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Welcome to the
Metcalfe Curling Club

The 2011/2012 Season Registration Night was Friday, September 9th. You can still register register via email - see the Registration Page.

Pictures from the past year's events:

• Then & Now
  
• Silent Auction
  

Check the club calendar for upcoming events and spiels.

We are a mixed club of approximately 200 members run on a voluntary "share the work" format.  We offer three sheets of ice, seven days a week with bar and kitchen facilities.

The following curling programmes are offered this season.

Monday and Tuesday Evenings
These are the evenings for our Fixed League.  It is competitive curling amongst fixed (the same members throughout the season) teams playing towards the club championship in April.  Our "fixed" line-up includes teams of all men, all women, and some mixed.  The number of teams will determine the number of six-team divisions.  We normally have enough teams for four full divisions and we have had occasion to add a fifth division.  Game start times are 7:00 and 9:00 on both evenings.

Wednesday Ladies' Night
Teams are established from amongst those ladies interested in playing in each "draw".  A "draw" normally consists of a period of five weeks during which the teams compete for a trophy.  New teams are then formed for the next draw.  Positions on the teams are assigned based on seniority within the club.

Thursday Men's Night
Teams are established from amongst those men interested in playing in each "draw".  A "draw" normally consists of a period of five weeks during which the teams compete for a trophy.  New teams are then formed for the next draw.  Positions on the teams are assigned based on seniority within the club.

Friday Night Social
Essentially fun curling open to all members.  As with the Ladies' and Men's Night curling teams are established from amongst those members interested in playing in each "draw".   Normally a team would consist of two men and two women.  While this is frequently two couples the league does accommodate members who are not part of a curling couple.  As the games consist of 6 ends (rather than 8) the game start times are 6:30, 8:00, and 9:30.  Due to the popularity some draws will include start times on Sunday afternoon (usually 4:00).

Several times during the season our entertainment committee will choose a special theme for a Friday evening.  These will be well publicized and are often attended by folks who aren't curling.

Saturday
Reserved for bonspiels, there is no league curling.  There is more about bonspiels later in this document.

Sunday
Little Rocks for ages 7-12. 9:30am - 11am for children under 10, 11:00am-12:30pm for children 10 and over. Exceptions will be considered for families with kids in both age groups to be put together. Curlers and parent volunteers are involved with teaching our future curlers.  The emphasis is on fun while learning the basics about this great sport. There are many special events like "bring a friend", Christmas party, bonspiels and the like and it is almost as much fun for the parents to watch as it is for the kids to play!

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Juniors for ages 12-19.  This program, while continuing the fun of Little Rocks, is the next step as a competitive curler.  Curling starts October 30, 2011 (to be confirmed). There are opportunities for bonspiels in other clubs (will be posted on the OVCA youth bonspiel page).

Club 55 - Monday and Thursday
Open to full members and members of Club 55, this is daytime (9:00 a.m. start time) curling at its finest.  Club 55 hosts several bonspiels throughout the year and will, from time to time, arrange for a luncheon with its members.  For more information please contact the Club 55 representative listed on our executive or email registration_metcalfecc@ovca.com

Now that you've decided to join our fun loving little community club what's next?  As a community we think of our club as one "of the people, for the people, and by the people".  In short, along with your membership comes a little responsibility to give something back to the club to help it function.  We have no employees so most of the work is done by the members.  There are two components to this:

1) Bar duty.  At the beginning of each season the bar chairman assigns each of the Fixed Teams with a week of bar duty.  The team divides up the week amongst themselves and take turns running the bar for an evening.  Members not on a Fixed Team may be asked to help with a busy evening (usually Friday) or during a bonspiel.  Written instructions and many experienced volunteers are available to help the "bar rookies". 

2) Kitchen duty.  Members are expected to help in the kitchen during at lest one bonspiel per year.  At the beginning of the season there is a large poster listing all the bonspiels placed on the kitchen door.  Volunteers add their name to the bonspiel of their choice.  Working with an experienced kitchen convener the volunteers will help with setting up tables, preparing and serving food, and clearing and cleaning dishes.  Your "tour of duty" includes the opportunity to have supper with your fellow volunteers.

Most of our new curlers have approached both of these "duties" with a little bit of apprehension and nervousness.  Afterwards they almost always comment about how much fun they had, how many other members they met, and how the experience had helped them feel like a real part of the club.  Many have gone on to become kitchen conveners themselves.

What else is involved with being a member?
On the curling side you're expected to keep your skip informed if you can't make it to the club for your next scheduled game.  In those instances it's always helpful if you've found a spare to take your place.  The various leagues keep a list of spares who you can call.

Twice a year (usually October and May) there is a general meeting of the members.  This is your opportunity to participate in the club's democracy.  Many issues such as membership dues, club finances, and the physical plant (the building, ice making equipment etc.) are discussed and decided upon at these meetings.

We also hold a year-end banquet in May.  In addition to a fine meal and entertainment the evening is also a celebration of the curling season with various presentations and the awarding of the league trophies.

So, what about bonspiels? 
Club bonspiels involve a full day of curling with lunch available during the day and dinner afterwards followed by presentation of the winners and the awarding of prizes.  Dinner could be pot-luck or it could be something prepared by our kitchen volunteers.  You can usually enter these spiels as a team or on your own and the minimal cost is used to provide prizes at the end of the day.  The number of ends per game varies by bonspiel and the number of teams entered but each team is guaranteed at least two games.

With regard to pot-luck dinners, there is some coordination so the participants will know whether they should bring a salad, an entree, or a dessert.

Inter-club bonspiels have developed over the years into many friendly rivalries.  Here are some examples:
The Broder Cup (Ladies) and the Merkley Trophy (Men) are competitive events held in January and February respectively.  Entry is usually by team and the four competing clubs, Metcalfe, Morrisburg, Russell and Winchester, take turns as the host club.

The Gamble Bonspiel is a friendly competition between Metcalfe, Morrisburg, Russell, and Winchester who take turns hosting each November.  Watch for the  sign-up sheet posted in the club early in the season.

The Metcalfe-Russell is a very popular mixed competition with each team playing a game at each of the two clubs.  Two teams from each club then play each other in the finals at the host club which alternates each year.

Our newest friendly rivalry is with the North Grenville Curling Club in Kemptville.  The two clubs alternate hosting this event which is followed by a pot-luck supper.  It has been a very successful event which has seen a number of friendships develop since it's inception in 2006.

Invitational Bonspiels are the Mushroom Spiel and the Ladies Invitational which we host each year.

The club is also open to rentals throughout the year based on availability.  At the beginning of each curling season we post a calendar of events which also includes the non-curling events with which we're involved.  Rental rates are available on the rental page.

Last updated: August 27, 2011