" On the Button" Western News every 2nd Sunday by: Kim Kirkhamon

Curling Club Column FEB 18/11
By: Kim Kirkham

As we turn the corner on the last leg of our curling season we give thanks to the members who have supported their club over the past year.

It will soon be time to hang up the curling brooms and reach for the golf clubs. I hope you take a moment to reflect on this past season, one of new friendships and the rekindling of old. Be proud that you have participated in a sport that is full of traditions, kind etiquettes and social graces.

Behind every successful club there is an ice maker or more commonly referred to at the Ice Technician?
Chris Jones was born in North Bay Ontario. He moved to Vancouver Island at the age of 5. He began his curling career at a young age of 13, and played on the High School Team that won The Comox Valley Curling Championship in 1974.

Chris moved to Slave Lake Alberta in 2001, and curled in the local club. He held various positions on the Board of Directors and became the icemaker of the small town rink.
Chris is the ice technician at the Penticton Curling Club, he and his wife Cathy are becoming familiar faces to the Club’s 500 members. If you happen by the club on any given day, you’re likely to catch Chris and Cathy scraping away at the ice surface in preparation of the next game.
It’s a cold and often lonely business Chris Jones is in, but he is no stranger to the 146 feet of ice.
As a teenager he helped out around the Comox Valley rink, cleaning and pebbling the ice.
In 2009 he was an assistant icemaker in the “Roar of the Rings”, and in 2010 assisted with the ice at “The Brier”.
Maintaining the ice at a curling club is an art and science all in one. The job of the icemaker is anything but glamorous; he puts in 10-14 hours per day, prepping the ice. Compliments of the ice are often measured in silence, the less you hear, the better the job you have done.
Teachers come in many forms, whether it’s learning a sport, musical instruments or simply a lesson in life.
The Best Teachers teach from the heart, and Chris is no exception he brings passion to coaching the junior program.
Along with a group of dedicated volunteers he teaches 34 juniors every Thursday. He also helps to coach up to 6 classes a day (Grade 5-12) that use the Curling Club as a part of the sport curriculum.

Chris is hoping to have a Competative High School Curling Team in place for the 2011/2012 season in hopes of competing in the 2012 play downs which will be held at The Penticton Rink.

Why does Chris curl? He quickly answers, I love the camaraderie of the game but most of all I love to watch people learn.

Does he have a hero in the world of curling, you bet, Bernie Sparks who is a 1960’s Brier and World Champion.

Chris and his wife Cathy are happy to be part of the Penticton Curling Family.

Around the home
February 19-20 The Mixed Zone Play downs will be held at The Penticton Curling Club, We have two teams from Penticton playing off, Chris Jones Rink and St John Rink. The draws are: Saturday 9:00 am, 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm and Sunday 9:00 am. Everyone welcome!
March 4-6th Western Mixed Open Bonspiel. We are still looking for a couple of individuals to fill teams. The action begins on Friday night. Saturday night we will be entertained by The Infamous Band “Uncorked”. Everyone welcome!

In closing I would like to thank the media for their support. Very special thanks go out to Emanuel Sequeira from The Penticton Western, for always being there to cover our bonspiels and special events.

Happy Curling Everyone!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Curling Club Column FEB 04/11
By: Kim Kirkham

Honouring a local Curler

The score is 8-6 in the 7th end for the Blue Stones, red has the hammer. Bert lines up to throw his last red stone, and bring it into the 4 foot to count two and tie the game.
Someone from the stands yell “That Bert Troyer shoots a deadly rock with that stick”. Yes Bert uses a stick for throwing; using the stick for only two months he has mastered the technique quickly.

Bert was born in Summerland in 1926, and moved to Grand Prairie Alberta when he was just 18 months old.
Bert’s Mother went so far as giving him the initials BC Bert Clarence, indicating British Columbia. Bert owned his own construction company much of his working life. He held a private pilots license and owned his own plane.

Bert is a role model member of the Penticton Curling Club he displays a dedication to the sport of curling with exceptional good sportsmanship both on and off the ice.
He has been of member of the Penticton Curling Club (previously known as the Granite Club) for over 44 years.

Bert learned to curl in Grand Prairie Alberta at the age of 15, his teacher, Art Dalish who was a Brier competitor in the late 1930’s.
.
Bert and his wife Rosemarie, played in many bonspiels together, even won the Penticton Western, in the 90’s when there were 60 plus teams.

Bert is no stranger to the world of competitive curling; he has won The Senior Men’s Zones Four times, and The Legion Zones 6 times.
In 1982 he took his team to a victory at The Provincial Legion Dominion Championship in Prince Rupert. Bert recalls the game as though he played it yesterday. “We were down 6 points in the 8th end and were ready to shake” (10 end games were played), but the never give up attitude of their skip kept them in the game. “Let’s just put the rocks in the house and see what we can do”, Bert recites. In the 9th end Bert had a free draw for six, and then stole one in the 10th to win The Provincial title. His team went on to The National Legion Dominion Championship in Estevan Saskatchewan and losing in the finals to home team Saskatchewan.

The Penticton Curling Club has recognized only a few members for our “life time membership” wall of fame. Bert Troyer is one of those members. He was honoured in 2008 with a life time membership, for his significant contributions to The Penticton Curling Club.
You can find Bert at The Curling Club at least 3 days a week, but once the weather warms up you will find him at Twin Lakes Golf Course. Although he is down to 4 games of golf a week he still manages to pull off a 20 plus handicap.

Bert, you are our “Curling Legend”

Around the house

Junior Bonspiel Sat Feb 12th
February 19-20 The Mixed Zone Play downs will be held at The Penticton Curling Club, Penticton has two teams entering. Chris Jones Rink and St John Rink
March 4-6th Western Mixed Open Bonspiel
The Special Olympic team will be travelling to Coquitlam February 12th and 13th for the Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games. Skipped by Chad Conlon, Lynden Hicks, Jake Huff, and Jake Penney. Coaches Dona Cade and Gloria Finstad. Best of luck!
Spring and Summer Rental~ The Penticton Curling Club is available for rentals both upstairs and our arena area. Due to some cancellations in our summer rentals, we have lots of availability this summer. Please call the club 492-5647

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Curling Club ColumnJANUARY 01/11
By: Kim Kirkham

From her song “if walls could talk”, Celine Dion sang
“These walls keep a secret that only we know”.

Oh if the walls of the Penticton Curling Club could talk, the stories she could tell of the games that have been played on her sheets. She would tell tales of joy and sorrows, sweet victories, and heartbreaking losses.
The walls could tell you about the final shot in the extra that won the game in Men’s Provincial Curling Championship in 2008.
The walls would tell you about the strategy of the game, the etiquette and the friendliness displayed on the ice. The walls would also tell you about the dedication and spirit of the Penticton Curlers is alive and well.

Profile of a curler

I would like to introduce Len Swift, he’s a two time Senior Men’s Zone Champion and our local curling club icon.
Len was born in Red Deer Alberta.
Len is a guy who quietly contributes to the club’s success, deflecting any deserved recognition.
He is the Chairman of the Senior Men’s League and co-coordinator of Senior Bonspiel for many years. Len is also responsible for breaking ground on the highly successful Friday Morning Skins league 10 years ago.
Len is a former Air force Pilot, who began his curling career in Gimli, Manitoba in 1955 when he was 30 years old. Yes, you did the math right, he is 85 years young.
Why does Len curl? He needs no time to respond to this question, it’s the social aspect and camaraderie that keeps him in the game. But that’s not all; he still enjoys the competiveness of game. I’m told by his fellow curlers that he still calls a great game.
When asked who his curling heroes are, he politely says I don’t know about a hero, but I admire Martin, and Howard’s curling abilities.
Len has been a member of The Penticton Curling Club for the past 25 years and even served a year as the President of the Club.
Len is a role model and a dedicated member of our club, who like many of us, is still patiently awaiting his first 8 ender.
Around the House
The Penticton Curling Club members enjoyed some success on the road this past weekend.
The Senior Women’s Inter-regional was held in Kamloops this past weekend.
The Sherry Heath Rink, Vernon third Lil Blashko, second Carol Martel, Lead Diane Tetreault fifth Judy Green, secure a spot in the Senior Women’s Provincials to be held in Kamloops February 20-23rd, 2011. Lil Blashko is a member of the Penticton Curling Club. Good Luck.
Several Penticton teams competed in the Summerland Bonspiel this past weekend.
The Daryl Tarr Rink took the “A” division with 3rd Cindy Curtain, 2nd Gord Mitchell, lead Dora DeCosse
The Gary Stene Rink, Danielle Dougan, Dan Gusztak Sam Niddery, took 2nd in the “A” division.
The Steve Gjukich rink took 2nd in the “C” division, 3rd Sandie McKechnie, 2nd George Horner, and Lead Pat Horner
Penticton’s Blaine Black Rink attended the Vernon Men’s Bonspiel last weekend and took home the “C” division with 3rd Barrie Johnstone, 2nd Rob Verrier, and Lead Tim Haberstock.
January 21-23rd Men’s Tin Cup Open Bonspiel
January 29-31st Masters 60+ Play downs
Junior Bonspiel Sat Feb 12th
February 19-20 Mixed Interregional Play downs
March 4-6th Western Mixed Open Bonspiel
Rumor has it that The Penticton Curling Club will have a few teams entering the Mixed Play downs in February.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Curling Club Column DECEMBER 17/10
By: Kim Kirkham

Origin of the word "Bonspiel"

Bonspiel
Scots for league match, this is the term used for a curling tournament. Compare spiel.
Although Bonspiels originated in Scotland, the most notable tournament in the world nowadays is The Brier, the Canadian Men's Curling Championship. For Canadians, this tournament equals or nearly equals the importance of the Olympics and the World Curling Championship.

The origin of the word is primarily Gaelic which originated in Central Europe in the 5th Century B.C.
Since Curling is believed to have originated in Scotland, it's likely that Bonspiel is a modern adaptation of the Scottish Gaelic words: "Bonn"(coin) [3] and "Spéil"(skate)[4] meaning "Coin Skate" or "Cornerstone Skate"(archaic definition)[5].
However, "Spiel" may also have been used to mean "Game" as it is in other European languages influenced by Gaelic origins. In that case, the Scots prior to the known 15th Century history of the game may have intended the word (or words) to mean "Bonn Spiel" or "Cornerstone Game".
The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or replica, set in a prominent location on the outside of a building, with an inscription on the stone indicating the construction dates of the building and the names of architect, builder and other significant individuals. The rite of laying a cornerstone is an important cultural component of eastern architecture and metaphorically in sacred architecture generally.

A bonspiel is a match or tournament between curling clubs consisting of a competition comprised of a number of different events often played over a weekend. In Scotland, and increasingly in Canada, the word is shortened by curlers to spiel.
A Dutch term bond spel ‘league game’ has been in print since 1772. In Middle Dutch a bont was a group of people bound (bonded) into a league. Or, as a source, you may side with bonespel, a West Flemish children's game. But bonspiel first appears in print in Scotland during the middle of the 16th century. So the origin may lie hidden, forever overgrown in the heathery waysides of Scottish linguistic history.
But there is no doubt of bonspiel’s Germanic word relatives. The spel root is perhaps more familiar to English speakers in its German form of das Spiel ‘the game’ and its verb spielen ‘to play’ and its agent noun der Spieler ‘the player.’ English has borrowed words like glockenspiel ‘bell-play,’ an instrument in which little bells suspended from a frame are struck by hammers. From German through Yiddish, spiel meaning a rapid-fire sales pitch came into English.
All are relatives of the English word spell ‘a magical charm spoken to put someone under the power of another,’ hence the original meaning of spellbound, an adjective where the roots of bonspiel are reversed, so to speak. A spell was a very special something spoken. In Middle English spell meant speech, talk, tale, as it did in Old English. Spell is related to Old High German spel ‘tale’ and to Old Norse spjall ‘story’ and to Gothic spill ‘talk.’

Around the house

Our annual member and friends “Christmas Open House” is Saturday Dec 18th.
Ken Lauzon from The Black Iron Grill and Steakhouse will be carving up some of his famous Baron of Beef. Dinner 6-8 p.m. Turkey Shoot 6 & 7 p.m. Music by: Uncorked.
Advance Tickets: $15.00 at the door $17.00

The Curling Club is putting on the Ritz on New Year Eve. DJ Shylo will be rocking out the tunes. Spot dances and door prizes, party favours. Appies at 10:30 Advance tickets: $30.00 at the door $35.00

Some Dates to Remember

Senior Men’s Bonspiel                        Jan 3, 4 & 5, 2011
Men’s Tin Cup Open Bonspiel           January 21-23, 2011
Master’s 60+ Regional Play downs    January 29-30, 2011
Junior Bonspiel                                   February 5, 2011
Mixed Inter-regional Play downs       Feb 19-20, 2011
(Zone 3, 4 & 7)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Curling Club Column MARCH 10/08
By: Kim Kirkham

The Penticton Curling Club has etched another year into the history books.

The Club experienced another record year for membership; we were up for the 4 th straight year.

A total of 465 curlers, and 128 teams registered this year, and in addition to the regular leagues, 50-60 juniors, and approximately 1500 school kids used the curling club as a part of their extra curricular activities. In total we were up 60 curlers or 15 teams over last year.

What on-ice event could bring our season to a more fitting close than the Western Mixed Bonspiel, held last weekend.

The success of the 28 team event was dependent on the efforts of numerous volunteers, thank you to all of you who gave of your time.

A fabulous dinner was prepared by Ken Lauzon and his staff from the Black Iron Grill and Steakhouse.

A “heart warming” presentation was made to our very own Special “O” team who won a gold metal at The National Winter Games in Quebec last month.

Winners of the “A” Division, The Brennan Rink; winners of the “B” Barrie Johnstone Rink; winners of the “C” The Kim Dixon Rink and winners of the “D” Consolation Round, The Rob Verrier Rink.

The Annual Spring Meeting and Election of Officers

Will held at The Club on Wednesday April 9 th @ 7:00 pm . There will be complimentary appetizers for all those that attend.

With the winding down of the curling season brings the need to fill emerging vacancies on the PCC Board for the next season. If you’ve been known to say to yourself or your team-mates, “What this club really needs to do is…” here’s your chance to make that vision a reality. We’re looking for nominations/volunteers for the Board, enthusiasm and willingness to participate is the only requirement. Previous experience is not required – we’ll mentor you. Please contact any Executive member if you are interested.

We will be making a few special presentations during the evening to The Volunteer of The Year, and Lifelong Member Award.

From the lounge

Remember we do rent out our upstairs lounge in the off season. With our new flat screen TV’s and satellite radio, it’s a great venue to have a birthday, wedding, or retirement party. We have a full bar, and on site catering. Please visit our website www.pentictoncurlingclub.com for prices on the rentals and menus from The Black Iron Grill and Steakhouse.

Now its time to dust off the golf clubs, and camping gear and put away the curling shoes.

Have a great summer everyone!