GORE BAY—Al and Kyra Lanktree are the winners of the first event at the Gore Bay Curling Club 34th annual curffle event.
The Lanktree rink defeated the rink of Drew Purvis and Kevin Bushey in the final. “I would like to thank everyone for a great weekend,” said Ms. Lanktree. “This is only the second time we have played (in the event). And thanks to uncle (Lew) Lanktree (who passed away recently) who was looking down on us today. It is an honour to win this event. And thank you to Bill and Peg Clark for creating such a great game.”
The game curffle, which is a mix of curling and shuffleboard on a curling sheet, was created and patented by Bill and Peg Clark. A total of 32 two-member teams took part in the event this year.
In the second event, the team of Dan Marois and Scott McDougall took first place, defeating Nancy Noble and Patti Purvis in the final.
The Heather Hall and Sherry Forest rink won the third event, defeating Dave Hall and Dan Forest in the final.
“I would like to thank everyone for being here for the 34th annual curffle event,” said Hye Clark who, along with his sister Holly, were masters of ceremonies at the awards presentations. “As is tradition we would ask you to turn to your left, then turn to your right and shake the hands of the people beside you because it is all of you who make curffle.”
Ms. Clark thanked Dan Marois and his bar crew, Heather Strain and the kitchen crew for the great meals during the weekend, Carmen Runnalls and Curtis Beckon for being the designated drivers, Harrison Noble for plowing out the curling club driveway Saturday after a heavy snowfall the night before, and Jill Patterson who donated homemade bottles of wine as prizes.
Everyone then raised a glass in memory of all those who have curffled in the past and have passed on in the past year. This included Lloyd Neganegijig, Moe Marois, Jim Lanktree, Kirk Strain, Mina Turner and Lew Lanktree.
Dan Marois, president of the Gore Bay Curling Club, thanked Holly and Hye Clark and the entire Clark family who created the game. “This is the curling club’s biggest fundraiser each year, by far.”
