WESTLOCK — Team Wildfong took top spot and the ‘A’ event title at the Feb. 10-12 Westlock Curling Club Open Bonspiel which included 14 teams from across the region.
Hailing from Athabasca, Team Wildfong includes curlers Kim Wildfong, his two sons Mathew and Christopher and Bryan Winters and was sponsored by Pembina Valley Trucking, while the ‘B’ title went to Team Gervais from Westlock, with Stephane Gervais, David Byvank, Randy Musterer and Ty Kirchner and was sponsored by the Westlock News.
The ‘C’ title was captured by Team Philips from Barrhead and included Rod Philips, Scott Philips, Curtis Sommers, and Henry Murray and was sponsored by Pembina Precision Ag, while the ‘D’ title, sponsored by the Westlock Curling Club, went to Team Clark from Westlock and included the foursome of Hugh Clark, Adelle Clark, Jill Lowry, and Peter Yeung.
Club past-president Paula Clark said they moved to an open bonspiel from mixed several years ago to encourage more people to come out and curl in a fun, competitive event. “This is our second bonspiel of the season. It brings people into the community, it promotes the sport and it’s a fundraiser for the curling club,” said Clark.
One of the bonspiel participants Pete Lowry from Perryvale has been curling for three years and plays in the club’s Thursday night league. He came out to compete in his first open bonspiel and said it’s a great way “to support the club.”
“It’s great socializing and it gets you out of the house,” he said.
The club will also be hosting a one-day stick curling bonspiel Feb. 15 that will start at 10 a.m. About eight teams have registered so far and interested residents are invited to attend to learn more about the sport, noted Clark. Newly-crowned provincial champion, Daniel Shank from Clyde — who curls at the Westlock Curling Club — will be in attendance that day after winning gold with Sharon Christianson in the mixed event at the 2023 Alberta Stick Curling Championships Feb. 10-12 in Spruce Grove.
Following their final event, the Men’s Bonspiel in March, the club will wrap up the season at the end of the month with their league windup that will include a potluck supper and prizes for league winners.
