World Curling Hall of Fame

Canada's Don Duguid (left) and Ron Northcott (right), 2013 inductees to the World Curling Hall of Fame Photo: WCF/CCA/Michael Burns

Induction into the World Curling Hall of Fame is the highest ‘non-playing’ honour that the World Curling Federation can bestow on someone and recognises outstanding contribution to the sport of curling whether through on ice exploits or off ice endeavours.

2012 was the first year the WCF accepted nominations for this honour.

Previously, the WCF presented the World Curling Freytag Award to recognise outstanding contribution to the sport.

Inductees into the World Curling Hall of Fame are presented with the Freytag Medal to mark their induction.

Previous winners of the Elmer Freytag Award and the World Curling Freytag Award have all been inducted to the World Curling Hall of Fame.

There are two classes of honour:

Curler: Demonstrated World Championship level playing ability, sportsmanship and character, and who has achieved extraordinary distinction and outstanding results in the sport of curling.

Builder: Given distinguished service and has made a major contribution to the development and advancement of curling internationally.

There is no requirement to induct members into the Hall of Fame each year, the honour will bestowed on merit.

About the 2013 Inductees:

Ron Northcott (Canada) has been honoured in the World Curling Hall of Fame for his success in the sport of curling.

Northcott, born December 31, 1935, put together a team in Calgary that followed in the footsteps of the legendary Ernie Richardson foursome from Saskatchewan.

Northcott put together a 23-2 cumulative record en route to winning world titles (known as the Scotch Cup from 1959 through 1967) in 1966 (8-0 at Vancouver), 1968 (8-1 at Pointe-Claire, Que., when the event became known as the Air Canada Silver Broom) and 1969 (7-1 at Perth, Scotland).

Northcott had the same front end — lead Fred Storey and second Bernie Sparkes — for all three of those titles, and three different thirds: George Fink in 1966, Jim Shields in 1968 and Dave Gerlach in 1969.

Known as the “Owl,” Northcott won six Alberta championships, and also was named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1973, and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1976.

Don Duguid (Canada) is another one of curling’s most successful athletes also from North America.

Born January 25, 1935, he took up the Canadian cause the year after Northcott’s last world title. Backed up by third Rod Hunter, second Jim Pettapiece and lead Bryan Wood, the Winnipeg powerhouse swept to back-to-back unbeaten world championships, going 8-0 in 1970 at Utica, N.Y., and 9-0 a year later in Megève, France.

Previously, Duguid had played third for Terry Braunstein’s 1965 Brier championship quartet, and made it to the final of the 1965 world championship in Perth, Scotland, finishing second (5-2) after losing the final to Bud Somerville of the United States.

Duguid, who turned to broadcasting after his competitive playing career was over (he worked for CBC and NBC), was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1974 and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Read all about their induction here: http://www.worldcurling.org/duguid-and-northcott-inducted-into-world-curling-hall-of-fame

Photo: OC WMCC 2012 Basel / Heinz Schmid

Photo: OC WMCC 2012 Basel / Heinz Schmid

Photo: OC WMCC 2012 Basel / Heinz Schmid

Inductees