Curling legend Russ Howard celebrates milestone at tournament

Marks 60th birthday at the Scotties

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA. • Few people in curling history can hold a candle to Russ Howard in terms of accomplishments.

Sixty candles were the theme on Friday, when Howard celebrated a milestone birthday at t he Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

“Wow, it’s hard to believe,” Howard reflected as the curlers practised leading up to the Canadian women’s championship tournament. “Sixty … that’s scary.”

The same could be said of the Timbit consumption if Howard finds one gift to be especially tempting.

“We picked up 60 Timbits for him to bribe maybe 60 tips over the week, if possible,’’ said Ashley Howard, Russ’s daughter, who is the third with the Jolene Campbell-led Saskatchewan team.

Russ Howard coached the Campbell foursome leading up to the Scotties, but is now concentrating on his duties as an analyst with TSN.

As a competitor, Howard took part in 14 Briers, skipping his team to Canadian and world men’s championships in 1987 and 1993. In 2006, he was the second with Brad Gushue’s goldmedal- winning Canadian men’s team at the Winter Olympic Games.

Howard turned 50 while at the Olympics, and is now hitting the big 6- oh at another prominent curling event. “It’s pretty special,” said Howard, who celebrated his birthday Friday with his wife, Wendy, and their two children, Ashley and Steven.

“It’ s funny. When we were 49, Wendy and I said, ‘ We should go somewhere special when we turn 50.’ Little did I know I’d be in the Olympics in Torino, Italy.

“As a matter of fact, we played New Zealand and they brought me out a gift before the game started. That was a cool one, but this is every bit as special. Steven has come in from Fort McMurray, so the whole family’s here.”

One question remains: What will be on the agenda for Howard’s next milestone birthday?

“Ashley said this morning, ‘ What we are going to do for your 70th?’ ” Howard said. “I said, ‘Mixed doubles!’ ”