Peacock Captures City High School Mixed Curling Crown
By Robert Thomas
For awhile it looked like the Central Collegiate had the city high school mixed curling crown in the bag but a sixth end shocker by Peacock Collegiate's team stole it all away.
Down points-wise and facing a Central team that was stealing points every end Peacock would grab the lead by scoring five points in the sixth end on the way to a 9 - 5 city high school mixed curling victory.
CENTRAL'S THIRD EMILY OSMACHENKO SWEEPS A PEACOCK STONE OUT OF PLAY - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Central would take a 1 - 0 lead after the first end.
Peacock would score two points in the second end.
With the hammer Central would score two points of their own in the third end.
Central would then start stealing single points in the third, fourth and fifth ends to go up 5 - 2 after five ends of play.
PEACOCK COLLEGIATE THIRD KAYLEE HOGEBOOM HOLDS THE BROOM IN THE FIRST END - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
In the sixth end Peacock would lay the hammer down grabbing five points to make the score Peacock 7 and Central 5.
In the seventh end Peacock would steal two points to make the score 9 - 5 for Peacock.
In the final end Peacock would run Central out of rocks to seal the come from behind victory.
For Elaine Robson co-coach of Central's mixed curling team the loss in the city final is both bad and good.
“It was a good game we just had one really tough end,” Robson said.
The five ender by Peacock in the sixth end was the straw that broke Central's back as up to that point they were in charge of the game.
“We had control of the game all the way to the fifth (end) and just too many missed opportunities in the sixth (end),” she said.
Asked what was the cause of Central's loss she said it all came down to “we just missed some shots.”
Winning this year would have been great but finishing second with a team skipped by a grade ten and the remainder of the team rookies to high school curling bodes well for the future.
“They are a rookie team. We have three Grade Nines and one Grade Ten so they are new to high school curling…so there are lots if years to build.”
The team has so far gone beyond the goals set for it.
“Our goal was to make districts and the fact we got to play in the city is an added bonus,” she said.
The Central team is off to curling districts this Friday in Gravelbourg.
CENTRAL'S TEAM WERE KEPT BUSY SWEEPING ON THIS ROCK - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
The fact Central's mixed team are largely high school freshies and “how much they improved this year is amazing. So next year they are going to be that much better,” Robson said.
For Peacock mixed curling coach Barb Owens the game was either team could of won.
“It was a close game. It was a nail biter and a great final for the city finals. I am very glad we won.”
Asked how she felt about watching the game before Peacock's breakthrough sixth end she answered she felt “tense.”
CENTRAL'S SWEEPERS WERE KEPT BUSY SWEEPING - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
She said her feeling tense was normal.
“But then I’m always tense watching the kids play. But yeah it was tense.”
Last year the Peacock mixed curling team came in second in the city championship.
The team would win regionals and go on to make the A final in districts.
Last year the team ended up in second place against a Peacock Collegiate team comprised of Grade 12 students - when they were Grade Nines.
THERE WAS A LARGE NUMBER OF ROCKS IN PLAY AS SKIP STONES WERE BEING THROWN IN THE FIFTH END - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Peacock's city championship team this year are all in Grade Ten.
It’s something that gives Owens pride.
“I’m extremely proud of them. They put in a lot of hard work and I am extremely proud of them. The entire Peacock (curling) program has grown this year and it is wonderful for the sport.”
She said given the team's play last year as Grade Nines there were high expectations for the team as Grade Tens.
PEACOCK ATTEMPTS TO SWEEP A STONE DEEP INTO THE HOUSE - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Starting out in Grade Nine and now in Grade Ten has benefitted the team.
“That extra year has been to their credit. It gives them that patience. It gives them that experience (to play well),” Owens said.
