聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Dickens Festival is always a busy weekend in Carlyle and this year, as they鈥檝e done in years past, the Carlyle Curling Club hosted Saskatchewan Women鈥檚 Curling Tour (SWCT) Bonspiel from Friday, Dec. 4, to Sunday, Dec. 6.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The bonspiel saw eight teams come together to compete. Last year there were a total of 12 teams participating, but Kristen Sauter said that with a new format in the SWCT and a qualifying bonspiel in Estevan the weekend of Dec. 11 to 13.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Originally they were worried that they wouldn鈥檛 get enough teams to hold the bonspiel, but a couple of teams decided to join last minute which meant the event could go on.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e really like holding it on Dickens weekend,鈥� Sauter said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much going on in town and the Main Street all decorated looks so good, and the women who come down very much enjoy it. So, we are planning on hosting our third annual bonspiel next year during Dickens weekend.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Heading into the competition the top three teams were Penny Barker鈥檚 team holding first with 17 points in the SWCT standings, while Kim Schneider trailed with 13 points, and Mandy Selzer following with 10 points.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A total of eight teams competed at the Carlyle Spiel where first place was earned by Selzer鈥檚 team, which includes local curler Sauter from Kenosee, coming in second place was Barker鈥檚 team, and finishing in a 3/4 split were Shalon Fleming and Amber Holland.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Leading the pack this year in the SWCT Standings is Barker鈥檚 team with 24 points, currently in second in the SWCT standings was Selzer鈥檚 team with 20 points, and Patty Hersikorn is in third provincially with 15 points.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Other local curlers participating included Natalie Bloomfield of Carlyle, Kristy Johnson of Wawota. Additionally, Amber Holland (Kent and Myrla Holland鈥檚 daughter) brought a team together for the bonspiel to help bolster numbers when it was thought the event may have to be cancelled.
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