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If curling isn‘t Canada‘s national pastime, it‘s close The phone in Tom Caldwell‘s office is ringing. Again. On the other end is someone else enquiring about the upcoming cur|â€" ing season. And Caldwell, the Oakville Curling Club‘s new manâ€" ager, is forced to give an answer he doesn‘t want to give. "We‘re close to being filled," he tells the incredulous caller. "Let me take your number and get back to vou when I find out if we have Blades keep the faith after another loss ROCK (pV J \ ‘ l IIB â€"| \ | aTkNam 976â€"4321 i8 ~€P I | 90:0F [ A Wooderaft Tradition for 19 years. Bowback Bent Arrow Side Chair FALL SALE PRICE All Harvest Tables In all sizes FALL SALE PRICES 110 8 The Fall Sale. Arched Armoire FALL SALE PRICES _ startingat _ 1145 Three Quarter Workshop & Snowrcom Demison St. E., Marknam 4752488 room Curling has been underway for a week now, with the club‘s annual Perdue Tournament, but the season doesn‘t officially start until Monday. And for the late comers, this is likely to mean a waiting list. "I‘ve been in this game, at the managerial end, for 30 years and I would say this is one of the most active member clubs in Ontario," said Caldwell, who came over from Pedestal Dining Tables FALL SALE PRICES Single & Double Pine Double Pedestal 42 x 63: $605 _ All Sizes Avallable Whithy W. at Brock 1335 $80 value Hamilton Kiltys have made a quick adjustment to the new Provincial Jr. A Hockey League. 23 Firstâ€"place finishers in the Golden Horseshoe Jr. B League a year ago, the Kiltys remained unbeaten in their new digs with a 7â€"5 win over Oakville Blades, Friday at Oakville Arena. Blades, meanwhile, are now 1â€"4, although general manager Murray Walker is quick to point out all games have been very close and against the league‘s eliteâ€"not to mention a rash of injunes. FALL SALE PRICE 0) ; "The kids all know that they‘re a better team than Shown Here: I;lne 4* Round edestal FAU.% PRICE Glass 85 Dundas St. W. (at Dunwin 6072247 75 M SPORTS the Toronto Cricket and Curling Club last month. At last check, there were a record 112 new members at the OCC but because of the traditional turnover, he‘s not sure what the total number of curlers is, although you can bet it‘ll be over 700. It‘s hard to bring in new curlers when the ones they have want to spend as much time on the ice posâ€" sible. That‘s what Caldwell means when he says the club is "extremely active." That‘s also why Oakville doesn‘t hold a lot of highâ€"profile bonspiels: "People (here) want to get their curling in," Caldwell says. Oakville Curling Club, located in a centuryâ€"old building on Allan St., is owned by its members, through a board of directors, which brought in Caldwell to run things. A crusty, straightâ€"shooter with a penchant for old oneâ€"liners, Caldwell knows his curling. He skipped his Orillia team into the 1961 Brier Canadian championship before spending 16 years running that club and another 11 in Toronto. He speaks lovingly of the roman tic old game but also with awe over how it has changed. Ice is keener than it‘s ever been and old com brooms have been replaced by the push variety. The result is an aggressive, dramatic game that is taking onâ€"and retain ingâ€"followers like never before. Most clubs now have what they call a Little Rock program for new curlers as young as seven. Oakville also has Little Rocks, although Caldwell has concerns the tykes might not be quite ready and has instead emphasized getting area high schools involved. Conversely, curlers are probably older than ever before. Slicker ice and easier sweeping means the sport is "easier for the elderly" and has "extended its age limit." This might be one reason why curling sometimes get stuck with an unfair rap that it‘s a passive sport. Caldwell bristles at the snggestion. SATURDAY, OCTODER 16, 1993 1:p.m 2 p.Mm 3 p.m Three oneâ€"hour programs of fun, fitmess and frivolity, for kids 3 years to 14 years and their parent. 12:30 p.m COST: ABSOLUTELY FREE! ITHEOAKV]LLE] AN IRSA PROGRAM â€"2 p.m. â€" 3â€"6 yrs. + parents â€"3 pm. â€" 7â€"10 ys. + parents ‘4.p.m. 1114 yrs. + porents Just call for more information & to reserve your spot. 1R SA , T be checkâ€"in _ FREE daycare available from 12:30â€"4:15 p.m. INVOLVED TOGETHED $ $ 0 €) # what they‘ve seen on the scoreboard," said W Playing without top offensive threats Matt Interbartolo (knee) and Paul Kauc (back) the Blades fell behind Hamilton 6â€"1 before rallying with four straight goals, three in the third period. _ Matt Turek added an insurance marker for the Kiltys, pouncing on a giveaway by defenceman Jud Richards with 1:03 left. Jason Slaney and Kent Williams each had two goals for Oakville, Chris Chapman the other. Richards, in his first game with the team since being acquired from Like the sport, the OCC is very social; preâ€" and postâ€"game beverâ€" ages are still as much a part of the game as the red and blue circles painted on the ice. It‘s also inexpen sive: Membership at the Oakville club runs $380, all inclusive, for a season. "Get out there on a Tuesday night and you‘ll get all the exercise you‘ll need," he says. (But it can be also very competiâ€" tiveâ€"one of the top Oakville rinks, skipped by John Base, has a budge of close to $10,000 each, used to compete in sundry cashpiels across the province.) The club was formed in 1954, located, as it is today, in the old Victoria Park Skating Rink, at Wallace Park. Victoria Park had been sitting dormant when Gordon Perdue, Ed Barringham and Ned Farley got enough people together to purchase it from the town and turn it into a curling rink. And the club will see even more changes by next season. As soon as the 1993â€"94 season ends, work will SEAVER | 632â€"4800 begin on $700,000 worth of renovaâ€" tions that will see the ice surface grow from seven sheets to eight, plus a new roof on top of it. Eight, of course, is an ideal num ber for curling and, says Caldwell, "we certainly have the members to "we certainly have fill it." (Ofidden P alw (Sotl & Qouniyf (ldb 1137 No. 1 Side Road Burlington 338â€"4875 Milton last week, had two assists Backâ€"up goaltender Frank Ivankovic, seeing his first action after a lengthy iliness, was peppered for 49 shots, 21 in the second period. W Walker was optimistic that the Blades can move to the .500 mark with three home games in the next four against middleâ€"ofâ€"the pack teams, beginning with Brampton Capitals, Friday at Oakville Arena. As for Hamilton, "I think they‘re for real," Walker said. "(But) when we play them again, they‘re going to be in for a surpmise." WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993 PAGE 16 The ice is in and curlers such as Wendy Bryden (below) have been getting a head start on the Oakville Curling Club‘s 39th season, which opens Monday. Story by JIM WILSON Photos by PETER MeCUSKER Hamilton No. 5 Hwy Q.E.W