‘That day has finally come’: Dunstone takes Brier Tankard for stroll in Riverside Park

“Getting it out into the public here, it might create some opportunity where maybe more people get interested in curling and start trying it,” Dunstone said. “If somehow this accomplishes that, that’s awesome.”

Dunstone won his first men’s Canadian curling championship in March in St. John’s, Newfoundland, exorcising the demons that were gathering after several close calls in recent years.

“That day has finally come and now that the season’s over it’s been nice to let that sink in and feel the feelings and be really proud of accomplishing what was a childhood dream,” Dunstone said.

Dunstone has had the replica for about three weeks.

“I put it together,” he said. “It comes in three pieces. I had to get out the drill and it was missing some washers. It’s been around the block, so I added some things to it to try and keep it a little sturdier for the long haul.”

The Winnipeg-born Kamloops resident marvels at the history of the venerable trophy.

“Looking at this, 1927, the first heart here and just going through the years … there’s a stretch from 1943 to 1945 when the Brier didn’t happen, so those hearts are missing from it due to the war,” he said. “It’s just amazing seeing the history and all these names and all these guys you grew up watching and admiring. This is the holy grail of curling and I’m very, very proud and grateful to be a part of it.”

A father and his son approached Dunstone and asked to take a look at the Tankard. One curling fan asked for a photo with the trophy and offered kudos for the breakthrough Brier win.

Some of those who approached admitted they know little about curling or the Brier, but congratulated Dunstone upon learning of his accomplishments.

The Team Dunstone skip took the trophy to the office to show co-workers and the baseball diamond to show teammates.

He took it to the Kamloops Golf and Country Club and played a round at Rivershore Golf Links with the Tankard strapped to the roof of his golf cart.

“A couple highlights, (including) one person thinking it was the Memorial Cup, fresh of the Kitchener Rangers win,” Dunstone said with a laugh. “That’s one I think we’ll be able to laugh about for a while I think.

“We had one guy drive from like three holes away. I’m getting ready to hit my shot and just see this cart flying through fairways, ‘What is that? Is that the Brier?’”

So, after the drought, what does it taste like to sip from the Tankard?

“The only thing that’s been in here so far is pine straw needles from driving it with the golf cart through the trees a little bit,” he said. “It needs a bit of bleach and probably a bit of caulking. There are some leaks. I haven’t actually drank out of it yet.”

Dunstone said the highlight of his tenure with the Tankard was sharing it with loved ones.

“I’ve had so many people support me and be in my corner who are a big part of this,” Dunstone said. “I’m excited to see pictures and videos of what they [his teammates] get to do with it. I’m going to be sad to let it go, but have full intentions of seeing this trophy again.”

He may bring it back to Kamloops this summer if all goes to plan for a pair of local athletes.

Kelly Olynyk and the San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals and Logan Stankoven and the Carolina Hurricanes are in the Stanley Cup Final.

If they both win and a Victoria Street parade is planned, Dunstone would love to hop on that float.

“I don’t want to overstep my teammates’ time with it, but if the dates were to work we could make that happen without question,” Dunstone said.

by Marty Hastings

‘That day has finally come’: Dunstone takes Brier Tankard for stroll in Riverside Park

Our Community