By Gertie McBroom

Well we had quite a busy weekend both at home and away.
Thirty-two teams participated in the Business Charity Bonspiel at the Montague Curling Club. Laughter filled the place as everyone had a great time. The winning team was Foster Campbell and his crew. Runner-up was the MacDonald’s Vegetable team with Johnathan MacDonald, Dennis Madden and Wade and Dawson Higginbotham. But the big winner was this year’s local charity, the Kingswood Centre which bonspiel chairman Scott Annear was able to give a donation to on behalf of all participants for $2,500.00. Thanks to Scott and his committee and to all those who participated and donated prizes.
At the Provincial Men’s Curling Championship held in Cornwall this past weekend, Donald Clarey’s team with Larry Richards, David Rice and Steven MacLeod had a very respectable showing. They got off to a great start with two wins but fell to a couple of untimely steals in the next games. One of the victories was over the eventual Tankard Champion Mike Gaudet from Charlottetown. This was the only loss the Gaudet rink suffered over the championship. All is not lost for Montague in this turn of events because the lead stone on the Gaudet rink is none other than Sean Clarey, Donald’s son. So it was a bit of dad giving a lesson to the son and in that way inspiring the young fellows onto victory. Congratulations to Sean and his teammates. They will represent PEI at the Brier in Saskatoon in March.
At home this week’s local sponsor for Monday night curling is Kent Building Supplies. Both the Island Construction Mixed and the Peake & McInnis leagues are just underway with their second rounds and we will have standings next week.
This Saturday we will host the Curl for Cancer Bonspiel, which has now been renamed to the Philip Curley Memorial. Philip was a long time stick curler who was an active participant in many curling events until he passed away earlier this year. Those wishing to curl this Saturday, there is a sign-up sheet on the board or you can call the rink. The entry is $20 per person, charity receipt provided. There will be a bake sale, trivia and lots of door prizes. Anyone wishing to donate to the bake sale can drop off goods Saturday morning.
Looking ahead to the following weekend we have the Pink Lady Bonspiel open to all lady curlers. Currently there are 13 teams entered so there are still openings. This is an open bonspiel which means you do not have to be a member to curl. Sign-up sheet on the board or a call to the rink will get you entered.
Just a little further on the schedule is the annual “A Touch of Gold” bonspiel which is set for February 17-19. This one of our anchor spiels and is also an open event.
A reminder to everyone that our Lobster/Ham takeout is scheduled for February 25th. This is always a great mid-winter break for everyone. Tickets are $20 for lobster and $10 for ham. This includes dinner, roll and homemade dessert. Tickets are available from every club member or by calling the rink at 838-2513.
That’s it from the hack for this week.