It wasn’t long ago when junior curling in Taber was in its infancy.
In fact, Tina Hamilton, the organizer of last weekend’s junior bonspiel Taber, said the sport has come from humble beginnings in the youth ranks.
“Seven or eight years ago, we only had six kids curling. We were able to bump it up tremendously over time.”
Last year represented a record year for participation.
“We started off small and then last year it just really exploded,” said Hamilton.
“Last year we had nearly 70 in junior and junior junior.”
The 2011/2012 season has resulted in a few less curlers, as 63 signed on for this year, but the sport is still very much alive and well. The support the junior bonspiel received over the weekend was proof of that, as two rinks from both Lethbridge and Claresholm were joined by five from Bow Island, one from Vauxhall and rounded out by Taber rinks and teams with members mixed in from other southern Alberta communities.
“I think the thing is because we have started some competitive teams, it’s given me some more contacts,” said Hamilton as to the reason why the bonspiel grew so much this year.
But just the fact the sport has caught on so well for local youngsters is something Hamilton is very pleased to see. Last year was the first time junior and junior junior leagues could be formed, and the trend has continued this season.
“That was my dream,” she said of forming leagues for young curlers.
Bonspiels are a way to take that curling experience to another level, as last weekend’s event introduced many youngsters to a tournament format for the first time, through a fun atmosphere.
“The bonspiel was designed to be non-competitive,” said Hamilton. “We wanted the kids to come out and see what it’s like to be in a tournament situation.”
In the end, the Keeley Watt rink from Lethbridge was first place in the “A” event, as she was joined by Damian Matthews, Kathryn Harkness and Jens Watt. Claresholm’s Austin Elke took the “B” event with a rink that also featured Nathan Hart, Wyatt Mason-Lamb and Bart Greven. Taber’s Holly Hamilton won the “C” event, with a team that included Hattie Skeith, Courtney Slaughter and Kelsey Garner, while Tanner Ulrich of Bow Island won the “D” event, as he curled with Amanda Ulrich, Atlyn Gouw and Sara Crooymans.
Local curlers now gear up for the junior junior bonspiel this weekend, while the club’s two competitive teams also prepare for some important events coming up.
“We’ve got eight kids in the competitive program — four girls and four boys,” said Hamilton. “We have a competitive coach for each of these teams and we practice too.”
The girls team has qualified for the Alberta Winter Games Feb. 9-12 in Spruce Grove, while the boys will be in juvenile playdowns the Jan. 20 weekend in Hanna.