Twenty-eight teams are expected to hit the ice when the annual Seniors Open Bonspiel takes place at the Olds Curling Club this week.
The four-day event begins today (Tuesday, Jan. 10) and wraps up Friday.
Eileen Miller, who is coordinating the tournament along with fellow seniors coordinator Dale Holmes, says teams from as far as Red Deer, Innisfail and Carstairs are participating, as well as several local teams.
The number of teams participating has remained steady, at least over the past two or three years, she says.
It's a mixed format - of sorts.
"You can have four ladies, you can have four men or you can have mixed - whatever," Miller says. "And it isn't just stick curling and it isn't just regular. You can be a stick curler or you can be a regular curler."
It's daytime curling only. There will be no evening draws.
Teams get $30 for each game they win, plus bonus cash.
A Calcutta will be held as well.
"Every team buys another team," she says. "What your purchased team does determines what you're going to win in money.
"So if you buy a specific team, then you pull for that team and hope that they do well, because the better they do, the more money you're going to get."
"All the money goes back to the teams that buy the teams."
Miller notes the Olds club runs a Calcutta in each of its senior leagues. She says the concept is very popular.
A banquet will be held Wednesday evening.
