PROVIDENCE BAY—The Jeff Hietkamp rink of Gore Bay has won the Providence Bay Curling Club men’s bonspiel.
The Jeff Hietkamp skipped rink included lead Barry Wall, vice Dan Marois and second Gary Gilpin. For having won the first event the team was presented with the Peter McAllister Memorial Trophy.
Runner-up in the first event was the Peter Bond rink which included Harold Fox, Brad Ham and Reuben Allen.
The Providence Bay Curling Club 2024 men’s bonspiel was held on the weekend of March 8-10. Curling is a sport of teamwork, strategy and tenacity enjoyed by first, second and third generation players who come together every season at the Providence Bay Club for their love of the sport of curling and their community.
Mr. Fox said of his Manitowaning team, “We always have a great time here in Prov. It’s a great atmosphere and we always reminisce about the good times.”
The second event was won by skip Ron Dinsmore and his Sault Ste. Marie rink, which included vice Aaron Soulliere, second Freddie Dinsmore, lead Chad Soulliere and coach Lyle Strain (the latter of Gore Bay).
“The best advice I have for any young people getting into the game is the Special Olympics motto, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt,’” said Mr. Strain. “It’s all about doing your best and having fun.”
“Congratulations to the Sault team, they had a really great game and had a lot of fun,” said Jack White, whose team of Steve Orford, Alex Dawson and Darren Dewar was the runner-up in the second event.
Mr. White introduced the third event winners and presenter Ronda McDonald. “This is the first time in the history of our club the plaque has been presented to a family member.”
The third event winners of the Michael McDonald Memorial Trophy included skip Jon McDonald, Bruce Orford, Tom Cranston and lead Bailey De Chateauvert.
Ms. McDonald explained, “Mike passed away in 1998; he used to curl here all the time and this plaque was introduced in 1999. My family and his friends played here every year. I am so honoured to be able to present this plaque to my son Jon and his team.”
The Darren Smith skipped rink was the third event runner-up. This rink also included Troy Campbell, Mike Tann and Adam Smith.
On Saturday morning a fundraiser and pancake breakfast was held in support of the Providence Bay Youth Curling Club. There were pancakes, sausages, bacon and loads of syrup and fruit toppings. “The fundraiser was a success,” said curling club member Angela Johnston. “We raised just over $1,000.”
Ms. Johnston explained the fundraising “helps to pay for the equipment for our program as well as registration and travel costs for our juniors to participate in bonspiels and other curling events. We also get support from the Providence Bay-Spring Bay Lions Club, the Providence Bay-Spring Bay Recreation Committee and the Manitoulin West Sudbury Milk Producers Association.”
