Curling’s Elite are coming to Gatineau

It is with much enthusiasm that the organizing committee and the board of directors of the Buckingham Curling Club announce today the 5^th edition of the Challenge Château Cartier de Gatineau which will be held from October 23^th to 27^th 2013 at the centre sportif Robert Rochon (Masson-Angers sector of Gatineau) as well as the Buckingham Curling Club and the Thurso Curling Club.

This tournament is part of the 2013-2014 World Curling Tour » (WCT) and is considered as one of the most important competitions held in Eastern Canada.

For this 5^th edition, there are 32 elite men’s teams, 16 women’s elite teams and 20 open class teams registered for a total of 68 teams coming from 8 Canadian provinces and from Sweden. All these teams will play for a record total purse of more than $65,000.

Highlighting some of the most notable men’s elite teams:

• The 2013 Canadian Champions and currently ranked # 2 team on the WCT, the team skipped by Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste-Marie;
• The 2012 defending Challenge Champions, the team skipped by Mark Dacey from Halifax;
• The gold medalist from the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Brad Gushue;
• The 2013 Quebec Champions skipped by Gatineau’s Jean-Michel Ménard.

Highlighting some of the most notable women’s elite teams :

• The 2013 Canadian Champions and currently ranked # 1 team on the WCT, the team skipped by de Rachel Homan of Ottawa;
• The 2012 defending Challenge Champions, the team skipped by Julie Reddick of Toronto;
• The team skipped by Cissi Ostlund from Sweden, a member of the 2011 world championship team;
• The 2013 Quebec Champions skipped by Allison Ross from Montreal.

The director of the Challenge, Mr. Dany Beaulieu would like to highlight that there are 8 teams (6 men’s and 2 women’s) registered in the Gatineau tournament that are currently part of the upcoming Olympic selection process for Canada.

The elite teams will take the ice at the Centre sportif Robert-Rochon starting at 8:30 Thursday October 24^th . The tournament goes until Sunday October 27^th when the Finals will be played at 15:30.

The Open Class games will get under way Wednesday October 23^rd at 18:45 at the Centre sportif Robert-Rochon. Most of the remaining games will be held at the Buckingham and Thurso Curling Clubs except for the semi finals and finals which will be held at the Centre sportif Robert-Rochon on October 27^th starting at noon .

The “On the Rocks” lounge, located on the 2^nd floor of the centre sportif Robert Rochon, will allow spectators to comfortably view the many games. The daily admission fee will be 5$ for spectators.

Buckingham Curling Club’s president, Mr. Alain Deschâtelets, reminded the importance of the many partners, sponsors, collaborators and volunteers that will make this major event successful and which will have significant economic benefits for Gatineau and all of the National Capital region. Mr. Deschâtelets highlighted the contribution of the City of Gatineau, Curling Québec, TC Média and the title sponsor of the event, Le Château Cartier now referred to as Double Tree by Hilton Gatineau-Ottawa.

Representing our title sponsor, Double Tree by Hilton Gatineau-Ottawa, Mr. Pierre Charette is proud to once again be partnering with the most prestigious curling tournament in our region. Mr. Charette also mentioned the great work done by Mr. Dany Beaulieu and his organizing committee to ensure the success of this event and outlined the efforts of the Buckingham Curling Club’s board of directors for showcasing the sport of curling in our region.

Request for information:                

Dany Beaulieu
Director, 2013 Challenge Château Cartier de Gatineau
(819) 213-7027

Alain Deschatelets
Buckingham Curling Club President
(819) 986-2284

Web Site :
WWW.CHALLENGECHATEAUCARTIER.COM