Ford Hot Shots

The Ford Hot Shots was the annual skills competition preceding both the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's women's and men's national curling championships respectively.[1] The competition has not been held since 2018.

History

When Ford became a sponsor of the World Curling Championships in 1995, it also began a tradition of a skills competition preceding Canada's national championships.[2]

The change in competition format for the 2018 Tournament of Hearts and 2018 Brier led to a change in format for the Hot Shots. Fifteen teams would compete instead of individual curlers, with the winning team being awarded a cheque for $15,000 and one of four Hot Shots spectators winning the two-year lease on the Ford vehicle.[3][4] The three finalist spectators would each receive $500 to donate to the charities of their choice.[5]

Disciplines

There were six disciplines that each competitor (for 2018, each team) had to do:[6]

  • The "hit and stay" (they must hit a rock on the button and not roll out)
  • The "draw to the button" (they must throw the rock as close as possible to the centre of the rings)
  • The "draw through the port" (the must throw the rock as close as possible to the centre of the rings, but go between two guard rocks in the process.
  • The "raise" (they must bump a guard rock into the rings as close as possible to the centre)
  • The "hit and roll" (they must hit a rock at the edge of the rings and roll as close as possible to the centre of the rings)
  • The "double" (they must remove two rocks with one stone, and end up as close as possible to the centre of the rings)
The "Hackner Double"
The "Schmirler in-off"

Since 2017, the event included five new disciplines:[2]

Scoring

For each shot, where the shooter rock came to rest determined how many points were earned. A rock that ended up on the button received 5 points. A rock that ended up in the 4 foot ring got 4 points. 8 foot ring, 3; 12 foot for 2; and one point if a "shot has been to have provided some sort of positive result."[7]

Prizes

Until 2018, the winner of the Hot Shots received a 2-year lease on a Ford vehicle. First and Second runners-up received cash ($2000 and $1000 respectively). In 2009, the women's winner received a lease on a 2009 Ford Flex SEL FWD and the men's winner received a lease on a 2009 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4. In 2013 the lease vehicle was a Ford Fusion SE.[1]

Winning women's vehicles:[8]

Winners
Year Women Men
1995Saskatchewan Kay MontgomeryOntario Ed Werenich
1996Manitoba Gerri CookeNew Brunswick Rick Perron
1997British Columbia Sherry FraserNorthern Ontario Mike Coulter
1998New Brunswick Allison FraneyBritish Columbia Greg McAulay
1999Alberta Marcy BalderstonManitoba Steve Gould
2000British Columbia Kelley LawAlberta Don Bartlett
2001Canada Kelley LawNew Brunswick Jeff Lacey
2002British Columbia Kristy LewisBritish Columbia Pat Ryan
2003Prince Edward Island Suzanne GaudetNew Brunswick Marc LeCocq
2004Ontario Andrea LawesAlberta Randy Ferbey
2005Ontario Jenn HannaNewfoundland and Labrador Mark Nichols
2006Nova Scotia Colleen JonesManitoba Steve Gould
2007Northwest Territories Kelli TurpinAlberta John Morris
2008Manitoba Jill OfficerSaskatchewan Steve Laycock
2009Alberta Cheryl BernardOntario Craig Savill
2010Saskatchewan Amber HollandOntario Glenn Howard
2011Canada Jennifer JonesOntario Richard Hart
2012Northwest Territories Kerry GalushaOntario Wayne Middaugh
2013Ontario Rachel HomanAlberta Marc Kennedy
2014Newfoundland and Labrador Heather StrongSaskatchewan Kirk Muyres
2015Newfoundland and Labrador Heather StrongManitoba Colin Hodgson
2016Canada Jennifer JonesNewfoundland and Labrador Brad Gushue
2017Ontario Rachel HomanNorthern Ontario Brad Jacobs
2018 Manitoba (Team Jennifer Jones)[3] Northern Ontario (Team Brad Jacobs)[5]

References
  1. "Marc Kennedy wins Ford Hot Shots competition". Canadian Curling Association. March 2, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  2. "New skills unveiled for 23rd annual Ford Hot Shots competition". Curling Canada. February 16, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  3. Granger, Grant (January 27, 2018). "Perfect fit at Ford Hot Shots for winning Penticton fan". Curling Canada. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  4. "New-look Ford Hot Shots format puts fans in driver's seat". Curling Canada. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  5. Granger, Grant (March 2, 2018). "Northern Ontario makes fan's day with Ford Hot Shots triumph". Curling Canada. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  6. "Brad Gushue wins Ford Hot Shots competition". Curling Canada. March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  7. http://cloudfront6.curling.ca/w2/files/2014/05/2013-2014_Ford_Season_of_Champions_Fact_Book.pdf
  8. 2017 Scotties Media Guide: Overall Records
  • ExtraEnd Magazine, 2009-10 edition, pg 20-21
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