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New curling season promises more fun, excitement

With the ice in and ready, local curlers are already sweeping away at the Ponoka Curling Club.

With the ice in and ready, local curlers are already sweeping away at the Ponoka Curling Club.

Action began this week and club president Bruce Clarke is pleased with the numbers so far.

As of late last week, the Super League had filled its 12 team league while the club was still searching to find teams for its other three leagues.

“We have 11 men’s teams, seven ladies’ and eight mixed, so we are still looking for another men’s team, three for the ladies’ and four mixed club,” Clarke said.

“It’s great to have a full Super League this year. That’s something that we haven’t had in a few years. I’m also fairly ecstatic about how many junior players have registered. That can be somewhat attributed to how good the television coverage has become over the years in promoting curling along with the sport becoming more creative in the events they showcase.”

While the mix of teams in the various leagues is a bit different, Clarke stated the club is probably right around similar number of players as last year.

“Curling has become similar to golf - if you can get the youth involved, then they are more apt to come back to it later in their life,” Clarke added.

“Typically, we lose them in their early 20s when they head off for post secondary education, then their lives, careers and having a family get in the way sometimes. The trend then is they usually come back when they reach their 40s.”

The club is hoping to capitalize on that trend through a new initiative this season. Clarke explained a new ‘social’ league will start up in the new year.

“It will take the place of the Super League on Wednesday nights, since that league only runs until Christmas,” he said.

“It will be open to anyone and our hope is that it will encourage those that are interested in curling, along with the non-curler, to come out and try the sport in a fun, friendly atmosphere with an abbreviated game structure.”

Another change for the club this season comes in the number bonspiels they will be holding.

Traditionally, they host four, but will now place a larger focus on making the annual Town and Country bonspiel a much bigger event.

“We are going to open it up to both men’s and ladies’ teams and are looking to attract 32 men’s and 12 ladies’ as the club tries to concentrate on making it a better, larger event rather than having more bonspiels that are smaller,” said Clarke.

This means there will be no ladies’ bonspiel this year. Town and Country is set for Jan. 18 to 20 with mixed bonspiel slated for Feb. 12 to 14 and junior event scheduled for Feb. 5 and 6.

Clarke added that curling locally has become more popular the last few years, especially given the exposure with Lacombe hosting the men’s and ladies’ provincials in the past three years along with holding the juniors’ provincial championship this coming spring. However, he also stated there is a need for Curling Canada and the Alberta Curling Association to step a bit more, something both organizations seem to be recognizing now.

For more information about getting a team in or to find out how to put your name forward as a spare, contact either Cody Moench at 403-588-8199, Ron MacMillan (403-783-6314) or Bill Crawfood (403-783-4033).