Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel another success

INNISFAIL –The 71st annual Innisfail Farmers & Farmerettes Bonspiel was again a display of sportsmanship, friendship and teamwork.

"It's been a great week. We've had lots of fun curling and there's lots of sportsmanship," said Tim Kreil, chair of the bonspiel. "There'll be some new champions this year that we haven't had in a couple of years."

The annual event took place Jan. 15 to 21 at the Innisfail Curling Club. Opening ceremonies were held on Jan.16 and a banquet on Jan 21.

The weeklong curling bonspiel brings Innisfail and area farmers and farmerettes together with local businesses every year. A total of 32 men's teams and 16 women's teams with close to 200 participants combined, competed in this year's bonspiel.

Each team consisted of three farmers and one local business representative.

The men's A final saw team Wagers Mechanical and team Bank of Montreal square off against each other, while the women's A final had team ATB face off against team Fourlane Ford.

"In the men's A final we've got Murray Stringer versus Harvey Lind. I know it's been a few years since either one of them have won it," said Kreil. "Everybody has been having fun, our meals have been wonderful all week and our ice conditions are wonderful.

"There's generations of curlers here from the farm this week," he added.

Women's A team champion, skip Corinne Lougheed of team ATB, was thrilled to be a part of the annual event.

"It's my first time skipping and winning it," said Lougheed. "We found our draw weight today, that's what got us going. (Team Fourlane Ford) couldn't find their draw weight."

Both men's and women's A teams went undefeated all week.

"It's my first time in the final," said Tom Layden of Wagers Mechanical. "This is probably my 10th time (participating in the bonspiel) over the years. I enjoy getting together with the neighbours and curling. It's a great event."

Kreil said the committee is ready to begin working on next year's bonspiel.

"We're already starting to plan for next year. We're going to have a meeting shortly after (the finals) with everybody's yeas and nays of the week and get things ready for next year," Kreil concluded.