Heading home...

It sound's like the old ladies have had a wonderful, fantastic trip! I received one last email from Cathie (I received this on Sunday evening) before they head home.

i still have to laugh when Aija says we are the best team that didn't win!! We are okay with it. You know it would have been great to be in the final four, but the whole trip has been so fantastic and curling was just the half of it.

today we went out to the Otaga Penninsula. We drove clear to the end and saw the Albatross colonly. It was very interesting and we did see albatross flying and fledglings sitting on the cliff.

We also went to Larnaugh Castle which is really just a gothic revival mansion, but it was very interesting too and the grounds were lovely. We have had the BEST weather. Only a few cloudly days with sun later and only one evening when it was drizzle. Today was gorgeous. We are going out for our last meal tonight. LAMB SHANKS ALL AROUND!!!

I hope they enjoyed their Lamb Shanks! I sure have enjoyed living vicariously through them!

Update from Cathie

I received this email from Cathie yesterday evening:

Darn! that's about all I can say. Aija says we are the best team that didn't win!! We have really, really had a lot of fun here. I do wish the curling could have gone a little better. We should have beat Japan. but a heavy guard messed up our opportunity to tie or even get one up on them. they were really hot. their coach is a Canadian and she said that it was the best game they had played the whole competition.

Oh well. We found out next year is in Russia.

Everybody is doing good. We had the party last night. It was really fun. Everybody danced, including Murphy. I have not seen anyone this am. Murphy got up and had breakfast by himself. I stayed in bed and finally got up and showered. We were talking about going somewhere today, but we may not after all. I'm going to walk up to the store after I finish with my email and look for something for Cori.

I know tomorrow we are going to the Otago Penninsula. that is where the albatross
colony and yellow eyed penguin colonies are. this really a pretty town. I can't believe the beaches. They are gorgeous and not even overly developed!

I think you'll have to wait until Emily gets home for photos. I know she has taken over 2000 photos or some such number. there's bound to be a lot of good ones. We all want to get together eventually and share photos with everyone. Murphy took 3 video cassettes worth of stuff too.

We'll be home late Tuesday night.

Well, it sounds like they had a great time at the Awards Ceremony! And who knows, maybe Russia next year???

We will post photos and more after they get home, I know I am looking forward to seeing some pictures! Especially of Penguins OUTSIDE the zoo, somehow that seems really weird to me....

Have a safe trip home!

Canada Sweeps the Senior World Curling Championships

The Senior World Curling Championships have concluded with the Canadian Women victorious over Switzerland and Sweden taking the Bronze Medal over Scotland. On the Men's side, Scotland takes the Bronze medal over Switzerland while Canada and USA battled for the title. In a game of 1's and blanks Canada and USA went into the 8th end tied 3 - 3. Canada had the hammer and scored the final point in the 8th end to win the Men's Senior World Curling Championships 4 - 3.

Congratulations to the Senior World Champion teams and all of the competitors. I hope all the old folks have enough left in them to party all night at the Awards Banguet!

Team USA 3 - 4

With the final game of the Round Robin last night Team USA finished Round Robin play and tournament play with a 12 - 1 loss to Switzerland. A tough way to end the week that started off so well for Team USA.

Heading into the Semi-Finals of the event Team Canada is in first place with a 7 - 0 record followed by Switzerland 5 - 2, and Scotland and Sweden both 4 - 3. The men's teams have one more round robin game to play, USA's Pustovar rink is in strong contention with a 4 - 0 record going into this final round robin game. The Semi-Finals will be played at 9:00am Saturday (NZT) followed by the Finals at 2:30pm (NZT). The final event of the World Championships is the Award Banquet on Saturday night. I am sure that their will be much wine drinking and celebrating happening there! I for one can not wait to hear the stories from that party!

USA 7 - Italy 3

Team USA is once again on the winning side of the game with today's win over Italy. The old ladies came out strong, scoring 2 in the first end. After Italy scored 1 in the second end USA took 1 in the third, stole 1 in the fourth followed by stealing 3 in the fifth end. They maintained control the entire game, great job ladies!

A good way to start their day, now they need to carry this momentum into tonight's game versus Switzerland (Midnight PST).

Good Curling!

Team Japan wins 8 - 3

Alright ladies - time to get back into this! Today they play Italy and Switzerland. According to Cathie's last email they play at 9am and 6pm NZ time again today (2pm and Midnight PST). Italy is 0 - 5 and Switzerland is 3 - 2. If we can play well today I believe that they can get back into position for the top four.

Either way - have fun and Good Curling!

Update from Cathie - Canada 7 - USA 5

Cathie sent an update this evening:

The game against Scotland was just a dog. We couldn't get anything going. We had trouble with our weight. We were all very flat. Anyway, that is curling for you!

We played Canada (the reigning Champions) this a.m. and really only had one bad end (the second where we gave up 4). At half it was 6-2. Then we stole 2 ends, they got one, then we got 2. The final score was 7-5. We felt good about the game.

We play Japan tonight. They are 1-3. There are a bunch of us at 2-2. With a win against them tonight that will bring us to the front of the pack. Actually, I think Sweden is 3-1 now, but they still have Canada to play. We have Switzerland, Japan and Italy. Italy has no wins.

We basically want to be in the final four and go from there.

Sounds like a great plan ladies! Good luck tonight against Japan (Midnight tonight PST).