November 8, 2007…The 2007 Continental Cup of Curling, presented by Monsanto, is set to return to The Arena in Medicine Hat, Alberta, December 13-16.
This will be the fifth edition of the Continental Cup, curling’s international competition patterned somewhat after golf’s Ryder Cup, featuring Team North America against Team Europe. Both sides are knotted at two wins apiece. North America took the inaugural ‘Cup’ in Regina in 2002 and the 2004 renewal in Medicine Hat. Europe prevailed in 2003 in Thunder Bay and last year in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Europe will be represented by teams skipped by Denmark’s Angelina Jensen, Scotland’s Kelly Wood, Liudmila Privivkova of Russia, Scotland’s David Murdoch, Germany’s Andy Kapp and Andreas Schwaller of Switzerland. The captain is 2002 Olympic gold medallist Rhona Martin, while Rodger Schmidt is the coach.
North America is composed of teams skipped by Canada’s reigning world champions, Kelly Scott of British Columbia and Glenn Howard of Ontario, along with Alberta’s Randy Ferbey and Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones, joined by Minnesota’s Todd Birr and Wisconsin’s Debbie McCormick of the United States. Pat Ryan is the captain while Elaine Dagg-Jackson is the coach.
CBC-TV will provide live coverage of the Continental Cup on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, when the final men’s and women’s Skins Games take place. CurlTV (www.curltv.com) is also offering event coverage to its subscribers.
The Continental Cup, a four-day championship between Europe and North America, is a venture of the World Curling Federation, United States Curling Association and the Canadian Curling Association.
The competition format involves four disciplines within the sport, each worth a designated number of points - Team Games (72 points), Mixed Doubles (36 points), Singles (32 points) and Skins Games (260 points). The first side to score 201 points is declared the winner. Each member of the winning side receives $2,000, while the losing side members get $1,400 each from the $88,400 total purse.
There have been several format changes to the ‘Cup’ this year. Most noteworthy is the introduction of two Mixed Skins Games, to complement the three separate men’s and women’s Skins Games.
The Singles competition, which involves six basic curling shots, now requires each of the four team members to throw at least one of the shots. Formerly, one curler for each side threw all six shots.
Finally, Mixed Doubles will now involve only a male and female thrower for each side, who may also sweep during the game. However, unlike past Cups, no other sweepers will be provided.
The Continental Divide, the entertainment centre for ‘Cup week’, will be in the Medicine Hat Curling Club.
Medicine Hat established a Continental Cup four-day attendance record of 42,317 in 2004. Tickets are still available for this year’s renewal and can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 403-502-8777 or online at www.tixx.ca.
2007 CONTINENTAL CUP SCHEDULE (All times local - MST)
Tuesday, December 11 - Arrival of Teams
Wednesday, December 12
10:30 am Team Meeting at Medicine Hat Lodge
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Team Practices - Arena
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Sponsors Reception - Medicine Hat Curling Club
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Opening Ceremonies – Arena
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Opening Banquet - Medicine Hat Lodge
Thursday, December 13
Draw 1 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Mixed Doubles
Draw 2 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Women’s Team Games
Draw 3 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Men’s Team Games
Friday, December 14
Draw 4 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Women’s Team Games
Draw 5 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Singles
Draw 6 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Men’s Team Games
Saturday, December 15
Draw 7 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Skins (Men’s, Women’s and Mixed - A)
Draw 8 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Mixed Doubles
Draw 9 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Skins (Men’s, Women’s and Mixed - B)
Sunday, December 16
Draw 10 10:30 am - 1:00 pm Final Women’s Skins Game (C)
Draw 11 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Final Men’s Skins Game (C)
2:15 pm Closing Ceremonies
3:00 pm Champions Reception - Medicine Hat Curling Club
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