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Witherspoons make curling a ‘family affair’ David, Ken , and Ian Witherspoon are seen with the plaque that includes their names along with their father's Jim Witherspoon. The Witherspoon family have been involved with curling since 1955 (missing from the photo is brother Doug). By Larry Sheardown As you enter the beautiful lounge area at the King Curling Club, you will find reminders of King Township's rich and deep curling history. The walls have large, stately picture frames that contain many plaques from the many leagues and championships that took place in the old and new Nobleton and Schomberg arenas. These games took place weekly on quickly pebbled ice that was as unpredictable as well. Let's just say it was original ice every week! If you go back to some of the very first games and look for names you will find, in great prominence, the name of long time Nobleton resident and businessman, Jim Witherspoon. There is a picture in one of the cabinets of the men's league participants circa 1955 and Jim is wearing (like many) a hand-knitted wool sweater for those cold old time winters they used to have! On any given Monday night you may see that same sweater on the back of Jim's son Ken Witherspoon, where he and his brothers Doug and Ian, along with Ian's son David, participate in the Men's Curling League. Now to be fair, curling is not genetic so you have not heard a lot about this team who although are very enthusiastic curlers, have a sole goal of not being last in the men's league. Father Jim is very proud of his King Township roots and his curling family. He positively loves our new digs and during a recent visit to see his family play was smiling from ear to ear (actually he always does) and talking about having to fire a rock with all your might just to get it to the other end and the pounding of the old corn brooms on the hard natural ice they used to play on. Jim knows curling and the venue may have changed but the goal is still to have rocks closet to the pin and if you look on those plaques you will see Jim Witherspoon league champion many times as far back as 1956! Jim's visit must have inspired “Team Spooner” because they pulled off back-to-back wins for the first time and moved into a tie for the coveted 16th playoff spot in Men's League play with skip David making some great draws to put up multiple points many times. There was a hearty cheer and you would think they had won the Brier as you could hear Brother Doug say “we are not last anymore and winning sure is fun!” With just two weeks to go in the ultra-competitive men's league we will watch and see how this rags to riches tale will play out, but to be sure the fun and fraternity of a family tradition will be first and foremost a proud statement of King's rich curling legacy. |
| Excerpt: As you enter the beautiful lounge area at the King Curling Club, you will find reminders of King Township’s rich and deep curling history. The walls have large, stately picture frames that contain many plaques from the many leagues and championships that took place in the old and new Nobleton and Schomberg arenas. |
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Post date: 2014-02-18 15:58:07 Post date GMT: 2014-02-18 20:58:07 Post modified date: 2014-03-11 15:17:31 Post modified date GMT: 2014-03-11 19:17:31 |
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