Teams and fans crowded the Shawville Curling Club Saturday evening for the Quyon Lions Club 46th annual bonspiel.

The tournament was made up of 18 teams split into three divisions.

“We had to turn a couple [teams] away this year,” said event organizer and Lions Club member Glen Leach, explaining that 18 was the maximum number of teams that could compete in a one-day tournament.

First place went to team “Mountainview”, who won the tournament trophy with the highest number of points overall.

“I’ve been in it for 30-something years and it’s the first time [winning]” said Ray Johnston, skip for the team.

Johnston told THE EQUITY that this was the . . .

first time he had participated in the tournament in 25 years without his friend, Ben Kingsbury, who passed away last year.

“This is in his memory,” he said with a nod to the trophy in his hands.

Johnston was joined on the team by his son, Jovan Provost, who started curling this year.

“It’s great, it’s a lot of fun, and curling with my dad on top of that . . . he’s teaching me everything I know,” Provost said.

Young curler Zach Trudeau said that community spirit was what brought him to the bonspiel in the first place.

“I’ve curled twice in the last 14 years. Half the shots [today] were good, half the shots were bad but it was a great time. It’s about seeing your friends, having a couple drinks and enjoying a competitive game,” he said.

The event concluded with a 50/50 draw and all tournament participants picking from an array of prizes.

“It went really well, all the teams are just here to have fun,” said Leach’s daughter, Holly, who helped her dad organize the tournament.

“Lots of smiles, lots of laughs, I look forward to it every year.”

by Camilla Faragalli

Shawville

Mar. 2, 2024