DIDSBURY - The 2019 Didsbury Farm and Ranch Bonspiel is in the books. The bonspiel wrapped up its 25th year on Sunday with the Kurt Jorsvik rink from Olds taking the A final. Didsbury Vet Services was the business person for the rink.
Finishing tops in the B final was Dennis Roemele from Olds with JMT Construction as business person. C final champion was Rod Snyder from Didsbury with Weaner's Plumbing and Heating as business person. First in the D final was Les Leatherdale from Olds with B&M Home Hardware as business person.
For bonspiel president Joan Hannah, the 25th annual event was her last at the helm. Hannah will be stepping down after 25 years. She started the Farm and Ranch Bonspiel along with husband Ray, who passed away in 2017.
"This was my final year," said Hannah. "My husband (Ray) and I started it. It was excellent. We had 40 teams. What started out 25 years ago with 18 is now up to 40."
Hannah said they started the bonspiel as a way for farmers and ranchers to get together with business people in a relaxed atmosphere.
"It has always been about friendship between the farmers and the businessmen," she said. "You know what happens when farmers and businessmen get together -- they talk about everything whether it's farm machinery or their crops, they love to get together and chit-chat. It's all about having fun and the camaraderie."
Hannah said this year's event went very well although it was bittersweet. She said there are still many of the same people that have been coming to the bonspiel for 25 years.
"Very emotional on Saturday at the final banquet," she said. "I can't thank our sponsors and the curlers or my committee enough. They have done super-fantastic. I couldn't have done it without their help. I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for 25 fantastic years."
Hannah said having Olympian Kevin Koe there on Monday night (Jan. 7) was a great addition to the bonspiel. Koe, a two-time world champion and three-time Canadian champion, and his team put on a clinic for Didsbury junior curlers and also threw out the ceremonial first rock.
"It was fantastic," she said. "The feedback from the kids and parents has been great. I was down there taking pictures. The kids were just having a great time. They're our future curlers and from what I saw there was some good ones."
