(Jan 8, 2009) -- Morris, MB – Monsanto Canada’s sponsorship of curling in the Red River Valley region of Manitoba has evolved into sponsorship of a major new World Curling Tour Bonspiel, March 19-23, 2009, to be known as the DEKALB SuperSpiel.
Monsanto, under the DEKALB banner, has been the sponsor of the DEKALB Super League in the region for the past seven years.
“We were proud to be associated with competitive curlers in the Red River Valley and South-Central Manitoba through sponsorship of the DEKALB Super League for the last seven years. However, entries were short this winter and it appeared the league had run its natural course,” said Trish Jordan, Public Affairs Director, Monsanto Canada. “When league organizers came to us with a proposal to establish a new elite level bonspiel, as a replacement for the DEKALB Super League, we were pleased to be able to continue our support for competitive curling in the region.”
The DEKALB SuperSpiel will include a Men’s and Women’s Division and will serve as both the kick-off event for the 2009-2010 Manitoba Curling Tour and as one of the final events of the 2008-2009 season for the World Curling Tour.
World Curling Tour, Canadian Curling Association, and Manitoba Curling Tour officials have signed off on the bonspiel details ensuring that the bonspiel meets all requirements for World Curling Tour and Canadian Team Ranking System points accumulation, as well as Manitoba Curling Tour money list standings.
As one of the last WCT bonspiels on the schedule, the DEKALB SuperSpiel in Morris is expected to attract teams from across Canada which need to make a last move up the points list in order to qualify for the season ending Players Championship. The CTRS status also means that teams focussed on the Vancouver 2010 Games may use the new bonspiel as a means of gaining points to qualify for the Pre-Trials event.
The DEKALB Super Spiel’s total prize purse will be $50,400, one of the largest in Manitoba curling.
The Men’s Division will feature 24 teams with a minimum total prize purse of $33,000 for eight qualifiers. First prize of $12,000 will be second only to the long-established MNP Prairie Classic in Portage.
The Women’s Division will feature 16 teams with a minimum total prize purse of $17,400 for six qualifiers. First prize of $7,000 will be second only to the Grand Slam Casino’s of Winnipeg Classic at Ft Rouge CC.
The DEKALB SuperSpiel name was developed in consultation with the host committee at the Morris Curling Club.
“We wanted to combine the history of the DEKALB Super League with the Morris Curling Club’s history of hosting the Big M SuperSpiel during the late 1970’s,” explains Host Committee Chairman Lorne Hamblin. “The two provided some of the best competitive curling ever seen by local curling fans and that’s the tradition of excellence we want to build upon.”
Hamblin says the organizing committee is committed to creating a bonspiel experience which will be SUPER for competitors, fans and sponsors. “We expect to attract teams from across Canada and perhaps even internationally to the DEKALB SuperSpiel. We guarantee them super western hospitality as well as super competition.”
Entry fees for the Bonspiel are $1,000 for the Men’s Division and $800 for the Women’s Division, including all WCT and MCT fees.
The Morris Curling Club has a long history of hosting successful championship-level curling events. Most recently, Morris hosted the Manitoba Scotties Tournament which sent Jennifer Jones and her team to the 2007 Canadian Championship.
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.
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Media inquiries should be directed to:
Trish Jordan, Public Affairs Director 204-985-1005 (trish.l.jordan@monsanto.com)
Morris Curling Club -Lorne Hamblin 204-955-3824 (chamblin@mts.net)
DEKALB SUPERSPIEL FACT SHEET
DEKALB SUPER SPIEL Men’s Division – Presented by Super 8
24 Teams ………8 Qualifiers ………Entry Fee $1,000………**Total Purse $33,000……….First Prize - $12,000
DEKALB SUPER SPIEL Women’s Division – Presented by Town of Morris
16 Teams ………6 Qualifiers ……….Entry Fee $800……….**Total Purse $17,400………….First Prize - $7,000
**NOTE: Total Prize Purse is a minimum and is based on full entry
Paid Entries to: Brian Recksiedler, Morris Curling Club, Box 674, Morris, MB R0G 1K0
For more information contact: Lorne Hamblin 204-955-3824 (chamblin@mts.net)
OR Resby Coutts 204-799-2250 (resby@thecurler.com)
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