Rory Kaneski and his East St. Paul team (Dave Johannson, Dave Sesak, Richard Ervick) have won the Bob Picken Open Masters Bonspiel presented by Access Credit Union. The bonspiel was held September 23-26 at East St. Paul Curling Club. Pending confirmation of eligibility by CurlManitoba, the Kaneski foursome also earned the first provincial championship berth won in the 2025-26 season – an entry in the Manitoba’s Credit Union Masters in Brandon in February.
The final game against Lynn Coleman and his Pembina team (Stan Struthers, John Norget, Brian DeRiviere) was controlled by the East St. Paul team. Kaneski blanked the opening end and took two on the second. Coleman’s single on the third gave Kaneski the hammer for two more on the fourth and the fifth went all bad for Coleman (all good for Kaneski!). Coleman had a difficult in-off facing three with his last stone but rolled out the back of the rings to win the game 7-1.
Each team in the final featured one player who was a former Picken Bonspiel champion. Johannson was with Bob Minaker in winning the event a year ago while DeRiviere was with Lionel Walz when he won it in 2021.
The win for Johannson makes him the first two-time winner in the six year history of the event. His undefeated win this year marks a run of 10 consecutive wins when matched with the undefeated run a year ago with the Minaker team.
In the Consolation final, Randy Neufeld and his team won the bonspiel’s Consolation division with a 6-0, 6-end win over Joe Fouasse (Fort Garry). Both the Neufeld and Fouasse teams are former Picken Open champions although Neufeld is adjusting to a new third, with Paul Armstrong replacing the now-retired Dean Moxham. This week’s lineup was Neufeld with Armstrong, Peter Nicholls and Larry Borus.
Fouasse’s lineup includes his teammate of 52 years, Real Chabbert, along with Marty Foidart and Charles Arbez.
