The Westville Curling Club secured the McLellan Cup on January 28 by defeating the Halifax Curling Club 35-31 in aggregate score. Walter Avery's team delivered a decisive 19-7 win that clinched the title for the hosts. The matches highlighted the competitive spirit of this longstanding Nova Scotia curling tradition.
The McLellan Cup, a cherished competition among Nova Scotia curling clubs, saw the host Westville Curling Club emerge victorious last week. On January 28, Westville faced off against the Halifax Curling Club in a series of three matches per side, with the overall score determining the winner after 14 ends per game.
Walter Avery, returning to the McLellan Cup after about 30 years, skipped his team to a commanding 19-7 triumph. His squad included mate Don Gordon, second Don Hislop, and lead Larry MacDonald. The game remained tied until the final end, where Avery's team counted four points to seal the margin. This blowout more than offset the losses by Westville's other teams, leading to the 35-31 aggregate win.
John Thompson's Westville foursome fell 7-13 to their opponents, with teammates Dave Sangster, Roger Caddell, and Vince Conway. Jason LeBlanc's team suffered a narrow 9-11 defeat, joined by Duncan MacDonald, Murray Muirhead, and Mack MacGregor. LeBlanc, who presided over the post-match dinner, reflected on his closely contested game: "It was rather enjoyable. It was one of the nicest McLellan Cup games I’ve played. It was just one of those games where it didn't matter if you won it or lost it."
The victory marked a shift in possession of the cup, which Halifax had claimed just a week earlier on January 21 by edging out the Bluenose Curling Club of New Glasgow 31-30. Prior to that, Bluenose had defended it successfully against the New Caledonian Curling Club in Pictou on January 14, winning 40-33. Westville now prepares to host the next challenger from the Amherst Curling Club.
