Janesville hosts national curling event
JANESVILLE — This weekend some of the best curlers in their class will be in Janesville.
From Thursday to Saturday, Blackhawk Curling Club is hosting the United States Curling Association's Senior Women's Championships. Games also will be held on Sunday if tiebreakers are needed.
"This is the first national championship we've held here," said Dave Somppi, president of the Blackhawk Curling Club. "The winner goes to the world championships in New Zealand."
The competition started Thursday night, with teams from Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Connecticut taking the ice.
Today and Saturday, the matches will be held at 1 and 7 p.m.
Curling involves throwing granite stones down a sheet of ice toward a target. Two sweepers move down the ice with the stone, and sweep—or don't sweep—to help get the stone to the right spot on the target.
The sport is sometimes called "chess on ice" because of strategy involved.
In order to compete in senior nationals, players must be 50 years old or older.
The curling club is located in the Blackhawk building on the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds. In the summer, the building is used during the fair for art exhibits. In the fall, club members put down ice on top of the concrete floor, and the clubhouse connected to the building is reopened.
The public is welcome to attend the championships and can watch the game through large glass windows in the heated clubhouse.
Admission is free.
If you go
What: United States Curling Association Senior Women's Nationals.
Where: Blackhawk Curling Club, Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds. Use Craig Avenue entrance to get on the fairgrounds.
When: Teams will play at 1 and 7 p.m. today and Saturday. Games will be played on Sunday, but only if tiebreakers are needed.
Cost: Free.
For more information: Call the curling club at (608) 754-9714 or go to www.blackhawkcurling.com.
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Feb 9, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.
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Beware of the Canadian invasion. First it's curling. Next it'll be the disgusting food stuff known as POUTINE!!!
Feb 9, 2009 at 9:06 a.m.
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tjncj--can't you guys just pat each other on the butt after curling. CHOPS!!!
I agree that curlrock is one of the best curlers in the club. You on the other hand....
Feb 6, 2009 at 11:11 p.m.
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Curlrock is one of the best curlers in the club and is highly competive at the state championships.
Feb 6, 2009 at 7:49 p.m.
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Hannah: Do you remember the Beatles' movie, "Help!"? There was a curling scene in it.
Feb 6, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.
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Hannah...there is more than one stone involved....bumping one stone with another to get it closer or further away from the target area is where strategy comes in...hence the term "Chess on Ice" noted in the seventh paragraph.
Feb 6, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
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I wonder what "curlrocks" skill level is?
Feb 6, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
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They can play on the street next to my house - good ice, very polished and fast.
Feb 6, 2009 at 3:57 p.m.
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sweeeep sweeeep
sweep sweep sweep
sweeeep
sweep
sweep
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:32 p.m.
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There are leagues for all skill levels. Great sport for couples looking to get out of the house in the winter.
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:04 p.m.
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They have open houses to try it a couple of times a year and the cost is minimal compared to bowling and golf. No equipment needed either.
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:06 p.m.
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a buddy of mine took me to the curling club a couple of weeks ago to give it a try. watching it on tv i thought how boring. it was a blast. if you ever have a chance give it a try you will enjoy it.
Feb 6, 2009 at 11:56 a.m.
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There is even a website.
Check out the Channel 3 report (the first video)on the mixed tournament at their website below. They have been doing this in Janesville for 42 years!
Looks like fun!
http://www.blackhawkcurling.com/
Feb 6, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.
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I had never even heard of curling before this. When I saw the headline I guessed it was either weight curling, or some kind of cosmotology event.
Feb 6, 2009 at 10:23 a.m.
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This is a great opportunity to see curling in person. Many people watched it for the first time during the last Olympics.
Feb 6, 2009 at 10:16 a.m.
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See you there! (I'll be the one standing in the corner wearing a pink carnation telling everyone to SLOW DOWN!)
Feb 6, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.
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The ice at most curling clubs runs from October through March. The set-up every year is substantial.
Feb 6, 2009 at 10:10 a.m.
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Does anyone know? Do they install some kind of refrigeration coil system to make and keep the ice? They must but it just seems like it would be a lot of work to set up and take down each season.
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