It was a bittersweet feeling for many curlers competing in the 56th Annual International Bonspiel on Sunday at the Whitehorse Curling Club.

On one hand, Sunday's competition featured all of the prize winners, but the bonspiel also marked the official end of the curling season for 2007-08.

The International is one of the largest and most historic bonspiels hosted at the curling club.

There were two separate sections for men and women and the competition is open to anyone 12 years old and over.

Curlers at the bonspiel were competing for a wide variety of prizes that the Whitehorse Curling Club purchased for the event.

There were more than $5,000 worth of prizes for the bonspiel, ranging anywhere from $50 to $150.

Draw prizes were also given out every day of the bonspiel and there were 50/50 draws for each of the four days as well.

Among the draw prizes were return air fares to Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary with Air North valued at $500 each.

Curlers at the bonspiel also had the option of taking part in a banquet, which was held on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. and featured live entertainment.

Curlers in the International got in for free, while all other guests had to pay $20.

Competition began on Thursday and the bonspiel featured a more traditional curling format, using an 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' event for both the men's and women's sections.

This format favours the more skilled curlers and as long as a competitor keeps winning, he or she would remain in the 'A' event. Curlers at the International were guaranteed at least three games and some played upwards of six all together.

The team that finishes first in the 'A' event for both the men's and women's category had first selection at the prize table.

This occurred at an awards banquet in the Grey Mountain room, which followed Sunday's competition.

The Men's 'A' event featured the only two undefeated teams in the men's category between the Hilderman Rink and the Wasnea Rink. Both teams were 5-0 coming into Sunday.

After a scoreless first end, Wasnea made a clutch shot with the hammer in the second frame to score three.

Wasnea, who was already lying two, drew right up against one of Hilderman's stones in the eight-foot to gain the extra point.

Hilderman cut into the lead in the third end, hitting and sticking for one point to close the deficit to 3-1. However, the fourth proved to be another big end for Wasnea.

The rink took advantage of having the hammer again to hit and stuck for two points for their largest lead of the game.

In the sixth end with the score still 5-1, Hilderman made a great shot to prevent Wasnea from stealing two.

Hilderman drew to the button to score the one point.

Wasnea came right back in the seventh end, scoring one after a double takeout shot removed two Hilderman stones out of the house.

The game ended after eighth end with Hilderman conceding after crashing up against one of the guards with his final shot, which gave Wasnea a steal of one point.

The final score was 7-2.

George Hilderman said the team didn't curl as well as they had in their previous games at the bonspiel.

"Today we were a little bit flat," he said.

"Our previous games we came out and shot real well.

Today the opposition gave us a really hard time.

They made most of their hits.

We played well as a team together, it's just that the opposition didn't make too many mistakes."

This is the second time he has competed in the International bonspiel. Hilderman won the Men's 'D' event two years ago.

He said his only expectations were to have fun and that both he and the team enjoyed taking part in the bonspiel

"I would recommend this to anybody and that is what we are trying to do, is attract more out-of-town teams," he said.

"Knowing that when you go out there the camaraderie is there and the ice surface is one of the best in Canada.

So there are no surprises there and the hospitality of the club is just fantastic."

Brian Wasnea said he was pleased about the victory on Sunday.

"It is always good to win a bonspiel," he said.

"It's a long weekend and a lot of tough curling.

There is a lot of good teams and of course there is a lot of recreational partying going on, so that makes it even better and just gratifying to win."

He said his team curled well during the competition.

"The guys were accurate.

They were in the game," Wasnea said.

"They were curling at their potential and of course that makes my shots easier."

Wasnea said he was happy about being able to finish the season with a victory.

"I think I can say for all curlers if you can get to Sunday in a Bonspiel and win the thing, it's the best feeling you have and the best you can do."