Grand National Curling Club

Last updated
Grand National Curling Club
Grand Nat Curling Logo.jpg
Sport Curling
JurisdictionRegional
Membership73 curling clubs
AbbreviationGNCC
Founded1867
AffiliationNone
Official website
www.gncc.org
Flag of the United States.svg

The Grand National Curling Club (GNCC), founded in 1867, was the first National Curling Organization encompassing the entire United States. It remained the national organization until it created the United States Curling Association (USCA) in the 1950s, which split the GNCC into 10 Regions to compete in a U.S. Men's National Curling Championship. The champion would represent the United States in the newly created Men's World Curling Championships.

Contents

The GNCC is the union of curling clubs in the Eastern United States. Following the splitting of the GNCC into 10 regions in the 1950s, the GNCC remained as the Eastern US Region, with most of its clubs located in the North-East US From Maine to Virginia. In recent years the growth of new clubs has included both the North-East and South-East United States. As of December 2021, the GNCC includes 73 curling clubs in 18 States. [1] [2] States represented include, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.

Origins and history

In response to a May 1867 advertisement in The Scottish-American Journal, 33 delegates from seven clubs from across the U.S. met on June 26, 1867 in the Caledonian Club rooms in New York City. The seven original clubs were:

  1. Caledonian Club (New York, New York)
  2. New York Club (New York, New York)
  3. Thistle Club (New York, New York)
  4. St. Andrew's Club (New York, New York)
  5. Paterson Club (Paterson, New Jersey)
  6. Caledonian Club (Buffalo, New York)
  7. Burns Club (Cleveland, Ohio)

Rather than join the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in Scotland, the delegates decided to form a national organization. On a motion by Mr. James Brand, Caledonian, New York, the new club was called the "Grand National Curling Club of America" and became the first national curling organization in America. Within a few months, additional clubs joined the GNCC from Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The earliest documented club in the current GNCC geographic area was the New England Curling Club of Boston, established sometime prior to 1839. [3]

In the 1950s a Men's World Championship was being organized. The GNCC reorganized and created the United States Curling Association, dividing the GNCC into 10 Regional organizations. This division was to allow a National Playdown with 10 teams. The Grand National Curling Club became a regional association representing the clubs in the eastern United States. Regional based national playdowns are no longer competed to determine the United States Championships.

The GNCC provides many services to its member clubs. These include, mentoring new clubs, stone rental program for the creation of new clubs, training programs for curlers, coaches and ice technicians, just to name a few. The GNCC also has programs to help clubs perform emergency repairs, programs to help clubs become dedicated ice facilities, and programs to support Junior Curling development. This is NOT an all-inclusive list. New programs are created as needed to help the regional clubs develop and grow. The GNCC works to develop and nurture clubs from initial inception through building dedicated facilities and beyond. The GNCC also has a GNCC Club insurance program available to its member clubs, providing great coverage at reasonable rates.

The GNCC holds many regional championships. Including, Men's, Women's, Mixed, Jr Men's, Jr Women's, Mixed Doubles, Senior Men's, Senior Women's, College, Arena, 5 & Under Men's, 5 & Under Women's and 5 & Under Mixed. The GNCC Holds 2 annual International Events. The oldest dating back to the 1870's is the Gordon International, with the GNCC competing with the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, Montreal Branch. In the 1960s the Ross Tarlton was created with the GNCC competing with the Ontario Curling Association. The GNCC began the Scottish Tour with competition between the GNCC (then representing the entire United States) and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club of Scotland in the late 1800s. The GNCC/Scotland Scottish Tour held a competition every 5 years, alternating between the United States and Scotland. With the creation of the United States Curling Association in the 1950s, the Scottish tour was changed to the United States Curling Association vs the Royal Caledonian Curling Club of Scotland. The Scottish Tour continues to be held every 5 years alternating between the United States and Scotland.

In addition to the activities above, the GNCC represents its clubs to the USCA, acting as the conduit for their clubs to the USCA. In 2022, the USCA Board of Directors removed the GNCC as a member region due to non-compliance with the USCA bylaws. [4] Two-thirds of the USA Curling members voted to ratify the decision at the annual Members' Assembly in October 2022.

Member clubs

StateClub NameCity/TownTypeSheetsYear FoundedNotes
Alabama
Flag of Alabama.svg
Rocket City Curling Club [5] Huntsville Arena52018Hosted at the Ice Sports Center in Huntsville, Alabama
Connecticut
Flag of Connecticut.svg
Hartford Curling Club [6] Hartford Arena31908Originally incorporated 1908-1973, re-incorporated 2015. Hosted at Veterans Memorial Ice Skating Rink in West Hartford, Connecticut
LBI Curling Club [7] Bridgeport PaperNamed after Long Beach Island, NJ
Norfolk Curling Club [8] Norfolk Dedicated21956Destroyed by arson in December 2011, rebuild completed in October 2013
Nutmeg Curling Club [9] Bridgeport Dedicated31960Dedicated facility acquired in 2006
Delaware
Flag of Delaware.svg
Diamond State Curling Club [10] Newark Arena1-52017Hosted at the Patriot Ice Center in Newark, Delaware
Florida
Flag of Florida.svg
Jacksonville Granite Curling Club [11] Jacksonville Arena2017Hosted at Veterns Memorial Arena in Jacksonfille, Florida
Loggerhead Curling Club [12] Lake Worth Arena42019Formerly the Palm Beach Curling club. Hosted at Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth, Florida
Orlando Curling Club [13] Orlando Arena2014Hosted at Ice Factory in Kissimmee, Florida, and at Daytona Ice Arena in South Daytona, Florida
Tampa Bay Curling Club [14] Tampa Bay Arena2017Hosted at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Florida
Georgia
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
Atlanta Curling Club [15] Atlanta Arena52010Hosted at Atlanta Ice Forum
Peachtree Curling Association [16] Marietta Dedicated32015Dedicated facility acquired in 2015
Maine
Flag of Maine.svg
Belfast Curling Club [17] Belfast Dedicated31959Facility constructed 1962
Pine Tree Curling Club [18] Portland Arena32015Hosted at William B. Troubh Ice Arena in Portland, Maine
Maryland
Flag of Maryland.svg
Chesapeake Curling Club [19] Easton Dedicated31980Located at the Talbot County Community Center in Easton, Maryland. No ice due to renovations during the 2005-2006 season
Potomac Curling Club [20] Laurel Dedicated41961Acquired dedicated facility in 2002
Massachusetts
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
Blackstone Valley Curling Club [21] Hopedale Arena2016Hosted at Blackstone Valley IcePlex in Hopedale, Massachusetts
Boston Curling Club [22] Boston Paper1890Originally outdoors at Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Massachusetts and later on Scarboro Pond in Boston, Massachusetts
Broomstones Curling Club [23] Wayland Dedicated41968The largest dedicated curling club in the Boston area
Canadian Club of Boston [24] West Roxbury Paper1961Currently plays on ice belonging to The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts
Cape Cod Curling Club [25] Falmouth Dedicated31969Curling in current facility since 1975
Colonial Curling Association [26] Worcester Arena32016Hosted at Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, Worcester, Massachusetts
Curling Club of the Berkshires [27] Pittsfield Arena42017Hosted at The Boys and Girls Club in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Lower Cape Curling Club [28] Orleans Arena32018Hosted at Charles Moore Arena in Orleans, Massachusetts
Merrimack Valley Curling Club [29] Lowell Paper2008Formerly the 2006 Greater Lowell Curling Club (paper), now plays at the Nashua Curling Club
Nantucket Curling Club [30] Nantucket Arena2016Hosted at Nantucket Ice in Nantucket, Massachusetts
New Pond Curling Club [31] Walpole Natural Ice1951Started in 1951 with three stones originally from the Lake Placid Curling Club, founded to experience curling on natural (outdoor) ice
North End Curling Club [32] Boston Arena2017Hosted at Steriti Memorial Rink in Boston, Massachusetts
Petersham Curling Club [33] Petersham Dedicated21960Dedicated facility built in 1960
South Shore Curling Club [34] Bridgewater Arena52010Hosted at Bridgewater Ice Arena in Bridgewater, Massachusetts
The Country Club [35] Brookline Dedicated41920The site of the first indoor artificially-created ice rink dedicated to curling on December 19, 1920 [36]
Weston Curling Club [37] Weston Paper1960Affiliated with Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland, Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Flag of New Hampshire.svg
Granite Curling Club (Hollis, NH) Nashua PaperPlays out of Nashua Country Club
Mount Washington Valley Curling Club [38] Conway Arena2011Hosted at Ham Public Ice Arena in Conway, New Hampshire
Nashua Country Club [39] Nashua Dedicated41928Curling began in 1928 on a frozen pond which is now the thirteenth hole. Dedicated ice shed construction began in 1947
Plymouth Rocks Curling Club [40] Plymouth Arena42014Hosted at Plymouth State University Ice Arena in Holderness, New Hampshire
New Jersey
Flag of New Jersey.svg
Jersey Pinelands Curling Club [41] Mount Laurel Arena52014Hosted at The Igloo Ice Rink in Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Plainfield Curling Club [42] South Plainfield Dedicated21963Current indoor facility constructed in 1967
New York
Flag of New York.svg
Albany Curling Club [43] Albany Dedicated21955Curling happened on the frozen lake at Albany's Washington Park from 1866 to 1902, prior to the 1955 incorporation of the Albany Curling Club
Amherst Curling Club [44] Macedon PaperReportedly used by some curlers out of the Rochester Curling Club
Ardsley Curling Club [45] Ardsley Dedicated31932Also home of the New York Caledonian's Curling Club. Initially played out of St. Andrew's Curling Club, its current dedicated facility was constructed in 1966
Brooklyn Lakeside Curling Club [46] Brooklyn Arena52014Hosted at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Finger Lakes Curling Club [47] Ithaca Arena42017Hosted at Community Recreation Center The Rink in Ithaca, New York. The 2018-2019 season was cut short due to structural issues.
Kayuta Lake Curling Club Forestport Natural IceVaries2001Holds the annual Kayuta Lake Curling Club Winterfest bonspiel on outdoor natural ice in February. Ice conditions permitting.
Lake Placid Curling Club [48] Saranac Lake Arena51981Hosted at Saranac Lake Civic Center in Saranac Lake, New York since 2013
Long Island Curling Club [49] Syosset Arena42008Hosted at the Long Island Sports Hub in Syosset, New York
New York Caledonian Curling Club [50] Yonkers PaperCurls out of the Ardsley Curling Club
Rochester Curling Club [51] Rochester Dedicated41961A two-sheet dedicated facility was constructed in 1966 and expanded to four sheets in 1972. RCC maintains a connection to the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in Edinburgh, Scotland
Schenectady Curling Club [52] Schenectady Dedicated41907Front Street facility at Mohawk Golf Club constructed and opened in 1924 with artificial ice introduced in 1928. Current facility on Balltown Road constructed in 1952
St. Andrew's Curling Club Dobbs Ferry Paper1903Curls out of the Ardsley Curling Club
Utica Curling Club [53] Whitestown Dedicated61868The facility on Francis Street was destroyed by fire in 1995. The current facility on Clark Mills Road opened in 1996
North Carolina
Flag of North Carolina.svg
Charlotte Curling Association [54] Charlotte Dedicated42010Current dedicated facility opened in 2014. Formerly known as the Charlotte Centre Curling Club
Coastal Carolina Curling Club [55] Wilmington Arena42011Hosted at the Wilmington Ice House in Wilmington, N.C.
Triangle Curling Club [56] Durham Dedicated41995Opened its own dedicated facility in 2015
Pennsylvania
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
Anthracite Curling Club [57] Wilkes-Barre Arena42006Hosted at Toyota SportsPlex in Coal Street Park in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania since 2010. Formerly known as the Scranton Curling Club and hosted at the Ice Box in Pittston, Pennsylvania 2006-2008
Bucks County Curling Club [58] Warminster Dedicated42010Dedicated ice since 2015
French Creek Curling Club [59] Meadville Arena42016Hosted at Meadville Area Recreation Complex (The "MARC") in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Nittany Valley Curling Club [60] Pennsylvania Arena2019Hosted at Pegula Ice Arena at Penn State University
Philadelphia Curling Club [61] Paoli Dedicated21957Current facility constructed and opened in 1966
Pittsburgh Curling Club [62] Pittsburgh Dedicated42002New dedicated facility opened Stowe Township in February 2020. Formerly hosted at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in Glenfield, Pennsylvania
Rail City Curling Club [63] Altoona Arena2018Hosted at Galactic Ice in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Flag of Rhode Island.svg
Ocean State Curling Club [64] Smithfield Arena52009Hosted at Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink in Smithfield, Rhode Island since 2019
South Carolina
Flag of South Carolina.svg
Charleston Curling Club [65] Charleston Arena2017Hosted at Carolina Ice Palace in Charleston, South Carolina
Palmetto Curling Club [66] Greenville Arena42010Hosted at Greenville County Pavilion Recreation Complex in Greenville, South Carolina
Vermont
Flag of Vermont.svg
Green Mountain Curling Club [67] Burlington Paper2005Currently play at the Bedford Curling Club in Bedford, Quebec (10 minutes into Canada from the I-89 crossing)
Rutland Rocks Curling Club [68] Rutland Arena2007Hosted at Giorgetti Arena in Rutland, Vermont
Woodstock Curling Club [69] Woodstock Arena2008Also known as Upper Valley Curling. Hosted at Wendell A. Barwood Arena in White River Junction, Vermont.
Virginia
Flag of Virginia.svg
Blue Ridge Curling Club [70] Charlottesville Arena32016Hosted at Main Street Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia
Curling Club of Virginia [71] Richmond Arena32011Hosted at The Richmond Ice Zone in Chesterfield, Virginia
Roanoke Valley Curling Club [72] Roanoke Arena2018Hosted at Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia

Events

These events are GNCC Sponsored Events, and do not include the events that are sponsored by the GNCC Member Clubs.

Past presidents


In 2018, the GNCC implemented a "New Management Plan". This expanded and reorganized its leadership positions. As part of this change, the highest-ranked officer of the GNCC is now "Chairman of the Board of Directors", eliminating the position of "President". [75] [76]

Related Research Articles

A bonspiel is a curling tournament, consisting of several games, often held on a weekend. Until the 20th century most bonspiels were held outdoors, on a frozen freshwater loch. Today almost all bonspiels are held indoors on specially prepared artificial ice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Caledonian Curling Club</span>

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC), branded as Scottish Curling is a curling club in Edinburgh, Scotland. It developed the first official rules for the sport, and is the governing body of curling in Scotland. The RCCC was founded on 25 July 1838 in Edinburgh, and granted its royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1843, after she had witnessed a demonstration of the sport played on the polished ballroom floor of Scone Palace the previous year.

The Utica Curling Club is located in Whitesboro, New York. The club was founded in 1868 and is one of the oldest curling clubs in the United States. A member of the Grand National Curling Club (GNCC), the Utica Curling Club is the largest curling club on the East Coast, and has 6 sheets of ice and over 200 members. In 1916 it became the permanent host of the Mitchell Men's bonspiel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bemidji Curling Club</span> Curling club in USA

The Bemidji Curling Club is a curling club located in the city of Bemidji, Minnesota. It is notable for its long line of champions in many competitions, including men's and women's rinks which represented the United States in the 2005 World Curling Championship and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Pete Fenson skipped the men's rink, which won the Olympic bronze medal, the first-ever medal in curling for the U.S. Cassandra Johnson skipped the women's rink, which lost to Sweden in the final match of the 2005 World Women's Curling Championship. Another of the club's members, Scott Baird, played as an alternate on the Olympic men's rink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plainfield Curling Club</span>

The Plainfield Curling Club is a nonprofit curling club located in South Plainfield, New Jersey. It owns and operates the only dedicated curling facility in New Jersey. It was founded in 1963, with the members initially using rented ice and curling outdoors. The current two-sheet structure was completed in 1967.

The United States Men's Curling Championship is the annual men's national curling championship for the United States. It is run by the United States Curling Association (USCA) and typically held in conjunction with the Women's Championship. The champion is eligible to represent the United States at the World Men's Curling Championships if they also rank in the top 75 teams over the last two seasons in the World Curling Tour Order of Merit or have earned 40 points in the Order of Merit year-to-date rankings.

The United States Women's Curling Championship is the annual women's national curling championship for the United States. It is run by the United States Curling Association (USCA) and typically held in conjunction with the Men's Curling Championship. The champions are eligible to represent the United States at the World Women's Curling Championships if they also rank in the top 75 teams over the last two seasons in the World Curling Tour Order of Merit or have earned 40 points in the Order of Merit year-to-date rankings.

The San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club (SFBACC) is a non-profit corporation serving the needs for the play and development of the sport of curling in the San Francisco Bay Area and its surrounding outskirts. Headquartered in Oakland, California, it is the largest curling club in California as well as in the Mountain Pacific Curling Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Curling Association</span> National governing body of the sport of curling

The United States Curling Association is the national governing body of the sport of curling in the United States. The goal of the USCA is to grow the sport of curling in the United States and win medals in competitions both domestic and abroad. Curling's recent popularity has swelled the USCA to 185 curling clubs and approximately 23,500 curlers in the United States. The United States Olympic men's curling teams have seen success in recent years, most notably winning the gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, led by skip John Shuster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Curling Club</span>

The Royal Canadian Curling Club is a curling club located in the Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The clubhouse on Broadview Avenue was originally built in 1907 by the Royal Canadian Bicycle Club, while the ice arena was added in 1929. In addition to cycling activities, the club had featured skating, baseball, ice hockey, curling, and ten-pin bowling, until 1953, when the club decided to focus exclusively on curling activities.

Laura Hallisey is a curler from Medfield, Massachusetts.

The Potomac Curling Club is a curling club started in 1961 and currently curling in Laurel, Maryland. Operating out of the National Capital Curling Center, a dedicated curling ice facility at The Gardens Ice House operated under a long-term lease since 2002, the group maintains four sheets of dedicated curling ice, the only dedicated curling ice in the Washington, D.C., area. The club operates during the main curling season, although social events for the membership occur during the summer.

Cory Thiesse is an American curler from Duluth, Minnesota. She is currently the defending U.S. champion skip, and represented her country at the 2022 World Women's Curling Championship. Christensen was one of the top junior women's curlers in the United States, playing in six national junior championships and winning four of them. She was the alternate on Nina Roth's 2018 United States Olympic team.

Monica Walker is an American curler originally from Brighton, Massachusetts. She is a three-time national champion.

The Duluth Curling Club (DCC) is a curling club located in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. DCC is the curling club with the second largest membership in the United States.

Colin Hufman is an American curler. He was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and resides in Seattle. He has been a USA Curling Board member since August 2017 and USA Curling Athlete Representative for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Athletes Advisory Council since December 2020.

The United States Mixed Doubles Curling Championship is the national curling championship for mixed doubles curling in the United States. The winning team in the tournament represents the United States at that year's World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.

The 2021 United States Men's Curling Championship was held from May 25 to 30, 2021 at the Wausau Curling Club in Wausau, Wisconsin. The event was held in conjunction with the 2021 United States Women's Curling Championship.

The 2021 United States Women's Curling Championship was held from May 26 to 30, 2021 at the Wausau Curling Club in Wausau, Wisconsin. The event was held in conjunction with the 2021 United States Men's Curling Championship.

Beginning in 2017, USA Curling began a U18 National Championship to further promote the sport of curling. Teams qualify through the a regional playdown process, utilizing USCA 10 geographic regions. The U18 Nationals is also one of USCA twelve National Championship events.

References

  1. "GNCC Member Clubs List" . Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. "USA Curling - Find A Club". Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. "Grand National 150—A Curling Celebration" . Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  4. "USA CURLING BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO REMOVE GNCC AS MEMBER REGION". USA Curling. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  5. "Rocket City Curling Club".
  6. "Hartford Curling Club".
  7. "LBI Curling Club".
  8. "Norfolk Curling Club".
  9. "Nutmeg Curling Club".
  10. "Diamond State Curling Club".
  11. "Jacksonville Granite Curling Club".
  12. "Loggerhead Curling Club".
  13. "Orlando Curling Club".
  14. "Tampa Bay Curling Club".
  15. "Atlanta Curling Club".
  16. "Peachtree Curling Association".
  17. "Belfast Curling Club".
  18. "Pine Tree Curling Club".
  19. "Chesapeake Curling Club".
  20. "Potomac Curling Club".
  21. "Blackstone Valley Curling Club".
  22. "The Boston Curling Club". The Inter-nation: A Journal of Economic Affairs. 1905. pp. 72–73.
  23. "Broomstones Curling Club".
  24. "Canadian Club of Boston".
  25. "Cape Cod Curling Club".
  26. "Colonial Curling Association".
  27. "Curling Club of the Berkshires".
  28. "Lower Cape Curling Club".
  29. "Merrimack Valley Curling Club".
  30. "Nantucket Curling Club".
  31. "New Pond Curling Club".
  32. "North End Curling Club".
  33. "Petersham Curling Club".
  34. "South Shore Curling Club".
  35. "The Country Club".
  36. Frederic Haines Curtiss; John Heard (1932). The Country Club, 1882-1932. Priv. print. for the Club. pp. 40, 126.
  37. "Weston Curling Club".
  38. "Mount Washington Valley Curling Club".
  39. "Nashua Country Club".
  40. "Plymouth Rocks Curling Club".
  41. "Jersey Pinelands Curling Club".
  42. "Plainfield Curling Club".
  43. "Albany Curling Club".
  44. "Amherst Curling Club".
  45. "Ardsley Curling Club".
  46. "Brooklyn Lakeside Curling Club".
  47. "Finger Lakes Curling Club".
  48. "Lake Placid Curling Club".
  49. "Long Island Curling Club".
  50. "New York Caledonian Curling Club".[ dead link ]
  51. "Rochester Curling Club".
  52. "Schenectady Curling Club".
  53. "Utica Curling Club".
  54. "Charlotte Curling Association".
  55. "Coastal Carolina Curling Club".
  56. "Triangle Curling Club".
  57. "Anthracite Curling Club".
  58. "Bucks County Curling Club".
  59. "French Creek Curling Club".
  60. "Nittany Valley Curling Club".
  61. "Philadelphia Curling Club".
  62. "Pittsburgh Curling Club".
  63. "Rail City Curling Club".
  64. "Ocean State Curling Club".
  65. "Charleston Curling Club".
  66. "Palmetto Curling Club".
  67. "Green Mountain Curling Club".
  68. "Rutland Rocks Curling Club".
  69. "Woodstock Curling Club".
  70. "Blue Ridge Curling Club".
  71. "Curling Club of Virginia".
  72. "Roanoke Valley Curling Club".
  73. "Arena Club Championship". Grand National Curling Club. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  74. "Presidents of the Grand National Curling Club".
  75. "Grand National Curling Club News, July 2017".
  76. "Grand National Curling Club Bylaws, July 2017".