 The reigning Japanese champions (Photo: Hokkaido Curling Tour) are off to a hot start to begin the 2024-25 season, winning big in their opening event. By: Cameron Sallaj In the men's final Sunday in Wakkanai, the reigning Japanese gold (Shinya Abe) and bronze medalists (Takumi Maeda) faced off for the first tour event title of the season. Having both come off successful 2023-24 season, both teams were looking to begin their 2024-25 campaign off strong as they look towards the 2025 national championships in Yokohama. Beginning with the hammer in the first end, Consadole, consisting of Shinya Abe (skip), Tetsuro Shimizu (fourth), Haruto Ouchi, Hayato Sato and Sota Tsuruga were forced to a single point after a perfect hit-and-roll by Maeda on his last rock. This was immediately followed by a deuce in the second end by Loco Drago (Maeda), making it a 2-1 game. Consecutive blanks in the third and fourth ends left the Tokoro rink up one heading into the fifth. There, Consadole was again forced to take just one point, tying the score for the first time since the opening end. Loco Drago responded with one back in the sixth end to take the lead again 3-2. With a split house for most of the seventh end, Consadole fourth Tetsuro Shimizu made sure of two for his team with a draw to the rings. This gave the Sapporo rink their first lead of the game 4-3, however, Loco Drago held the last stone heading into the eighth end. In eight, Maeda was forced to a hit for only one point, tying the score and sending the game into an extra end where Consadole held the hammer. With Team Abe sitting two on the button, Takumi Maeda needed a perfect runback to keep his team alive. However, on his attempt, he was only able to remove one stone, leaving Consadole lying one and giving them the 5-4 victory without having to throw their last stone. As the newly crowned champions in Wakkanai, Team Abe takes home the 1,000,000 yen first place prize while Team Maeda earns 500,000 for finishing second. Now with their first event under their belt, Consadole will look to continue their momentum into the 2024-25 season as they visit Ontario in October, competing in both the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard and the Henderson Metal Fall Classic presented by Kioti Tractors of Ontario. They will then travel to Lacombe, Alberta in November to represent Japan at the 2024 Pan Continental Curling Championships, trying to qualify their nation for the 2025 Worlds. In February, they will look to defend their national title and return to the World Championships where in 2023 they finished eleventh with a 3-9 record. Wakkanai Midori Challenge Cup - Men's Final - Abe vs Maeda: |
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After a tight back and forth final, Rachel Homan (Photo: Curling Canada) stole two in the last end to win her first event of the 2024-25 season.
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