Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Napanee District Curling Club opened its 2019-20 season by celebrating a bit of history made late last season, as three of its members accepted the club’s first ever provincial banner.
Skip Rob Dickson, along with second Kevin MacLean and lead Scott Dickson were cheered on by fellow members as they were presented with the Ontario Men’s Club Challenge Cup provincial banner they won last April. Terry Scharf was the team’s vice while Paul Dickson was the team’s coach. With their win last April, they became the first NDCC rink to earn a provincial title.
“We started out as juniors,” said Rob Dickson. “We’ve all been playing for a long time, left and came back and always seemed to be at the (Napanee) club every year. Our parents were here and taught us the game and grandparents and a bunch of members from the club have been helpful with us with sponsorship and playing against us as competitors.”
Dickson also thanked former coach Andy Palmer for helping them over the years as well.
“The three of us are extremely happy to hang a banner at the Napanee club,” added the skipper, noting Scharf was unable to attend the presentation. “We’ve been to many clubs and saw many banners everywhere and seen a lot of good teams and we always wanted to bring that to Napanee.”
Capturing the banner at the end of last season was no easy feat as the NDCC team played seven games in a span of three days. They saved some of their best curling for the end of the season, hitting over 90 per cent of their shots. In the semifinals they went into 11 ends before stealing a victory on their final stone.
“We got in a little bit of trouble in the 11th end, and the opposition had a stone almost on the button,” recalled MacLean. “Rob had the choice of making a run back or playing two draw onto a really wide guard. He played the draw and Scott and I couldn’t believe it, and he put it back button, it was one of the best shots I ever saw.”
A similar shot was required in the final and the skip came through again, clinching the first provincial title in NDCC’s 60 year history which will now proudly be displayed at the club.