February is always a busy time at the Nanaimo Curling Centre and one of the main events of the month occurred this past weekend.
The annual Nanaimo Ladies’ Bonspiel is a popular date on the local curling calendar and this year’s event attracted 24 teams. Most were Nanaimo squads but a few were from out of town, including an entry this year from the Gyeongbuk Curling Club in South Korea. The Korean national ladies’ team had been training in Canada for the past month and took the opportunity to take part in the bonspiel competition.
They, along with everyone else, were 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 this year were treated to a banquet dinner and costume parade based on the bonspiel’s medieval theme. Full credit goes to bonspiel chair Linda Torgerson, Patty Pedersen, Susan Chepil and others on the organizing committee.
The A event was sponsored by Bastion Trophies and featured the only two undefeated teams. Both were local entries, skipped respectively by Heather Lindsay-Lecuyer and Anita Chambers. The Lindsay team struck for five points in the seventh to claim a 10-3 win. Other members of the championship team were third Teri Palynchuk, second Darcy Dreger and lead Linda Torgerson. Now the winners will hope to ride that momentum into the senior women’s B.C. championships being held this week in Port Alberni.
Curling with Chambers on the runner-up team were Margie Blackley, Eleanor Voysey and Janice Stromar. Third went to Brenda Ridgway and her team of Denise Hache, Jessica Stephens and Tami Barnard.
Jim Pattison Hyundai Nanaimo sponsored the B event in the ladies’ bonspiel. In an entertaining match, Team Korea scored two in the final end to edge Lorraine Jeffries’ foursome 6-5.
In the C final, sponsored by Damsels Fashion Collections, the local team of Nicole Backe, Renee Fisher, Rhonda Stoner and Heather Osachoff defeated Sandra Ostle and her Nanaimo team of Anthea Simick, Joan Hall and Margie Carter. Backe trailed early but forged back into a 6-5 lead, then sealed the victory with four more in the seventh end for a 10-5 final score. More excitement lies ahead for Backe, who was recently named as an alternate player for the B.C. team competing at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts national competition beginning Saturday (Feb. 14) in Moose Jaw.
Local bonspiel action continues next week, as the Nanaimo Senior Ladies’ Bonspiel takes the ice Monday through Wednesday. Spectators are welcome.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.