Mardi Gras bonspiel at the Whitecourt Curling Club

 

Though it might still be winter outside, it looked a lot like Mardi Gras inside the Whitecourt Curling Rink on February 23 to 25. The Annual Ladies Bonspiel always features a fun theme and, for 2018, organizers chose the New Orleans favourite.

The bonspiel featured 12 teams which included local groups and one mixed team with players from Valleyview and Swan Hills. With four women per team, it made for a busy weekend at the rink with 48 players taking to the ice each day.

Sandra Harris, Treasurer of the Whitecourt Curling Club, said each team was guaranteed three games. “It’s kind of a modified round robin so it’s based on your wins and losses, and we also did a draw to the button for points. So, depending on how that worked out for you, you might get to play in the final top six teams in the finals on Sunday.”

Locally, mixed doubles are well attended but numbers for ladies’ leagues are down. Sandra said the decline isn’t new. “That’s common across all curling because ladies don’t do a lot for themselves. If you’re in your thirties, have a family, and your kids are in sports, then you likely aren’t going to be curling. We find that you have to be really dedicated to it or you have to be a bit older to get out in the evening.”

Schedules can always be rearranged though, and Sandra welcomes anyone to come give it a shot. “Ladies night is only once a week, every Wednesday, for a two-hour game. I think there is a perception that it’s hard but once you get into it, it’s easy. I know people don’t want to come out and embarrass themselves,” she said with a smile, but she reassured everyone that all curlers started out that way at some point. “We welcome new curlers and are a fairly recreational league. We’re not super competitive; we support everybody.” The season runs from October through March and is a great way to get out of the house in the winter. For more information call Sandra at 780-706-1717.