The annual Innisfail Ladies Bonspiel is now in the history books as well as its own celebration of this year's Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
The bonspiel, held at the Innisfail Curling Club from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, featured 72 participants in 18 teams from across Alberta ñ and even one player from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. From Alberta, there were players from Edmonton, Viking, Nanton, Red Deer, Olds, Airdrie, Calgary, and of course from the host Innisfail Curling Club.
ìFrom the feedback that we have had I would say it is one of the most successful bonspiels,î said Marge Tyrkalo, one of the event's organizers and a member of the local club's Kim Lewis rink, which was responsible for putting together this year's bonspiel. ìWe had lots of help and I don't want to take full credit. We had just incredible support from the businesses of the town with both prizes and cash donations.î
When it was over there were three winning teams. The A event winner was the bonspiel's top team and went through without a loss. Its members included Noreen Stuart, Mary Vincent, Kathy Sturgess and Mary Linnell.
The B event winner, which only recorded one loss, included team members Carolyn Worthington, Dorothy Jegou, Ruth Lind and Shelley Bradshaw. And the C event team, which also had only one loss, included Kim Lewis, Chris Donner, Marge Tyrkalo and Colleen Thomas.
Tyrkalo said prize money at the bonspiel totalled more than $3,200.
She said what helped make this year's bonspiel a special success was the decision to include an Olympic theme. She gave credit to Jennifer Wood of the Innisfail Curling Club and her team for the inspiration to honour the current Winter Olympics in Sochi.
ìThe theme was a surprise to everybody. We didn't know what she had planned. When we arrived each team was given a country that they were to represent, and some of them dressed up,î said Tyrkalo, adding organizers have used many other themes in the past, including western to honour the Calgary Stampede.
Following the event's banquet, organizers then staged a ìmini-Olympicsî with improvised games.
ìSome teams wore flags made out of plastic tablecloths in the flag colours that they taped together and wore on their backs,î said Tyrkalo. ìEverybody dressed up. It was a lot of fun.î
