A brand new event helped kick off the 2008/09 curling season at the VCC. The Vancouver Cup provided members and guests with an international curling event.

The inaugural Vancouver Cup featured an exciting match up between Team Meguro – the Japanese National team who placed 4th at least year’s World Championship and the VCC’s own high performance Women’s team, Team Mallett, who was the #1 team in the Lower Mainland last season.

The competition was fierce with each team making some very high caliber shots. In the end, Team Mallet triumphed over Team Meguro by a score of 6-2.
It was standing room only in the viewing gallery as members and friends came to watch this exciting game. We were also honoured to host two very special guests: the Consul General and Vice-Consul from the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver.

At the end of the evening, a special presentation was made to Fuji Miki. A past member at the VCC (look for his name on the purple hearts on our walls), Fuji has been an inspirational curler and coach and the VCC recognizes all that he has given to the sport. He is currently a major resource to the Japanese curling program.

The victorious Team Mallet is Skip Marla Mallett, Third Grace MacInnes, Second Diane McLean and Lead Jacalyn Brown. And the team is coached by the club’s General Manager, Ken MacDonald.

The Vancouver Cup was the first of the international events coming to the Hillcrest Park neighbourhood over the next year and a bit. The 2009 World Wheelchair and Junior Curling Championships will be here in February and March 2009. And then Vancouver plays host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in in February and March 2010.

Get ready to welcome the world!