Rudy Ramcharan

Rudy Ramcharan (born 1964[1] in Trinidad)[2] is a Canadian curler from Edmonton, Alberta. He played second for three seasons for Kevin Martin from 1996–97 to 1998–99. He won a Brier as a member of the team in 1997.

Ramcharan joined the team in 1996, and became the first visible minority to win the Brier, being of West Indies descent. The team won the 1997 Labatt Brier and then finished fourth at 1997 Ford World Curling Championships. Ramcharan is one of only two visible minorities to have won the Brier, the other being Bryan Miki, who won the Brier in 2000 with Greg McAulay.

Ramcharan was replaced by Carter Rycroft on the team in 1999, and has since all but disappeared from the curling world. Much of this has to do with a bonspiel he organized in 1999, known as the "World Open Classic". It was originally going to have a purse of $250,000, but due to lack of sponsorships, it was reduced to just $25,000, and many top teams pulled out, embarrassing Ramcharan.[3]

Teams

Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate Coach Events
1994–95 Ken Hunka Rudy Ramcharan Glen Hunka Doug Ganske
1996–97 Kevin Martin Don Walchuk Rudy Ramcharan Don Bartlett Jules Owchar Jules Owchar Brier 1997 1st place, gold medalist(s)
WCC 1997 (4th)
1997–98 Kevin Martin Don Walchuk Rudy Ramcharan Don Bartlett Jules Owchar COCT 1997 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1998–99 Kevin Martin Don Walchuk Rudy Ramcharan Don Bartlett
1999–00 Rudy Ramcharan Jerry Semen Ken McLean Randy Rogers
2006–07 Tony Germsheid Rudy Ramcharan Matt Wood John Boucher

Personal life

Ramcharan moved to Alberta at the age of 5 and grew up in Alliance, Alberta,[4] where he also golfed. He began curling at the age of 12 or 13. At the time of the 1997 Brier, he was employed as a computer consultant.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Once the guy who got the beer, Rudy's now bound for the Brier". Edmonton Journal. February 17, 1997. p. D2. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Martin rides roller-coaster to win". Edmonton Journal. March 17, 1997. p. D1. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "News 99". Archived from the original on 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  4. ^ "Promoter quickly discovers road to curling success full of potholes". Edmonton Journal. December 11, 1999. p. D1. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Rudy a crowd favorite (sic)". Edmonton Journal. March 17, 1997. p. D2. Retrieved February 28, 2020.