Latest news with #curling
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Scottish Curling says there was 'no sign' of Elgin rink closure
The national governing body for the sport of curling has said the closure of the Elgin ice rink has come as a "shock" for Curling said it only found out about the move on Monday afternoon after Moray Council confirmed the closure would take place on 4 August. The board for Moray Leisure Centre said "spiralling energy costs" had made it difficult to continue operating the rink. Scottish Curling chief executive Vincent Bryson told BBC Scotland: "No one knew anything. There's a feeling of surprise, shock and anger." He said more than 200 people in the Elgin curling community would be affected along with even more who play different ice sports. He added that there was a community movement building and a petition online has started, with thousands of signatures already.A protest was also staged outside the rink on Bryson said: "There was no sign that any closure was coming."He said communication with managers at the site had been healthy over the past few months and there was no suggestion that it was at Scottish Curling said the leisure centre board announced the closure without further discussion with key participants. Mr Bryson said: "More has to be done on the consultation side of things".Moray Council issued a statement and said the closure was a "difficult decision" for the board to make but rising energy costs made it an "understandable measure".The board of Moray Leisure Centre said it had concluded its ice rink was "no longer financially viable".A statement added: "Moray Leisure Centre has seen its energy costs double, and the board have had to review the full operation at Moray Leisure Centre."The board have made a decision to close the area which generates the least amount of income and consumes the most energy, which is the ice rink."The board said the cost of running the ice rink threatened the financial sustainability of the whole leisure centre. Curling may be 'under threat' Many of Scotland's ice rinks are facing difficulties after increasing energy prices have made it hard to break even, Mr Bryson said."There's difficulties to avoid closure and it's a credit to the people who own and operate those rinks," he ice rink closed its doors in September 2023 due to unprecedented hikes in the cost of gas and electricity. Ice rinks in Inverness and Aberdeen have also been reportedly struggling to stay open previously but they have managed to avoid Curling said those ice rinks had been able to find solutions to continue operating but those were short-term. Mr Bryson said issues across the globe could have a knock-on effect on energy costs which were seen weeks or months said: "Conflicts happening directly impact the energy. It's a really volatile market."He said Scottish Curling would work to help avoid further closures but might need assistance from other stakeholders and energy firms to secure the future of the nation's ice rinks.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kayla Skrlik's highly ranked Calgary crew earns early invite to 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
Kayla Skrlik's Calgary team has already secured a spot in next year's Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The Garrison Curling Club crew is among three squads that have been added to each of the 2026 Canadian men's and women's curling championships, Curling Canada announced Friday. Four-time champion Kerri Einarson and her team from Gimli, Man., have been added to the field of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, set for Jan. 23-Feb. 1 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont. She will be joined by Skrlik and Christina Black of Halifax. The Skrlik rink, which includes third Margot Flemming, second Ashton Skrlik (Kayla's sister) and lead Geri-Lynn Ramsay, is set to make its third Scotties appearance after competing in the 2023 and '25 championships. Hometown favourite and six-time champion Brad Gushue was added to the Montana's Brier, set for Feb. 27-March 8 at the Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, N.L., along with Winnipeg's Matt Dunstone and Saskatoon's Mike McEwen. The teams were awarded spots based on their 2024-25 Canadian Team Ranking System results. Two-time defending Scotties champion Rachel Homan of Ottawa and defending Brier champion Brad Jacobs of The Glencoe Club in Calgary had already qualified for their respective tournaments. The remaining 14 teams in each tournament will be determined during the coming season. Homan topped the women's 2024-25 rankings, followed by Einarson, Skrlik and Black. Jacobs led the men's rankings, followed by Dunstone, McEwen and Gushue. — With files from Postmedia Sports
CBC
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Einarson, Gushue among 6 rinks added to 2026 Scotties and Brier fields
Three teams have been added to each of the 2026 Canadian men's and women's curling championships, Curling Canada announced Friday. Four-time champion Kerri Einarson and her team from Gimli, Man., have been added to the field of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, set for Jan. 23-Feb. 1 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont. She will be joined by Calgary's Kayla Skrlik and Christina Black of Halifax. Hometown favourite and six-time champion Brad Gushue was added to the Montana's Brier, set for Feb. 27-March 8 at the Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, N.L., along with Winnipeg's Matt Dunstone and Saskatoon's Mike McEwen. The teams were awarded spots based on their 2024-25 Canadian Team Ranking System results. Two-time defending Tournament of Hearts champion Rachel Homan of Ottawa and defending Brier champion Brad Jacobs of Calgary had already qualified for their respective tournaments. The remaining 14 teams in each tournament will be determined during the coming season.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Mike McEwen's Saskatoon rink pre-qualifies for 2026 Brier
Saskatchewan's Mike McEwen advanced to the semifinal of the Canadian men's curling championship with a win over Manitoba's Matt Dunstone. McEwen executed a nose hit against three Dunstone counters for the win and earned a standing ovation from Regina's Brandt Centre. Curling Canada announced on Friday that three teams have pre-qualified for the 2026 Brier with one of them being Saskatoon's Mike McEwen rink. McEwen finished 7-1 in Pool B in the 2025 Brier but was eliminated in the page ¾ qualifier. In Regina in 2024 McEwen came in second place, losing in the final to Brad Gushue. McEwen will be joined by Brad Gushue and Matt Dunstone, who were the other two teams to pre-qualify based on 2024-25 Canadian Team Ranking System results. As reigning champion Brad Jacobs returns as Team Canada. The 2026 Brier goes Feb. 27 to March 8 in St. John's N.L. Three teams have also pre-qaulified for the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Kerri Einarson, Kayla Skrlik and Christina Black have all secured their spots along with 2025 champion Rachel Homan. The 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts goes Jan. 23 to Feb. 1 in Mississauga, Ont.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Einarson, Gushue among six rinks added to 2026 Scotties and Brier fields
Skip Matt Dunstone reacts to his shot while playing Canada during the playoffs at the Brier, in Kelowna, B.C., on Saturday, March 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Three teams have been added to each of the 2026 Canadian men's and women's curling championships, Curling Canada announced Friday. Four-time champion Kerri Einarson and her team from Gimli, Man., have been added to the field of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, set for Jan. 23-Feb. 1 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont. She will be joined by Calgary's Kayla Skrlik and Christina Black of Halifax. Hometown favourite and six-time champion Brad Gushue was added to the Montana's Brier, set for Feb. 27-March 8 at the Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, N.L., along with Winnipeg's Matt Dunstone and Saskatoon's Mike McEwen. The teams were awarded spots based on their 2024-25 Canadian Team Ranking System results. Two-time defending Tournament of Hearts champion Rachel Homan of Ottawa and defending Brier champion Brad Jacobs of Calgary had already qualified for their respective tournaments. The remaining 14 teams in each tournament will be determined during the coming season. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
