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Ladies’ bonspiel marks half-century

Curlers gathered at the Glen Harper Curling Centre last weekend as the event marked its 50th anniversary
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Vera Wilson was a competitor in both the first and 50th ladies’ bonspiels at the Duncan Curling Club.

Curlers, including at least one who had taken part in the very first ladies’ bonspiel at the Duncan Curling Club, gathered at the Glen Harper Curling Centre last weekend as the event marked its 50th anniversary.

Among the participants was Vera Wilson, one of the most accomplished curlers the club has ever produced. A winner of 11 consecutive ladies league championships, Wilson also teamed up with her husband, Byron, and Glen and Marg Harper to win the B.C. mixed championship and finish second at the Canadian championships in 1966.

The winners of the A&W A event in the 50th bonspiel came all the way from the Gyeongbuk Curling Club in South Korea. Skip Youngji Ryu led her rink of Hyeji Jang, Eubyeol Yeo and Gaeeul Im to the title over the Nanaimo foursome of Dianne Smith, Mary Ellen Konyer, Diana Baker and Diana Johnstone. Third place went to the Duncan rink of Vicki Sjoberg, Sara Ferrario, Lori Ritchie and Tara Jansen, while Sheila Percival, Diana Rochon, Shannon Stevens and Lori Pickard finished fourth.

The rink of Diane Myrden, Kari McKinlay, Tricia Mayea and Maria Elzinga from Cowichan Rocks won the Hardie Honey B event, with the Comox quartet of Amber Dufour, Sharon Walker, Ellie Nicholas and Elaine Starchuk in second. Third place went to the team of Marion Price, Lorraine Hamilton, Jo Leitch and Jan Hardie, all long-standing members of the Duncan club who sported vintage sweaters at the bonspiel. The Kerry Park rink of Mary Gibbs, Penny Kemshaw, Sue MacDonald and Francie Ellison finished fourth.

The Cow Cafe West Coast Grill C event was won by Colleen Gellein, Cathy Waters, Barb Kaiser and Shari Paterson. Second place went to Christine Moroz, Christine Macdonald, Heather Shortill and Naz Sicherman, with Marianne Sanders, Morreen Coulter, Leanne Kelly and Brenda Adams in third, and the rink skipped by former Duncan Curling Club president Janice Rieder, with Karen Frost, Steph Cook and Theresa Dubas finished fourth.

The D event, sponsored by Duncan Iron Works, was won by the team of Nanci Friday, Stacey Neen, Vicki Janzen and Kathy Morencie. Second place went to the Qualicum rink of Gertie Pick, Elley Moore, Ellen Coates and Winn Rehill. Louise Martin, Teresa Williams, Virginia Conway and Jill Dayton placed third, and Vera Wilson’s rink, with Glenda Barrett, Bonnie Segger and Dawn Nakatsu finished fourth.

A tie-breaking draw to the button was needed to win the “Biggest End” prize donated by Glen Harper, with the Sjoberg rink taking home that prize.