The Quesnel Sponsor Curling league have been gathering on Wednesdays for as long as any of the members can remember.
Dave Plant, who is the club’s co-ordinator, has been playing for the league for 17 years and is certain it existed for at least a few years before he joined.
Many other members, including Brady Waffle, who skips the Billy Barker Casino team, have been with the league 10 years or more.
It is the top amateur curling league in the city, and the Quesnel Curling Centre is bustling when they take the ice.
You never know who will show their face.
This Wednesday, a visitor from Curl BC was subbing in for Service Electric.
Will Sutton, who hails from New Westminster, came up to ensure things were on track for the upcoming provincial championships in January.
“We did the site visit today,” he said. “We had our ice maker and our head of production up here. I’m here to meet with the host committee to make sure all the volunteer needs are being taken care of at this time.”
READ MORE: Volunteers needed for provincial curling championships
This year there are eight teams, but that can fluctuate to as many as 10.
Each squad is responsible for finding a sponsor to donate $400, which becomes the prize money for the season.
Sponsors for this season include Service Electric, Karin’s Deli, the Child Development Centre, Century 21, Billy Barker Casino, Ski-Hi Scaffolding, Brenda Ernst and Quesnel Lawn Care.
The Quesnel Lawn Care team, which is skipped by Colin Shpak, ended up winning last year, but the league was a close one, with at least three teams in contention on the last day.
“Most of us are experienced curlers,” says Plant, “but we come here to have fun. Bottom line is you’re playing for $40 a game, so it’s more about bragging rights than money.”
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