Cheryl Bernard
Encyclopedia
Cheryl Bernard (born June 30, 1966) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 curler
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...

 from Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...

. She represented Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...

 as the team's skip
Skip (curling)
The skip, in conjunction with the team, determines strategy. Based on the strategy, the skip holds the broom indicating where the player throwing must aim . When it is the skip's turn to throw, the vice-skip holds the broom...

, winning the silver medal in women's curling after falling to Sweden in the final.

Throughout the late 2000s, Bernard's rink has remained one of the top curling teams in Canada. However, her first major tournament win came at the 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
The 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials were held December 6-13, 2009 at Rexall Place in Edmonton. The event is also known and advertised as Roar of the Rings. The winner of the men's and women's events will represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics...

 in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...

.

Early career

Bernard was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...

. She began curling at the age of eight. In 1988, she lost in the Alberta provincial finals
Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts is the Alberta provincial women's curling tournament. The winning team represents Alberta at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.-Past winners:-External links:*...

; however, four years later she would win the provincial title, earning a berth at the 1992 Scott Tournament of Hearts
Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is an annual Canadian women's curling championship, sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association. The winner goes on to represent Canada at the women's world curling championships. Since 1985, the winner also gets to return to the following year's tournament as...

, Canada's national curling championship. Her team of Allison Earl, Barb Davies and Bev Kellerman won just four games. The following year, Bernard won the provincial mixed title with spouse Terry Meek.

In 1995, Bernard again lost in the Alberta provincial final, but rebounded the following year to win it, sending her to the '96 Hearts
1996 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 1996 Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's national curling championship, was played in Thunder Bay, Ontario. -Teams:-Standings:-Draw 1:-Draw 2:-Draw 3:-Draw 4:-Draw 5:-Draw 6:-Draw 7:-Draw 8:...

, this time with an altered lineup. Her team of Karen Ruus, Barb Sherrington and Judy Pendergast had a 7-4 round robin record. In the playoffs, Bernard's rink won their first game in the 1 vs. 2 page playoff match-up against Ontario (skipped by Marilyn Bodogh
Marilyn Bodogh
Marilyn C. Bodogh is a Canadian curler, colour commentator and political candidate....

). This sent her Alberta team to the final, where they faced Bodogh in a rematch, which they lost, 7-4.

1997 to 2006

Bernard failed to make it to another national championship for 11 years. In the meantime, she was a finalist at the JVC/TSN Skins Game
TSN Skins Game
The TSN Curling Skins Game is an annual curling bonspiel hosted by The Sports Network. "Skins" curling had been developed as a way to make curling more interesting on TV during the time before the free guard zone rule was implemented...

 in 1999, and made it to the provincial finals once again in 2000. She was also the Canadian Women's Curling Tour champion in 2004. In 2006, she lost in the first ever women's Players' Championships
Players' Championships
The Players' Championships is the final event on the World Curling Tour, and a part of the Grand Slam of Curling, being the only slam to feature both a women's and men's tournament...

 final against Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones (curler)
Jennifer Jones is a Canadian curler from East St. Paul, Manitoba. Jones, a lawyer, is corporate counsel for Wellington West Capital and a Windsor Park Collegiate graduate.-Early success:...

.

2007 to 2011

Bernard won her third provincial championship in 2007. At the 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's women's curling championship, was held February 17-25 at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. It marks the first year under the Scotties brand name. The winner was the defending champions Team Canada, under skip Kelly Scott...

, her team of Susan O'Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire and Cori Bartel finished with a 6-5 record, tying them with Prince Edward Island and Ontario. Bernard's team beat Ontario in the first tie breaker, but were unable to beat P.E.I.'s Suzanne Gaudet (Birt) whom they lost to 5-4. In 2008, Bernard's team played in their first Grand Slam of Curling final, losing the 2008 Trail Appliances Curling Classic
2008 Trail Appliances Curling Classic
The 2008 Trail Appliances Autumn Gold Curling Classic was held October 10-13 at the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary, Alberta. It was the first Grand Slam event of the 2008-09 Women's World Curling Tour.-Teams:*Skip-Playoffs:Playoffs...

 to Shannon Kleibrink
Shannon Kleibrink
Shannon Kleibrink is a Canadian curler from Okotoks, Alberta. She and her team of third Amy Nixon, second Glenys Bakker, lead Christine Keshen and alternate Sandra Jenkins represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy...

's rink. In 2009, Bernard won her fourth Alberta title and represented the province at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's national curling championship, was held from February 21 to March 1 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia.-Teams:* Throws third stones-Standings:...

 where her team finished with another 6-5 record. However, this would keep them out of the playoffs.

The Bernard team's success during this period qualified them for the 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
The 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials were held December 6-13, 2009 at Rexall Place in Edmonton. The event is also known and advertised as Roar of the Rings. The winner of the men's and women's events will represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics...

. They were one of four teams to directly earn a spot at the event nicknamed "The Roar of the Rings". At "the Roar", Bernard's rink almost went undefeated, having lost only their final round robin game to Stefanie Lawton
Stefanie Lawton
Stefanie Lawton is a Canadian curler from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After an appearance at the 1997 Canadian Junior Championships, she would go on to win the 2000 Championships with the help of her team of sister Marliese Miller , Stacy Helm and Amanda MacDonald . At the worlds that year, she...

. Their 6-1 record earned them a direct spot in the final, which they won. They defeated Shannon Kleibrink in the final by a score of 7-6. The game came down to the final shot, where Bernard had to draw to the full eight-foot to win. Her rock nearly slid too far in a dramatic finish.

Bernard's team won the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

. After completing the round robin in first place with just one loss to China, Bernard won the silver medal, losing to Sweden (skipped by Anette Norberg
Anette Norberg
Anette Norberg is a Swedish curler from Nacka. She and her team are the current Olympic women's curling champions, having won the 2010 Women's Curling tournament in Vancouver...

) in an extra end, 7-6. Bernard had two chances to win the gold for her team in the final. In the tenth end, needing only a take-out of a Swedish rock to prevent Sweden from scoring two, and thus winning the gold, Bernard inexplically threw for finesse instead of for power and jammed, allowing Sweden to make a hit to score two and tie the game. In the extra end, Bernard had to make a double take-out and stick to win the game. She only removed one Swedish rock, handing Norberg her second straight Olympic gold medal.

Bernard wrapped up the 2009–10 curling season by winning the 2010 Players' Championships
2010 Players' Championships
The 2010 Grey Power Players' Championship was the last Grand Slam event of both the World Curling Tour and Women's World Curling Tour for the 2009-10 season. This was the eighteenth time the event took place, and the fifth time since it was switched to joint men's/women's format. The event was held...

, her first Grand Slam
Capital One Grand Slam of Curling
The Capital One Grand Slam is a series of curling bonspiels and are a part of the annual World Curling Tour. Grand Slams tend to offer the most amount of money out of all the bonspiels in the curling season, and usually feature the best teams from across Canada and around the World...

 victory in her career.

Despite going to the 2010 Winter Olympics, The Bernard rink began the 2010–11 curling season
2010–11 curling season
The 2010–11 curling season began in September 2010 and ended in April 2011.Note: In events with two genders, the men's tournament winners will be listed before the women's tournament winners.-CCA-sanctioned events:...

 without a corporate sponsor. The response of the team was to put up billboards around Calgary advertising their need for one. Within a month Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen, often abbreviated DQ, is a chain of soft serve and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc, who also owns Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. The name "Dairy Queen" is taken from the name of their soft serve product, which the company refers to as "Dairy Queen" or...

announced they would be their main corporate sponsor. In December 2010, the team lost to Stefanie Lawton
Stefanie Lawton
Stefanie Lawton is a Canadian curler from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After an appearance at the 1997 Canadian Junior Championships, she would go on to win the 2000 Championships with the help of her team of sister Marliese Miller , Stacy Helm and Amanda MacDonald . At the worlds that year, she...

's rink 7-3 in the 2010 Canada Cup of Curling
2010 Canada Cup of Curling
The 2010 Canada Cup of Curling was held December 1-5, 2010 at the Medicine Hat Arena in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The Glenn Howard rink won their first Canada Cup on the men's side while Stefanie Lawton won her second cup...

.

On February 8, 2011, Team Bernard announced they would disband at the end of the curling season.

2011–current

Cheryl Bernard announced her new curling team for the 2011–12 season will consist of longtime third Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

, Lori Olson-Johns
Lori Olson-Johns
Lori Olson-Johns born on November 24, 1976 in Toronto, Ontario is a Canadian curler. She currently plays second for Cheryl Bernard out of the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary.-1992-2000:...

 who previously played with Crystal Webster
Crystal Webster
Crystal Webster is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta.Webster skips one of the top teams in Alberta, but due to the depth in the province, she has been unable to get out of the province to the Canadian national championships.In 2009, Webster was the first qualifier at the Canadian Olympic...

, and Cathy King
Cathy King
Cathy King , formerly Cathy Borst is a Canadian curler from St. Albert, Alberta...

, and three time junior champion Jennifer Sadleir
Jennifer Sadleir
Jennifer Sadleir born on January 10, 1981 in Calgary, Alberta is a Canadian curler. She currently plays lead for Cheryl Bernard out of the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary.-1997-2010:...

. Due to the Sports Canada Funding the Bernard team received from their olympic appearance, all four members will have to play the 2011–2012, which leave Cori Morris
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

 and Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

 having to join, or form a new team.
Darbyshire will be the alternate for the Bernard team when appropriate.

Personal life

Aside from curling, Bernard also co-wrote Between the Sheets: Creating Curling Champions in 2005, a book about the mental aspects of curling, with journalist Guy Scholz. After taking home a silver medal in her home country at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC, Cheryl teamed up with Guy once again to co-publish an updated version of the book titled Between the Sheets: The Silver Lining through Canadian book publisher Polished Publishing Group (copyright 2011). Bernard lives with her husband, curler Terry Meek, and stepson Connor Meek in Calgary, Alberta.

Her physical appearance has also garnered lots of attention. Popular ESPN columnist Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons
William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...

 has referred to Bernard as the "Canadian Curlgar," a portmanteau of "cougar" and curler, because he finds her attractive. "I've said it a million times," Simmons tweeted on Feb. 20. "Any time Canada and Denmark battle in women's curling, you know you're in for a special night."

Grand Slam record

Event 2006–07
2006-07 curling season
-Season of Champions top three finishes:-Other events:-Men's:-Women's:-WCT Money Ranking:...

2007–08
2007-08 curling season
-Season of Champions top three finishes:-Other events:-World Curling Tour winners:-Women's World Curling Tour winners:Events in bold indicate Grand Slam events.-WCT Money Ranking:-Sources:*...

2008–09
2008-09 curling season
-Season of Champions top three finishes:-Other events:-World Curling Tour winners:-Women's World Curling Tour winners:-WCT Money Ranking:...

2009–10
2009-10 curling season
The 2009–10 curling season began in September 2009 and ended in April 2010.-Season of Champions top three finishes:-Other events:-World Curling Tour events:-Women's World Curling Tour events:...

2010–11 2011–12
Autumn Gold
Autumn Gold Curling Classic
The Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic is the very first Grand Slam event of the season on the Women's World Curling Tour. It is held annually on the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend at the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary, Alberta. The first Autumn Gold Classic was held in 1978, and at the...

SF Q F QF QF QF
Manitoba Lotteries Q SF QF QF Q SF
Wayden Transportation
Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic
The Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic, also known as the Abbotsford Ladies was a Grand Slam event on the Women's World Curling Tour. It was held annually in November in Abbotsford, British Columbia...

QF Q SF N/A N/A N/A
Sobeys Slam
Sobeys Slam
The Sobeys Slam is the third Grand Slam event of the Women's World Curling Tour. It is held annually in November in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.The event began in 1998 as the Sobeys Curling Classic. It was added as a Grand Slam event for the 2007-08 curling season, and was renamed the "Sobeys Slam"...

N/A Q Q N/A DNP
Players' Championships
Players' Championships
The Players' Championships is the final event on the World Curling Tour, and a part of the Grand Slam of Curling, being the only slam to feature both a women's and men's tournament...

SF SF SF C QF


Key
  • C — Won Championship
  • F — Lost final
  • SF — Lost semi final
  • QF — Lost quarter final
  • Q — Did not make playoffs
  • DNP — Did not participate in event
  • N/A — not a Grand Slam event that season

Teams

Season Skip Third Second Lead Events
1991-92 Cheryl Bernard Allison Earl Barb Davies Bev Kellerman 1992 STOH
1992 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 1992 Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's national curling championship, was played at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Teams:-Standings:-Draw 1:-Draw 2:-Draw 3:-Draw 4:-Draw 5:-Draw 6:...

1995-96 Cheryl Kullman Karen Ruus Barb Sherrington Judy Pendergast 1996 STOH
1996 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 1996 Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's national curling championship, was played in Thunder Bay, Ontario. -Teams:-Standings:-Draw 1:-Draw 2:-Draw 3:-Draw 4:-Draw 5:-Draw 6:-Draw 7:-Draw 8:...

2004-05 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Jody McNabb Karen Russ
2005-06 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

Cori Bartel
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

2006-07 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

Cori Bartel
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

2007 STOH
2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's women's curling championship, was held February 17-25 at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. It marks the first year under the Scotties brand name. The winner was the defending champions Team Canada, under skip Kelly Scott...

2007-08 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

Cori Bartel
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

2008-09 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

Cori Bartel
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

2009 STOH
2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's national curling championship, was held from February 21 to March 1 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia.-Teams:* Throws third stones-Standings:...

2009-10 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

Cori Bartel
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

2009 COCT
2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
The 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials were held December 6-13, 2009 at Rexall Place in Edmonton. The event is also known and advertised as Roar of the Rings. The winner of the men's and women's events will represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics...

, 2010 OG
Curling at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The curling competition of the 2010 Olympics was held at Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre in Vancouver. It is the fifth time that curling was on the Olympic program, after having been staged in 1924, 1998, 2002 and 2006...

2010-11 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire
Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played second for Cheryl Bernard from 2005-2011.Darbyshire joined the team in 2005 after playing for Renelle Bryden...

Cori Morris
Cori Bartel
Corinne "Cori" Morris is a Canadian curler from Calgary, Alberta. She played lead for Cheryl Bernard from 2005 to 2011....

2011-12 Cheryl Bernard Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is a Canadian curler from Alberta. She currently plays third for Cheryl Bernard.O'Connor is a Respiratory Therapist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta...

Lori Olson-Johns
Lori Olson-Johns
Lori Olson-Johns born on November 24, 1976 in Toronto, Ontario is a Canadian curler. She currently plays second for Cheryl Bernard out of the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary.-1992-2000:...

Jennifer Sadleir
Jennifer Sadleir
Jennifer Sadleir born on January 10, 1981 in Calgary, Alberta is a Canadian curler. She currently plays lead for Cheryl Bernard out of the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary.-1997-2010:...


Sources

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK