An eight-ender, also called a snowman, is a perfect score within a single end of curling. It is likened to pitching a perfect game in baseball, or bowling a score of 300 (in 5 pin) or 450 (in 10 pin), or sinking a hole-in-one in golf! All are extraordinary events which require both skill and luck.
Curling Canada (CC) will recognize successful team members who score an 8 ender with official CC pins and certificates. Novelty or pickup games are not eligible. The team must be members of a curling club and the game must be part of an organized event or league and use CC rules.
The only perfect end recorded in a ‘national’ curling championship was in 1952 during The Canadian School Boys (later called Juniors). Gary Thode’s Saskatchewan rink got an eight ender over Quebec.
Surprisingly, there have been other 8 enders recorded at high level competition including the 2012 Northern Men’s Curling Playdowns. In the semi final, Brad Jacobs rink scored against Tim Phillips. In 2015, Kerri Einarson scored the first ever 8 ender at a Manitoba Scotties. Tyler Tardi’s rink, Langley, BC., scored 8 in 2018 at a Cash Spiel, an event on the World Curling Tour. At the 2006 Players Championships in Calgary (the final 2005-06 Grand Slam event), Kelly Scott drew to count 8 against Cathy King in the 6th end.
Locally, a rink of 14/15 year olds from Yorkton Regional High School scored an 8 ender in Kamsack in February, 2020. Kale Nabozniak-Wog, Taylor Spokowski, Jordyn Mickle (subbing for Vinay Junek) all from Saltcoats, and Kaynen Gervais were playing. They won the Grade 9 boys East Central District playoffs. What great memories to be proud of in 2020…before COVID-19 stepped in!
In the 2006 Ladies Bonspiel, Teresa Laycock, Linda Datema, Sharon Elmy and Lisa Richels scored 8 over another local rink. (The opposition came back with a 6 ender!) As recognition for their accomplishment, Asham Curling Supplies awarded them with some curling items.
Also in 2006, Brent Bradford and coworkers got the first 8 ender in Potash League history, in Saskatoon. That excitement took place on December 9th at the Sutherland Curling Club.
In 1964, at HillTop Curling rink, Terry Tatton, Gary Cooper, Dean Wiley and Lucille Kormos scored an 8 in a school bonspiel. The young teenagers received pins as keepsakes.
Cathy Inglis, Shelly Holzman-Westberg and two friends from Regina scored eight in a bonspiel in Southey in 1983. The story goes that Cathy’s sister Joan (Donna Burkell, Heather Torrie, Sandy Krasowski) representing YRHS won the Girls’ Provincial High School title in Meadow Lake at the same time. Apparently Grandpa Frank Torrie was more excited about the 8 ender than the provincial title.
“A no-hitter is a baseball game in which the pitcher gives up no hits. A ‘perfect’ game is a no-hitter in which no runner is allowed to reach base, whether by hit, walk, hit-by-pitch, or error.”
Pitching a perfect baseball game was an accomplishment for left hander Dave Datema in July, 1996. Dave faced 18 Yorkton Black Sox batters in SE Baseball League action. The game was called after 6 innings due to darkness. Grant Bjornerud was the coach of the Saltcoats Lakers at that time.
Cam Louttit is the only adult in town to bowl regularly. He started more than thirty years ago, took a break, and has been involved (until COVID-19) for about 24 years total. He has played 10 pins in both Esterhazy and Yorkton, being more serious in the past 12 years as he participated in various tournaments in Saskatchewan. His best score to date is 413. A perfect score is 450. Cam only knows of one person in Regina who has had this success! In one event, Cam’s team came close (in second place) to qualify to attend nationals. He has granddaughter, Emma Hodgkinson, in training now! He coached Emma’s team last spring and also had Emma and her dad, Richard, bowling with him on Friday nights.
“Holes–in-one in golf are rare and, although skill increases the probability, there is a great element of luck involved. It is traditional for a player who has scored a hole-in-one to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the clubhouse bar.”
In 2010 at Cherrydale Golf Course, Derek Rodgers was playing at a regular Wednesday Skins’ night. That night they shot from the yellow rather than the red or blue distance markers. Todd Bourgette was the witness when Derek hit 75 yards to score his hole in one on #5.
Also at Cherrydale, Rob Hume used his provisional ball to score an ace on hole #6. After losing the first ball in the water, Rob whacked the second ball 120 yards. Lee Jarvis was the witness in July, 2019.
Nancy McIntyre had a good day at Deer Park, Yorkton when she scored an ace! It was July 21st, 2013 on the 14th hole. She hit the ball 150 yards. The word on the street says Dave got a hole-in-one in 2011 on #8 at Deer Park, however there were no witnesses, as his partner got called away to work!
Orville Herron was with Jim Morgan when Orville scored a hole in one on #5 at Bredenbury. Glen Cowan and Keith Thorsness were witnesses from the tee off box at #6. The fifth hole was at the far end of the course, with sand greens, 170 yards. Orville earned a free Chinese supper for that feat.
Cathy Inglis’ first lucky day was in 2009. In an “Ultimate Par 3” tournament at Deer Park, she sent the ball flying 180 yards to hole #13. That ace earned her $5000! Then again in regular play at Deer Park, in 2019, she scored her second hole-in-one on hole #8.
At Madge Lake, June 28th, 2014 Mike McIntyre was out for a round with son Zach, and nephew, (the late) Jordan Stoll. On hole 6, Mike used his eight iron to drive the ball 146 yards and sink it!
Way back in 1963, Frank Torrie got a hole in one at Deer Park. On June 17th, he smacked his Slazenger ball 250 yards from the first tee box!
“Playing cribbage isn’t considered a sport, but being dealt a 29 hand is rare. This would definitely be luck, with some skill required to play the cards correctly.”
Days before my daughter Laurren was born on November 11/80, I was dealt a 29 hand ….and lost the game, to my mom! Forty years and two months later, Laurren was dealt a 29 hand, in January, 2021. She played smarter and won the game, defeating her husband for a change!
Jennifer Kobitz was also lucky to be dealt a 29 hand on October 31, 2018.
Aren’t there any men around here who have had a 29 hand?
By: Helen Jarvis