CHARLOTTETOWN – One word that can describe Robert Campbell as a curler is versatile.
Campbell, a member of the Charlottetown Curling Complex, has played every position but second stone during a competitive career that began more than 35 years ago. Campbell has won one provincial junior men’s championship, eight provincial men’s titles, three provincial mixed crowns and two Canadian mixed championships during this time. He has also collected several all-star awards at national competitions.
Campbell will be one of five inductees into the P.E.I. Curling Hall of Fame and Museum on Monday. The induction ceremony, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will take place at the Cornwall Curling Club. Tickets are $10, and are available at the door.
Also entering the Hall of Fame will be Mark O’Rourke, Kathy O’Rourke, Peter Gallant and Mark Butler.
Campbell, who will be inducted under the “Curler” category, is the fourth in a Journal Pioneer series of profiles on the Class of 2017.
Campbell’s curling career began at the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1980, and soon after he was competing at the provincial level, and also earned a name for himself on the national scene.
Campbell played third on the Kent Scales rink that not only won the 1985 provincial junior title, but advanced to the final, where they lost to Kevin Martin. However, all members of Team P.E.I., which included second stone Andy MacDonald and lead Phillip Gorveatt, were selected all-stars.
As a rookie skip at the Canadian men’s curling championship, Campbell posted a respectable 6-5 (won-lost) record in 1991. At the 1995 Brier, he skipped P.E.I. to a 7-4 record.
Campbell skipped the rink of third stone Angela Roberts, second stone Mark O’Rourke and lead Kathy O’Rourke to the 1989 provincial and Canadian mixed championships. He teamed with third stone Rebecca Jean MacPhee, second stone Robbie Doherty and lead Jackie Reid to win his second Canadian mixed title as skip in 2011.
Campbell was named the all-star skip at both the 1989 and 2011 national mixed championships.
Campbell also enjoyed success at the McCain SuperSpiel. He lost the 1991 and 1992 finals to Ed Werenich and Russ Howard, before breaking through to defeat Don Westphal and win the 1996 event.
Campbell has also given back to the sport off the ice as well. He served on the board of directors at the Charlottetown Curling Club, has helped coach several teams over the years and has volunteered his time for many curling clinics at the capital city facility.
Titles
Championships Robert Campbell has earned as a player:
Canadian and Provincial Mixed
1989 – skip with third stone Angela Roberts, second Mark O’Rourke, lead Kathy O’Rourke.
2011 – skip with third stone Rebecca Jean MacDonald, second Robbie Doherty, lead Jackie Reid.
Provincial Junior
1985 – third with skip Kent Scales, second Andy MacDonald, lead Phillip Gorveatt.
Provincial Men
1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 – skip with third stone Peter Gallant, second Mark O’Rourke, lead Mark Butler.
2002 – third stone with skip John Likely, second Erik Brodersen, lead Jeff Smith.
2003 – skip with third Kevin Champion, second Phillip Gorveatt, lead Mike Dillon.
2007 – lead with skip Peter Gallant, third Kevin Champion, second Mark O’Rourke.
