ESTEVAN - The Power Dodge Curling Centre in Estevan was busy with activity on the weekend, thanks to the annual U15 triples bonspiel and a conventional U18 open bonspiel.
The U15 competition had four entries. Team Porter of Weyburn won gold with a 3-0 record. Second place went to the Meeka Gedak entry out of Estevan, third place was an Estevan Curling Club youth team, and the Eva Gedak team was fourth.
Triples were introduced to get more young people into the sport. Teams are comprised of three players instead of four, and each curler throws two rocks in an end. Players alternate roles during the game.
It also features a different scoring format. Instead of getting points for each end, they play three sets of two ends each. A team is awarded points if they win a set, and the third set is worth more than the first two, so all three sets are played.
An open U18 bonspiel featured eight teams playing a triple-knockout elimination event. The Olivia Fonstad rink, which will represent the Estevan Curling Club at U18 female provincials in Prince Albert from Dec. 27-31, was joined by the ECS boys' and girls' teams, an open team from Lampman School, and Teams Weiss (Esterhazy), Parker (Saskatoon), Hardcastle (La Ronge) and Kitchens (Williston, N.D.).
Weiss, Fonstad, Hardcastle and Parker advanced to the playoffs. Weiss defeated Parker in one semifinal and Hardcastle edged Fonstad in the other. Weiss then beat Hardcastle in the final.
