We're sad to note the recent passing of Jim Sproule, who right up until his untimely death in December 2010 was Trustee of the O'Grady Challenge, having been in that role for the past 15+ years. Jim was instrumental in collecting and collating statistics for the entire history of the O'Grady and helped organize and spoke at both the 90th and 100th anniversary celebrations. At the 100th in 2008, through Jim's efforts, each MCA curling club president in attendance was presented with a detailed record of all of their participating members noting which matches they had taken part in since the 1908 inception of the 0'Grady Challenge. Jim Sproule's record of the 1,4000+ match results remains posted on the CurlManitoba website, and Jim was also the driver behind Col. O'Grady's recent election to the Hall of Fame (2010).
In 1908 Colonel J.W. deCourey O’Grady, who was President of the Manitoba Curling Association, presented a trophy to encourage good will and promote curling matches between affiliated clubs in the Association, which at that time included clubs from North Western Ontario and parts of Saskatchewan. The official name is the O’Grady but is also affectionately known and called “The Old Buffalo”, the latter being taken from a figure of a bison standing in a defiant attitude on the trophy. This large beautiful trophy, which is still in competition today, can be seen at the Curling Hall of Fame in the Hudson Bay Company Department Store in downtown Winnipeg. Colonel O’Grady also served as President in 1911.
The Trophy was put into play in the Annual M.C.A. Bonspiel of 1908. Any club affiliated with the Association was eligible to enter a double rink (two teams) in the competition, the winner to be declared by the highest total number of points accumulated in a round robin competition. Two Granite teams skipped by W.P. McDougall and Dr. A.B. Alexander were the winners, defeating double teams from Glenboro, Birtle, Napinka, Dauphin and Regina, Saskatchewan Clubs.
Since the competition started in 1908 a complete record of games and results have been kept. To view these records please click here.
For the complete history of the O'Grady Challenge please click here.
Basic Rules are as follows:
- Challenging Rink supplies ice and hospitality.
- One week to schedule the game.
- Schedule is made up when all applications are in.
- Winning team to contact Challenger to arrange a date during the week scheduled.
For a complete set of rules click here
An O'Grady competitor’s pin will be given to the members of each team that challenges regardless whether they win the match or not.
The schedule for the 2011-2012 O'Grady Challenge has now been set. To view the schedule please click here
O'Grady Challenge
