Coinciding with National Curling Day, senior athletes from across Alberta descended to the SLS Centre for the Alberta 55 Plus Provincial Curling Championship that took place from Feb. 22 to 25.
The event, hosted by the Big Country Senior Sports Society (BCSSS), saw curlers from eight different zones in Alberta. Each athlete competed in nine different divisions that ranged from 55 to 75 plus men, women, mixed, and open divisions.
Area 7, RockyView County west, which includes Cochrane, Springbank, Bearspaw, and Bragg Creek, saw several curlers take home hardware.
In the 65 Plus Men’s division, Gerry Hawkes, Bob Jennings, Phil Smith, Jim Anderson secured gold.
From the 55 Plus Men’s division, Mike Buxton, Ken Weisner, Herb Smith, and Rod Rutherford each secured sliver. In addition, Doug Cambell, Bob Blamey, Wayne MacDonald, Collin Gilbert, and Doug Sherriffs from Cremona, also snagged sliver in the 70 Plus Men’s division.
In the 55 Plus Women’s division, Bev Buckley, Janet Biagioni, Laurie Coopersmith, and Cheryl Fricker, took home bronze.
The Mixed 55 Plus division saw Dan Ferguson, Cheryl Whittal, Bill Brock, and Jean Prince bring home bronze. In the 65 Plus Mixed division, Shaun McGrath, Peggy Schlosser, Barry Nameth, Linda Bint also won bronze.
Although they didn’t take home any hardware, Marni Shipley, Cindy Mintenko-Blackman, and Val Murray placed fifth in the 55 Plus Women’s division. Gennis Bakker, Adele Williamson from Springbank, Heather Craig, and Lynn Hartsburg from Springbank.
BCSSS Area 7 director and curler, Doug Cambell, said that every athlete from Cochrane and surrounding areas performed very well, as seen by the number of medals they secured. He also added that he is proud BCSSS won the bid to host this year’s curling championship in Cochrane.
“There were teams from way up at the north-end of the province, down to Lethbridge, and the competition was quite keen,” Campbell said. “The ice was commanded by curlers from all over the province and we have the best conditions and curling ice anywhere in Southern Alberta.”
