The Yorkton Curling Club (YCC) hosted the Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) junior curling bonspiel featuring teams from Grades 6,7,8 and 9.
Bonspiel co-ordinator Grant Bjornerud, coach of the YRHS contingent, says 28 teams in boys' girls' and mixed divisions from all over the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) and beyond. In addition to the youngsters from GSSD, the invitational event also had teams from Ituna which was in the division prior to the last round of amalgamation. "We still invite them back," Bjornerud notes.
"It's grass roots curling. This is the age group that we really try to get them out here and get them started. We do some teaching," he explains. The goal is to create an interest in the sport to develop the curlers of the future. "These kids will hopefully be the feeder system to keep the curling rinks open in year to come," Bjornerud suggests. The province needs some younger curlers injected into the system, he declares.
The teams play six end games with the top four teams in each division making the playoffs.
There are some very good curlers for such a young age with limited experience, says Bjornerud.
He hopes they take up the sport as curling is one sport they can continue for the rest of their lives.
Junior curling results had the YRHS team claim the mixed title. The Preeceville boys won the boys' event and the Esterhazy girls captured the girls' championship.
