Sport Shorts: Glenn Howard Serves Notice
Glenn Howard in Fine Form: The world’s most difficult curling tournament to win – the Canadian Curling Trials – is coming this December. Skip Glenn Howard (Midland, Ont.) served notice that he will be a favourite after sweeping through the international field this weekend in Mississauga at the World Cup of Curling. He, with Ontario teammates Brent Laing (Ottawa), Craig Savill (Meaford) and Richard Hart (Toronto), beat Edmonton’s Kevin Koe 6-4 in the tournament final. The World Cup included members of nine countries.
Skeleton Champions Crowned: She won Olympic silver in 2006 and now Mellisa Hollingsworth will take a run at a second skeleton medal as Canadian champion. On Sunday, the Eckville, Alta. native took the Canadian title by 1.05 seconds over Amy Gough of Abbotsford, B.C. Third was Michelle Kelly of Fort St. John, B.C. On the men’s side, 2006 Olympic silver medallist Jeff Pain of Calgary couldn’t overcome teammate Jon Montgomery (Russell, Man.) who is Canadian champion for the third straight year. Last season, Montgomery notably won a skeleton World Cup at Whistler’s sliding centre. Third at the nationals on Sunday was Toronto’s Mike Douglas.
On Russian Ice: Several Canadian figure skaters tested their skills in a Grand Prix event over the weekend. At the Cup of Russia event in Moscow, ice dancers Vanessa Crone (Toronto) and Paul Poirier (Unionville, Ont.) earned Canada’s best result, a 4th-place finish. The Quebec pair of Mylène Brodeur (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu) and John Mattatall (Montreal) finished sixth. In singles, Shawn Sawyer (Ste-Julie, Que.) was eighth while Amélie Lacoste (Montreal) was seventh.
Who Will Join Lueders? The most legendary and decorated bobsleigh athlete in Canada is launching a nationwide search today. Twenty-year veteran Pierre Lueders (Edmonton) is issuing a unique recruitment drive to find the final team members who will join him in his sled for a shot at the podium. He is likely to pilot the Canada 1 sled. Lueders has two Olympic medals, eight World Championship medals and 88 World Cup medals over his career thus far.
A Special Arrival on Friday: Right now, the Olympic Flame is making its way through Greece in the traditional Torch Relay. After travelling nearly 2,200 km it will reach Athens in a few days. On Thursday Canadian officials will take possession of it, place it in a miner’s lantern and fly it to Victoria where the first Canadian torch celebration will unfold on Friday. After that, it begins a 100-plus day journey across the country.
