The month of February is always a busy one at the Nanaimo Curling Centre. A number of bonspiels are held, including one of the main ones of the year that occurred two weekends ago.
The annual Nanaimo Ladies’ Bonpiel is a popular date on the local curling calendar and this year’s competition attracted 24 local and visiting teams. They all seemed to be impressed by the hospitality and organization of the Nanaimo event. In addition to the on-ice action there was plenty of fun, entertainment and socializing. Teams were treated to a Saturday banquet dinner as well as a Sunday champagne breakfast sponsored by Quality Foods. Fun costumes were in evidence related to the bonspiel’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme and the local business community gave generous support to a raffle and silent auction fundraiser. Full credit goes to bonspiel chairwoman Heather Lindsay-Lecuyer and her committee members Brenda Chaplin, Patty Pedersen, Debbie Pulak, Tracey Newlands, Carolle MacIntosh, Mary Ellen Konyer, Sharon Wright, Isabel Albrecht, Judy Gallacher and Lois Russell.
As for the curling itself, Sunday afternoon featured final games of the bonspiel’s four events. The A event was sponsored by Bastion Trophies and featured the only two undefeated teams in the field. Both were local entries, skipped respectively by Lindsay-Lecuyer and Gloria Palinkas. In an exciting final, Lindsay-Lecuyer trailed early but tied the game with two points in the seventh end. Then in the final end Palinkas needed an excellent shot with her final stone to claim a 6-5 victory. Other members of the championship team were third Linda Torgerson, second Andrea Parry and lead Sharon Stonehouse. Curling with Lindsay-Lecuyer were Angela Wood, Erin Turner and Alina Abbott.
Third place in A event went to Lynne Noble’s entry from the Qualicum Curling Club.
Jim Pattison Hyundai Nanaimo sponsored the B event in the ladies’ bonspiel. In an all-Nanaimo final, the team of Natalka Strilesky, Carol Tromans, Michelle Plamondon and Kellie Rice defeated Leslie Shearer, Lorraine Jefferies, E.T. Mitton and Ellie Moore by a 7-5 score. Third place went to Melissa Soligo, Teri Palynchuk, Lindsay Shannon and Peggy Aikman.
In the final of C event, sponsored by Damsels Fashion Collections, the local team of Diana Baker, Diana Johnstone, Tanis Wilson and Andrea Trepanier posted a 9-2 win over Anita Chambers and her Nanaimo team of Eleanor Voysey, Sandy Wilkinson and Kelly Mayer.
The bonspiel action continues next week, as the Nanaimo Senior Ladies’ Bonspiel takes the ice Monday through Wednesday (Feb. 20-22).
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair and show good sportsmanship.