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The ice is in — Ponoka curlers ready to rock

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Lord of the rings: The ice is in

By Dale Cory

The Ponoka Farmers’ Market has finished for another season — and that is welcome news for curling enthusiasts.

With the popular marketplace being staged inside the curling club at Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex until late September, the curling season in Ponoka begins a little later than in many other towns.

So, when the farmers’ market closed for the final time Sept. 29, members of the curling club were busy getting out the flooding hoses, hacks, paint brushes and other equipment that would be needed to get ice ready for the upcoming season.

And, considering Alberta is home to a pair of 2010 Olympic Games medal winning foursomes — Kevin Martin’s gold, and Sandra Bernard’s silver crews’ — young curlers will no doubt be excited to try out a game which is growing in numbers every year.

Many curling leagues to choose from

League play will get underway the first week of November. Men’s League takes place Monday, Ladies’ League on Tuesday, Adult Daytime League goes Wednesday at 10 a.m., Junior League and the Super League are run every Wednesday, and the Mixed League hits the ice every Thursday.

Call Kristen at 403-783-2370 to get onto a rink.

The Ponoka Curling Club has a couple of events planned to get youth, and adults out to play the sport.

First spiel of the season

The Ice Breaker Fun Spiel, billed as — The bonspiel with the lowest entry fee in Canada — takes place Saturday, Oct. 30 starting at 6 p.m. Everyone involved will take part in two four-end games. Players can enter as a single, a twosome, or as a team of four.

You can call Barry at 403-783-7410, or Les at 403-704-4577 to enter.

Oh yes — as for the entry fee?

Playing in the Ice Breaker Fun Spiel will cost you the grand total of — $5.

Curling club open to youth

The Ponoka Curling Club realizes the importance of getting youth involved, and will host a Kids Learn To Curl program beginning Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Sessions take place November through February from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are open to kids eight to 18 years of age.

The cost is $50 and all youths need to bring along is a change of shoes — brooms and sliders will be provided by the club. Kids involved in the learn to curl program will also take part in a bonspiel in February.

Call Barry at 403-783-7410 to register.