They have been enjoying the role of conquering heroes ever since the Brent Scales foursome rode back to town as the first from Swan River to win a Manitoba title. About 400 faithful showed up at a Brier sendoff for Scales on Friday. A local dealership has provided them with a vehicle to make the four-hour drive to Saskatoon and a Winnipeg TV crew was sent up to tape them practising Monday.
"It's a small town (of about 5,000) and everyone's pretty excited," said Scales, who helps operate a family pharmacy and owns the local theatre, as well as four rental houses. "It's just been crazy. And we've gotten a lot of gifts -- everything from flowers to curling equipment to fruit baskets. I thought it was Christmas."
Certainly, a Christmas spirit is pervading the town and surrounding area.
"It happened two weeks ago and there are still people coming up to shake your hand and wish you well," said second Grant Spicer, a local farmer.
"It's pretty cool," said lead Todd Trevellyan, who runs a family plumbing business.
At least 200 supporters from the area are planning to cheer Scales on at the Nokia Brier, which starts Saturday in Saskatoon. And should they win ...
"I don't know if we can handle that party," said Trevellyan, 29.
Trevellyan, by the way, is not only heading to his first Brier but his wife, Carmel, is expecting their first child in May.
NO PROBLEMS: When Scales decided to take a year off curling a few years ago, some suspected that it was because an old illness had returned. Not so.
"I had some stomach problems when I was a junior but I have had no health problems since then," Scales said. "I just wanted to take some time off to spend more time on our businesses."
BRIER BITS: Saskatoon still boasts the Brier attendance record of 248,793, set in 2000 ... Randy Ferbey's Alberta foursome is seeking a record fourth straight title, which would extend his own record to six Brier belts ... New Brunswick skip Russ Howard will be making a record 13th Brier appearance.
CURL ON: One of the classiest curlers to ever compete in Manitoba, Karen Porritt, bore no animosity towards St. Vital's Jennifer Jones for replacing her at third last week. Jones recruited Cathy Overton-Clapham to play third and Cathy Gauthier to replace Porritt's twin sister, Lynn Fallis-Kurz, at lead.
"In an ideal world, I would be able to get a sitter and travel a lot with Jennifer," Porritt said last week. "But I'm not upset. I loved playing with Jennifer but I just really couldn't get away as much. I was hoping to win our Olympic trials spot this year so we wouldn't have to travel as much next year.
"I told her it makes sense to play with someone who can travel lots and it looks like she's found some great players who can."
But Porritt and her sister still want to play. They were already fielding calls from other curlers last week -- including sisters Janice Blair and Susan Baleja.
HITCHED: Tears were being shed in October when former Russian lead Anastasia Skoultan -- known as the Anna Kournikova of the curling world -- got hitched to Danish shuffleboard champion Soren Jensen in Andorra. The two apparently met during the world championships in Winnipeg. Sweep! magazine reports that the wedding was followed by a 'Love Spiel' and shows a picture of Skultan delivering the ceremonial first rock in her wedding dress.
COMING UP
The provincial high school curling championships will be played tomorrow through Saturday ... The Mixed city and rural zone playdowns wrap up Sunday.
