John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier

The John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier was an annual curling bonspiel held at the Ottawa and Rideau Curling Clubs in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In odd years, the event was a qualifier for the men's Canada Cup of Curling while in even years the event is the women's qualifier. It was held annually in December, and was part of the World Curling Tour.

The rotating format begun in 2006, when Ottawa hosted the JSI Women's Canada Cup Qualifier. The other qualifier was held annually at the Saville Centre in Edmonton, Alberta and was known as the Diversified Transportation Canada Cup Qualifier. In 2004, Ottawa hosted the Canada Cup East Qualifier for both sexes (the 2005 event was canceled). Prior to this, the event had nothing to do with the Canada Cup, and was known as the Cowan Wright Beauchamp - The Championships (2001-2003) and the Welton Beauchamp Curling Classic (1992-2000) and the Labatt's Blue Light Cashspiel (1989-1991).

The purses for the event have often been quite high, and was at $100,000 at one point. The 2008 event gave away $65,200.

Mike Harris' victory in 1996 and Brad Gushue's victory in 2004 gave them berths to Canada's Olympic qualifying tournaments which they eventually won. Gushue would win Olympic Gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics, while Harris won silver at the 1998 Olympics.

The event last occurred in 2008. There was no Canada Cup in the 2009-10 curling season, cancelling the 2009 tournament. The Canada Cup returned in December 2010, the same time as the qualifiers used to be. To date, the event has not been replaced by another major tournament. The local qualifier for the 2010 Canada Cup of Curling was the Challenge Casino Lac Leamy, and there has not been local qualifiers since.

Champions
Year Winning men's skip Winning women's skip
2008- Marie-France Larouche
2007 Kevin Koe-
2006- Jennifer Jones
2005 cancelled
2004 Brad Gushue Jo-Ann Rizzo
2003 Jeff Stoughton Brenda Nicholls
2002 Glenn Howard Janet McGhee
2001 Wayne Middaugh Elisabet Gustafson
2000[1] Wayne Middaugh Sherry Fraser
1999[2] Mike Harris Kathy Floyd
1998[3] Mark Olson Chantal Osborne
1997[4] Rich Moffatt Alison Goring
1996[5] Mike Harris Sherry Scheirich
1995[6] Larry Pineau Kathy Brown
1994[7] Dan Mustapic Pam Leavitt
1993[8] Ed Werenich Pam Leavitt
1992[9] Mike Harris Anne Merklinger
1991[10] Ted Butler Karen Fallis
1990[11] Ted Butler Connie Laliberte
1989[12] Eugene Hritzuk Anne Merklinger

References
  1. Ottawa Citizen, 14 Nov 2000, pg C1 "Berth-day celebrations"
  2. Ottawa Citizen, 16 Nov 1999, pg B1 "Harris rink cashes in big / Floyd, Plaster rinks survive close calls"
  3. Ottawa Citizen, 17 Nov 1998, pg F2 "Olson captures men's title"
  4. Ottawa Citizen, 11 Nov 1997, pg F2 "Rideau foursome rocks in final"
  5. Ottawa Citizen, 12 Nov 1996, pg E8 "Harris scores late win in bonspiel"
  6. Ottawa Citizen, 14 Nov 1995, pg E1 "Pineau rolls to Classic victory"
  7. Ottawa Citizen, 15 Nov 1994, pg H1 "Toronto rink makes Classic defence a success"
  8. Ottawa Citizen, 16 Nov 1993, pg E2 "Werenich rink takes top prize in Welton Beauchamp Classic"
  9. Ottawa Citizen, 17 Nov 1992, pg E8 "Harris adds title to Ottawa bounty"
  10. Ottawa Citizen, 8 Oct 1991, pg B3 "Butler does it again, wins 2nd Cashspiel"
  11. Ottawa Citizen, 16 Oct 1990, pg B5 "Winning curlers cash in"
  12. Ottawa Citizen, 17 Oct 1989, pg C1, "Hrtizuk swept to title, wins $12,000 cheque"


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