Off the Broom - Kincardine Curling Club news

The first half of the season is already over and winners have been declared. The Monday Night Draw had three teams all with the same number of points and when all was said and done, it was Gene and Brenda Gillespie, Frank Paquet and Judy Watt who were declared the first-place team. The other two teams were Dan and Carolyn Norman, Chris Farrell and Steve Meldrum, and team Anne Burton with Bill Brown, Dan Showalter and Gail MacIntosh.

The Thursday Early Draw winners, with only one loss on the board, were Les Shane, Janice Matchett, Frank Paquet and Ruth Shane.

Even in Arizona you can get your curling fix. Richard and Pat Emmerton are currently in the sunny south and were planning on taking in some of the Ed Werenich Golden Wrench Classic at the Coyotes Curling Club in Tempe. Among the teams participating this year, are Kirk Muyres and Brad Heidt of Saskatchewan, Jim Cotter of British Columbia, Jason Gunnlaugson and Mike McEwan of Manitoba, and Greg Persinger and Pete Fenton of the United States, so there should definitely be some good games to watch. Who knows, maybe they will run into some other Kincardine folks who need a day away from the golf course?

Speaking of curling fixes, you better have had your PVR primed. From streaming to TSN, CBC and SportsNet, there was, and will be, a lot of curling happening. So, sit back and enjoy the games because “baby, it’s cold outside” and it is more entertaining than shovelling snow! The Ontario STOH and Tankard playdowns are being held in Elmira this week so you won’t have to travel far if you want to catch some live curling instead.

The club is planning a “Raise the Roof” fund-raiser, Friday, Feb. 1. A lasagna dinner with a progressive euchre tournament and other games for about $25 per person. You can’t get a much better deal than that! Sign-up sheet is at the club or you can contact Beth Mimnagh or Linda Humphrey for more details.

The annual Mixed Bonspiel is scheduled for Feb. 23. There are only a few openings left so if you are interested, get your team entered soon.

The club will be participating in Kincardine’s first annual “Fam-Fest.” We will be running a “Try Curling” open house Feb. 17, from 1-4 p.m. This is an opportunity for those who have never curled to come and get some basic instructions on the ice. There will be lots of fun winter activities to try out and, hopefully, there will be lots of interest in learning to curl. As always, some volunteers to run this event will be needed.

Students from Huron Heights Public School, Kincardine, will be coming to the club to learn to curl. We are in need of volunteers to help out with this venture. Contact Chris Turcotte if you can spare an hour or more in the upcoming weeks. There is also a sign-up sheet at the club.