyoos skip Dale Abrey, who led his team to victory in the C event in this past weekend’s men’s bonspiel at the Osoyoos International Curling Club.
Abrey and his teammates – Larry Gableman, John Katerenchuk and Ron Robinson – defeated Vernon 7-5 in the final.
Abrey said his team was down 4-1 but fought back to win.
“It was very competitive with a lot of good shots . . . I had to make a double (at the end),” he noted.
Abrey said that Vernon’s skip was six inches too heavy with his last rock.
When asked what contributed to the win, Abrey responded, “We know each other really well and have curled together for so long.”
Abrey stated that knowing what each other is doing on the ice definitely helps steer you to the winner’s circle.
Osoyoos had a total of eight teams in the bonspiel, while Oliver had four.
Abrey’s team captured the A championship in the Osoyoos men’s bonspiel two years ago.
Dale Cory’s team from Oliver was in the B final against Summerland, but came up short.
“We enjoyed success on the ice, and if it wasn’t for our Summerland opponents, we may have won an event,” said Cory.
Cory said one Summerland rink beat them in the opener quite easily.
“But we rallied, the guys made some great shots, and we won three in a row to make it into Sunday’s B final.”
Unfortunately, they played another Summerland rink, and although tied after four, gave up a three-ender in the fifth and were not able to recover.
Cory said his teammates – Dale Dodge, Fernando Anjos and David Arnold – curled exceptionally well.
“We made it into the prizes, and were proud to represent the Oliver Curling Club in Osoyoos.”
Dodge agreed they played very well, but the “pressure got to us in the last two ends.”
Dodge said the team was down early but clawed its way back to tie the game after four ends. But the curling gods didn’t smile on them Sunday.
But Summerland skip Glen Brennan was smiling, but not on Friday night.
His team, which includes Tony Blashko, Don Lawrence and Roland Dheilly, had a rough one, but came back to win it all in the final.
“It all boils down to making the shots,” Brennan said.
He likes curling because “you’re not out there to kill each other on the ice … it’s a gentleman’s sport.”
Brennan also pointed out that if you can’t joke around and have fun on the ice, you shouldn’t be curling as a team.
What impressed Brennan the most about the bonspiel was the food prepared by the Osoyoos ladies league.
“Every year you can’t beat the food. It’s one of the big reasons people come back here. The hospitality is top notch!”
Former Princeton mayor Randy McLean was the skip of the Princeton team that won the prestigious A final against Vernon.
He contributed their win to luck and being able to “read the ice” in order to make their shots easier.
“Throughout the bonspiel our team had a feel for the ice.”
When McLean said “lucky,” he meant playing teams that weren’t playing their best.
He and his teammates – Harold Edstrom, Ken Johnson and Dean Johnston – have been competing in the men’s bonspiel for years.
“We know everyone. It’s like visiting a bunch of friends,” McLean said.
Katerenchuk, who organized the bonspiel, said the event was a huge success.
“Overall the competition was great. You had a couple of lopsided wins but mostly great entertaining games. The fans were treated to some great curling.”
Katerenchuk noted there were 24 teams that competed, including one from Vancouver and one from Chilliwack.
He said his team persevered and didn’t give up
“In the semi-finals we were down by five points after four ends, but battled back to steal the winning point in the eighth end to go on to the finals.”
Katerenchuk noted the double by Abrey in the eighth end sealed the victory in the C final.
But winning isn’t everything. Remember, the key to a man’s heart is his stomach.
“The banquet was absolutely great! The Osoyoos ladies league took leadership of the banquet and did an excellent job,” Katerenchuk said.
The men loved the roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables and Caesar salad. For dessert, it was homemade pies topped with ice cream.
A Saturday night DJ kept the house “rockin,’ and a shuttle service was made available to everyone.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
Osoyoos team members Larry Gabelman (lead, left) and John Katerenchuk (second) closely watch the play at the Osoyoos Men’s Bonspiel. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
he Osoyoos team of Dale Abrey (skip), Ron Robinson (third), John Katerenchuk (second), and Larry Gabelman (lead) won the C final in the men’s bonspiel at the Osoyoos International Curling Club on Sunday. A total of 24 teams competed in this year’s event. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
The team of Randy McLean, Harold Edstrom, Ken Johnson and Dean Johnston from Princeton won the A final in the men’s bonspiel at the Osoyoos International Curling Club last weekend. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
