The league formerly known as the 50+ Curling League threw their last rocks at the Battleford Community Co-operative Curling Club last week, as they finished their final season in Battleford.
The club, which has operated for nearly 15 years, dates back to the Granite Curling Club in North Battleford and has grown from eight teams to 22 and will likely expand again next season.
The league currently draws curlers from North Battleford, Battleford, Cut Knife, Meota, Maymont, Speers, Medstead, Maidstone and Baldwinton and that group is excited for a new beginning. That new beginning will take place in the Northland Power Curling Centre and many of the curlers are excited to get on the ice for the new season in the new building. It will be a much-anticipated fresh start with a new name to the league and the host club.
Although many have fond memories of the Battleford Curling Rink, this new building presents an opportunity to start fresh and bridge any gap between the communities and the previous two curling clubs in the Battlefords, which have been dissolved. The Battlefords will be one, as a new originating board is already in place. The new board will focus on the new structure for the club including a new name, membership structure, staffing, leagues, scheduling and whatever else is needed to make the first season in the Northland Power Curling Centre as easy of a transition for everyone as possible.
The 50+ league runs two seasons, one before Christmas and one after, with a morning and an afternoon draw. Already 96 curlers signed up for next season and league organizer Carol Christopher says they will not turn anyone away. They invite any interested in curling Thursdays to put their name on the list and also encourage the other leagues to get on board and get prepared for the inaugural season in the Credit Union CUPlex.
"We need to set an example in the new rink and make it rock," said Christopher in her closing remarks at the windup.
The 50+ league operates with three rules: there are no defaulted games, they always play with complete teams and they always play eight ends regardless of the score. Christopher explains these rules are in place so there is no chance a team's opponent doesn't show after they travelled to the rink and that everyone gets their money's worth when they do take to the ice.
The 50+ league wrapped up with lunch and some fun games for the curlers, and also the curlers were "hamming it up." The leads competed against leads, seconds versus seconds, thirds versus thirds and skips versus skips, as they had an elimination style draw to the button. The winners of their category received a ham as their prize. Joe Schmidt, Sharon Brydges, Leonard McNabb and Keith Bell were the winners of the hams while others received a small chocolate prize or a door prize to wrap up the season.
Through the years the league has hosted many fun activities like the windup, but have also arranged several events to raise money.
What is that money for you ask?
The Northland Power Curling Centre was given a $20,000 donation by the 50+ league. March 22, they completed their pledge with a cheque for $1,800 to the Credit Union CUPlex fundraising committee.
Fundraising committee members say the total raised at $9.3 million, $700,000 away from their goal.
Mayor Ian Hamilton was present for the windup and said, "It is amazing to see the way people take pride in their community."
