The Quesnel Ladies Curling Club held their 54th annual 'Wheel 'n Spiel' this weekend, Jan. 24-26, which saw 27 teams take part, including four from out of town.
Deb Burton and her rink, Gayle Campbell, Vera Bishop and Carol Pitkin organized the event with a Hawaiian Luau theme which saw them win the best dressed costume with their Tiki Warrior dancers.
The curling rink was alive with fun and excitement all weekend.
The Terry Shpak rink was back in the 'A' final to defend her 2013 title, however the Tracey Jones rink from Prince George won the event 9 -3. Terry and her teammates, Ashley Kopetski, Laurie Lucas and Cindy Nikirk played some excellent games to get to the final, but the Tracey Jones rink, including Kay Thompson and Crystal Haller, both formerly of Quesnel, and Loreen Amonson brought their A game, resulting in Jones calling the game after five ends of play. Placing third and fourth in the A were the Ev Lawson and Lori Wawryk rinks.
The 'B' final was a very close game. The Daryl Bosch rink, with Bosch from Kamloops and the rest of the rink, Lynn Lanki, Monica Lachappelle and Lori Bloudoff from Williams Lake, got on the board in the third end with one against the Linda Woods rink, including Connie Pomero, Linda Harris and Brenda Logelin. After the sixth end, the game was tied at 4-4.
Woods placed one in the seventh, but Bosch came out strong in the eighth to win the game 7-5. Coming third and fourth in the 'B' were the Rio Dinu rink, from Quesnel, and the Dolly Poitras rink, from P.G.
The 'C' final was played but the Carol Thatcher rink, with Wendy Needham, Penni Yamamoto and Karen Van Essen, and the Louise Scott rink, with Julie Thony, Doreen Gurnett and Christine Clarke. The points went back and forth, but Thatcher got four in the third end, bringing the score to 6-1.
It looked like Scott was going to come back, getting to points in the fourth but called the game after five ends when Thatcher came out strong and took five points, bringing the score to 11-2.
Rounding out the winners, third and fourth in the 'C' final went to the Luanne Coffey and Dana Johansen rinks.
The Daryl Bosch rink, with Bosch originally from Williams Lake, have made it to the Ladies Bonspiel for 36 years since they started in 1977.
With credit going to all the volunteers that help our bonspiel run smooth, from the food, entertainment, prizes and keeping the ice to perfection, the Bosch rink has already booked their room and will be back for the 55th annual bonspiel next January.
–Submitted by
Aleida Woollends