Icing on the cake for Johnjo

To mark Johnjo Kenny reaching the 150 caps for Ireland milestone, he was presented with a chocolate cake on Sunday at the Greenacres come and try day.

The Pres, the cake and the Big Man at Greenacres on Sunday

The Pres, the cake and the Big Man at Greenacres on Sunday

Although you can’t see in the picture I spent ages getting tiny green chocolate drops lined up to make the numbers 150!

JJ has still a long way to go until he catches up with Andrea Schopp with 554 appearances for Germany and Adrian Meikle has set the four nations bar high with around 200 for Wales.

Report and pictures for the ICA Come and Try / Training Day in the pipleline.

 

 

WMCC – post mortem

Ireland’s skip Johnjo Kenny reflects:

Mixed World Championship Berne 2015. A retrospective.

“A world championship is never a bad thing to participate in. And this inaugural World Mixed Championship was no exception. Great ice. Great venue. Great Curling. Switzerland has always been expensive for us however the currency revaluation at the start of this year seems to have moved it up another notch. £17 for a lunchtime “spag bol” and £100 a night for a ‘cell’ with open plan shower. However, I better watch what I say. An interesting addition to the pre-competition team meeting was a threat of an open ended ban for negative comments on social media. I hope the WCF social media monitors realise that powerful as they are I am not blaming them for the strength of the Swiss franc!

“As to the competition it really was top class. Over the last ten years the quality of curling has increased considerably. The emerging nations show a desire and ability that all too often belies their facilities. It is true that sometimes they do still lack a bit of experience and will choose the wrong shot but nowadays they get it right far more often than they get it wrong!

“Every team will look back on events and think ‘what if?’ Of course we are no different. We had early chances against a very efficient Danish foursome which included Olympic silver medallist Trine Qvist but ultimately they were just too good on the day. Our game against Sweden was a real classic and literally came down to a few millimetres. However Italy’s excellent young team quite simply blasted us off the ice, starting with a first end raised triple take out. On the other hand our victory against experienced French skip Thierry Mercier was won by millimetres in a great game which could have gone either way. It’s funny how you only remember the losses when you think of what might have been!

“I went in to the competition with a bit of an ankle niggle which deteriorated and put an (even greater) strain on my team mates. However, and as usual, Tony (Tierney) and Marie (O’Kane) performed outstandingly well throughout. Less expected was the contribution of newbie Jen Ward. As a curler of less than a year she had an outstanding tournament and without exaggeration I would have ranked her in the top 10 leads in the event. Of course she can now no longer use the newbie tag. I hope the experience encourages her to continue to develop her curling experience.

“A massive vote of thanks as always must go to the Local Organising Committee and the many volunteers including umpires that it takes to hold such a massive championship. 36 teams, coaches and supporters take a lot of organising. The transport was top notch, the facilities great and nothing seemed to be too much trouble for the organisers. The closing banquet was one of the best I have attended although I did opt out before the music and dancing part of the night. Late nights and hangovers followed by a long days travel are now beyond this old and battered body. I hope I have managed to give an insight which will encourage others to think about entering our championships and getting to these events. They really are something very special and we are very privileged to be part of an association like ours which encourages participation in our qualifying events.

Johnjo, Jen, Tony and Marie putting on the style

Johnjo, Jen, Tony and Marie putting on the style

“And finally I must than my team mates for putting up with me (it is getting harder), our coach Charlotte, our band of followers, Gerry, Gillian, Andrew (aka Finnie), James and Shauna and also all the many, many well-wishers for their support before and during the event.

“Hopefully see you on the ice soon.”

Johnjo

WMCC – Game 8

Ireland 2 Italy 8

 

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, SwitzerlandI

Ireland’s mixed curling champions – Johnjo, Marie, Tony and Jen – lost their last group game to Italy last night in the world mixed championships. The Italians took a two at the first, Ireland took a single in the second. Italy they forged ahead with three’s in the third and sixth ends. Four shots down, the Irish offered handshakes at the end of the regulation six ends and headed to the bar.

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

Ireland finish their campaign on a very respectable four wins – four loss record, and were competitive with almost every country they played. Not bad for three seniors and a beginnner!

150 not out for Johnjo!

Most capped Irish curler - Johnjo Kenny

Most capped Irish curler – Johnjo Kenny

Hearty congratulations to Johnjo Kenny who crowned his 150th appearance in an Ireland jersey last night with a win over Belgium. His record is 82 wins and 68 losses, including, as if we need to be reminded, a world senior championship.

A tremendous achievement Big Man! Doubt your record will be overtaken anytime soon.

The President will bake a cake in your honour!

WMCC – Game 7

Ireland 6 Belgium 2

Very comfortable win  tonight for Ireland. Six shots up after five, Belgium finally got on the board in the sixth, scored another single in the seventh before Ireland ran them out of stones in the last end.

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

Ireland play Italy in the  last group game tomorrow evening at 8pm.

Mixed photos and quotes

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

Some more of the WCF photos of Team Ireland playing last night against the Swedes.

Also some info on the way the games yesterday played out  on the WCF website:

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

V France: Ireland were also pleased with a win over France, when skip Johnjo Kenny drew to the button with his last stone. This delivery secured a 7-6 win. 
Kenny said: “We put ourselves under a lot of pressure going into that last end. There was a bit of miscommunication between us, our lead put up a guard instead of a strike. But, we got there in the end and that’s the main thing.
“The ice conditions here are great and we’re all really enjoying playing in this venue. So, to win here is great.”

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Bern, Switzerland

v Sweden: After stealing two points in the second end, Sweden were put to the test by an on-form Irish team, who were millimetres away from causing one of the biggest upsets of the event so far. In the end though, the Swedes emerged the winners, 6-5. This game came down to the last stones and Ireland were millimetres away from causing the biggest upset of the tournament so far. In the end Sweden swept the last stone close enough to take the end by two points and win 6-5, keeping their winning run in intact. 

WMCC – Game 6

Ireland 5 Sweden 6

Eek! That was soooo close to another win. Ireland took the Swedes all the way there after losing a one at the first and a two at the second. Got one back in the third and then stole one in the fourth. Lost one in fifth to go 4 -2 down but then came roaring back like Sonia O’Sullivan in her prime to get three shots in the next two ends to get their noses in front on the home straight. But, in a desparate dip for the line the Swedes stuck their collective chests out and scored a flamin’ two to break Irish hearts.

Well done our brave warriors, you’re doing us proud.

WMCC – Game 5

With their Romanian opponents.

With their Romanian opponents.

and with the Four Provinces flag.

and with the Four Provinces flag.

With the Danes.

With the Danes.

Ireland 7 France 6

Terrific win today for the Irish mixed crew in Berne /Bern!

After blanking the first, JJ & Co took a two at the second, and the team then exchanged two’s over the next  four ends. But a big three in the sixth got Ireland in front and France could only take singles in the seventh and eighth ends to give the Irish a one shot win.

Team and their Slovakian opponents

Team and their Slovakian opponents

Jen has kindly send through photos of the team with their opposition, and with the Irish flag. Team manager Charlotte obviously doing a sterling job juggling the water bottles, bananas and camera.

Huge game against undefeated Sweden tonight – come on Ireland!!

WMCC- Game 4

Ireland 4 Slovakia 6

Looked like a tough game this morning. Ireland were three -one up after three ends but then lost singles in the fourth and fifth ends, followed by a two at the sixth to put them 5-3 down. They picked up

World Mixed Curling Championships, Berne, Switzerland

World Mixed Curling Championships, Berne, Switzerland

a one in the seventh but couldn’t steal in the last end.

All the photographs from the world mixed are WCF copyright.