Festive Fete curling fun and skills testing for the youngsters
Last weekend was all fun and games at Middleton Curling Club.
Friday night a crew was setting up the auction items for the Christmas Fete and on the ice was the last of the round robin games to determine seeding positions for the Provincial Club Mixed. It gave everyone a lot to watch, and Fete committee member Heather Reesor felt stretched a bit thin, as she was helping with the Fete and curling in the round robin as well.
Saturday dawned clear with no concerning weather and the curlers gathered in all their festive glory. Antlers and Santa hats were the favourite accessories, and there was a sea of red outfits on the ice. At one time there were two fully costumed Santas curling, with both past-president Ian Reesor and vicepresident Bruce Johnson in full regalia. Perhaps the club should make it a criteria for being on the Board.
The curlers included a complete cross-section of the club: long-time members, past provincial champions, brand new curlers, Juniors and also friends and family. The lunch was enjoyed by everyone, and when not curling, participants were entertained by the games going on and the activity around the ticket auction. There was a steady stream of community members coming in to buy tickets and everyone agreed that once again the Fete committee had produced a great display of high-quality items.
The rivalry on the ice was intense especially as it became clear that Cole Sawler’s team of Junior curlers was the team to beat. In the end, youth coordinator Dawn Spidle won the funspiel with her team of Sharon Longley, Heather Reesor, and Lauren Tattersall. The Sawler team came in second.
Everyone in the funspiel won a prize so no one went home emptyhanded and after the draw for the auction items began, some curlers won again. It was a very winning day – for the curlers and the club – and ‘next year’ was mentioned often.
But that was not it for curling in the club because on Sunday, Spidle was back in with her students going through a series of skill tests for different levels of specific curling tasks. The Nova Scotia Curling Association will take the results of these tests from the participating clubs around the province, and determine the ranking of the young curlers. Then a certain number will be chosen to attend the Scotties being held in Sydney, N.S. this year. Attendees will be able to bring two adults and will be part of curling competitions held between Scotties games. The MCC curlers were fired up for the chance to go.
Check www.middletoncurlingclub.com for all our info.