Whitehorse Curling Club’s International Bonspiel celebrates 65th year

The women’s ‘A’ Division final at the Whitehorse Curling Club’s International Bonspiel was a showdown between Travellers Team of new and old.

In the end, Laura Eby’s rink of third Lorna Spenner, second Janine Peters and lead Tamar Vandenberghe, who were the women’s Traveller’s Team this season won 8-5 over the Dorosz rink. Skip Peggy Dorosz, third Laini Klassen, second Kandice Braga and lead Inge Brown earned the right to represent the club next season as the women’s Traveller’s Team earlier in the year.

In the men’s ‘A’ Division, a rink out of Fairbanks prevailed over the local favourites. Skip Bill Gryder, third Dave Miller, second Bert Mitman and lead Ethan Birkholm won 7-4 over Whitehorse’s skip Doug Hamilton rink of third Robb Andison, second Don Duncan, and lead Lee Malanchuck .

A new addition to this year’s competition was the mixed division. In the ‘A’ Division, Scott Cameron’s rink of third Carrie McClelland, second Troy Searson and lead Julia Alghren, won 6-4 over Team Devon McDowal – third Courtney Miklos, second Kate Morrison and lead Ethan Vanhavel – of Fairbanks.

The Most Sportsmanlike Award was given to Team Hayashi, who have only been curling for three months and made the ‘D’ final in the men’s division.

Volunteer of the Year went to Ev Pasichnyk.

The ice makers, Don Duncan, Dustin Mikkelsen and Ray Mikkelsen were also thanked at the awards ceremony.

This season marked the 65th year of the International Bonspiel.

Other division results

Women’s ‘B’: Mikkelsen over Hanlon 8-2

April Mikkelsen’s rink of third Laura Williamson, second Shani Board Rittel and lead Cheryl Meger defeated Fairbanks’ Team Hanlon – skip Martha Hanlon, third Sue Sprinkle, second Jeanette Smith and lead Brooke Haley – 8-2 in the final.

Women’s ‘C’: Strong over Johnson 8-6

Team Strong – skip Helen Strong, third Kim Brown, second Margie Peters and lead Emily Jarvis – won 8-6 over Team Johnson – skip Ellen Johnson, third Ev Pasichnyk, second Nancy Kowalyshen and lead Cindy Birnie.

Men’s ‘B’: Stuart over Kowalyshen 6-2

Darol Stuart’s rink of third Herb Balsam, second Lorenzo Roberti and lead Clarence Jack won 6-2 over Team Kowalyshen – skip Brian Kowalyshen, third J. Nolan, second Breyin Wiens and lead Jim Price.

Men’s ‘C’: Mikkelson over Taylor 8-2

Men’s ‘C’ division saw Dustin Mikkelsen’s rink of third Scott Williamson, second Brandon Hagen and lead Rob Mckinnon win 8-2 over Frank Taylor’s team of third Gary Brown, second Wayne Braga and lead Vendun Noel.

Men’s ‘D’: Kopan over Hayashi 7-6

Team Kopan – skip Wade Kopan, third Scott Boone, second Mike Moore and lead Eoin Sheridian – won 7-6 over Tetsuya Hayahi’s rink of lead Kei Takayama, second Ryota Kubo and lead Shion Okamoto.

Mixed ‘B’: Hill over Harding 13-0

Dave Hill’s rink of third Jamie Hewitt, second Alrich and lead Alexx Kopan won 13-0 against Sue Harding’s rink of third Steve Traynor , second Gaylene Shoemaker and lead Shawna Ryan.

This article has been updated to reflect team orders.