INNISFAIL -- The 73rd annual Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel brought curlers from across the region together for another week of fun and fellowship.
The event also included a past Canada Winter Games gold medallist from Innisfail.
Tyler Bennett, an avid curler, won gold with Team Alberta at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon.
"We beat team Ontario for the gold. It was our goal all year (to win gold) so it was pretty cool," said Bennett of the experience.
He shared thoughts on the Games being held in Red Deer this February.
"It's exciting. It will be a good experience for (the local athletes)," he added.
This year’s Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel wrapped up curling on Jan. 25, with a banquet on Jan. 26 at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion.
“It was a great week. Everybody enjoyed themselves and there was lots of good fellowship, fun and sportsmanship showed by all," said Tim Kreil, event chair. "We had a new rink out of Sundre come up and play with us and one from Eagle Hill community. It was really great to see some curlers from that area."
The finals were held Friday evening and crowned this year’s winners.
Team ATB Financial won the 2019 ladies' A final. It included skip Corrine Lougheed, Lindsey Douglas, Carol Robertson, and Heather Kirkham from ATB.
Team Central Alberta Co-op took the 2019 men's A final. It included skip Darren Oxtoby, Gary Wagers, Keith Leischner, and Ken Munro from Central Alberta Co-op.
The event also donated a portion of winnings to the Innisfail and District Food Bank and also gave back to the sport of curling.
"On behalf of Cooperators McGillvary Insurance, (who volunteered at the banquet), we donated $500 to junior curling,” said Kreil.
Keith Leischner has played in the bonspiel for 23 years and for the first time came out on top in the men's A final.
"It was a super bonspiel,” said Leischner. "A shout-out to all the volunteers on the committee. It was a really great run bonspiel and a great week."
Ruth Lind was on the ladies' B final winning team and had praise for the event as well.
"There was lots of tough competition," said Lind. "Thanks to (the businesses) and thanks to all the committee (members) that did all the work. It's just phenomenal.
"They put on such a good week for us all and it was lots of fun to mix in with everybody," Lind concluded.
