On Monday, January 29, 2024 our team of tag draw curlers scored an eight ender at our Tam Heather Curling Club in Toronto.I have been curling for 50 years and this is my first eight ender and it immediately became the highlight of my curling career ! At age 74 I have only seen one other eight ender but never scored one until January 29th of this year.
It was a weird kind of day as I was running late and did not know if I was going to make it to curling in time or even if I was going to try to make it to curling. I did try and made it just in time, as I was able to put my tag up on the tagboard on the last available hook which also happened to be for a Skip position. I played on sheet H which just so happens to be the first letter of my last name Huggett.
The eight ender happened in the first end and our team had the last rock. We put our first rock just behind the button behind our opponent’s guard, then put another rock just in front of the button. Our opponents then tried a couple of draws and then a couple take outs which missed the mark. Our team continued to try and guard our rocks but came into the house each time. We now had 6 rocks counting in the house. The Skip of the other team then went to the other side of the house and made 2 draws to sit second and third shots. Our team now had seven rocks in the house and sat first shot. Our decision was to draw for two or make a double for eight. We decided to try the double take out for eight and on my last shot we made a perfect shot making the double, avoiding the jam on our back rock and keeping our shooter in the rings to score our eight ender!
Curlers from other sheets came over to make sure none of the rocks were moved. The Assistant to the Director came out and took our picture with the rocks in place as everyone cheered. The Director then sent the news via an email to Curling Ontario and now pins and certificates are on their way to us. We also had our photo and announcement to all the members of our club, as well as having our names on a plaque and affixed to our special Tam Heather Eight Ender Curling Stone Trophy.
They say an Eight Ender is like getting a hole in one in golf but I think an Eight Ender is much better as I can share the team moment with my buddies Jim, Frank and Ed !!!
