The Carlyle Curling Club is very excited to be hosting the Carlyle Merit Ford Sales Saskatchewan Women's Curling Tour within the Saskatchewan Women's Curling Tour (SWCT) on Dec. 5 to 7.
The Observer was able to speak with Kristen Mitchell, one of the chairs of the event.
鈥淭he bonspiel is being held by the Carlyle Curling Club and its board of Directors. 聽Chairs of the event are myself and Natalie Bloomfield,鈥� Mitchell explained.
Together they have been working towards this event since this past spring and are excited for it as Mitchell says everyone has been wonderful in making the bonspiel a reality.
鈥淟ots of support and help from all board members [has been beneficial] as well as [the willingness of the] curling club members who will volunteer throughout the weekend mainly posting line scores online on the CurlSask website.鈥�
This was to be expected, however, as Mitchell stated the support of curling in the area is phenomenal: 鈥淭he culture of curling in Carlyle is wonderful. We have a strong junior program, fun Monday and Thursday night leagues and a senior league twice a week. We have numerous fun bonspiels throughout the season as well.鈥�
鈥淥ur curling club relies heavily (so far this season 100 percent) on volunteers. It takes many hours each week to prepare the ice just for regular league games that are played. Installing of the ice each fall is all volunteers and it is a long couple of weeks for all the board members and community volunteers who lend a helping hand. We have great ice too!鈥�
It's these positive experiences and community togetherness that the Carlyle Curling Club promotes which helped inspire Bloomfield and Mitchell to host an event of this magnitude.
鈥淣atalie and myself curl on competitive ladies curling teams,鈥� Mitchell explained. 鈥淲e spend many weekends in the winter travelling a far distance to attend competitive bonspiels and we thought it would be fun and convenient to host one in our home community for once.鈥�
This led the women to approach the SWCT committee at the end of last year's curling season in order to host the bonspiel. Approved, organization quickly took place and now Carlyle is looking forward to hosting 12 of Saskatchewan's top women's teams.
鈥淚t is the last bonspiel on the SWCT circuit for the 2014/2015 curling season,鈥� Mitchell explained. 鈥淭our spiels have qualifying teams earn points towards earning a spot in the Scotties Provincial Curling Championship. So, it could be exciting and intense for some teams who are in the running for this provincial spot being the last bonspiel on the circuit to earn these points!鈥�
Not only is it exciting for Carlyle to be hosting an event such as this, it will also be supporting local curlers in their attempt to advance in the curling tour.
Mitchell of Kenosee Lake curls on Mandy Selzer's team, while Bloomfield of Carlyle curls with Lana Vey's team. Additionally Mitchell says the community can look forward to other teams including Eberle, Englot, Fleming, Hanson, Inglis, Just, Peterson, Roy, Tisdale, and Williamson.
Though the final draw is yet to be determined, it will be set up by Monday (Nov. 24) or Tuesday (Nov. 25). The event however is expected to begin Friday evening on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m., though it may begin a little later.
鈥淲e have decided not to charge entry fee into this event as all other events typically do this we wanted to keep volunteer duties at a minimum for our first event due to it being a busy weekend in Carlyle with the Dickens Festival,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淚f you are interested in coming out to watch some games please pop into the curling rink whenever throughout the weekend as you will enjoy the free admission. The bar will be having some drink specials as well.鈥�
With Carlyle hosting both the bonspiel and Dickens Festival it is a unique way to showcase the community.
鈥淲e look forward to showing off our community to the 48 curlers who will be visiting our town on this fun weekend!鈥� Mitchell exclaimed. 鈥淲e cannot thank the volunteers enough, without them we would have no curling club in the community at all and it is such a great sport!鈥�
