Once Thomas Ulsrud of Norway hit the guard in the sixth end of the second skins game, Canada’s Craig Savill knew Team North America had won the 2013 World Financial Group Continental Cup.
Immediately after, Savill sprinted off to the North American bench as the team began celebrating.
“We said if we win this thing I’m going straight to the bench and jumping in,” explained Savill, “someone better catch me. I was pretty happy. We got drilled last year so it was nice to get them back this year.”
Heading into the skins game of the Continental Cup, Team North America held a 26.5 to 18.5 advantage, though Team World still had a chance for a comeback with 30 points up for grab. While Team World scored eight skins to North America’s seven in the first game, the home side earned 10.5 skins to the World’s 4.5 for a final score of 37-23.
As Team North America celebrated with Savill in the bench, Glenn Howard performed a gunslinger routine that was replayed on the big screen. Kevin Martin, who was matched up against Scotland’s Eve Muirhead, was laughing at Howard’s theatrics as he prepared to deliver his next rock.
“That was good,” said Martin. “It’s sure good that he got that deuce because it’s never easy closing a team out. That was huge. We were all hoping he would make it and he did.”
As for experiencing Penticton during the four-day event, Savill said that was the only drawback of the event as they didn’t have time to see the city.
“We stayed at a great hotel (Lakeside Resort) though and had a great lake view,” said Savill. “That’s all I saw of the entire place.”
John Morris of Team North America, who plays on Kevin Martin’s rink, discovered The Bench Artisan Food Market.
“Penticton is a wonderful town,” said Morris. “There is a lot of really friendly people. I’m into the outdoors big time so I could see myself living in a place like this for sure.”
Morris experienced the friendliness of people while hanging out in The Patch. He was approached by several women asking to have their photos taken with him.
“We’re not your typical celebrity athletes,” said Morris, a firefighter. “I think that’s why a lot of people can relate to curlers. We’re just good old-fashioned Canadians at heart.”
Scotland skip Eve Muirhead said from what she saw, Penticton looks like a really nice place.
“It looks like it’s probably nicer in the summer,” she said, mentioning the beautiful beaches and lake. “I’d like to come here in the summer I think.”