In the House – McNamee to mix it up

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This article was published 24/03/2011 (5624 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s not often that Terry McNamee gets a chance to one-up Jeff Stoughton.

If McNamee defends his Manitoba mixed curling title this weekend in Swan River, he will claim his fifth championship, more than any other in the event’s history. It’s little surprise then that the Hamiota Curling Club team of Lana Hunter, Allan Lawn and newcomer Karen Klein earned the top seed in the provincial championship that opens today.

"I wasn’t too surprised about that, but I think we deserved the top spot," McNamee said. "We lost the Canadian final last year, so that’s a pretty good representation of Manitoba on a national stage. It will be good to go into Swan River playing well, where we can take our chances."

Since Manitoba adopted the mixed event as an official provincial championship, several top curlers have won it four times, including skips Ernie Boushy and Stoughton. Karen Fallis has done it as Stoughton’s third, while Garry DeBlonde and Ina Light both drove for four with Boushy.

McNamee, who boasts a 29-20 record at national mixed championships, has grown to love playing at the mixed because he gets to play shots where he can excel.

"The strong part of my game is the draw game and the come-around tap-back, and you play a lot of that at the mixed," McNamee said. "That’s why I’ve been so successful there."

Adding to his great season was getting within two wins of the provincial men’s title, eliminated in the semifinal 6-3 by ex-Brandonite Mike McEwen.

"We played well there, but I don’t think anyone was going to beat (Stoughton) that week," McNamee said. "All of our players have played at high levels and we’ve been through that grind before. We’ll be one of the more experienced teams there. We’ll be ready."

Hunter has been with McNamee for his last two championship runs, while Lawn won his first mixed title last year.

McNamee plays in the Black Pool, which includes sixth-seeded Ace Ross of Neepawa, who skips a lineup of Darla Hayward, Duane Lang and Wanda Rainka. Kelly and Yvonne Robertson serve as the fifth and sixth players, although Kelly is currently playing at the Canadian senior men’s championship in Digby, N.S.

"I like the way our pool sets up because there’s more of the tougher teams in the other pool." McNamee said. "It’s great for us."

Deloraine’s Murray Warren heads up the 11th-seeded lineup of Lisa Bartley, Terry Warren, Riley Sambrook and fifth Lorne Sambrook. Ron Kulbacki of Neepawa is ranked 14th overall and brings Pam Robins, Kevin Paramour and Krystal Stewart to the rink.

While McNamee is a favourite, there’s a few contenders capable of staving off the champ’s challenge.

Sean Grassie, winner of the 2009 provincial mixed crown, is back in the hunt as the second seed from the Deer Lodge club in Winnipeg. He joins fellow Winnipegger Bob Sigurdson, the third-seed from the Granite club, and fifth-seeded Brent Scales of Swan River. That trio will ensure the Red Pool has a competitive Group of Death feel to it.

Carberry’s Kelly Marnoch will throw second stones for seventh-seeded Rob Muntain of Pinawa. Now based out of Carman, former Brandonite Darcy Hayward skips the 11th-seeded team.

Round robin play runs to Sunday, with the top two teams in each pool reach the Page playoffs. Monday’s champion will head to the Canadian championship in Sudbury, Ont.

SURVIVOR — The annual Souris Survivor Bonspiel is in need of a few teams. The draw, which consists of 56 men’s teams, 32 women’s teams, 18 masters teams and six senior women’s lineups, has openings in the men and women’s brackets. Each year, teams are encouraged to embrace the theme of the event, with a circus theme adopted this year. Games will be played at the Souris Curling Club and Murray Arena. To enter, call the Souris Curling Club at 483-3669.