CURLING CLUB CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
Posted 1 month ago
By Mark Ribble
Of the Leamington Post
The Sun Parlour Curling Club had humble beginnings in the Leamington area, when curlers got together, weather permitting, on the farm of Harold and Elliot Scott and curled on their pond.
After a five year stint at the Leamington Arena, the club finally got their own digs in 1959, when the H.J. Heinz Company donated the land where the club still makes its home on Seacliff Drive.
The Heinz company was an important factor in the club's beginnings as many of their employees joined the club from the outset and some are still active today.
In many cases, Heinz managers had their club fees paid by the company in an effort to promote the sport among the employees.
This past weekend, the Sun Parlour Curling Club launched their season-long 50th anniversary celebration with a bonspiel and open house at the club.
Doug Scott is one of those original charter members who is still active in the club today. He was named honorary chairperson for the 50th anniversary celebrations, and was at the club participating in the bonspiel.
Curlers came from as far away as Bowling Green, Ohio to compete at the weekend event. Eighteen teams in three categories competed with the preliminary rounds Friday night and the championships on Sunday.
Wallace Ellsworth's team won the Men's division, defeating a team skipped by Doug Uyesugi.
In the Senior Men's division, Wayne Quinn led his team to victory over a team skipped by Gord Ellis.
In the Ladies final, Gayle Hyatt's team came from behind to beat a team skipped by Linda Patkau.
On Saturday, the bonspiel was well approaching its midway point when club president John Couvillon and vice president Gord Wonnick sat down with the Post.
Wonnick was born and raised in Manitoba, and now makes Leamington his home.
He remembers curling as a child on ponds with jam pails filled with water and then frozen to use as curling rocks.
He also remembers a time when women weren't allowed to curl at night, and children under 18 were not allowed in the curling clubs. Things are different now.
“I started curling when I was 12, and still enjoy it today”, he said.
Wonnick added that getting the youngsters involved is the key to the future of the club. They have a “Little Rockers” division, which curls on Sundays for those 18 and under.
“The kids have fun and learn the game, and we have qualified instructors on site,” he said.
Sun Parlour is a member of the Ontario Curling Association and all of their events are OCA sanctioned.
“As a sacntioned club, all of our members can enter both provincial and national events,” John Couvillon added.
Couvillon talked about the membership and how the club is always welcoming new members, especially the younger generations.
“We'd really like to dispel the notion that curling is an elitist sport”, he said.
People who curl come from all walks of life, and the sport is not expensive to play.
“You can curl for a season for far less than what it costs to golf or bowl,” said Couvillon.
Right now a new member can join for half of the regular new member cost. That's $92.50 for a full season of curling, which has just begun. You could also get a half season for about $47 and curl the months of January, February and March.
To get into the sport, the cost factor is relatively low. You really only require a good pair of running shoes and warm clothing. The club will provide the broom and you're ready to begin curling.
The club has open curling times throughout the season where they take in new curlers and show them the sport up close and personal.
“Just give us a call and we'll find an opening for you,” says Couvillon.
They will give you instruction too.
Over the course of the curling season, the club hopes to have many events to celebrate their 50 years.
They lead off and end every season with a “swing and sweep”, which allows participants to golf and curl all in one event.
A stick curling demonstration was held on Sunday, with local members taking part as well.
Stick curling was developed out of the need for a curling aid to help curlers who could no longer get down on one knee to throw their rock.
A “stick” is used to push the rock instead of the participant getting down to curl it. The rules are modified to allow for the difference in throwing.
Couvillon hopes it will catch on and attract even more new members.
“We have a great sport here, and so many non-curlers just have no idea how much fun it is to come and curl and enjoy the social aspect of the sport,” he said.
The weekend included a banquet held on Saturday night, where Ontario Curling Association representative Rob McKinlay presented the club with a plaque for their 50 years.
