Skip Tim Horrigan, whose Victoria Curling Club rink won the B.C. championship and represented the province in the 1980 Brier Canadian men’s championship, died of cancer May 5 at the age of 73.
Horrigan’s is one of eight Island rinks to have played in the Brier. They include the Catlin Schneider and Jacques Gauthier rinks from the VCC this year and last year, respectively, Dean Joanisse of VCC in 2007 and 2001, Horrigan in 1980, Tony Gutoski of VCC in 1958 and Glen Harper of Duncan in 1960 and 1963.
“Tim was a great player and we battled it out many times on the ice,” said Keith Dagg of Victoria, who was on three B.C. runner-up rinks in his career.
“Tim was a fighter in competition and a fearless shot maker. If a draw to the button was needed, he would not hesitate to draw to the button. And he called a good game as a skip, which in curling is so important.”
Known as a fierce competitor, the Esquimalt High-grad Horrigan left it on the ice.
“If Tim didn’t beat you, he was never mad at you,” said Dagg.
“He was a real winner off the ice, regardless of the result on it, and you can’t say that about all sports people.”
His nickname Terrible Tim Horrigan baffled those who played against him because they didn’t see that in him. But it was an inside family joke because his dad, Ray, was also a curler and known good-naturedly as Horrible Horrigan and so the Terrible Tim tag stuck on the son, who, when not curling, worked at Yarrows.
“Tim was really friendly, outgoing and fun to be with and followed his own path,” said sister Gerri Marcheluzzo.
The Horrigan rink of third Lowell Goulden, brother and second Kelly Horrigan and lead David Smith won the 1980 B.C. championship to advance to the Brier at the Stampede Corral in Calgary, where Horrigan’s VCC foursome tied for fifth place at 5-6. Rick Folk of Saskatchewan beat Al Hackner of Northern Alberta in the final. Other big name skips in the Brier that year included Paul Gowsell of Alberta, Jim Ursel of Quebec, Earle Morris of Manitoba and Russ Howard of Ontario.
“These were four young guys out of the Victoria Curling Club playing the best in the world,” said Dagg, who was in Calgary to watch that Brier.
Brother Kelly Horrigan, the second on the rink, predeceased Tim Horrigan and died in an automobile accident in 1991 at age 30. The Horrigans were a family of 11 siblings, seven girls and four brothers, who grew up in Vic West with Tim the second oldest.
“Tim was very protective of all of us growing up,” said sister Gerri.
Tim Horrigan is survived by five sisters and many nieces and nephews.
