CBC.CA – Torino 2006 – Curling – Headlines – Kleibrink wins curling bronze

Last Updated: Thu Feb 23 10:03:14 EST 2006
CBC Sports

Canada’s Shannon Kleibrink regrouped from a tough semifinal loss to win the bronze medal in women’s curling on Thursday at the Torino Olympics.

Kleibrink defeated Norway’s Dordi Nordby 11-4 in eight ends to earn the bronze, a day after seeing her gold-medal chances evaporate with a loss to Switzerland’s Mirjam Ott.

“You just think of everybody back home, all the fans here that supported us,” an emotional Kleibrink said after the game. “Thanks to everybody for your support.”

It was Canada’s second consecutive bronze medal in Olympic women’s curling, after Kelley Law of British Columbia won bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Kleibrink was born in Norquay, Sask., but now curls out of Calgary along with third Amy Nixon, second Glenys Bakker, lead Christine Keshen and alternate Sandra Jenkins.

The late Sandra Schmirler of Regina remains the only Canadian skip to win an Olympic title. She won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first time in the modern era that curling appeared as an official Olympic event.

Kleibrink jumped on Nordby immediately on Thursday, scoring four in the first end and picking up a steal of one in the second.

Nordby got one back in the third and stole one more in the fourth before Kleibrink all but wrapped up the game in the fifth.

With Kleibrink lying four, Nordby sailed a draw attempt through the house. That allowed Kleibrink to put another stone in the rings and score her second four-point end of the game to go up 9-2.

Nordby recovered from her gaffe in the next end, making good on a draw to the four-foot to count two and cut Kleibrink’s lead to five.

Klebrink regained her seven-point lead in the seventh, converting a free draw for two to go up 11-4.

Nordby picked up one to make the score 11-5 and the teams shook hands following the eighth end, the earliest a game can be conceded.

The women’s gold medal game between Sweden and Switzerland goes later on Thursday (TSN, 11:30 a.m. EST).

Canada’s Brad Gushue will play in the men’s gold medal game against Finland on Friday (CBC, 11:30 a.m. EST), while Great Britain and the U.S. will battle earlier in the day for bronze (7:00 a.m. EST).

Copyright © CBC 2006

Live Blogging .. as I watch the Team Canada game on TSN .. the “other” blog site is down, so I will continue on this site in its entirety .. feel free to hit refresh to get new results! I am updating between ends

UPDATE: ALL SCORES ARE NOW FINAL …

Norway vs Sweden

END 1 – NOR 1, SWE 0
END 2 – NOR 1, SWE 0
END 3 – NOR 1, SWE 1
END 4 – NOR 2, SWE 1
END 5 – NOR 2, SWE 2
END 6 – NOR 3, SWE 2
END 7 – NOR 3, SWE 3
END 8 – NOR 3, SWE 4
END 9 – NOR 4, SWE 4
END 10 – NOR 4, SWE 5

FINAL: Sweden 5, Norway 4
Results

Switzerland vs Canada

END 1 – SUI 0, CAN 0
END 2 – SUI 0, CAN 1
END 3 – SUI 3, CAN 1
END 4 – SUI 3, CAN 2
END 5 – SUI 4, CAN 2
END 6 – SUI 5, CAN 2
END 7 – SUI 5, CAN 4
END 8 – SUI 7, CAN 4
END 9 – SUI 7, CAN 5
END 10 – SUI 7, CAN 5

FINAL: Switzerland 7, Canada 5
Results

~~~ Tidbits while I am live blogging ~~~~

It’s over
* Team Canada is still eligible for the Bronze medal game .. against Norway .. while Switzerland and Sweden will play for the Gold and Silver medal game ..

Ut-oh
* Well – it’s not over yet … One thing that I’ve always liked about Shannon Kleibrink, is the fact that she can always come and make the shots in the crunch. Counting 3 .. all she had to do was draw to the 4-foot for 1 … unfortunately, that’s all they were able to get .. if she made the shot -if she didn’t, the game would be over right now. She made it! but, does not have the hammer for the 10th end ..
* 9 End .. again .. doesn’t look good for Canada = at all.
* Nice shot by Mirjam Ott .. takes 2 .. she has the highest efficiency percentage of the two teams at the moment (bottom of the 8th) .. at 86%

Then.. Who’s Silent Bob?
* The FutonReport.net compares Team Canada’s skip Brad Gushue to Jason Mewes, who was “Jay” in the Jay and Silent Bob fame .. see it HERE although heads up was from over here. I think I would put Jamie Korab as Silent Bob… apparently, he collects shoes you know. That’s a reason enough to be silent! heh

Shannon’s got her groove!
* Last shot on the 7th to the button .. measuring the 2nd stone .. who’s got it? WE DO! WooHoo!

The cheering crowd
* It sounds like there is a good complement of civilized Swiss folks in the audience .. they don’t boo the opposing team Canada, and use Cowbells or limited durations during their cheers!

Speaking of Sweden
* Anette Norberg’s team is the reigning World Champions in women’s curling. Rhona Martin’s team of the Great Britain (who didn’t make the playoffs) were the 2002 Olympic champions, not the world champions. And at the moment .. Dordi Norby is ahead by one point..
Double Raise?
* Miss was better than a mistake, only costed Team Canada 1 … but .. C’mon Gals! 7th end, down by 3 .. let’s go!

Eeeeeeee
* Mirjam Ott (announcers are pronouncing it as Meer-ee-um) is making the shots .. afterwards, the TV camera hones in closer on Shannon Kleibrink’s face and her expression appears to be .. well // WOAH!~ almost made a great 1st shot in the 6th end .. THERE’s her smile back! haha .. close – will enjoy watching that on the replay

Comments Welcome!
* If you wanted to add your two cents to this Live Blogging but was worried about posting while I am here, please don’t be! I’m typing these tidbits while I’m watching, but not updating it until both games have finished the same END or, something important had just happened .. Like this post :0

If you haven’t heard yet ..
* Chandra Crawford won GOLD in cross country skiing in the “Ladies Sprint” event. It was another disappointment for Beckie Scott – who (again) ended up in 4th place … even the commentator questioned why she moved from the outside lane where she worked her way up through out the qualifications to the final match – to the second lane. Oh well Beckie .. Way to go Chandra!

Efficiency percentages as at the end of the 5th end
* Canada vs Switzerland
Skip – CAN 70%, SUI 88%
3rd – CAN 70%, SUI 63%
2nd – CAN 65%, SUI 68%
lead – CAN 80%, SUI 73%
* Norway vs Sweden
Skip – NOR 83%, SWE 83%
3rd – NOR 80%, SWE 88%
2nd – NOR 95%, SWE 93%
lead – NOR 83%, SWE 73%

Rumours?
* Hmmm … did Sweden’s Anette Norberg throw her final game against the Russians, allowing Norway or Switzerland (both in action tonight) to finish first, thus dodging a particular team in the semis. .. suggested by the Curling News

The Shots
* Team Switzerland not only makes their shots, but they are getting the ‘rolls’ … Amy Nixon seems to be the only one on Team Canada that are getting a roll

How’s Norway vs Sweden doing?
* I am not watching that game, but I can see the statistics after 4 ends .. I’ll update both games with the posted efficiency percentages after the 5th end, and we can compare notes!
* This game does look close and the lowest percentage at the end of the 4th for BOTH teams was .. 73%

How’s Team Canada doing so far?
* End 7 – STILL too much weight … but the ice isn’t curling as much on the right side of the TV screen .. as it does on the left side of the button
* End 4 – Improvement?
* End 3 – Both of Shannon Kleibrink’s shots (skip for CAN) seemed to have missed the broom with a little too much weight .. she’s 63% so far and Mirjam Ott (skip for SUI) is at 92% .. evident in the scoring

Efficiency of Team Canada vs Switzerland game
* I posted the efficiency percentages on a previous blog entry

Well, naturally my eyes will be on the Curling Semi-Finals …

First up – The Ladies (14:00 local Torino time, 8:00am ET)

* Norway vs Sweden

* Switzerland vs Canada

Efficiency Percentages all 12 sessions:

SUI skip – Mirjam Ott 75%
SUI 3rd – Binia Beeli 77%
SUI 2nd – Valeria Spaelty 79%
SUI lead – Michele Moser 73%
SUI Alt. – Manuela Kormann N/A

CAN skip – Shannon Kleibrink 76%
CAN 3rd – Amy Nixon 72%
CAN 2nd – Glenys Bakker 70%
CAN lead – Christine Keshen 81%
CAN Alt. – Sandra Jenkins 76%

Next up – The Men (19:00 local Torino time, 1:00pm ET)

* Finland vs Great Britain

* United States vs Canada

Efficiency Percentages all 12 sessions:

USA skip – Pete Fenson 75%
USA 3rd – Shawn Rojeski 83%
USA 2nd – Joe Polo 80%
USA lead – John Shuster 81%
USA Alt. – Scott Baird N/A

CAN skip – Brad Gushue 77%
CAN 3rd – Mark Nichols 77%
CAN 2nd – Russ Hward 79%
CAN lead – Jamie Korab 83%
CAN Alt – Mike Adam 84%

Calgary Curlers Going for Gold in Torino, Italy!

The Calgary Winter Club is pleased to announce that it is hosting an Olympic Send Off Party for Canada’s Olympic Women’s Curling Team (Team Kleibrink) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm. This is a unique opportunity to cheer on Team Canada before they embark on the most exciting journey of their lives!

Calgary area curling fans will be able to share a beverage and hors d’oeuvres with Olympic hopefuls Skip: Shannon Kleibrink; Third: Amy Nixon; Second: Glenys Bakker; Lead: Christine Keshen; and Alternate: Sandra Jenkins. As a part of the Send Off, a 10 day silent auction will be touring various curling clubs around Calgary and will close at the event, and a fast-paced, live auction will also be held. One hundred percent of all funds raised from this event will be presented to Team Kleibrink to assist them in their quest for Olympic gold!

Tickets are $10 each and include your admission to the event, an auction number, as well as a large assortment of hors d’oeuvres donated by The Calgary Winter Club.

Available tickets are going fast and can be purchased at the following locations:

The Calgary Winter Club
The Calgary Curling Club
The Glencoe Club
Huntington Hills Community Centre
Inglewood Golf & Country Club
North Hill Community Curling Club

We invite the Calgary curling community and all Calgarians to join us in wishing Team Canada well and letting them know that we’re all behind them and will be cheering them on throughout the Olympics.

When: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 – 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: The Calgary Winter Club, 4611 – 14 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta

Contact:

Glenda Marr
Marketing Manager
Calgary Winter Club
4611 -14 Street NW
Calgary, Alberta
Phone: (403) 338-2416

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Source: Dawn Stirling
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