The Shawville Curling Club’s 48th annual community bonspiel kicked off on Thursday, with 48 teams competing for the glory of the first place toilet seat trophy.

“We’ve increased the number of teams from last year, and are just enjoying seeing faces we haven’t seen around here for five or six years,” said club vice president Gerry Ireland.

The curling tournament saw 14 more teams register to compete this year than it did last.

“I think it’s people coming back from after covid. It’s taken a while but it’s good to see some new people, and some old people coming back,” Ireland said.

“I think it’s been great. We had a good signup, we’ve had people staying around [after the games], there was a good band last night,” said club president Joey Hannaberry, one of the event’s main organizers.

The band, Reg & Shag, was made up of local musicians Reg Carkner, Shane Presley and Mark Latreille.

“It’s a good bonspiel, it’s a lot of fun and it’s great for the community,” said Brad Peck, skip on the Municipality of Shawville team. “It’s competitive in your own calibre.”

The tournament also includes a nightly 50/50 draw, so far taken home by lucky winners Teri Smart, Joey Hannaberry, Brandi Hahn and Jordan Palmer.

The bonspiel will conclude next weekend.

“Everyone will finish playing, we’ll do the final tallies of all the divisions, and whoever has the most points wins,” Hannaberry said.

Andrew Rowat, treasurer of the Shawville Curling Club and skip for the Rowat Insurance Ballers team, throws a stone during the fourth day of the 48th annual Community Bonspiel.

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