The annual Town and Country Ladies Funspiel took place at the St. Paul Curling Rink on Nov. 22. The theme of this year’s event was “What I want to be when I grow up,” prompting the curlers to don an array of colourful and creative costumes.
“This has been going on for probably 35 years,” said Cheryl Robertson, one of the event organizers. “I think it started out as the farmers’ wives coming out to curl. It used to be during the week, but the numbers started to dwindle a little bit, so they moved it onto a weekend and it picked up again. It seems to be holding its own.”
This year’s event boasted 18 teams totaling 72 ladies, and they certainly weren’t all farmers’ wives.
“It’s everybody, right from our juniors to our seniors,” Robertson said.
The bonspiel uses a unique format in order to keep things lighthearted and fun. Four points are awarded for a win, but a team can earn two points for winning an end, ensuring that every rock counts no matter what the score.
“The ladies bring their kids. It’s a lot of fun. We have prizes, and lunch and breakfast and supper, and a little bit of entertainment,” Robertson said. “It’s just sort of a ladies’ day out kind of thing.”
She went on to add, however, that with the game on the line, the competitive juices were still flowing.
“I think the ladies still like to come out and be competitive and win,” she said.
At the end of the day, it was Edna Gervais’ team who ended up winning first place, with Rae Michaud’s team coming second, and Andrea Austin’s team coming third.
