Certainly, there's fine ice, but that's not the only thing that continues to attract a large number of teams to the annual ladies bonspiel of the Cochrane Curling Club.

Besides having the chance to compete for prizes, curling is also a very sociable sport. It's something the local club embraces.

"It ended up very, very well," says co-chair Guidel Ziegler.  "It sounds like everybody had a fabulous time. All the comments that I had were very positive."

The bonspiel usually centres upon a theme, and this year it was "Through the Decades."

During the Saturday evening banquet, teams dressed in the fashion of the decade they chose and prepared posters to illustrate it. They paraded the posters, and the most popular ones received prizes.

"We had them doing all sorts of things," she says. "Everything is designed to make sure everybody has a great time."

Local bonspiels continue to enjoy an influx of out-of-town entries.

"I think a lot of that has to do with the reputation we have for having amazing ice, and such an amazing facility."

In all, 28 teams participated in the Feb. 21-23, down slightly from 32 last year.

The winners were:

  • A event: first, Team Whyte; second, Team Brooks
  • B event: first, Team Puzzie; second, Team Jensen
  • C event: first, Team Salyn; second, Team Schroeder
  • D event: first, Team Buckley; second, Team Caron

Up next is the annual mixed bonspiel, Mar. 13-15.