For the past 70 years the annual Innisfail Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel has been a source for friendships, good times and plenty of curling.
The annual weeklong event ran from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23 at the Innisfail Curling Club and wrapped up with a banquet and awards night at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion on Jan. 23.
“It's gone very well,” said Tim Kreil, chair of this year's bonspiel. “I think a lot of people have been out, had a lot of fun and we've seen good sportsmanship.”
For some, like first-time curler Stacey Mathon, it was a chance to experience the sport.
“It was fun, we had a blast,” said Mathon. “It was a team effort.”
Mathon, a farmer west of Innisfail and a member of the Boston Pizza Innisfail Farmerettes, participated in the bonspiel for the first time and had some beginner's luck on her side, helping her team take top spot in the ladies' event.
“I was on the ice probably four times prior to the bonspiel, but just practices, no actual games,” she said. “I'll definitely be back for the league plays next fall and I'll be back for the bonspiel for sure.”
Bob Dixon, an 81-year-old retired farmer from south of Innisfail has been curling for close to 60 years and has been part of the annual bonspiel for many of those.
“I started curling in 1950,” said Dixon. “I missed a few years and then came back in 1959 and I've curled pretty steady since then.”
Dixon curled in Bowden in the 1950s and came to Innisfail to curl at the old rink in the 1960s and '70s before moving to the new curling facility in 1984.
Dixon has some fond memories of the annual Innisfail Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel over the years.
“In this rink I've been in the bonspiel probably 30 years. I won the farmers bonspiel in 1971,” said Dixon. “That was probably the best curling year I ever had. We won Innisfail and Bowden farmers bonspiels that year,” he added.
In that time, Dixon has seen many changes to the roaring game.
“We used old corn brooms all the time, and now we use a brush. There's quite a difference that way,” explained Dixon. “When I first started it was natural ice and it was really heavy, but now you have the artificial ice.”
Dixon noted that he and several fellow curlers enjoy attending bonspiels in the area every year, including those in Carstairs, Olds, Sundre and Innisfail.
“It's like a reunion going to all these places,” he said.
Still an avid curler today, Dixon had some words for those just learning the sport.
“Come out to the juniors, start young and enjoy it,” said Dixon. [email protected]
Stacey Mathon
"I was on the ice probably four times prior to the bonspiel, but just practices, no actual games. I'll definitely be back for the league plays next fall and I'll be back for the bonspiel for sure."
