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OCC Newsletter – December 2018

5 ROCK RULE EXPLAINED

The OCC is implementing the World Curling Federation and This kept more rocks in play and made for a more
Curling Canada five-rock free guard zone, which started interesting game. A modified version of this was adopted
officially this season. as the four-rock free guard zone for the 1992 Winter
Olympics, where curling was a demonstration sport, and by
The following explanation of this rule appeared September the World Curling federation. In this rule, a takeout cannot
19, 2017 on the Grand Slam of Curling website. be played on any stone sitting outside the house between
the tee line up to the nearest hog line (“the free guard
What is the 5-rock rule? zone”) until four rocks have been played.

The “five-rock free guard zone” is simply a variation of the Teams began to find ways to work around the four-rock
existing standard “four-rock free guard zone” rules. rule, however, by “ticking” guards aside, which kept them in
play but essentially rendered them useless. The Pinty’s
The whole free guard zone concept is relatively new in Grand Slam of Curling was the first major organization to
curling. Before then, in a careful, conservative game of experiment with a five-rock free guard zone in December
curling, teams could take out guard rocks as quickly as they 2011 at the Canadian Open. With more rocks in play, more
were placed. This led to a clutter-free game, but also low- offence can be generated and fewer blank ends can occur.
scoring, predictable outcomes that weren’t very interesting It also makes it easier for teams to come from behind if
to spectators. they are losing.
In the late 1980’s, brothers Russ and Glenn Howard came The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling made the five-rock rule
up with the ”Howard Rule”, which eventually became the official for all its events during a players’ summit in 2014.
“Moncton Rule”, based on a practice drill their team used
where the first four rocks in play could not be moved at any Anne Collins
point during an end regardless of where they were placed.

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OCC Newsletter – December 2018

2018…A SPECIAL YEAR FOR WENDY LOU AND JOHN

Curling at the Orillia Curling Club has always been important to
both Wendy Lou Paquette and John Bouwhuis. Separately and
together they have been active members of the club, acting as both
drawmasters and instructors.

Officiated by Day Ladies curler Lynn Abbott-Lennox, Wendy Lou and Ut Sed Est
John were married at the Couchiching Golf and Country Club this
past May 26th.

Even their wedding cake was curling-themed!

As if that weren’t enough to make their year wonderful, the

newlyweds, curling with their teammates Lydia and Rob Whelan,
scored an 8-ender in the Friday Night Mixed league on November
2nd! jjj

Neither Wendy Lou, who has curled for 18 years, nor John, who has
curled for 35 years, have ever accomplished this feat before!

The names of the team’s members will be added to the plaque at

the club.

What an amazing beginning for our good friends!

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE!

Scoring an 8-ender in a game is very special…rare, actually!

The last recorded 8-enders occurred in 2012 at the OCC, when

there were actually two that season!

The first was earned by John Blaubergs, Joe Denomy, Chris

Dorevich and Murray Stephen.

Later that year, Bill and Donna Arnold with Jon and Jennifer
Woolhouse, took another 8-ender.

So it’s only fitting that a second 8-ender is recorded in the 2018-

2019 season!

On November 12th, a Senior Men’s tag draw team, skipped by

Wayne Hickling with Stan Hunter, Bob Graham and left 8 scoring
rocks in the rings that morning. Well done!

Anne Collins
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