World champ grateful for community’s support

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This article was published 29/04/2011 (5455 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

He’s won two world curling championships and is considered one of the best leads in the game, but Steve Gould says he would be nothing without the support of friends and family in Headingley.

Gould, 38, was an integral part of Jeff Stoughton’s rink that captured the 2011 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship in Regina earlier this month.

 

The Charleswood rink scored a thrilling 6-5 win over Scotland in the final on April 10 to capture its second world title and first since 1996. Stoughton and Gould joined some select company with the win, becoming just 27th and 28th Canadian curlers to ever win two world titles.

 

Gould was outstanding in Regina, making 92% of his shots in round robin action, including 100% against Scotland in the first meeting of the two teams.

 

Still, the longtime Headingley resident says none of it might have been possible without a little help from his friends.

 

 “I wouldn’t be able to compete at this level without the support of my family and our wonderful neighbours who help out with the kids when I am gone and do little things like snow-blow my yard when I am away,” Gould said. 

 

“We have the best neighbours in the world in the best municipality in the world.” 

 

Gould, who owns Gould and Sons Roofing and is a salesman with Asham Curling Supplies in Winnipeg, had a pretty impressive resume even before this year’s worlds.

 

In addition to helping Stoughton capture the 1996 world championship, he has been part of six provincial and three Brier national championship rinks.

 

A former Winnipeg, he and his wife Fran and their two sons, Nathan, 8, and Rylan, 5, have made Headingley their home since 2006.

 

Gould said the decision to make the rural municipality their home was a no-brainer.

 

“I grew up in St. James and my wife is a country girl so we moved out here because there is a lot of things for families out here,” he said. “It was such an easy decision to move into this community.”

 

He added that not only is it a wonderful place to raise his kids, but the community as a whole is very welcoming.

 

The community is equally glad to have him.

 

Neighbour Shan Hornby said that not only is Gould a “superb” curler, he is also a “wonderful” neighbour with a “beautiful” family. “I am so glad that he is my neighbour,” she said.

 

While Gould is proud of his Headingley connection, it appears some people still aren’t aware of his roots in the community.

 

Hornby said she was angered by some media reports that referred to him as a Winnipeg resident.

 

“I want to set the record straight that he is a resident in this municipality,” she said. 

 

And a world champion to boot.

 

 

prescott.james@canstarnews.com