MACKLIN — The World Bunnock Championship held every long weekend is legendary in Macklin, after starting in 1992. The event draws a global crowd.
Want a beginner’s guide to the best game some people claim you’ve never heard of? The game is compared to a cross between horseshoes and lawn bowling. Opposing teams compete to knock over each other’s line of horse ankle bones. In fact, it’s likely been a while since you’ve heard anyone say they’ve played a game of horseshoes, but you can rest assured you’ve heard family, friends and neighbours talk of their experience playing bunnock.
A participant, who competed at just 20 years of age, wrote a enlightening story in Reader’s Digest Canada Bunnock 101: A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Game You’ve Never Played (readersdigest.ca) outlining her experience and what she knows and has learned from the game, referring often to Macklin’s epic event.
The rise in popularity of the game in Saskatchewan can be attributed to the annual Macklin tournament. In fact, Macklin’s roadside attraction is the World’s Largest Bunnock, located at the entry to the community. The world championship event has given Macklin its identity.
Macklin residents say they either grew up watching the tournament or becoming part of it. Teams come up with unique and catchy names like the “Bone Rangers” or “The Flint Bones.”
The game has caught on and other events throughout spring and summer have popped up. It has become a popular lake game and summer staff events are also now including bunnock in their social activities.
Senlac hosts annual bones tournament since 2015
Senlac Bones Tournament organizer, Shane Forbes says, “We started our event in 2015 with 18 teams and running it on Main Street in Senlac. Our event has now grown to 32 teams and moved into Senlac arena, usually hosting it the beginning of June as farmers are usually wrapped up in fields. However, we have had it in August as well.”
Forbes says he was prompted to organize this event as they needed a good fundraiser that attracts both young and old participants, offering them a great time and great experience.
“Attendance has been great; our format allows us to have 32 teams and we are always sold out with a waiting list to get in. Having a steak supper during our event has also kept growing. With players and spectators, we cooked 200 steaks this past year,” adds Forbes.
Forbes says the tournament draws a pleasant mixture as there are some teams that play in many tournaments during the year and the remainder play casually and mostly in their event. Forbes also notes that having the tournament for a number of years now, there are many returning teams who how the Senlac event works and organizers say it helps make the tournament run smoothly.
“I think what attracts people to the game of bunnock is that anybody young and old can play,” Forbes says.
“Tournaments like ours help grow the game as the best way to learn to play is by experiencing it with many people around that know the rules and have played.”
Forbes said another bonus is people can purchase a set of bunnock bones with a few stores selling them as well as a few Macklin locals who sell them.
“It’s a challenging but fun game that can be played by all generations.”
Unity K of C attract players to new bunnock tournament
Shane’s brother Dustin brought a bunnock tournament to Unity for the first time as a Knights of Columbus fundraiser in 2022.
“We had such a great turnout and response after our first tournament last year, that there was no doubt we would be moving forward with it again this year. It created such a buzz that we knew it would grow and be even more successful this year. We have been fortunate enough to double the teams this upcoming year from last,” says Dustin Forbes
“We did have some teams who do a lot of tournaments that came to our event to play. But I found we had a fair number of beginners last year, more so than seasoned ones for sure.”
Forbes says the easy-going nature and pace of the game are a big reasons people enjoy it.
“You can socialize the whole time you’re playing and most anyone can play. I have seen little kids right up to people in their 90s enjoying it. “
Forbes said the tournament creates a buzz around the game itself and helps people see how much fun it can be.
“Several of our Knights of Columbus members have been involved in the Senlac tournament and a couple of years ago they suggested the idea of Unity hosting a bunnock tournament,” Richard Colbow, grand knight of Unity’s Knights of Columbus chapter adds.
Colbow is thrilled to have 32 teams registered for the 2023 K of C tournament taking place at Unity’s senior baseball diamond, located behind the rink. The Knights create an event out of the tournament including a steak supper, a refreshment garden and concession as well as raffling of two sets of bones and third cash prize.
Villa Marie in Macklin proves age is no barrier for the game of bones
A fun summer event held at Villa Marie senior centre in Macklin also included a friendly game of bunnock, with some veteran players teaching newer players the ins and outs of the game. Director Helena Hoogstad says the Villa has had two bunnock courts for a long time and often play bones during the summer.
“Most of the residents know the game very well and have been playing it since they were kids. Dorothy Schulmeister, Angeline Fischer and Marge Gartner, for example, remember playing bunnock as kids. Mary Gartner fondly remembers playing bones with her husband and another couple when they were younger. Eleanor Kohlman started playing bunnock in 2000 and likes to play it for fun. Phyllis Dehnke did not grow up in the Macklin area and only got to know the game when she moved to the Villa. She is quickly becoming an excellent player,” adds Hoogstad.
Villa Marie says their plan is to play as many games this summer as the weather allows. Staff and volunteers plan on taking residents who are interested to attend some of the World Championship Bunnock Tournament events, while some other residents are excited to be attending with their families.
Hoogstad notes that the seniors’ centre was blessed with Macklin resident, Mark Stang, creating an indoor bunnock set for their seniors to use during the winter months.
