Unity – In curling there is an in turn, an out turn and this year, a downturn.
Fortunately, the latter had little influence on throwing rocks during the 14th annual Unity Oilpersons Bonspiel played Feb. 26 to March 1 other than limiting the number of teams to 18.
“I think it was only down a couple from last year so it wasn’t too bad,” said lead organize Dustin Brown who is a battery and field operator for Northern Blizzard.
The guys that Brown curled with last year couldn’t make it so that accounts for one less team from a year ago.
As for the others Brown said, “It could be the downturn right now. It’s just hard finding curling teams.”
Brown ended up curling with some pals from Southern Pacific Resource Corp. hoping to repeat their past performance as B-Event champs from a couple of years ago, but to no avail.
“This year we were the second team out. I think I need to fire myself more likely. I was playing third, but I couldn’t make a shot all weekend,” confessed Brown.
On the bright side, Brown won a draw for bar fridge donated by Molson Canadian and an excuse for a party with the fridge well stocked.
The downturn did claim a couple of sponsors as expected, but perennial optimist Grant Huber reported, “It was good. Everyone had a good time. It’s time to rest up for next year.”
His Huber Machining Ltd. rink came into the spiel as the defending A-Event champ, but had to settle this year as the C-Event winner over Diamond Energy.
Prior to the event Huber put a self-proclaimed round of drinks bounty on his team that went unclaimed by the Heitt’s Welding rink the first to upend them early on.
“I didn`t bring it up and no one on the executive said anything,” said Huber with a laugh.
Ironically, Heitt’s rink got their comeuppance in a semi-final loss.
This year’s bragging rights as the A-Event champ go to Camaro Coil Tubing who defeated the Scott Anderson crew.
Team Camaro included skip Jim Powell with Trevor Gerein, Dwaine Kopp and Gord Barnett on board.
Skip Brent O’Donnell shared the B-Event spoils with his teammates Evan Brown, Tim Smith and Doug Rutley over a foursome from North West Bio-Energy.
Tervita was the major sponsor of the 2015 event that drew 150 people to the banquet and dance.
“We had Danny & The Dusters, the same band that played last year. We had a really good turnout for the dance. We had a few prizes to hand out,” said Brown in addition to his beer fridge.
The banquet putt for a 40 inch TV donated by Country Ford was claimed by Brent Heitt while a reverse draw for $1,000 went to Larry Heitt.
Proceeds from the bonspiel help to fund improvements at the host Unity Curling Club.
