Morrissey wins inaugural Phoenix Invitational Bonspiel

Morrissey wins inaugural Phoenix Invitational Bonspiel!

The Phoenix has arisen! Wow. What a weekend. Let me prepare you for this mouthful: The inaugural Courtenay Kia Phoenix Men’s Invitational Bonspiel wrapped up Sunday November 3. Thirty teams from around BC came for their chance to rise skyward just like the Greek mythological bird.

Taking the Courtenay Kia Championship was our very own Mike Morrissey team, who made a touch long angle raise to the button to bring the house down in an epic close final. Congrats to skip Mike, third Blaire Bezaire, 2nd Jade Jensen, and lead Adam Duncan.

Team Morrissey not only got Championship bragging rights, they are the also the first team to get their name on the bonspiel’s trophy, a true work of art constructed by Ian Lowe at Lowe Tide Design. Congrats are also in order to the runner up Kevin May team from Campbell River, who I think 99% of the fans in attendance assumed had the game in the bag after Kevin’s double tap to the button left Mike the tough highlight reel shot. Well done Kevin, with Craig Scott Kratzman 3rd Andrew Veldhuis 2nd and Lee Walker lead.

The Ron Schmidt Assante B Division prize went to Victoria’s Floppy Dingers, led by the one and only Cody Hall, who took down Dave Pacholuk. Nice to see Cody back at the CVCC with his boys Kevin Maxwell, Troy Cowan, and Jared Spencer.

The Crown Isle Golf Resort C Event was won by the CVCC’s Dan Brennan team. Congrats Dan, Mike Meeres, Darren Richards, & Tim Corkery. Winners of the Lowe Tide Design D Event was the Victoria/CVCC conglomerate of provincial champions led by Wes Craig with Norm Cote, Randy Baert, and Ron Schmidt.

The Phoenix featured a Saturday night Skins game battle sponsored by Pacific Air Mechanical for the teams that didn’t make it to the Sunday playoff games. Cash was on the line every end, and our very own Richard Tanguay won the grand prize of a Fishing Charter for his team valued at $1200 courtesy of Cliffe’s Chinook Charters.

The Bumper To Bumper Calcutta was won by Mike Morrissey and Cody Hall, who’s elevated scouting and passionate belief in the winning teams (they bet on themselves and correctly invested in the other two event winners) netted them over $2500 each in winnings. So a pretty glorious weekend to Morrissey and Hall. Bumper to Bumper also provided a pizza to each time Friday night!

If that wasn’t enough, this was the 2nd qualifying event of the Sweeper’s Cup to be held in Duncan in March, with the winners and runners up at the eight qualifying ladies and mens events to compete for a cash pot estimated to approach $20000. Like Mike and the boys need it after this weekend!

The Crown Isle Putting Contest was won by Tanner McQuarrie, who drained a 28 footer in tricky lounge conditions to take home the $500 and change prize!

Our Junior boys team of Roy Peters offered safe rides home to those curlers needing navigation, thanks to the boys and overseers Jocelyn and Gion Fravi for this amazing service.

What else? Larry and his kitchen crew knocked it out of the park all weekend. Bar staff kept the steady line up moving and the glasses tasty and full (thanks to Gladstone Brewing for their support and great beer), the ice provided by Gord Twanow and his crew was consistent and quick and a true joy to play on.

The 50/50 crew was led by the inimitable worm dancing maniac Theo Russell. An amazing $1838 was paid out!

Did I plug ALL of the sponsors? I’m guessing there’s more! Robbins and Co! Who else? In conclusion, we’d like to shine a very bright spot light on the crew who brought our mens bonspiel back to life after two years. Phoenix Co-chairs Tim Corkery and Mike Morrissey and their entire team ran a well thought out, super organized, and ridiculously fun weekend. The number of compliments CVCC management and office staff received about how well run the weekend was, was pretty non stop. So thanks to Tim and Mike and the whole team. Especially Courtenay Kia’s Mark Hamilton, with in no particular order (other than the ridiculously long list on the 24/7 group text these guys have going) Richard & Jayne Tanguay, Jay Dzuba, Adam Duncan, Craig Bernes, Darren Richards, & Ian Lowe. Thanks to this great crew, the Phoenix has truly arisen. This legendary creature has more than just colourful feathers – its life cycle alone is enough to make you gasp! Imagine this: every 500 years or so, it builds itself a nest from cinnamon twigs atop a palm tree, sets itself alight, burns fiercely…and then emerges anew!

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