Curling enthusiasts are getting ready for a busy, fun-filled weekend.
The Quesnel Curling Club’s Ice-Breaker Bonspiel is set to take place Nov. 4–5 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Quesnel Curling Centre.
This event is a bit unique from other bonspiels, says Darla Duguid, director of the curling committee. Teams are drawn on-the-spot by the draw master, so curlers have no idea who they’ll be playing with.
The tournament is also very integrated, including all ages and some Special Olympians.
It’s a great place for newer, less experienced people to start learning and become involved in the sport, Duguid says, adding the local curling club has definitely grown since the start of the Granny Bonspiel in 1997. At that point, women 50 years and over and any woman with grandchildren were involved in the bonspiel.
Due to the low turnouts, and the growing interest in the community, the club expanded in 2008 to include all women of any age.
In 2011, women and men joined the bonspiel, and it has been growing ever since.
Curlers with little experience or with a lot of years on the ice all agree that the sport is a great way to enjoy the winter, and a fantastic way to build camaraderie within a great group of spirited friends, old and new.
As always, the bonspiel is a loaded event. There will be 16 teams competing throughout the weekend.
T&J Concession will be supplying delicious meals and snacks, there will be door prizes and, without a doubt, a lot of laughs and entertainment.
Duguid would like to extend a thank-you to Trudy Bentley, Lynda Sales and Gloria Ardell for their continuous help and guidance as Duguid and her team take over the running of the bonspiel.