The 51st-annual ladies’ bonspiel, featuring primarily local rinks as well as a few from places such as Thunder Bay, will take to the sheets here this weekend.
The theme for this year’s event, for those getting sick of the wintery weather, is “If you can’t go to Mexico, it will come to you.”
The first draw gets underway Friday at 4:30 p.m., with the opening ceremonies taking place afterwards. Then the second draw goes at 7 p.m. with all six sheets in action.
The bonspiel will run through to the finals Sunday.
“The noise level really escalates,” noted Rick Grenda, manager of the Fort Frances Curling Club.
Registration for the bonspiel closed yesterday evening so the draws could be drawn and the cash prizes determined. As of yesterday morning, 28 rink had signed up.
Prize money has been raised through 50/50 draws as well as the sponsorship of 15-20 local businesses.
“They’ve been generous,” Bonnie Broman, one of three chairs of this year’s event as well as a participant, said of the businesses.
The club also will continue to hold 50/50s during the bonspiel. “We encourage the public to come out and watch,” said Grenda.
Each year, the bonspiel is organized by the team that won the previous year’s final. The other chairs are Becky Robinson and Pearl Pidlubny.
The weekend also will include dances Friday and Saturday nights. At the dinner and dance Friday, most of the teams—if not all—will be dressed in costumes based on the theme.
There will be a prize for the best costume.
The Saturday night dance will feature a live band.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
