‘Royale’ treatment

Leftovers sweep to win 5th annual city curling tournament

The Leftovers, back row, bottom photo, a last-minute filler
team, took home top honors during the5th Annual
Tournament Royale in Romulus. Photos by Roger Kadau. 

While the Super Bowl may have attracted more publicity, the real sporting event of the year took place in Romulus Feb. 13. 

The 5th Annual Curling Royale tournament in Romulus attracted more than 50 players, many from outside the city, to Mary Ann Banks Park on Sunday. The event, always scheduled for the second Saturday in February, had to be moved to Sunday this year due to the condition of the ice.

Curling is a sport in which players slide granite stones using a broom like tool on a sheet of ice toward a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles. Players do not wear skates while attempting to best others at moving the stones into the goal.

The main organizer of the event is Mayor Robert McCraight, a long-time curling fan who noted that because the soft ice forced the tournament to move to Sunday, many of the regular volunteers were not able to participate. While it was necessary to make a lot of adjustments, including drafting city first lady, Kendra McCraight, to do the announcing, the event managed to generate a great deal of fun and about $1,000 for the Romulus Flyers Youth Football and Cheer organization.

Winning team this year was “The Leftovers” a last-minute addition of four players drafted to complete a needed final competition bracket. The team included McCraight, who said because he is usually so busy with tournament duties he rarely gets to play, sisters Kayla and Rachel Leonard, who usually volunteer in the concession area, and Durrice Green, who “happened by in his truck.” The four were as surprised as the rest of the crowd when they managed to best all the other teams and win the tournament.

McCraight said it “was really fun to participate” this year. The funds generated from the event will be used to help pay for new uniforms for the youth football players and cheerleaders.

He said the number of players from outside the city was a surprise this year as the event continues to grow in popularity. “We had a lot of newcomers from outside the city. I think a lot of people saw it on the internet and decided to come out.” He said the sport is growing and the tournament “is getting better every year.”

During the meeting of the city council Feb. 14, McCraight thanked all the participants and Fire Chief Kevin Krause for his help in organizing the tournament. He also thanked Planning Commissioners Jimmy Crova and Jerry Frederick for “the great job in setting up.” McCraight mentioned the efforts of the Leonard sisters in providing refreshments and making sure everyone was served prior to joining his team on the ice for their sporting debut.

McCraight also thanked corporate sponsor Van Born Concrete for their help this year. “Every year, they donate the stones, but this year they also donated labor,” he said. “We couldn't do it without them.

“Remember, the second Saturday in February,” McCraight said. “We'll be there next year so come on out.”