A report from Dale Dodge
I hope this finds you back and ready for the final 10 weeks of curling after a great Christmas and New Year break. There are some tight league races shaping up in the men’s league, and some new rivalries in the other leagues as team rosters change for the second half of the year. The standings are all on the website, if you want to look.
The BC Zone 2 Juvenile Playdowns are coming to Oliver this weekend, Jan 11 and 12. There are 9 teams all together, with some of the best 16 and under players in the Okanagan/Kamloops zone vying to see who will represent us at the Provincials. One name that some of you may know, who is coaching one of the Vernon girls’ teams, is Jim Cotter. Games are at 9, 1 and 5 on both days, spectators are welcome, and there is no cost.
If you see Dennis Magoffin, our caretaker, let him know how great the place is looking. While we were eating turkey during the break, Dennis repolished the lounge floors, and cleaned and refinished the treads on the stairs. They are all gleaming, and it is much appreciated. Thank you Dennis!
And a couple more thankyous are in order. Jenny Rinsma for agreeing to fill in a vacant chair on the board. And Cathy Pidduck (again) for volunteering to working with a girls team that might be Oliver’s entry into the Juvenile Playdowns next year. It is this kind of spirit and generosity of time that makes us such a good little curling centre.
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, the BC Club Challenge bonspiel is being held in Merritt this coming March. It used to be that our club champion men’s or ladies’ team was eligible to enter. Now it can be an ‘all star’ team from the club. The winner of the Merritt spiel goes to a Provincial spiel and the winner of that goes to The Dominion – all expenses paid!. There can be a men’s and a ladies team. At our board meeting, we agreed that our club would pay the entry fees of any team that wanted to enter the bonspiel in Merritt, because that team would be representing Eastlink Curling Centre. If you are interested, let me know – the sooner the better.
Our annual Combined Bonspiel is over 6 weeks away, but planning is starting now. Cathy Thompson and Joyce Kuzyk will be calling all organizers to a meeting next week, and we have our volunteer lists updated, so those of you who have yet to put in some hours will likely have ample opportunity during this spiel. If you were there last year, you will know that it was a great event with good people, good food, good entertainment and good curling. And the main reason for it’s success was because of great volunteers who made everything go so smoothly. We are looking forward to the same again this year.
We are members of BC Interior Masters Curling Association. As such, our members are eligible to enter the BCIMCA Zone Playdowns. There are 60+ Mens, 70+ Mens, 60+ Mixed and for the first time, 60+ Ladies team categories. Entry fees for all events are $140, and the playdowns are on various dates, as listed on posters at the curling centre. We have lots of players good enough to win these playdowns. Check it out!
And lastly, Friday Night Fun Curling is really fun! And now, for all non members, the cost is only $5. (Members are free!) This is by far the best entertainment deal in Oliver. Grab your kids, your grandkids, your friends, your workmates, your new neighbor, even your spouse, and show them how much fun it can be to throw rocks!
When we buy locally, we all win. Check out our sponsors below, and all of those with signage in our Curling Centre.