Williams Lake curlers hosted their annual Joint Bonspiel over the first weekend of February, which brings both men and women together on the ice for a fun and competitive time.
"It's a great tradition in this club to host a joint bonspiel," said Nicole Bellamy, manager of the Williams Lake Curling Club (WLCC) of one of their biggest events of the year. There were a total of 24 teams, 96 curlers on the ice over the Feb. 1, 2 weekend, some coming from 100 Mile and Quesnel.
The theme of this year's event was Ho’Down Throwdown, and some competitors brought their costumes on the ice with them. Some wore zebra pants and cowboy hats while others played in matching checkered shirts.
Alana Rowan also played in the tournament during her visit from Summerland. Originally from Williams Lake, Rowan grew up playing as a competitive junior curler at the WLCC.
"It's been amazing, so much fun," Rowan said about coming back to visit, and spotting old teammates and coaches while playing on Bellamy's team.
She said the rink in Williams Lake is bigger than the one back home, and added it was nice to play with a variety of ages.
"Being competitive and yet still being able to laugh it off and have some fun, It's just...it's so much fun," she said about the tournament.
Team O'Bryan took first place and a $500 prize in men's A, a team combining players from Prince George and Williams Lake. The women's A winners were team Groundwater, local to Williams Lake, taking home a grand prize of $600.
As most teams attending the bonspiel were local to Williams Lake, it's no surprise the rest of the winners are also local teams. The men's team Sarauer and women's team Dunsmore each took first in B, and and men's team Mooney and women's team Rand took first in C.
Thanks to sponsors, each game won by a men's team awards them $80 and women's teams earn $20 for each game won.
The WLCC will be hosting its 56th annual Nifty Fifty Women's Curling Bonspiel from March 16 to the 19. This competition brings women over the age of 50 from all over the province to compete in Williams Lake. At the moment, there are 13 women over the age of 80 signed up for the upcoming tournament, including one woman at the age of 88.
"I always say, have you ever heard some grandma say 'Hey kids im sorry I can't host Sunday dinner this week because I am travelling across the province to go compete in a sporting event'," Bellamy said laughing.