After the COVID-19 quarantine, the annual Wheelchair Funspiel hosted by Kim and Teddy Hudye was unable to operate for the past three years, but now it has returned and is planned to occur again next year.
The event was hosted at the Broda Sportsplex on Jan. 13 and 14, attracting new and old Funspiel curlers. Participants in the event were required to send curling rocks down the ice with a stick while sitting in a wheelchair steadied by a person standing behind them.
The winners of the event were the team of Teddy Hudye, Josh Gogol from Canora, Aiden Broda and Randy Troffimenkoff of Kamsack. The winners of each year’s Funspiel get their names put on a plaque alongside the previous winners of the event.
They had various prizes that were generously donated that were won by pulling names out of a hat, one such prize being a liquor basket. They also had a shoot to the pin contest which awarded its winner a “mickey of vodka” otherwise known as a small 375ml bottle of vodka.
Proceeds of the event go towards Teddy Hudye’s therapy, parts for his wheelchair, and to help him pursue his shot put and discus throwing career. Teddy has estimated that they raised $4,000 in proceeds this year.
“I’d like to thank Kamsack and our sponsors for supporting me all these years and for them still coming out and trying and participating,” said Teddy.
Approximately 48 people in 12 teams of four participated in the event, and 40 to 50 people watched upstairs as there was also a senior hockey game on Jan. 13. The registration fee per team was $200.
