Brian Cook of Toronto won the Adult Singles title and $1,000 cash for the third year in a row at the World Crokinole Championships held in Tavistock on Saturday, June 6, 2009. He narrowly defeated Nathan Walsh of St. Pauls after three tie-breaker rounds. Third place went to Ray Beierling of Varna and fourth to Ab Leitch of Exeter. This is the eleventh year for the tournament and Brian has now tied Joe Fulop with three championship titles.
Brothers Ray and Jason Beierling won the doubles competition for the fifth time while Kohl Hedley won his third title in the Junior category. The Intermediate contest was won by Joel Hartung of Listowel, Recreational singles by Jason Carter, and Cue singles by Carl Litt of Kitchener. Cue doubles champions was won by Carol Litt and Lorraine Proud both of Kitchener, and Recreational doubles by Nathan Walsh and Chris Leitch. (full story below)
BRIAN COOK WINS THIRD STRAIGHT WCC TITLE
from the Tavistock Gazette, Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It was a ‘David and Goliath’ match Saturday evening as 16-year-old Nathan Walsh of St. Pauls, Ontario was matched against two-time World Crokinole Championship winner Brian Cook of Toronto for the Adult Singles title. Cook prevailed for his third straight title, but not without a good fight put up by Walsh who was last year’s Recreational division winner. Nathan took the first game after a fifth round and Cook earned the second, again after a fifth round. The deciding match also went to a tie in four games with Cook winning the extra tie-breaker game and the $1,000 cash prize. Walsh took home $500 cash.
A handshake of congratulations and a wave to his dad and friends in the ring of spectators confirmed the win. Brian Cook has now tied the record set by Joe Fulop of Exeter (2001, 2002, 2004) with three wins, although Brian’s have all come consecutively. Both Brian and Nathan have met previously in play with the World Crokinole League and Brian is confident that Nathan will be the one to look out for in the future. “It’s difficult with all the spectators and cameras around,” Brian said. “You have to stay focussed.”
Third place in the Adult Singles division was Ray Beierling of Varna who also earned the trophy for the most 20’s (101) in the preliminary round. Fourth place went to Ab Leitch of Goderich.
Over 530 positions were filled in ten categories at the eleventh annual tournament held in the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre. East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Don McKay gave the opening remarks and welcomes to players from as far away as Australia, France, Italy, Ireland, and England, from the U.S.A. states of Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin as well as Prince Edward Island and all parts of Ontario. Early Bird registration winners were Marlin Good of Kincardine and Mark Van Heeswyk of Strathroy. The youngest player was 6-year-old Mercades Miltenburg of Hamilton and the oldest player, 90-year-old Charles Moutoux of Kitchener. Max Corrigan of Rosemount, Minnesota was the lucky winner of the draw for an official WCC board.
Emcee and announcer for the day was Arena Manager Ken Wettlaufer who went over the rules of the day prior to each preliminary round and was the official timer. Official scorer was Andrew Raymer and Lynn Matthison headed the registration desk. The Mayor announced the winners in each category with awards, cash and certificates handed out by many of the tournament sponsors.
In the preliminary rounds, 132 players were placed in two pools of play throughout the day and the top sixteen were chosen to playoff against each other to seed the final four.
Winners from the preliminary rounds of Cue Singles (32 players) and Recreational Singles (84 players) also held their playoff rounds at the same time.
Carl Litt of Kitchener was the Cues winner with second place to Dennis Brubacher of Elmira, third to Wayne Schultz of Tavistock and fourth to Raymond Schwartzentruber of Stratford. A trophy for the most 20’s in cues plays was presented for the first time this year, and with 101, it was a tie between Carl Litt and Marjorie Roth. In Recreational Singles, Jason Carter of Newton was first, Jamie McDonald of Peterborough second, third place to Marlin Lichti and fourth place to John Madlensky.
The Junior category had nine players with Kohl Hedley of Beachburg winning for the third consecutive year.Tyler Kuepfer of Brunner was second, Trevor Grasby of Holland Landing was third, and Coe Miltenberg was fourth. In the Intermediate division, defending champion Joel Hartung of Palmerston once again earned the trophy. Second place went to Katelynn Kuepfer of Brunner, third to Tristan Whytock, and fourth to Maxwell Hosken of Brampton.
Over at doubles play, brothers Jason and Raymond Beierling once again dominated that category winning their fifth title in 11 years (1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009) out of 50 teams. Robert Mader, Breslau and Richard Mader, Waterloo took home second prize with third place going to Justin and Fred Slater and fourth to Wayne Gingerich and Paul Brubacher. For Recreational Doubles there were 58 teams. Nathan Walsh of St. Pauls and Chris Leitch of Goderich were champions. Second place went to Ken and Kent Robinson, third place to Darren and Wayne Campbell, and fourth place to Lloyd and Jesse Wiseman. In Cue doubles play, Lorraine Proud and Carol Litt, Kitchener were champions out of 26 teams. Second place went to Carl Litt and Paul Sorley, Kitchener, third to Wayne Schultz, Tavistock and Floyd Kipfer, Milverton, and fourth to Merv Roth and Marjorie Roth, New Hamburg.
To add an international flavour to the tournament again this year, a group of European players, some who are co-workes at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, enjoyed the tournament. In the Recreational Division out of 84 competitors, Simone Speziale of Italy placed 29th, Sarah Croke of Ireland was 50th, Joe Henson of England was 53rd, John O’Brien of Ireland was 56th, and in Adult Singles, Australians Daniel Caulfield was 46th and Chabriol Colebatch 48th in Pool B.
A successful chicken barbecue hosted by the Tavistock Firefighters was held in the Curling Arena as an evening meal and break for competitors.
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