The annual Parksville Curling Club Women’s Open bonspiel showcased the full spectrum of the sport, from a team attired in red onesie long Johns in Friday’s opening round to a Noble A event final.
Parksville’s Cheryl Noble outduelled Lynne Noble of Qualicum Beach (no relation) to claim the Sunwest Helicopters A event, which went down to the final skip’s stone
Jan. 19. It was a close match right up to the eighth and final end, when Cheryl Noble, curling with third Nicole Backe, second Tina Chestnut and lead June Cousineau, delivered an outstanding shot on the final rock to score three and take the win.
A full field of 20 teams from Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanaimo, Comox, Port Alberni, Campbell River and Esquimalt — and one player who came from Manitoba to join her mother/daughter team — competed in more than 50 games over the three days.
The theme We are all Canadian led to some interesting costuming choices during play and at the Saturday night banquet.
"This bonspiel is popular because there's really something for everybody," said Cathy MacKenzie, bonspiel chair. "If you mainly want to come and have fun and socialize, you can do that. If you're a more competitive curler, you're going to find a good challenge."
In Sunday’s other finals:
The Lesley’s Esthetics B Event went to the Campbell River/Nanaimo rink of skip Gayle Barnowsky, with third Candice Skoymose, second Andrea Parry and lead Rosemary Eller. Runner-up was the Maitland rink from Qualicum Beach.
The Sheila Dale C Event went to the Comox rink of skip Colleen Robson, third Lindsay Sparkes, second Sarah Hassall and lead Kathy Branch. Runner-up was the Strilesky rink from Nanaimo.
The All for One Home Inspection D Event was won by the Parksville rink of skip Diane Flinta, third Tracy Jeffers, second Ann Fyfe and lead Denine Svensen. Runner-up was the Machan rink from Parksville.
The Shoppers Drug Mart E Event went to the Qualicum Beach rink of skip Barb Birt, third Marilyn Roney, second Maxine Morris and lead Jan Thevarge. Runner-up was the Holtzman rink from Parksville.
— NEWS Staff and PCC submission