Bob Ursel's Brier experience ended Friday much the same way it began: with a hug from his old man and a session signing autographs and posing for photos with old friends and family.
Actually, if you must know the truth, that's been the story of his entire week; a week in which Ursel slapped a lot of backs and shook a lot of hands in good ol' hometown.
"When I heard the Brier was coming here a couple years ago, I mean, I wanted to come here bad," said Ursel, after dropping the Page playoff 3-4 game to Ontario 9-7. "I really wanted to represent B.C. here at the Brier in my hometown of Winnipeg. I've got a lot of friends and family here and it's a great crowd. It was nice to see a lot of old acquaintances.
"There's been a lot of people coming up and saying hello, a lot of stories... it's been really good."
It didn't start out that way, with the Kelowna-based RCMP constable dropping his first three games. But his crew rebounded to win seven of its last eight before being bested by a near-perfect Glenn Howard squad, the defending Brier and world champs.
"We came here to win this thing, so it was disappointing to lose this game," said Ursel. "But, on the side of it we had a good work and played well after coming back from an 0-3 start. I'm pretty proud of the guys."
Ursel's departure means the remaining Manitoba element at the Brier is down to Alberta third John Morris, who was born in Winnipeg before finding curling fame in Ontario and out west. Ursel won gold for Manitoba at the 1985 world juniors before his family -- including dad Jimmy, who won the 1977 Brier title for Quebec -- moved west.
Ursel, 43, works for the RCMP drug unit in Kelowna and has a business installing custom home video systems. Those two jobs and his four kids keep him busy and means Ursel and third Jim Cotter (who throws skips stones) along with Kevin Folk and Rick Sawatsky don't appear often at bonspiels.
Asked Friday if his showing this week would have him dedicating more time to the game, Ursel was succinct.
"Naaaa," he began. "We didn't play much at all. We decided that we didn't want to curl that much. And it's not about loving the game or our success in the game, it's just about other commitments. I've got four kids and a couple of jobs so I just don't have the time to play like the Martins and Howards.
"Maybe we'll play in a couple more next year, we'll see."
As he exited the ice for the final time Ursel hugged his dad, posed for a couple of photos before autographing and giving his broom to a young fan. Later, he was spotted posing for more pictures.
And while the event didn't end the way he had hoped, he won't trade the memories from his trip 'home.'
"It's been a phenomenal feeling," he said. "And a phenomenal event."
ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca
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