ESTEAVN — Arm wrestlers from three different provinces converged on the Power Dodge Curling Centre on Saturday for the Estevan Southern Impact Club's inaugural Armageddon event.
More than 65 athletes entered, with divisions for youths, men, women and master's men. Some of them entered in more than one class, which meant more than 100 entries were received. A large crowd filled the curling club's lounge to watch the competition.
Desiree Da Silva, a championship-winning arm wrestler who started the club last May, said she was pleased to see the number of people who showed up.
"People can pull multiple weight classes, and we had youth that pulled up to adults," said Da Silva.
Ten to 12 members of the local club competed, but Da Silva pointed out there were at least 20 other people from the Estevan area who entered. National and even world champions came to Estevan as well.
"We had some big names that came out and participated in the masters' class," said Da Silva.
She hopes the competition will help build awareness of the sport in the community. Da Silva pointed out there were a lot of people present who heard about the club for the first time thanks to Armageddon, and others showed up because they know somebody who was competing.
"Our provincials is May 4 in Regina, and I'm hoping that this opens more doors for people to come and participate and see what it's about," said Da Silva.
Da Silva believes Armageddon flowed well. It started on time and it took nearly six hours to complete all of the divisions. It was a good learning experience hosting an event.
"I've been trying to learn little things here and there, but I think hosting it, you … have to go with the flow, and I learned a lot as far as doing the draw sheets and learning how to actually organize a tournament. I've always went to them, but I've never gotten sponsors and gotten venues."
Da Silva expressed thanks to the sponsors who made the event happen.
She is looking forward to putting on another showdown. Da Silva was happy to have the event at the curling club, because she wants to support local organizations and businesses as much as she can. If they were to attract more people for the event, they would have to look for a different venue, or have Armageddon at a different time of year so they could use the curling club after the ice has been removed.
Da Silva expressed gratitude to the sponsors for supporting the event. They had cash prizes, t-shirts and medals for athletes, so without community support, it wouldn't have been as successful.
The club meets at the Flawless Sales Ltd. shop at 2616 Souris Avenue North on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Results for the event are as follows (athletes listed in order from first place on down):
Left arm:
Youth Girls 6-9
Mykaela Muir (Oxbow)
Scarlett Dow (Estevan)
Sophie McKnight. (Estevan)
Youth mixed 10-13
Charlotte Pickering (Zelma, Sask)
Weston Muir (Oxbow)
Lucas Muir (Oxbow)
Youth 14-18 girls
Kayla Lee (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Autumn Dow (Estevan)
Samantha Irvine (Strasbourg)
Saphyre Dow (Estevan)
Youth Boys 14-18 boys
Nic Muir (Oxbow)
Connor Smith (Brandon)
Cowan Ludtke (Estevan)
Paul Talbot (Morden, Man.)
Men’s Masters (40yrs and over) under 200
Michael Barrett (Winnipeg)
Brad Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Terry DeBaets (Ste. Anne, Man.)
Ryan Heron (Winnipeg)
Men’s Masters (40yrs and over) over 200
Solomon Latimer (McLean)
Jerry Lee (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Sheldon Short (Irma, Alta.)
Women’s 0-150
Desiree DaSilva (Estevan)
Ellen Heron (Winnipeg)
Ashlynn Thompson (Brandon, Man.)
Jorgia Plett (Lang)
Rebecca Blair (Brandon)
Autumn Dow (Estevan)
Sam Irvine (Strasbourg)
Women’s 150+
Peyton Pickering (Zelma, Sask.)
Desiree DaSilva (Estevan)
Ellen Heron (Winnipeg)
Kendra Quiring (Zelma, Sask.)
Men’s 0-180
Kaiden Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Adam Thompson (Brandon)
Brandt Schlick (Bienfait)
Nathan Muir (Saskatoon)
Nic Muir (Oxbow)
Cowan Ludtke (Estevan)
Paul Talbot (Morden, Man.)
Connor Smith (Brandon)
Brandon Muir (Glen Ewen)
Dan Pickering (Zelma, Sask.)
Malachi Mark (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Men’s 181-210
Mike Barrett (Winnipeg)
Joseph Blair (Brandon)
Brad Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Ryan Heron (Winnipeg)
Nathan Muir (Saskatoon)
Shawn Pickering (Zelma, Sask.)
Kaiden Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Men’s 211-240
Steve Gaber (Regina)
Mike Barrett (Winnipeg)
Ryan Heron (Winnipeg)
Dan Driedger (Hitchcock)
Cowan Ludtke (Estevan)
Men’s 240+
Dalton Houghton (Medicine Hat, Alta.)
Sheldon Short (Irma, Alta.)
Daniel Martens (Lang)
Solomon Latimer (McLean)
Steve Gaber (Regina)
Jerry Lee ( Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Adam Dow (Estevan)
RIGHT ARM
Youth girls 6-9
Mykaela Muir (Oxbow)
Scarlett Dow (Estevan)
Sophie McKnight (Estevan)
Youth mixed 10-13
Charlotte Pickering (Zelma)
Weston Muir (Oxbow)
Dallas Bergen (Gainsborough)
Lucas Muir (Oxbow)
Youth girls 14-18
Kayla Lee (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Autumn Dow (Estevan)
Samantha Irvine (Strasbourg)
Alyssa Lee (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Saphyre Dow (Estevan)
Youth Boys 14-18
Nic Muir (Glen Ewen)
Connor Smith (Brandon, Man.)
Paul Talbot (Morden, Man.)
Cowan Ludtke (Estevan)
Men’s Master (40yrs and over) under 200
Brad Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Terry DeBaets (Ste. Anne, Man.)
Stan Scott (Winnipeg)
Men’s Masters (40years and over) over 200
Solomon Latimer (McLean)
Brad Provick (Regina)
Paul Avanthay (Fort Qu'Appelle)
Jerry Lee (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Sheldon Short (Irma, Alta.)
Women’s 0-150
Desiree DaSilva (Estevan)
Ellen Heron (Winnipeg)
Autumn Dow (Estevan)
Jorgia Plett (Lang)
Rebecca Blair (Brandon, Man.)
Samantha Irvine (Strasbourg)
Women’s 150+
Peyton Pickering (Zelma, Sask.)
Desiree DaSilva (Estevan)
Ellen Heron (Winnipeg)
Kendra Quiring (Zelma, Sask.)
Men’s 0-180
Kaiden Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Adam Thompson (Brandon)
Nathan Muir (Saskatoon)
Rod Thiessen (Estevan)
Brandt Schick (Bienfait)
Nic Muir (Oxbow)
Paul Talbot (Morden, Man.)
Michael Gass (Weyburn)
Malachi Mark (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Stan Scott (Winnipeg)
Dan Pickering (Zelma, Sask.)
Connor Smith (Brandon)
Brandon Muir (Glen Ewen)
Men’s 181-210
Kaiden Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Joseph Blair (Brandon, Man.)
Shawn Pickering (Allan, Sask.)
Nathan Muir (Saskatoon)
Shawn Ludtke (Estevan)
Brad Esmond (Moose Jaw)
Men’s 210-240
Steve Gaber (Regina)
Dan Driedger (Hitchcock)
Nathan Muir (Saskatoon)
Brandon Olafson (Moose Jaw)
Peter Bergen (Gainsborough)
Men’s 241+
Steve Gaber (Regina)
Dalton Houghton (Medicine Hat)
Solomon Latimer (McLean)
Daniel Martens (Lang)
Sheldon Short (Irma, Alta.)
Brad Provick (Regina)
Jerry Lee (Portage La Prairie, Man.)
Adam Dow (Estevan)
Brandon Olafson (Moose Jaw)
