By Dave Branton-Brown
The senior open cash league at the Ottawa Curling Club is on thin ice because not enough people are signing up, says league co-ordinator James Mullin.
Mullin, 62, says the league might be cancelled for the third year in a row because the demand for competitive senior curling in Ottawa is declining.
This is partially because some seniors are hanging up their curling shoes for good. But Mullin says some seniors would rather play in open competitive leagues with younger curlers, sometimes less than half their age.
Others like Bob Martin, 90, prefer less competitive daytime curling. Martin is one of the oldest members at the Ottawa Curling Club. He has been a member for 45 years and still remembers his first step onto the ice.
“It was the smartest thing I ever did,” he says.
Mullin says senior cash leagues at the Rideau Curling Club and Ottawa Hunt Club had waiting lists two years ago. He tried to start up a senior cash league at the Ottawa Curling Club, but decided seven teams were not enough to start the league.
“In retrospect it might have been something we should have done,” Mullin says.
He says it might have been easier to add teams to an existing league.
Mullin says the club is hoping for 10 teams this year and would run the league on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. from October to March. Each team would put $200 into a prize pool at the start of the season. Teams would win prize money based on how many games they win.
But the Oct. 5 sign-up deadline is approaching and the league’s future looks grim.
“So far it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of interest,” Mullin says.
But curlers of all ages are showing interest in the Ottawa Curling Club’s Wednesday evening open cash league, where seniors are able to compete with younger curlers.
“The league attracts the most skilful and competitive players – whatever their age,” Mullin says.
Martin says age and status are less important in curling than in many other sports.
“When you go out there to play, you’re out there as a curler,” he says. “You finish, come in, and have a drink.”
Joe Pavia, who works at the club pro shop, says curling demographics are changing.
“The general perception is that (curling) is a sport for your average, middle-aged, fat, white guy who likes to drink beer,” Pavia says. “And that’s so far from the truth now.”
Christian Tolusso, 18, is the skip on a competitive junior men’s team that plays in this year’s open cash league. He says he has high hopes for the season.
“I don’t see why we can’t win against adult teams.”
Tolusso says his team can learn from more experienced curlers in the league.
Mullin says he still hopes there will be enough teams for the new seniors open cash league before the sign-up deadline. But even if some seniors are taking off their curling shoes, a new generation of curlers seems eager to fill them.