February 25-27 was marked down by many local curlers in Biggar thanks to the annual bonspiel’s return to action this year. Organizers came together to make it another memorable event for everyone in attendance, a list that includes avid curling supporters out of Biggar in Joyce Sherbino and Brett Barber as they helped treat the town to some competitive curling as the season works its way to a close.
The Biggar Curling Club Facebook page referenced the recent event as the clubs first one in two years, and Sherbino says it was a massive success as people were eager to spend time together at the rink. The number of teams had to be limited this year, a great problem to have considering the fact that most years the rink was struggling to scrape together even 12 teams.
“Everyone was more than ready to be out doing something fun,” said Sherbino, “It was lots of fun for everyone.”
The very successful time came prior the February 28th removal of the mask mandate in Saskatchewan, but it’s noted how attendees followed the rules fine; likely not doing anything to harm the good times after being away from them for so long.
“They were just happy to be there. Have something to do. Talk with people and have a cup of coffee. Maybe even have a rink burger,” chuckled Sherbino.
Photo via Biggar Curling Club on FacebookThe now completed event wasn’t going to be a season finale by any means for the club, as the current schedule is made until the end of March. Sherbino expects a couple more weeks of competition between locals, but the recent bonspiel was the only fun/competitive event on the docket for the end of the season.
Again the ice will be in until the need is not there anymore, and with a new season approaching, it will be an easy decision for many to take a step away from the rink.
“Sometimes people once it gets warmer they would rather be out for a walk in the evening rather than at the cold curling rink,” shared Sherbino, who provided another note on the weekend, “It was very successful, and lots of fun, and we always have many-many-many laughs.”
The event also proved to be for everyone, featuring curlers of all ages.
“The youngest curler was I want to say 13, and then all the way up to I believe he was 80.”
Still, Sherbino and her fellow Biggar Curling Club organizing members will look forward to a stronger season in 2022-2023. Conversation steered to the face that hopefully the novelty of being back after COVID doesn’t wear off to fast. Operating in a small town, even one with curling history like Biggar, is tough according to Sherbino.
“We are trying to keep our club going. It’s like every other small town club, there are just fewer and fewer curlers, less people making that commitment.”
Curlers, like the mentioned Barber, who stay very interested in the sport and club back at home are key pieces to the puzzle according to Sherbino. In a place like Biggar, it would be a shame to lose a local curling club that has provided so much talent towards the Saskatchewan rinks. The curling accolades to come out of the west central community are a plenty, and Sherbino even mentioned the thousands of rocks that current Team Saskatchewan Skip Colton Flasch (born in Biggar) threw at the local club growing up. Flasch, along with the Silvernagles show some recent sucess, as well as the local Barber who made an appearance at the Scotties this year, as well a great run with a local teammate at CurlSask Provincial Doubles.
Still need proof Biggar is a hotbed for curling? Enter their local park named after an Olympic champion.
via townofbiggar.com
Thu, Apr 25, 9:30 AM
