Ford Hot Shots competition returns for 22nd year

Curling Canada – A brand-new 2016 Ford Edge Sport will be on the line when the Ford Hot Shots skills competition is staged for the 22nd consecutive year at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Grande Prairie, Alta., and the Tim Hortons Brier in Ottawa.

The annual competition will feature competitors attempting six different shots: Hit and Stay, Draw the Button, Draw the Port, The Raise, Hit and Roll and Double Takeout. Each shot is awarded points on a scale from 0-5 depending on the end result of the shot.

Ford of Canada will provide the winner of the Ford Hot Shots at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier with a two-year lease on an all-new 2016 EcoBoost powered Ford Edge Sport SUV, with an approximate retail value of $49,789 MSRP.

The made in Canada 2016 Ford Edge Sport asserts its presence with a striking stance, standout proportions and 20-inch Alloy Wheels. With premium accommodations for five, it doesn’t stop there. Edge Sport not only looks great, it’s available with many advanced features, including a huge glass Panoramic Vista Roof and Ford’s innovative SYNC 3 voice-activated entertainment and information system.

For those seeking performance, the Edge Sport delivers with a powerful 315HP 2.7L EcoBoost engine with best-in-class V6 horsepower and torque, precise handling, sport-tuned suspension, race-inspired paddle shifters and Intelligent AWD.
 
The second-place finisher will be presented with a cheque for $2,000, while the third-place finisher receives $1,000.

At the Scotties, the Ford Hot Shots preliminary round will begin at 2 p.m. (MST) on Friday, Feb. 19. The playoffs (Final Eight, Final Four, Final) begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, with the Opening Ceremonies to follow.

At the Tim Hortons Brier, the Ford Hot Shots preliminary round will begin at 2 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 4. The playoffs (Final Eight, Final Four, Final) begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, with the Opening Ceremonies to follow.
 
Since 1995, the Ford Hot Shots event has provided not only an exciting beginning to each championship but has proven to be an extremely popular competition for curlers and fans. Last year at the Scotties, Newfoundland/Labrador’s Heather Strong won her second consecutive Ford Hot Shots title. Previous Ford Hot Shots winners at the Hearts are the Territories’ Kelli Turpin and Kerry Galusha, British Columbia’s Sherry Fraser, Kelley Law (twice) and Kristy Lewis, Alberta’s Marcy Balderston and Cheryl Bernard, Saskatchewan’s Kay Montgomery, Manitoba’s Gerri Cooke and Jill Officer, Ontario’s Andrea Lawes, Jenn Hanna and Rachel Homan, New Brunswick’s Allison Farrell (Franey), Prince Edward Island’s Suzanne Birt (Gaudet), Nova Scotia’s Colleen Jones, Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland and Team Canada’s Jennifer Jones.

Past winners at the Tim Hortons Brier have been Greg McAulay and Pat Ryan of British Columbia, Alberta’s Don Bartlett, Randy Ferbey, John Morris and Marc Kennedy, Saskatchewan’s Steve Laycock and Kirk Muyres, Manitoba’s Steve Gould (twice), Northern Ontario’s Mike Coulter, Ontario’s Ed Werenich, Craig Savill and Richard Hart, New Brunswick’s Rick Perron, Jeff Lacey and Marc LeCocq, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Mark Nichols, Ontario’s Glenn Howard and Wayne Middaugh, and last year’s winner, Colin Hodgson of Manitoba.
 
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For further information, contact:

Al Cameron
Director, Communication and Media Relations
Curling Canada
Cell: 403-463-5500
acameron@curling.ca