Middleton Curling Club’s youth leagues participate in development camp

“Oh, no! Are you kidding?”

That seemed to be the general response at Middleton Curling Club’s Chase the Ace on Nov. 2. The deck was down to four cards; the night’s winner got more than $1,100, but still the Ace stayed hidden.

Come and see the fun on Nov. 9, with only three cards left and more than $11,000 for the total that night.

***

The busy weekend continued with the 19 members of MCC’s youth leagues participating in a development camp under the guidance of the players and coaches of Team Young, a competitive junior curling team from Halifax who will be representing Nova Scotia in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Participants did plenty of drilling to practice curling skills, but there was fun as well. They held a hot- shot competition with winners on each sheet getting a prize, and there were non-curling games too, learning awareness and safety on the ice. One of these involved sliding down the ice and stacking plastic cups as they went - sort of like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time – learning to do two very dissimilar things simultaneously.

Everyone enjoyed lunch together, served by co-ordinator Dawn Spidle and her volunteers and the event ended with all curlers, including Team Young, playing a four-end game to put into practice some of the skills they had been working on during the day.

***

Now that the club has a full week of league play completed, it is as if it never stopped. Golfers have not had the best weather recently so everyone is grateful to resume curling, which is like being outdoors – it certainly feels like it – but without the wind, rain, and windchill. It is the perfect sport for those looking for a winter pastime that will not involve too much equipment – or too much weather. Learn to Curl has started but it’s possible to enter this program, run by Spidle, at any time.

***

There are several leagues suited to novice curlers and Funspiels every six weeks or so that accept everyone, including family and friends. The next funspiel is on the day of the Christmas Fete, Dec. 8. Participants get two sixend games, with a lunch included and there are prizes for everyone.

Information on everything mentioned above - the ace, the Learn to Curl, and the Funspiel - is available on the club’s website at www.middletoncurlingclub.com