Ford Hot Shots celebrates a remarkable 17th season

For the 17th consecutive season, the Ford Hot Shots curling skills competition will be contested at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Charlottetown and the Tim Hortons Brier in London. The popular pre-event shot-making competition requires the participating curlers to execute six shots: Hit and Stay, Draw the Button, Draw the Port, The Raise, Hit and Roll and Double Takeout. Each shot is awarded points on a scale from 0-5, rating the success of each. The Ford Hot Shots consists of a preliminary round, final eight, final four and final. Four curlers per team will compete, with sweeping allowed. Ford of Canada will provide the winner of the Ford Hot Shots at both Canadian championships with a two-year lease on a 2011 Ford Edge SEL FWD, an approximate retail value of $22,000. The 2011 Edge, with a new standard 3.5L TiVCT V6, delivers 285 horsepower – the best standard horsepower in its class. It also delivers an impressive 7.4L/100km HWY. Available all-new MyFord Touch driver connect technology fully integrates the vehicle with the digital world while available adaptive cruise control and BLIS (R) (Blind Spot Information System) provide better maneuverability. For the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the Civic Centre, the Ford Hot Shots preliminary round is scheduled for 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm AT on Friday, February 18. The playoffs (Final Eight, Final Four, Final) begin at 12:30 pm AT on Saturday, February 19, following the Opening Ceremonies. For the Tim Hortons Brier at the John Labatt Centre, the Ford Hot Shots preliminary round will be held Friday, March 4 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET. The playoffs (Final Eight, Final Four, Final) take place Saturday, March 5 starting at 12:30 pm, following the Opening Ceremonies. In addition to a two-year lease on a 2011 Ford Edge SEL FWD for each winner, the second place finishers will be presented with a cheque for $2,000, while the third place finishers receive $1,000. Since 1995, the Ford Hot Shots event has provided not only an exciting beginning to each championship but has proven to be an extremely popular competition for curlers and fans. Previous Ford Hot Shots winners at the Hearts are Yukon/NWT’s Kelli Turpin, British Columbia’s Sherry Fraser, Kelley Law (twice) and Kristy Lewis, Alberta’s Marcy Balderston and Cheryl Bernard., Saskatchewan’s Kay Montgomery, Manitoba’s Gerri Cooke and Jill Officer, Ontario’s Andrea Lawes and Jenn Hanna, New Brunswick’s Allison Farrell (Franey), Prince Edward Island’s Suzanne Birt (Gaudet), Nova Scotia’s Colleen Jones and last year’s winner, Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland. Past winners at the Brier have been Greg McAulay and Pat Ryan of British Columbia, Alberta’s Don Bartlett, Randy Ferbey and John Morris, Saskatchewan’s Steve Laycock, Manitoba’s Steve Gould (twice), Northern Ontario’s Mike Coulter, Ontario’s Ed Werenich and Craig Savill, New Brunswick’s Rick Perron, Jeff Lacey and Marc LeCocq, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Mark Nichols, joined last year by Ontario’s Glenn Howard. Ford Hot Shots On-line For the third consecutive year, Ford of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Curling Association, has launched an interactive on-line version of the Hot Shots skills competition. Curling fans will have a chance to win a two-year lease on a new 2011 Ford Edge SEL FWD, an approximate retail value of $22,000, plus an Apple iPod Touch ($250 value). The runner-up will receive one 11” Apple MacBook Air ($1,050 value). In addition, the top three finishers will each receive an Xbox 360 Kinetic Package ($300 value), while six secondary prizes will also be awarded, each consisting of one (1) Apple iPod Nano ($160 value). The Ford Hot Shots On-line game, unveiled in 2009, culminated with a one-game playoff at the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship in Moncton. Dan Sherrard of Edmonton was the inaugural winner of a two-year lease of a 2009 Ford Flex. Sherrard also won last year in a one-game playoff held at the Ford World Women’s in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and received a two-year lease on a 2010 Ford Taurus SE. Similarly this year, once the contest closes on March 17, two finalists will be flown to Regina, Saskatchewan, site of the 2011 Ford World Men’s (April 2-10), for a one game playoff on April 8. All the information, including rules, regulations, eligibility, player registration and game instructions are available at FordHotShots.curling.ca.