Dave Leaderhouse
Herald Staff
There are more and more entertainment options every year, but one that is holding its own is curling.
Registration numbers for the various leagues at the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club are about the same as last year with the only difference being that some leagues have grown while others have shrunk.
Despite the players having taken to the ice for a couple of weeks now, there is still room for individuals to join teams, especially those that are held during the day.
Leagues take to the ice every weekday with a variety of options available to the curling enthusiast. The BTR Ladies League is held Monday evening, Econo Lumber League is every Tuesday, an open league is on Wednesday, the Conexus Rural League is on Thursday and a new beer and wings league is being planned for the rare Friday evening when special events aren’t planned for the weekend. The latter three options are mixed leagues making it attractive to those who want to use the game for a family outing.
Also on the schedule are the Afternoon Ladies League on Tuesday afternoon, senior men on Wednesday and Friday mornings and afternoons, the High Noon Optimist Junior League on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m., junior beginners on Monday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and a Discovery League for newcomers, which will be firmed up when there is enough interest shown.
Instruction is a focal point of getting more interest in the game and one program that has had an impact is the physical education classes of local and outlying area schools that incorporate the game as part of their activities. Senior curlers lend assistance in showing the game to the students and any school wishing to add this sport to their itinerary are urged to contact the club for more information.
While the game is focused largely on encouraging more people to come out for the exercise and entertainment values that the game offers, there are still those who take the sport seriously and several events are on the immediate schedule to accommodate that level of curling.
The Ladies Cash Spiel is this weekend with the senior and master’s spiel scheduled for Nov. 10-11. The men’s cash spiel is Nov. 16-18 and the High Noon Optimist Junior Cash Spiel will be held Dec. 8-9.
Regional playdowns for men’s teams will be held in Prince Albert this year with that segment of the road to the provincial Tankard scheduled for Jan. 11, 2013. A number of local clubs enter either the men’s or women’s playdowns as the quest for a provincial title still burns in the more competitive curler.
In order to raise funds for special projects at the curling club, an Experience the Tradition Lottery is now in place with tickets costing $10 each. The grand prize is $5,000 in cash and it will be awarded on New Year’s Eve with an early bird draw scheduled for Nov. 30.
Curling is a great game and the PAGCC is offering many ways to get involved and to learn the sport. Hurry hard as the fun has already started.
