News Room

Alberta curlers emerge victorious in Olympic qualifying event.

Call it a clean sweep—two Alberta rinks will represent Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games’ curling events.

Team Cheryl Bernard of Calgary will compete in the women’s event and Team Kevin Martin of Edmonton in the men’s event this February at Vancouver’s Olympic/Paralympic Centre. 

On Dec. 12, and in front of more than 10,000 spectators in Edmonton’s Rexall Place, Team Bernard clinched their berth to the Vancouver Games. Skip Cheryl Bernard, 43, is one of the province’s hardest working curlers; for much of the past year she’s trained full time. She and teammates Susan O’Connor (third), Carolyn Darbyshire (second) and Cori Bartel (lead) are Alberta’s reigning women’s provincial champions.

Demonstrating incredible grace and calm under pressure at the Canadian Curling Trials, Bernard edged out fellow Calgarian and Olympic bronze medallist (2006) Shannon Kleibrink in the 10th end of the finals to win 7-6.  
The next day Team Martin of Edmonton took an early lead in their men’s finals against Team Howard of Pentanguishene, Ont. They never once fell behind, winning 7-3. The victory gives Martin, also 43, an unprecedented second shot (for a Canadian skip) at Olympic gold. At the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, he earned a silver medal. Martin also represented Canada at the 1992 Albertville Games when curling was still a demonstration sport. 

For Martin’s teammates, John Morris (third), Marc Kennedy (second) and Ben Hebert (lead), the 2010 Winter Games will be their first Olympic experience.

“Couldn’t be happier. Dream’s come true. We’re going to Vancouver and we’re going to do our best to bring home that gold, boys,” Morris said after the team’s victory in front of some 11,700 curling fans, mostly from their home town.