The Ashcroft and District Curling Club is gearing up for another season of friendly sport.
Curling starts up in October and will run until March, with regular sessions held on Tuesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The club’s secretary Janet Quesnel said all are welcome to come out and curl, whether you’re new to the sport or have been at it for years.
"It’s a wonderful sport,” Quesnel said, making special mention of the camaraderie that develops among curlers. She’s been with the sport for a long time and said the club’s members are happy to help new players learn to curl.
In fact, the club’s president Hilda Jones said, “we encourage people that haven’t curled before to try it out.” The curling club will be hosting fun spiels throughout the season, their first one planned for Halloween on Oct. 26. Fun spiels are a one-day event open to the community, where new and experienced curlers come together to play for $20.
“There’s no pressure,” said Jones, “it’s strictly just for fun.” Fun spiel games usually last about half the time of a normal game, making it easier for new curlers to give the sport a try. All you need is a clean pair of shoes to wear on the ice and an open mind, and the club will be happy to teach you how to curl."
Jones said the club tries hard to promote the sport, which as of late has been less popular for younger crowds. They have a junior after-school program that runs from November to December, and a program that brings in students from local schools to try the sport during their PE classes. If you’ve aged out of the junior program but want to continue curling, Jones said you’re welcome to go on Wednesdays.
“We don’t care what age you are...if you want to curl come and join us,” she said.
Completely volunteer run, the curling club organizes an annual money raffle from November to March to help raise funds for its equipment and operations. Their ice and licensed lounge are also available to rent for those who are interested.
Quesnel encourages the community to visit the curling club’s building, erected in 1956, to see its latest improvements. The club’s lounge and engine room have been insulated to make the building more energy-efficient and cost-effective, changes funded by the Village of Ashcroft and led by volunteers.
“We have volunteers that put in some very long hours,” Jones said. With another season on the horizon, volunteers are busy setting up the ice sheets, which takes about a month to do. Luckily, Jones said there’s always help around if they just ask.
“We do have a core group that’s been there for...I don’t even know how many years,” she said.
Quesnel said she hopes more people will consider giving the sport a try and help the club brainstorm new approaches to fundraising and recruitment.
“Come on down,” she said, “you do not have to be a curler to have fun.”
