The Barriere Curling Club (BCC) will be hosting the B.C. Stick Curling Championships from February 6 through 8 at the arena located at the North Thompson Fall Fair grounds. The opening ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thurs. February 6 in the arena.
According to the Curl B.C. website, Stick Curling is a variation of the traditional curling game that is offered by a number of Curl BC’s member facilities.
“The winners of this event will proceed to represent B.C. in the Canadian Stick Curling Championship held this year in Grande Prairie, Alberta from April 2 through the 7," Bernice Randrup, director for BCC told the Barriere Star /Journal. "In conjunction with Curl BC the BCC is preparing to welcome 12 teams from throughout the province for the B.C. Championships in Barriere.”
The local curling club in Barriere will be welcoming teams from Kamloops, Armstrong, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Prince George, Penticton and Summerland.
There will be women’s, men’s and mixed teams playing during the championships. Each team has two players, and they play six rocks and six ends a game. "Sweeping is only allowed once the rock is over the opposing ends hog line,” explained Randrup.
A hog line is a thick line that runs across the width of the ice sheet, 10 metres from the hack at each end. The term ‘hog line’ comes from an old Scottish slang term for a weak lamb that was likely to be culled from the flock.
“Stick Curling originated in Huntsville, Alberta in 1998," said Randrup. "Mr. Rusty Drew fabricated the 'extender' which is an alternative delivery style for people having issues with the traditional curling slide from the hack. There is no limit as to who can use the delivery stick. Any curler wishing to continue in the game but due to age, injury or using a wheelchair can continue with this social sport.”
In Canada, stick curling and wheelchair curling are very popular. Curling has been a medal sport in the Olympic Winter Games since 1998.
The director said the draw times for this three-day event are being finalized and will be posted in the next week. There will be four draws on Thursday Feb. 6, five draws on Friday, Feb. 7 and on Saturday, Feb. 8 there will be one draw, followed by the semi-final and the final.
The curling club concession will be open daily and the club lounge opening at noon for each day of the championships. The public is welcome to attend and watch from the comfort of the viewing area on the main floor or watch on the monitors which cover both ends of the arena in the upstairs lounge. The BCC will also be hosting a daily 50/50 draw.
If you are interested in joining the Barriere Curling Club or inquiring about event rentals and bookings please contact them via email at: barrierecurlingclub@gmail.com
