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The
76th 2005 Tim Hortons Brier takes place at Rexall Place
in Edmonton March 5-13 with the winner to represent Canada in the
Ford World Curling Championships in Victoria, B.C.
As
in past years, Canada will be the team to beat.
Canada has won a leading 27 men’s titles since the world
championship began in 1959.
Last
year,
Sweden’s
Peja Lindholm won his third world men’s curling title, downing
Germany’s Sebastian Stock 7-6 in the men’s gold medal final.
In
2003, represented by Randy Ferbey’s Edmonton foursome, Canada
captured the men’s event for the second year in a row – the first
ime in more than 30 years a team has won back to back championships.
Based on past performance, the two favourite rinks this year are
Randy Ferbey and Wayne Middaugh. The rest of the field is younger
and competitive so there could be a suprise.
The
2005 Ford Men's World Curling Championship brings world-class men's
curling back to
Victoria
for the first time since the 1984 Brier Cup.
To be held from April 2-10 at the new 7,000 seat Save on Foods
Centre, it will mark the first time since 1988 that the men’s and
women’s world curling championships have been separated.
The women’s world curling championship will run March 19-27 in
Paisley, Scotland.
The
event will also be a test for B.C. as it is also the first winter
Olympic sport being contested at a World Championship level prior to
the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
"The
eyes of the curling world will be looking at us so we are looking to
host a men's world curling championship, that sets a new standard of
excellence in world curling, showcases Victoria and B.C. and helps
us prepare for the 2010 Olympics." said Keith Dagg, president of the
host committee.
John Les, minister responsible for sport and the 2010 Olympic games
agreed.
“The 2005 Ford Men's World Curling Championships will give British
Columbians a taste of the excitement that we expect at the 2010
Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. World championship spectators
can cheer on home-grown athletes like Randy Ferbey in April 2005 who
are on the road to 2010."
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