NEWS RELEASE

 

Howard Doubles Up Martin in BDO Classic Canadian Open Final

Victory enables Howard to become the third skip to win all four legs of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling Series

WINNIPEG, January 25, 2009 – Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.) captured his first career BDO Classic Canadian Open title today after defeating Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) 8-4 in the finals of the men’s third 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

With the victory, Howard joins Martin and Wayne Middaugh (Midland, Ont.) as the only skips to win all four legs of the men’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series. 

 

“I’m pretty proud of (winning all four slam titles),” said Howard.  “To win any slam when you’ve got 16 of the best teams in the world is special.  To win every one of them now is kind of like the Tiger slam.”

 

Martin and Howard have dominated the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series as of late, combining to win 10 of the past 11 titles.  During that span, both skips have captured five titles apiece.

 

Howard’s victory was also his fourth Capital One Grand Slam of Curling title in the past five series events and his seventh championship overall.

 

With Martin ahead 3-2, Howard took the lead for good in the fourth end after executing an open hit for two points.  Howard extended his lead to 5-4 in the fifth frame after capitalizing on a Martin miscue for a steal of one.

In an error filled fifth end, Martin had an opportunity to throw a double to score two points.  However, the reigning World Champion threw his shot wide, removed Howard’s rock on the top of the rings, and watched his stone roll out.

“That was the big one,” said Martin.  “We make that and we’re one up and back in control. We miss it and now we’re two down.  That was the real turning point.”

 

Howard sealed the game in the seventh end when he executed a difficult, thin double takeout to score three points.

 

“I tried to just miss the top one and get the back one,” said Howard.  “It was fortunate obviously.  I did not try to make that double.”

 

As tournament champions, Howard, who finished with a record of 6-2 won $24,000 and earned 36.000 Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points. By finishing second with a record of 7-1, Martin’s squad took home $17,500 along with 27.000 CTRS points.

 

Howard’s victory also propelled his team into the overall lead in the Capital One Cup standings with 25 points.  Martin and Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.) are tied for second with 21 points.  The Capital One Cup is a points-based competition that rewards the top three men’s and women’s teams which record the highest cumulative results during the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events. 

 

Following the conclusion of the season ending Grey Power Players’ Championship, the top men’s and women’s teams in the Capital One Cup standings will each receive $50,000 (CDN).  The second and third place men’s and women’s squads will each receive $25,000 (CDN) and $10,000 (CDN) respectively.

 

The BDO Classic Canadian Open was also the site of the finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest. 

 

Ron Trottier, 64, of Osoyoos, B.C  won $10,000 today after his rock landed in the eight-foot ring, 35 inches from the button.

 

“When I let it go, I thought I had it,” said Trottier.  “It was amazing.  I’ve never had so many people cheer for me before.”

 

As the finalist of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest, Trottier had just one opportunity to cover the button for $1 million (CDN). 

 

Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight premier men’s and women’s events that boast Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields. 

 

The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is one of a select few events that are tied to the Canadian Curling Association's qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, rinks can earn points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials.

 

About BDO

BDO Dunwoody LLP is Canada's sixth largest accounting services and advisory firm. Our team serves a highly diverse clientele, which includes owner-managed businesses, large enterprises, mid-market public companies, community organizations, not-for-profit agencies, and professional firms. From agriculture to real estate, technology to union pensions, and aboriginal communities to municipalities, the professionals at BDO Dunwoody have the expertise to handle any business sector.

 

BDO Dunwoody LLP is a Member Firm of BDO International. BDO International is a global network of public accounting firms, called BDO Member Firms, serving international clients. The network is comprised of 95 Member Firms in 107 countries, with over 30,000 professionals on staff in over 600 offices worldwide to take on a multitude of services. For more information visit www.bdo.ca.

 

About Capital One

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Capital One has offered Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard® credit cards since 1996, when the company first introduced the Platinum MasterCard® in Canada.  Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF).

 

About Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

Since its establishment in 1971, the Children's Hospital Foundation has been working to meet the unique pediatric medical and research needs of children. Funds raised through the BDO Canadian Open will help the Foundation fund specialized equipment and programs at the Children’s Hospital and pediatric research at its research division, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Each year, 130,000 kids are treated at Children's Hospital and the Foundation strives to ensure that each of them receives the very best medical care possible….because children need us.

 

About Insight Sports Ltd.

Insight Sports Ltd. is a leading North American sports media and entertainment company which owns, creates, aggregates and distributes sports and entertainment content across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, events, on-line, mobile, in-arena and video on-demand. Among its event assets, Insight Sports owns and operates the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling (www.worldcurlingtour.com), a series of eight high-profile men’s and women’s events that feature Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.