The March 4-6 weekend saw 22 teams join Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit in the Mad Hatterʼs tea party at the Comox Valley Curling Centre...and what a party it was!
The Friday night draw was a battle to see who could double out and claim the balloons that held a secret prize for the last team in possession. After the draws, the women enjoyed tea sandwiches and of course, a bit (let's use the term loosely) of libation thanks to the bartenders.
Saturday night was the Wonderland gala with tables decorated with teapots, teacups and many flowers setting the mood to enjoy a scrumptious dinner provided by caterers Becky and Mark from their Comox Valley Catering Co. Dessert was an array of homemade cupcakes compliments of very creative people from the ladies league.
After dinner, the best costumed team was selected from many participants and first place, chosen by our ice makers, went to the Pedersen rink with second going to the Shearer rink, both from Nanaimo. Tied for first in the individual costume category was Amber Dufour aka, the Mad Hatter and Christine Dunn in the guise of the Queen of Hearts. Raffle baskets were won by Lois Coleman, Tammy LaPointe and Yvette Green.
Sunday saw the semis and finals of the bonspiel with Val Schultz skipping her team of Melanie Rait, 3rd; Jordan Koster, 2nd; Mare Michell, lead to win the A Event sponsored by Shearlocks Family Hair Care. Second in A was the Patty Pedersen team from Nanaimo.
The B Event, sponsored by Brian McLean Chevrolet Buick GMC, saw the winning team of Ellie Nicholas, skip with Jo-Anne Levesque, 3rd; Gretta Judd, 2nd; Bonnie Luterback, lead defeating the Marita Martel team from Campbell River.
The C Event, sponsored by Thyssen Krupp Elevator had way too much frivolity on the ice and it was hard to tell they were competing against each other. Kim Jonsson skipping but throwing 3rd rock and Lonnie Schopp, taking skips rock; Cynthia Lu, 2nd; Mickey Colburn, lead took the win over their opponents from Nanaimo, the Natallea Strilesky rink.
The dastardly D Event, sponsored by Friends of Curling, was won by the Leslie Shearer team from Nanaimo/Port Alberni. Her teammates were Lorraine Jeffries, 3rd; Suzzanne Grundison, 2nd; Brenda Chaplin, lead. They defeated the Betty Campbell rink from Campbell River.
The raffle tickets sold by the membership saw first prize of the diamond ring to Debbi Bender, second price of the golf package to Janice Wilson and the fishing charter to Dr. E. VonSchilling.
There was many hands involved in the production of the Mad Hatterʼs bonspiel and of course it goes without saying that the ladies league was instrumental in giving their time in decorations, baking, buying, donated gifts, selling raffle tickets and overall helping out throughout the spiel. The menʼs league helped as well and thanks goes to men's president Craig Bernes for getting his group involved.
The success of any event is greatly due to the sponsors and, along with the event sponsors, we would like to acknowledge the following for their support: Saltwater Cowboys; Francis Jewellers; Friendly Fishing; Shoppers Drug Mart; Dorothy Lambourne; The Cottage Clothing Co.; Sport Chek; Bodyworks Physiotherapy, Pilates and Health; Del Rio Academy of Hair; Sunndale Golf Course; Comox Golf Course; Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community; Story Creek Golf Course; Glacier Greens Golf Course and Chances Casino.
Special thanks to ladies' club president Laina Fieret and to Amber Dufour and helpers for a job well done. There was many laughs and tons of fun curling on exceptional ice, with kudos to head ice technician Cody Hall and his crew for making our deliveries so effortless.