The Mixed Curling Champions submitted by Alan Demaline Submitted by: Alan Demaline
With lots of snow on the ground and frigid temperatures, Fundy Albert is In the midst of what is turning out to be a good old fashioned winter. What do avid curlers do to chase away the winter blues? Well, we leave our warm and cosy houses to slip and slide driving through all that ice and snow to get to the warm and comfy FCC clubhouse. We then leave the warmth of the clubhouse to go back into the cold and slip and slide down the ice while folks yell their heads off at you to sweep the rocks into an altogether different house! Sound like fun? You bet it is!
With lots of snow on the ground and frigid temperatures, Fundy Albert is In the midst of what is turning out to be a good old fashioned winter. What do avid curlers do to chase away the winter blues? Well, we leave our warm and cosy houses to slip and slide driving through all that ice and snow to get to the warm and comfy FCC clubhouse. We then leave the warmth of the clubhouse to go back into the cold and slip and slide down the ice while folks yell their heads off at you to sweep the rocks into an altogether different house! Sound like fun? You bet it is!
Curling can be played in many different formats and over the last few weeks we hosted three separate bonspiels, each embracing different variations of the game. Two were played on the ice, while in an effort to involve as many folks in the community as possible, one was played in the clubhouse! Before we move on, in case you are wondering what a bonspiel is, it is simply a tournament in curling lingo.
The first bonspiel was a doubles format. As the name suggests, there are two players on a team rather than the traditional four players. Doubles curling is quickly growing in popularity around the world, especially after being first included in the 2018 Olympics in Korea. It is a fast paced, high energy game with each team having six curling stones in play rather than the traditional eight. After the final rocks were delivered Stacey and Eric Lockhart came out as the winners. Who knows, if they keep it up, perhaps we will see them at the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy!
The first bonspiel was a doubles format. As the name suggests, there are two players on a team rather than the traditional four players. Doubles curling is quickly growing in popularity around the world, especially after being first included in the 2018 Olympics in Korea. It is a fast paced, high energy game with each team having six curling stones in play rather than the traditional eight. After the final rocks were delivered Stacey and Eric Lockhart came out as the winners. Who knows, if they keep it up, perhaps we will see them at the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy!
Bonspiel Sponsors by Alan Demaline The second bonspiel was a mixed format which had two men and two women on each team. This is traditionally our largest event of the season and this year was no exception. Wedged in between two winter storms the action took place Feb. 14th, 15th and 16th. The club was packed all weekend long with twelve teams of enthusiastic curlers and scores of spectators wondering who would be victorious. The festivities spilled out from the ice surface into the clubhouse with wonderful meals enjoyed by all throughout the weekend. Stories told about great shots made and near misses intermingled with good natured teasing that had the FCC full of smiles and roaring with laughter. Congratulations to the team of Laura Snair, Ken Stevens, Elaine and Alan Demaline who managed to pull off a win in a hard fought battle in the final game. Thanks to all the organizers, participants and sponsors that helped make this fantastic event possible.
The third bonspiel was a floor curling format. Floor curling is played indoors such as in a gymnasium, event hall, or in our case, the warm and welcoming FCC clubhouse. The curling stones have small wheels on the bottom so they glide across the floor toward vinyl curling houses just like on the ice! The FCC was thrilled to partner with Nursing Homes Without Walls in hosting this inaugural event. An amazing group of young at heart seniors, many of them former curlers, took part in an afternoon packed with fun and excitement. By the shots made throughout the day they certainly have not lost the magic touch to curl to the button! Thanks to all who took part and we hope to make this an annual event.
It is hard to believe we have just one month left in the curling season… but as they say, time flies when you are having fun! Until next time, remember to Hurry Hard and get it over the Hog Line!
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