Wayne Talbot
Softball, Curling (2000)

Wayne has enjoyed a lifelong association with curling as a player, coach and administrator. Upon moving to Saskatoon in 1973, he became a pillar in softball, coaching Saskatoon Dodgers to two provincial and western Canadian midget girls' championships and Saskatoon Blues to three straight appearances in the Canadian junior girls' championships.

Wayne was born on March 31, 1937, in Bengough and lived most of his many of his early years in rural communities like Fort Qu'Appelle, Kelliher, Regina Beach, Wadena and then Redvers.

His first sample of curling success came on the Wadena schoolboy championship team in 1953 and, later in his career; he represented North Battleford in the 1966 northern men's playoffs.

Wayne coached his daughters in curling. His daughter, Jackie, played third on the Saskatchewan team at the 1984 Canadian junior women's playoffs. His daughters won city championships and advanced to the northerns when Laureen was skipping.

Wayne twice curled on the Saskatoon senior zone winners, skipped by Frank Scheirich in 1988 and 1989. As well he was president of the Nutana Curling Club, a member of the organizing committee of the Bessborough Classic and volunteer for the last two Briers held in Saskatoon.

After coaching softball in Redvers and Regina, Wayne became softball coordinator in the Eastview area in 1973, introducing T-ball, and building a series of teams where his wife, Yvonne, helped and his daughters played. The Eastview Dodgers won the Saskatchewan midget girls' title in 1978, advanced to the western finals in Brandon where they beat British Columbia, 6-5, for the championship. The Dodgers repeated as Saskatchewan midget champions in 1979, winning the final playoffs at Leader, and then went to the western finals, which they won in Campbell River, B.C.

Many of the players moved up in age division and Wayne guided the Saskatoon Blues to the 1980 Saskatchewan junior girls' championship and a berth in the Canadian playoffs, where they placed sixth in Truro, Nova Scotia. The Blues repeated in Saskatchewan in 1981, went to the Canadian finals in Milverton, Ontario where they finished fourth. For his efforts, Wayne was named Softball Saskatchewan's Man of the Year.

The Blues won the Saskatchewan title again in 1982 and went to the Canadians at Kitchener-Waterloo, making their strongest showing ever with a second-place finish.

Softball was truly a family affair for the Talbot family – which includes Wayne and Yvonne, four daughters, Jackie, Carrie, Sheriann and Laureen.