Local teams had to ‘hurry hard’ to vie for top spot in annual mixed bonspiel

By Dennis Roland, Director of Bonspiels, Huntsville Curling Club
Photos courtesy of Huntsville Curling Club

The 2018 Sun Life Financial Bonspiel was held at the Huntsville Curling Club this past weekend. The bonspiel is a fun but competitive mixed spiel where teams must have at least one man and one women curling in any position.

All teams curled two games with incredible heart. Some very strong teams came up unexpectedly short, some teams had nail-biter finishes, while other teams dominated their opponents. The team of Sun Life Financial sponsor, Alan Paton, skipped by Craig Abernathy, narrowly lost in the final to the bonspiel championship team.

In the end, Alan Paton presented the Sun Life Financial trophy to the winning team of skip Wayne Watkins, vice Bruce Stark, second Cathy Oakden and lead Mary Ellen Hope.

The Huntsville Curling Club is now in full throttle hosting the Ontario Men’s Curling Championships at the Summit Centre from January 29 to February 4.

Sun Life Financial sponsor Alan Paton (centre) with the mixed bonspiel championship team (from left) skip Wayne Watkins, lead Mary Ellen Hope, second Cathy Oakden and vice Bruce Stark.

Second place team (from left) skip John Garlick, second Alana Cork, lead Mick Parker and vice Paul Stueck

Third place team (from left) lead Jeannine Calvin, vice Barb Saunders, second Ted Bionda and skip Mark Maslen

Most Sportsmanlike Team (from left) skip Dave Rigby, vice Norm Glas, lead Dawn Rigby and second Lorrie Glas.

Alana Cork won the delectable gift basket donated by “Nutty Nancy” from Huntsville’s Nutty Chocolatier

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