First Kids 101 bonspiel a resounding success

March 10, 2020

Caleb Nickerson

caleb@theequity.ca

CALEB NICKERSON

SHAWVILLE March 8, 2020

Dozens of youngsters and their parents packed the Shawville Curling Club on Sunday afternoon for a children’s bonspiel.

With around 11 pint-sized curlers from . . .

the Kids 101 program at the Shawville club as well as another nine from the Cobden Curling Club, all three sheets were full for the afternoon.

“We have no other teams to play, so we invited them over for the afternoon,” explained organizer Shelly Campbell, who added that they would be playing two five-end games, with a lunch break in between. “The object is to have the kids meet new kids and get used to what curling is all about.”

The Kids 101 curling program in Shawville started up halfway through last year’s season and typically brings out 21 kids on Monday nights. A small group of volunteers, including Campbell, Kevin Hannaberry, Angela Sally, Sara Knox and Roly Bernier give the youth, aged seven to 13, pointers on everything from shooting to sweeping. This bonspiel was the first they had put on, and judging by the enthusiastic response from the young curlers, there will be more in the future.

Campbell said that since the kids from Cobden were a little older than the Shawville players, they mixed them all together for the ‘spiel and at the end of the day there were medals for all participants.

Campbell emphasized the importance of introducing people to the game as early as possible.

“They’re the future of our club, so if we can get them involved at this age and get them interested, hopefully when they turn 15, 16 and decide what they want to do for a hobby, they’ll pick curling,” she said. “The more we can get involved in the club, the better.”

Jake Childs was focused on his target as he launched from the hack during the Kids 101 bonspiel in Shawville on Sunday afternoon. The event brought out close to two dozen youngsters from both the Shawville and Cobden Curling Clubs for a fun day of friendly competition on the ice.

The pint-sized curlers were aided by the guidance of several adult volunteers, who gave tips to their young protégés. From left: Roly Bernier keeps an eye on Cameron Bernier and Grace Kelly as they sweep their rock down the ice.

Kevin Hannaberry and Kerry Lynn Campbell were slaving over the barbeque outside the Shawville Curling Club on Sunday, cooking up dozens of burgs and dogs for attendees of the Kids 101 bonspiel.

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