18 rinks attend Andrew Farmer’s Bonspiel

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The Andrew Curling Club held their Farmer’s Bonspiel this past weekend where 18 curling rinks, some from as far away as Athabasca, came out to battle for first place.

Andrew Curling Club President Chris Shandro said he was very happy with the turnout.

“We had 18 teams this weekend, which is really nice,” said Shandro. “We had 14 last year just after COVID restrictions were lifted, so 18 is a great turnout.”

Shandro said there were several prizes for silent auction, raffle and door prizes donated by local businesses, including two sponsorships in the Platinum category which is a value of $1,000 or more and four in the Gold level valued at $500 or more. Winners and runner-ups of the bonspiel in each of the three events, A, B and C, also chose their own prizes.

The curlers played all weekend and enjoyed a banquet Sat. night catered by Tom’s Catering with karaoke entertainment by Jay Kozak.

Shandro added that having the Farmer’s Bonspiel is a blessing after the club shut down in 2012 beginning a hiatus that lasted five years.

“(There was) just not enough interest. Kids that were in town grew up and they went to Edmonton to go to college and university, and there wasn't really an interest (in local curling),” said Shandro.

“Once people finished university and they moved back, then there was enough people to start the club back up again.”

Curler Herman Sieker, who participated in the Farmer’s Bonspiel with his team, credits Shandro with getting the club up and running again.

“Chris did a real good job getting us back up and running,” he said.

“Clubs that close don’t (get back up). When you lose them, you lose them.”

Meanwhile, a group of four players, who travelled several kilometers, met up in Andrew Feb. 17 where playing in the annual bonspiel has become a tradition for them over the past few years.

Britney Lopushinsky, one of the four, said the group has been curling together for the past five years and meeting at the Andrew Farmer’s Bonspiel gives them an opportunity to connect.

“We are a bunch of friends from university. The Andrew bonspiel is the first one that we did together in 2019 before the pandemic and then we started curling in a league together,” said Lopushinsky.

“Now everyone has gotten jobs. One of them is being a doctor in Edson right now, in his third year. I've moved to Lethbridge for (the past) four years so we're a bit scattered and we (thought) if we’re going to do one we’ve got to do Andrew.”

Winners of the A event was the Stodola team with skip Tim Stodola, third Mark Malica, second Anton Shumansky and lead Mike Rudko.

Runner up in the A event was the Urichuk team with skip Valerian Urichuk, third Myron Fill, second Brian Savitsky and lead Ron Bilyk.

Winners of the B event was Andrychuk team with skip Dustin Andrychuk, third Jon Sikora, second James Sikora and lead Lindsay Sikora.

Runner up in the B event was the Harsulla team with skip Brandice Harsulla, third Jayme Hennig, second Breanna Sorotsky and lead Whitney Joubert.

Winners of the C event was the Andruchow team with skip Garth Andruchow, third Ryan Rude, second Jordan Rude and lead Travis Schmidt.

Runner up in the C event was the Kolotylo team with skip Brylan Kolotylo, third Katlynn Kolotylo, second Teagan Tychkowsky and lead Robyn Urichuk.