The Innisfail Curling Club recently held its annual Men's Bonspiel.
The annual event is traditionally held during the last month of the year. In 2015 it was held Dec. 4 to 6 at the local curling rink.
"The last two years we've operated in a different format. It was a skins game format so you play for money every game and every end that you actually play,î said Ed Plitz, organizer for the bonspiel. "It was a very successful weekend. Our board was very happy with the results, the turnout and the enthusiasm we had.î
A total of 16 teams took part in the annual bonspiel, with players coming from across the region, including Red Deer, Penhold, and Innisfail.
"There was quite a few family members here Saturday afternoon with young children and grandparents and there was a banquet Saturday night with over 70 people in attendance,î he said.
The event was based on a cash bonspiel format, with a total of $2,200 in cash prizes available to be won, spread out over a number of teams during the weekend, noted Plitz.
"The last couple of years we've run this format and it seems to be popular and people seem to enjoy it. It was a good time,î explained Plitz, adding that curling is a sport that anyone can learn and enjoy.
"It's very entertaining because you can actually have a bad end in curling and be out of the game after one end if you're not careful in regular curling,î he said. "In skins format every end is like its own little game.î
Eight of the 16 teams made it to the money round, noted Plitz, but only seven of them took home cash prizes.
Plitz said the men's bonspiel was an event to bring curlers together.
"We had quite a few beginner teams here on the weekend. It was nice to see some younger teams too, said Plitz, noting the popularity of the sport in Innisfail.
"We have several hundred members, roughly 250 members for the curling club. Between the juniors, ladies, men's, and seniors there's a lot of people here,î he added. "This is a great place to socialize for people of all ages.î
In addition, curling is a sport that anyone of any age can learn and enjoy.
"You can pick it up fairly quickly. The more you work at it and the more practise you get, the better you'll be,î said Plitz. "Curling is one of those sports you can do for life.î
Ed Plitz
"There was quite a few family members here Saturday afternoon with young children and grandparents and there was a banquet Saturday night with over 70 people in attendance."
