Bentley Seniors’ Bonspiel attracts good turnout

Another successful bonspiel was hosted by the Bentley Curling Club: the Bentley Seniors’ Bonspiel ran Jan. 16 to 20.

Thirty teams vied for a cash payout for each win, with bonus cash for winning an event and a different format to play out to final winners in all events was tried this year.

Besides there being only daytime curling, one of the things that seems to draw teams back year after year is the quality of the free food provided. Monday was “pie day”. Tuesday was “cake and square day”. Wednesday saw muffins and a chili dinner served, and on Thursday there was meat, cheese, and crackers during the day with a catered banquet in the evening in the Bentley Ag Centre.

On Friday, two final draws wrapped up the spiel.

Winning the A Event and going through undefeated was the Doug Culshaw rink.

They refer to themselves as the Rainy Creek Crew and were jokingly going by the monikers “Mayor” Dennis Duncan skip, “Clerk and the one who does all the work” Laurie Duncan third, “Councillor” Sylvia Culshaw second, and “Public works foreman” Doug Culshaw lead.

They have just joined the senior circuit, with the Bentley bonspiel being their second senior bonspiel; the first was in Lacombe.

The team thoroughly enjoyed the competition and in Bentley the team had few games that went the full eight ends.

They defeated the Norm Start team skipped by Larry Scheible 7-5 after seven ends after running the opposition out of rocks in the final end. They were the last team on the ice for the final draw.

Third place in the A Event went to the Jim Morris team and fourth to John Stol.

Cliff Carson from Lacombe, with team members Craig Shaw, Doreen Deardoff and Harvey Rice, defeated Ken Brown 7-3 after four ends in the B Event making John Tisdale third and Merlyn Wilson fourth. Carson won the A Event last year and Brown had won the B Event.

Red Deer’s Bill Gibson, with Roy Styner, Merv Bruce and Merla Gibson defeated Bert Pearson 10-3 after six ends in the C Event making Wayne Moss third and Dick Draves fourth. Gibson was runner-up in the A Event last year.

The local team of Ralph Scarlett with Marilyn Lutwick, Bob Forsyth and Linda Forsyth won the D Event 9-3 after seven ends over the bonspiel’s oldest curler, 88-year-old Cecil Galloway and his rink, so Martin Wilson’s team was third and Bud From fourth.

Minor event winners were the teams of Merle Craven from Red Deer, Tom Teulon from Rimbey, Ken Cookson from Lacombe, and local club member Al Elliott.

The winner of the $500 meat draw raffle drawn for at the banquet was John Hatala.

Many volunteers and sponsors continue to ensure the success of the event.

Major event sponsors were Davron Trucking, Servus Credit Union, Cecil Galloway and Martin Wilson, with many other area businesses and individuals contributing/donating, plus the usual candy and coffee sponsors all week.

Head of the senior bonspiel committee was Dwight Homan, who had help from Al Elliott, Gord Mydland, Merlyn Wilson, and numerous others, including those who helped co-ordinate and supply the food during the week.

There are already teams signed in for next year’s bonspiel in anticipation of yet another fun-filled, competitive get together.

“It would be nice to have (the full) 32 rinks next year,” said committee head Homan.