HISTORY OF THE MANITOBA
CURLING TOUR
In the summer of 1991, Manitoba curlers Mark Olson and
Kerry Burtnyk called an "interested party" meeting to
discuss the merits of forming a Manitoba Curling Tour.
From that session, the groundwork was laid to create an
organization that would take the form of an "umbrella
body", linking a series of cashspiels held in this
region. The intention was to provide co-ordination and
support, while working with the Manitoba Curling
Association and what then was the Manitoba Ladies
Curling Association to promote the sport throughout the
province. An annual bonspiel in Kenora, Ontario, was
included, and later another in Grand Forks, North
Dakota.
It was agreed in the formation of the MCT that the
autonomy of the cashspiels and sponsor involvement would
not be disrupted, but conformity would be required in
terms of format and draw system, and dates would require
approval. The purses offered in all events would have to
be no less than 100 per cent of the entry fees
collected, less affiliation fees.
An MCT Championship was established and held at the end
of each curling season, and has been supported over the
years by sponsors like Labatt Breweries Manitoba and
Asham Curling Supplies. The Manitoba Curling Foundation
has been instrumental in securing television coverage on
Shaw Cable of various tour events and the championship
finals with annual funding grants.
The inaugural championship event was held at the close
of the first season in 1991-92, when the top four teams
in money earnings advanced to a playoff at the Granite
Curling Club in Winnipeg. Vic Peters' team won the first
title, topping Kerry Burtnyk 8-3 in the final.
For the second season, 1992-93, the championship
preliminaries were held at the Valour Road Curling Club,
and involved the top 10 teams in MCT earnings. The final
was held at Wildewood, where Jeff Ryan's team defeated
Bob Sigurdson 7-5.
Victories by John Bubbs (1993-94) and Arnold Asham
(1994-95) followed at the Granite club, again with the
top 10 money qualifiers. In 1995-96, the championships
moved to Selkirk, and included the top 15 teams in
earnings plus an exempted World champion Kerry Burtnyk.
A key milestone came in 1996-97 when an eight-team
women's division was added to make it a plural MCT
Championships, and the event began a six-year
entrenchment at the Portage Curling Club. Karen Young's
team won the first women's crown, beating Chris More 9-4
in the final.
In 1999-2000, after four years with 16 men's teams, the
male division was expanded to invite the top 24 teams in
tour earnings.
Portage proved to be an ideal location, but the MCT
directors believed their mandate was to promote the
sport as much as possible and to move the championship
event around the province. In 2002-03 it was shifted to
Swan River, then to Dauphin in 2003-04, and this season
it will have the co-hosting hospitality of Ste. Anne and
Steinbach.
"Many curlers would agree that the Manitoba Curling Tour
has met its goals of boosting the sport and enhancing
curling's level of competition over the years," said MCT
president Andy Stewart, at the 2004 pre-season tour news
conference. "We will continue to maintain close ties
with the MCA, the CCA, and the World Curling Tour, and
attempt to follow a successful course into the future." |
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