| Shaunavon to host Grand Transoceanic Match |
 |
 |
 |
| Local Content - Local News |
| Written by publisher |
| Tuesday, 26 January 2010 13:39 |
|
haunavon will be making its own unique contribution to the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championships slated for Swift Current in March. Officials confirmed last week that the Grand Transoceanic Match (GTM), a special Funspiel organized for spectators attending the world championships, will be held in Shaunavon on Wednesday, March 24.“I think it’s going to be a terrific event and a lot of fun for all the participants,” said Patsy Bailey, who is co-chairing the GTM along with Deb Aadland. “I think it’s a great opportunity to meet and curl with people from other countries and other parts of Canada.” The Grand Transoceanic Match boasts a colourful tradition that dates back more than three decades. It was first created by a group of curling enthusiasts - affectionately known as the “Air Canada Silver Broom Pond Hoppers and International Curling Buff Jet Set” - who wanted to give curling fans that crossed the Atlantic a chance to get to know each other and have some fun together. As a result, they organized the small bonspiel sometime during the 1970s and the event has since turned into a popular ritual at the world curling championships. “There are people who take part in this year after year,” stated Bailey. “But it’s kind of like holding a big party and not knowing exactly who is going to show up,” she added with a smile. “Still, we’re expecting people from all over the world to attend and we plan to put on a very special event.” Saskatchewan last hosted the GTM in Regina during the 1983 Silver Broom. There will be room for 64 curlers to participate in the mini-bonspiel, have lunch together and enjoy the hospitality of the people of Shaunavon, who have been planning for this event since the summer. It will also give those who participate in the GTM a chance to see more of what the region has to offer. One of the reasons for bringing the GTM to a neighbouring community, said championship co-chairs Bryan Tallon and Barbara Walter, was to share the world curling experience with the entire Southwest. Shaunavon’s well-earned reputation for hosting successful big events, coupled with a strong relationship the local club enjoys with the Swift Current curling club, also played a factor in the decision to bring the funspiel to this region. Shaunavon’s mayor Sharon Dickie, who was involved in helping co-ordinate the effort to bring the event to Shaunavon, was elated to see the GTM come to Shaunavon. “Shaunavon has a reputation for being a great host of events like this,” said Dickie. “I believe that this is one of the reasons that we were chosen for this prestigious event by the Women’s World Ford Curling Organization. Once again, we have an opportunity to showcase our community - especially to the “pond hoppers” who will be participating from all over the world. I encourage our southwest community to prepare and participate in this ‘once in a lifetime’ event. Walter raved about her own experience at the GTM during the world championships in Moncton last year, and reminisced in glowing terms about the people she met at the mini-spiel and the colourful teammates she curled with from Scotland and the U.S. She said staging the event in Shaunavon will add a nice element to the festivities as the visiting curlers will get a chance to experience rural Saskatchewan. “The 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship is delighted that Shaunavon will host the GTM,” said Walter. “It will give out-of-town curling fans a chance to see a little more of beautiful southwest Saskatchewan and to participate in an authentic small town bonspiel in curling’s heartland. We know that Shaunavon will show everyone a good time.” Scheduling plans tentatively call for the Tim Horton’s bus to transport visiting participants to Shaunavon early Wednesday (March 24), arriving just before 9 a.m. The participants will be treated to a continental breakfast before the selection of teams is announced. The curlers will then be piped out onto the ice for a brief opening ceremony. Each team will take part in a pair of two-end games during the mini-spiel. Residents of Shaunavon and the surrounding communities are welcome to register for the event. The group will be treated to lunch and entertainment at Christ the King Church Hall. Tickets for the luncheon will also be made available to the public. After lunch, the curlers will have an opportunity to tour the town and shop at local retail outlets before getting back on the bus and returning to Swift Current in time for the evening draw at the world championships. The 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship will be held at the Credit Union i-plex in Swift Current March 20th-28th. For more information about the event visit www.shaunavon.com The local organizing committee will be releasing further details about the GTM in the coming weeks.
|
More Story Headlines
| Cypress Regional Health Authority Announces Interim CEO The Cypress Regional Health Authority (CRHA) has looked to within its Senior |
| Local schools contribute to Telemiracle All three Shaunavon schools staged successful fundraisers for Telemiracle last week, bringing in a t [ ... ] |
| Badgers get early jump in series The Shaunavon Badgers have drawn first blood in their third round of the SHA Senior Provincial “B [ ... ] |
| Effort made to expand and integrate Saskatchewan’s library system Government officials and members of Saskatchewan’s public library community gathered last week t [ ... ] |
