The Barriere Curling Club (BCC) Skins Format Bonspiel was a huge success on January 25 at the North Thompson Fall Fair grounds arena.
Ten teams participated from Barriere and Kamloops playing three games each throughout the day. The games were six ends each with the winner of each end receiving a payout.
“This makes for friendly competitive action. The team with hammer, the last rock, needs to score two points to win and take the end. Many times, there is no winner at the completion of the end, and this is termed a 'carry-over'. These carry-overs make for even more nail-biting tension as the funds continue to grow until a team wins the end,” said Bernice Randrup, director for the BCC.
Any team has the potential of collecting the winnings from several ends. Most teams do win back a portion of their entry fees, she explained.
Randrup says the play started early with an 8:30 a.m. draw and continued with frequent draws throughout the day. The final draws hit the ice at 4:30 p.m. making for “an exhausting day of sweeping, strategizing, throwing” with many enjoying “hours of laughing” with the visiting teams and local friends she added.
The director praised the kitchen staff led by Laurel Cleland who provided the 40 curlers with “top notch, quality food” throughout the day. Morning snacks of fresh muffins and scones, a delicious lunch of four choices of homemade soup and freshly baked biscuits started the food festival. Supper consisted of seasoned fries, fresh coleslaw and delicious local beef burgers.
"A variety of cakes and sweets made sure no one left hungry," she said.
Randrup reported the BCC members Joan Evans, Cathy McNeil, John Cleland and Evelyn Pilatzke rounded out the kitchen staff with local members, Peter Brown and Darin Underhill supplying the refreshments.
The teams of Underhill and Jacobson took home the most winnings with the local team of Lynda Forsythe coming in third. None of the ten teams went home empty handed as every team won at least one end.
The BCC continues to work organizing and preparing for the BC Stick Curling Championship on February 6, 7, 8. Projects of signage, sponsorship, umpiring, accommodation, hosting, open ceremonies, programs, concession and planning a large banquet are keeping the club busy.
“Our four-person ice team, headed by Dale Moores, are maintaining the ice to its current high standards,” said Randrup, “Final zoom meetings with Curl B.C. are taking place and the facility looks polished and professional. A special thank you goes out to Darin Underhill and Peter Brown for installing a fully functional new sound system.”
The sound system is hardwired in and will provide many years of public sound system service locally for both levels of the building including the rink surface, adding, she said.
“This ensures that our bingos, announcements, graduations, bonspiels, Fall Fair, AG Expo and rental events will have clear concise announcements and music throughout the whole building. A much-needed improvement and thank you to these volunteers for doing this project.”
The director said the schedule of events and draws has been finalized.
The Stick curling games are six ends with two players each.
"This means the games go quickly and you are encouraged to arrive on time to watch the games, many times all four sheets will be utilized. Teams will be Mixed, Men and Women’s, and they will be coming from Kamloops, Armstrong, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Prince George, Penticton and Summerland,” she said, “This is a great opportunity to showcase our small friendly community. We hope everyone will support this wonderful event locally.”
The Barriere Curling Club concession and lounge will be open throughout the event days during the BC Stick Curling Championship and there will be a daily 50/50 draw during the competition.
If you are interested in joining the Barriere Curling Club or inquiring about event rentals and bookings please contact them via email at: barrierecurlingclub@gmail.com
