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Through The Lens ___ave Gravette Japanese curlers keen If two per cent of the Japanese population decid- ed to curl they would out- number the 1.2 million curlers Canada currently boasts. The Japanese have thrown themselves into the sport, attracting World Champions such as Russ Howard and Marilyn Darte to their country to teach the finer points of the game. The man behind the curl- ing movement in the Orient is a chap by the name of Hiroshi Kobyashi. Hiroshi first met Russ Howard when Russ was the icemaker in Huntsville. He took a liking to the con- genial champ immediately. Two years ago, when the Ontario Tankard was being played in Richmond Hill, Hiroshi was there again, studying the Canadian style of play, but more specifically, watching the Russ Howard rink from the - Penetanguishene Curling Club. Then, this past spring at the World Curling Cham- pionships in Vancouver, Hiroshi headed up a Japanese contingent gathering information on curling and watching the Howard rink in action. Hiroshi's Magazine, Happy Curling, featured the exploits of the Howard rink's win in Vancouver so distinctly, it was unbelievable. From every angle he captured the moments of ecstasy and emotion of the team, their families and their supporters. When it came time for the Canadian Curling Association to send a representative to Japan to co-ordinate curling clinics, Russ Howard was the choice. No doubt Hiroshi had a hand in persuading the CCA into sending Russ and his wife Wendy. There are currently 6,000 curlers in Japan, and with Hiroshi at the hel, there is no doubt the curling frater- nity there will grow substantially in the next few years. In January, Japan's first curling club will open. The Howard rink has been in- vited as special guests to of- It's Crying Time Nancy Deenan appears to be wiping a as Steve tear from prepares her eye to release the Midland Curling Club Saturday night in Laurin rock at the "donning" the annual Bourgeois Motors Bonspiel. Howard Rink tired Sleep, that's what Russ Howard needs more than anything these days. Since returning from Japan he's travelled across Canada, and ended up in St. John's, Newfoundland over the weekend for a bonspiel. The Howard foursome from the Penetanguishene C.C. picked up $475 for their trouble winning four games and losing two. Last Thursday, they lost an exhibition game to 1987 Brier participant Mark Noseworthy. When the spiel began, the Howard team won their first match, lost their second, then scored three victories in a row. At 4-1, tney qualified for the main event. First prize was eight flights to Hawaii which was won by the Paul Sav- age rink from Toronto. The bonspiel was played in two rinks, one with keen ice, the other slow as molasses. 'It made it tough" (to be consistent said Russ. After dropping down to the "underwear event" the Howard Team lost to Mark Noseworthy in six ends. It has been a nightmarish month and a half for the Page 24a, Wednesday, November 25, 1987 Nancy was able to pull herself together, but we're not sure about Steve. The spiel took on an Italian air with several curlers Italian garb. World Champion. He's travelled the globe pro- moting the game of curl- ing, which Russ adds is great. He would never have turned down behind a World Champ, but, some- day all this running around will have to end and real life will have to begin. "To sum up the whole spiel, we didn't play well,"' said Russ. "We're doing too much travelling and not much curling." Let me remind you that Russ and the guys have been here before and have more often then not come up '"'peachy keen"!! ficially open the new site. However, Russ has to talk it over with the guys first to see if they can take the time off work. Another fac- to they have to consider is the Ontario Tankard in Ot- tawa is in early February and they will have to take time off for that. Curling is an interna- tional sport. At World Championships curling calls are voiced in English, French, German, Swedish etc. Soon, instructions will be heard in Japanese. Hiroshi Kobyashi's rink is the Japanese champ. He will undertake a Canadian tour this winter to spice up his game to be more com- petitive against the strong curling nations like Canada, Norway and Scotland. In a mini-bonspiel while Russ and Wendy Howard were in Japan recently, Russ defeated the Kobyashi rink twice to win the Challenge Cup. Wendy Howard, meanwhile, won the ladies event skipping a team of women from the Canadian consulate. Wendy's team won four and tied one. In curling, ties are usually broken, but their Japanese opponents were so satisfied with the tie they didn't want to determine a winner. As Wendy explained, a tie is the "Japanese way." See ~e Oriental Visitors Wendy Howard, left and Russ Howard flank two young Japanese children they met while visiting Japan last week. Russ and Wendy conducted clinics and par- ticipated in a few exhibitions. They found the Japanese to be very eager to learn about the game of curling. The Howard rink has been invited back in January to participate in the opening of the first curl- ing rink in Japan. SPECIAL PRICES IN EFFECT UNTIL NOV 30/87 e FOR MOST NORTH AMERICAN BUILT CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS WINTER CHECK CARRE. ples cou depend on it! 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