{052505 Press Release – Sobeys Curling Classic}

Plans are well under way and many teams have already made their plans to attend the 11^th annual Sobeys Curling Classic, Nov. 10-14, 2005 at the Bluenose Curling Club in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Twenty-four men’s teams and up to 20 ladies teams will compete for well over $40,000 in prize money using a triple knockout format in each division.

The Sobeys spiel is one of the most popular stops on the Atlantic Curling Tour and has had a waiting list for the past 8 years in the men’s division and for the past 4 years in the ladies division.

Currently, 20 of the 24 men’s spots are full while 16 ladies team have entered. Among those teams entered on the men’s side are defending NS Champion and Brier runners-up, Shawn Adams, current PEI men’s champion, Rod MacDonald and former NB men’s champion, Mike Kennedy. As well, James Grattan brings his newly established team to town and Dean Branton of St. John’s will make a return visit. Defending champion Mark Kehoe will defend his title with an all new team, featuring long time Brian Rafuse third, Curt Palmer

The ladies field features a number of returning teams as well as several new ones. All of the current provincial champions will be attending, Kay Zinck of NS, Heather Strong of Newfoundland and Sandy Comeau of NB. As well, Shelly Bradley, who threw skip’s stones for the PEI ladies champions, is entered with a new and very strong team.

Among the new teams at this year’s Sobeys are Christine McCrady of Ottawa, Jackie-Lee Chisholm of Lunenburg and reigning PEI junior champion, Meaghan Hughes of Charlottetown.

Anyone interested in more information should contact Jim Nix at sobeyscc@ns.sympatico.ca.