The Grand Forks Curling Centre concluded its centennial season with the annual Rocker Reynolds Mixed Bonspiel last weekend. Twenty-eight teams began play on Thursday, and Sunday afternoon. After 14 draws, the winners of the three events were decided. In the main event Kevin Maffioli from the host club captured first place with a decisive win over former Brier and World Champion Rick Folk from Kelowna. Maffioli and his team of Teresa Hiram, Daryl Popoff, and Louise Popoff, put pressure on Folk from the opening end, and with the score 6-3 playing the seventh end, the winners stole four and the teams shook hands. This foursome curled extremely well and was full value for the victory. As well as Rick Folk’s outstanding record over the years, his wife, Liz, curling third, is a former Canadian Mixed Champion.

The B event was won by Randy Uyeyama from Greenwood. He defeated Paul Plamondon of Grand Forks in the final. Curling with Randy were Linda Moore, Sven Bourgh and Stacy Ludwar. In the C event The Grand Forks team of Skip Patrick Campbell, Randi Ludwar, Hector Zammit and Kelsey Semenoff won a thrilling last rock decision over the D. Bain team.

A special Draw to the Button contest, held on Saturday evening after the curlers and guests enjoyed a great meal, was won by George Hawkins. Because of this being the centennial year of curling in Grand Forks several special features took place during the season. One of the more interesting was a contest to determine which individual curler has their name engraved on the various trophies the most. The committee members assigned this task determined that Wendy Pierce, now living in Smithers, is at the top of the list.

On Friday evening special recognition was given to a number of people, whose dedication and service to the curling club over the years have been major factors in achieving this 100 year milestone. Curl BC President Jim Mann travelled from Richmond to offer congratulations, Mayor Brian Taylor spoke on behalf of the City of Grand Forks and Irene Perepolkin and Grace McGregor brought greetings from the regional district.

A ceremonial rock toss was held with honorary team members Jack Onions, Mikki Hamagami, Ken Lockhart and Angus MacKay using the historic personal curling stones belonging to the late Wes Docksteader. Curlers representing the six teams who have achieved rare eight-enders in Grand Forks were also introduced.

The ice has melted and another season of curling is over. However, it will always be remembered as one of celebration and gratitude. Things just don’t happen on their own. It requires people with special gifts and unselfish dedication. The 2009-10 curling season has been a success for the local curling community. Winners of bonspiels and competitions have been declared and acknowledged, but maybe the real winners are the folks who tirelessly perform behind the scenes; executive members who serve faithfully; volunteers who spontaneously pitch in when a need arises, and all the curling athletes who play for love of the game, all the while encouraging their teammates and opponents.

Having Canadian Curling Hall of Fame member, Rick Folk, and his team, in Grand Forks to participate in the Rocker Reynolds bonspiel, not only placed an exclamation point on this 100th anniversary season, it also made a statement that curling is a sport where people at the grass roots matter as much as the people at the top.