SENIOR MEN’S CURLING:
Inglewood skip Rutherford chasing title that has so far eluded him
At age 63, Dave Rutherford in his words “doesn’t chase the bonspiels that much” anymore.
The Inglewood Curling Club skip remains plenty competitive, though.
He makes his fourth appearance at the Alberta senior men’s championship this week at the North Hill Curling Club, chasing a provincial title that has so far proven elusive.
With his brother Gord at third, Ken Evans at second and Bob Green at lead, Rutherford opens play at the eight-team round robin event Wednesday at 2 p.m. against 2011 provincial senior champion Brad Hannah of Edmonton.
“I’ve been trying,” Rutherford said. “I’ve been in one men’s provincials back in the ’70s and in a masters (60-and-over) provincials three years ago where I lost in the final. That one came down to the last rock.”
Also representing the Southern Alberta Curling Association this week is another Inglewood team skipped by Neil Gerrish and Lethbridge’s Ian Wolsey.
The Alberta senior women’s provincials are also at North Hill this week. Terri Loblaw of the host club, Glenys Bakker of the Calgary Winter Club and Nanette Dupont of Leth- bridge represent SACA. They start play at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Rutherford got to his fourth provincials the hard way. He dropped his first two games at the SACA playdowns at the Glencoe Club in early January, then survived five straight win-or-go-home trips out on to the ice to secure the C event berth. He had to come up with three in the final end in the last game to beat Lowell Peterman of Red Deer 6-5
Rutherford missed a playoff tiebreaker by one loss at the 2009 provincials.
“We haven’t made the provincial playoffs yet, but we’ve been close,” he said. “The seniors are very competitive.”
Gerrish’s rink has rolled through the playdowns thus far, winning both their games to qualify out of the districts, then going 4-0 to take the A event berth at the SACA playdowns. They didn’t play in the provincials in 2013.
Curling with Gerrish is third Steve Mackey, second Roy Hebert and lead Les Lovstad. Hebert is new to the team this winter.
“Neil’s been playing very well, he’s made lots of key shots,” Mackey said. “If we’ve gotten in trouble he’s bailed us out when he’s needed to. You need that from your skip.”
Gerrish’s rink plays in the same Monday seniors league at Inglewood that Rutherford does, but they’ve also participated in a pair of World Curling Tour events, one in Airdrie and another that Mackey organizes at the Calgary Curling Club in November.
Wade White of Edmonton is back to try to defend his title. Mark Johnson of Grande Prairie, who won the 2010 Canadian and world senior titles, is also entered. Kevin Gunderson of Edmonton and Kerry Moore of Grande Prairie round out the field.
Deb Santos of Edmonton will try to retain the senior women’s crown. Cathy King, who won the Canadian and world titles in 2012, is also playing. Jodi Busche of Fort St. John, Marlene Maxwell of Dawson Creek and Kay Savill of High Prairie have also qualified.
Wednesday final draw is at 7 o’clock. Play continues at 9 a.m., 2 and 7 on Thursday and Friday; and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
If there are no tiebreakers the semifinals will be Saturday at 5:30 p.m. If there are tiebreakers, they will be Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
The finals will be Sunday at 12:30 p.m.