OLDS — Members of the Olds Curling Club are already out on the ice competing and looking forward to hosting another big event this season: Curling Alberta's U20 Men's Qualifiers.
Although it’s not quite as high-profile as the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup, a international event hosted at the Sportsplex last May, the qualifiers, which will be held Jan. 12-15, are a big deal.
“This is the final qualifying event for U20 men's teams from across the province to make it into the provincial championship later in January,” Tammy Schwass, a member of the club’s communications team, wrote in an email.
“We feel a special boost of energy this season from the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup," she wrote. “It brought international superstar curlers to Olds and the community showed them a world-class event.”
The club began the fall portion of this season Oct. 17. It will run until Dec. 23. After a two-week break, the winter portion will run from Jan. 9 - March 30.
The club offers men’s ladies, juniors and mixed doubles leagues.
“As a board, we are trying to be as inclusive as possible and we offer daytime leagues, evening and fun nights and bonspiels on the weekends,” Schwass wrote.
“We have members ranging in age from eight to over 80 and a strong roster of curlers on the ice this year.”
The club plans to run a special fun event, Sheets and Beats, at least once a month.
“Curlers can sign up individually or in couples or teams. They will curl six ends and then join us in the lounge for live music, snacks and drink specials,” Schwass wrote.
The first such event was scheduled for Oct. 28, featuring Nolan Ray.
Dates have been set for annual competitions as well.
The Seniors bonspiel will run Jan. 17-20, followed by the Farmers Bonspiel Feb. 14-18 and the Ladies bonspiel March 3-5.
The Open bonspiel, the last major competition of the season, is slated to run March 10-12.
The club also has a new kitchen contractor, RC Eats of Olds, which will provide more food selection and extended hours, Schwass says.
“Samath ‘Sam’ from RC Eats is a Red Seal certified chef with 20+ years of culinary experience,” Schwass wrote.
He and his wife have been operating RC Eats by Rajapaksa Catering since 2015 and are raising three children in Olds.
Schwass says the club is very grateful for all the support it receives from its volunteers and advertisers.
“We couldn't do it without the support of the local businesses,” she wrote.
