Cornwall Curling Centre Draws Shorty Jenkins Classic
September 3, 2015Cornwall Ontario – Some of the world’s best curlers are coming to Cornwall for the Shorty Jenkins Classic Bonspiel.
The popular bonspiel is part of the World Curling Tour, and has long attracted top Canadian and International curlers over its two decades. The event will take place at the Cornwall Curling Centre from September 17 thru September 20.
“This is a major sporting event that is followed closely by curling fans around the world,” says John DiLabio of the Cornwall Curling Centre. “We are excited to showcase Cornwall to this elite group of athletes.”
The fields will consist of 24 mens and 12 ladies teams and will feature Olympic Gold medalist skip Brad Jacobs and his team along with teams skipped by Glenn Howard and Brad Gushue. Top international women teams from Scotland, the USA and Korea will go head to head against top Canadian curlers such as Sherry Middaugh.
One of the sport’s up and coming stars, Mathew Camm from Cornwall, will also be participating in the event, on John Epping’s team.
“These curlers are all at the top of their game and the Classic will give local aspiring curlers a chance to see the very best in action,” says Kevin Baker of the Cornwall Curling Centre.
The bonspiel is held in honour of, Shorty Jenkins. Shorty Jenkins is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential icemakers in the sport of curling, and was in charge of the ice at major tournaments throughout Canada until his passing in 2013.
“Cornwall has a strong track record of hosting major sporting events, and its great to see another event taking place along our waterfront,” says Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy.
The bonspiel was previously held in Brockville since its inception; however a problem with the compressor at the Brockville facility had organizers scrambling for a new home.
“The Cornwall Curling Centre welcomed us with open arms, and we’re very excited to be holding the bonspiel with such great local support,” said Gord McCrady, Bonspeil Chair.
The Shorty Jenkins Classic Bonspiel is sponsored by AMJ Campbell and presented by VIA Rail. It is one of the first curling tournaments of the World Curling Tour season. The total purse for the event is $65,000.
A pass to the four day event is priced at $25 and are available in limited quantities from the Cornwall Curling Centre. The event is expected to sell out quickly.
About the Cornwall Curling Centre
The earliest recorded curling activity in and around the Cornwall area was in the 1850s when people played the game on the frozen St. Lawrence River near Farlinger’s Point. There was no club facility, but McNairn’s Hotel, located approximately where the present day Cornwall Golf and Country Club’s 10th green is situated, served pre and post curling refreshments. In 1882, after thirty years of curling on the river, curlers built a facility at the northwest corner of First and Augustus Streets. A dozen decades later, the Cornwall Curling Club began play at a brand new 6 sheet facility in September 2004.
The Cornwall Curling Centre is located at 220 Water Street near the Civic Complex and Aquatic Centre. You can find out more online: