CANORA - With a field of 19 teams from numerous area communities competition was fierce at the Canora Seniors Bonspiel from Jan. 6 to 9, but there were also plenty of smiles and friendly banter along the way. The Laird Gervais rink of Crystal Lake played at a high level through all five games, six ends each, and finished first in the Brandon Draw Scoring system, where teams were awarded four points for games won and two points for each end won.
In addition to the Gervais foursome, teams entered included: Ross Tressel, with team members from Canora, Yorkton and Melville; Bill Foreman, Canora and Buchanan; Len Bazarski, Buchanan; Terry Dennis, Crystal Lake, Barb Coleridge, Good Spirit; Ken Bazanski, Stenen; Dale Zubko, Preeceville; Scott Sear, Kamsack; Gerald Peesker, Norquay and Kamsack, and Tom Foster, Norquay and Sturgis.
Canora teams entered were: Ernie Gazdewich, Ron Hoehn, Peter Wiwchar and Arnie Makowsky. Norquay rinks included: Ted Kreklewetz, Laurie Lozinski, Larry Dahl, and Bob Lumley.
The Laird Gervais foursome finished their five games with 52 points after the noon draw on the final day of the bonspiel and had a significant lead. Heading into the final draw that afternoon, the Ron Hoehn and Terry Dennis rinks each had a chance to catch and even surpass Gervais with a strong showing, but both teams went down to defeat.
Joining Gervais on the winning foursome were: Cal Statchuk (third), Jan Gervais (second) and Lynda Statchuk (lead).
Narrowly behind in second place was the Ted Kreklewetz rink of Norquay with 50 points. The Len Bazarski Buchanan foursome came up with a big win in the final draw to slide into third place at 48 points. Rounding out the top five was a tie for fourth at 46 points between Barb Coleridge of Good Spirit and Bob Lumley of Norquay.
Adding more fun to the bonspiel, there were even more prizes up for grabs.
Bob Roll of Canora won the individual draw to the button.
In the team draw to the button competition, the Ernie Gazdewich rink of Canora took first place. Larry Dahl and his Norquay foursome finished second ahead of the third-place team, Peter Wiwchar of Canora.
Nick Woloschuk of Buchanan won the most experience (oldest) curler in the competition at the age of 85, but only by a month over the runner-up.
Thanks to a generous anonymous donation there was a Calcutta competition, which was also won by the Laird Gervais foursome.
Organizers indicated they were pleased that 19 teams participated the bonspiel, allowing them to spread out the games over four full days.
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