The Grand Forks Curling Club held its annual Combined Bonspiel last weekend with 46 teams participating. The largest number of teams in several years included two-time World champion Rick Folk. Also curling in the Valentine’s weekend event was GFI baseball alumni Chris Kissock. Kissock, a star pitcher in college with Lewis Clark State is in the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization and will be leaving in two weeks to attend spring training in Florida.

The bonspiel had special significance this year as curlers in Grand Forks are celebrating their centennial. Traditionally the winner of the men’s A event receives the Grand Forks Cup, the oldest active curling trophy in the province, and one of the oldest in Canada. It was a special moment early Sunday evening when this venerable trophy was presented for the 100th time. Perhaps it was fitting that this historic cup would be won by a local team as the Kevin Marks foursome went undefeated in this four day Valentine’s Day event. Other members of the team are Dave Bartlett, George Hawkins and Gerry Foster. Marks defeated Russ Beauchamp of Trail 6-3 in a closely contested final. The game was tied at two after four ends, but the winners scored a key deuce in the seventh and ran the Beauchamp squad out of rocks in the final end.

On the women’s side of the draw the BC High School 2010 silver medallists, fresh off their outstanding run at the provincials in Chilliwack, captured the A event in impressive fashion. These young players, skipped by Erinn Bartlett, capped their undefeated weekend with a 9-2 win over the Deb de Tremaudan rink from Rossland. The game was close for three ends; however crucial back-to-back steals in ends four and five allowed the winners from Grand Forks to coast to victory. Curling with Erinn are Third Kelly Ludwar, Second Mackenzie Field, and Lead Kim Lacey.

The B event winners in the women’s division were Deb Davies (skipped by Randi Ludwar). In an all Grand Forks final they defeated Marlene Nichols. The Men’s B event was won by Garry Gelowitz from Kelowna over Don Bedard of Grand Forks. This excellent team from the Okanagan will be back in Grand Forks to play in the BC Men’s and Women’s Masters Championship in early March. The AM Ford team from Trail, which included the aforementioned Kissock, defeated G. Hill from Fruitvale in the Men’s C event final. The wWomen’s C trophy was won by Lee Bedard over Teresa Hiram, both teams curling out of Grand Forks.

An exciting feature during the bonspiel was held on Saturday afternoon with all teams participating in the AM Ford Hot Shots skills competition. AM Ford generously donated $1,000 in prize money. Because of the large entry of teams this year, the last draw on Friday, the second day of this anniversary spiel, did not finish till almost 3 a.m. Saturday morning. A lot of tired curlers and hard-working volunteers enjoyed a memorable four days at Curl Grand Forks.