It’s not quite the Brier or the Scotties, but the World Curling Tour’s Weatherford Curling Classic is set to return after 2013’s inaugural event.
The tournament running from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 gives Estevan’s Power Dodge Curling Centre the opportunity to host a premier curling event with world tour points and a $32,000 purse up for grabs.
Pauline Ziehl-Grimsrud, manager at the curling centre, said she is excited the tournament is taking off following last year’s success.
"It was a huge step for us to take on this event. Brent Gedak (helped spearhead) this event. We're excited this year,” said Ziehl-Grimsrud. “I think we have a very good lineup of curlers coming in. Sometimes in rural Saskatchewan, we don't think about curling till Christmas or after Christmas, but it's not the reality for competitive curlers. A lot of them have been on the ice since September. For us to have an event before Christmas is important.”
Last year’s tournament saw a team from China, Team China’s Olympic team in fact, skipped by Liu Rui, compete and capture the title. The skip and his team were using the competition as one of their preparations leading up to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. He won a 5-2 match against Bruce Korte’s team in the final.
"We're pretty happy with the fact we can host this event. It's financially very important. There are only four WCT events in the province this year. There are not a lot of opportunities for Saskatchewan teams to play in their home province and get World Curling Tour points,” added Ziehl-Grimsrud.
The tournament will have 16 teams. She noted there are a number of teams that haven't committed yet, but added they aren’t “in the business of turning teams away.”
Estevan’s Gedak will again be competing alongside defending Saskatchewan champ Steve Laycock. Gedak’s squad recently won the Moose Jaw cash bonspiel.
Other competitors will include Brent Pierce (past provincial champ from B.C.), Randy Bryden, Scott Bitz, Jamie Schneider, Josh Heidt, Drew Heidt and Jeff Hartung.
Sunday's timbit program is full again. The curling club’s new icemaker, Owen Hayward, from B.C. will be the instructor for it.
Hayward is excited to be a part of the hosting rink, and is a former competitive curler in his native province.
"I’ve rounded up a competitive team to take on the pros and give them a run for their money, having knocked heads with former Brier participants Jay Peachey, Brian Miki and Andrew Bilesky over the years.”
Bilesky was the B.C. champion in 2013.
"Bring your kids and cheer on your locals,” Hayward said, encouraging Energy City curling fans and other sport lovers to take in the pro event.
Upcoming events at the Power Dodge Curling Centre:
Curl Sask. Curling Camp for Youth – Nov. 21-22
KUDU Youth spiel – Jan. 16-17
Men's and Ladies Bonspiel – Jan. 30 - Feb. 1
Traveller's Regionals (formerly the Dominion) – March 6-8.
Corporate Bonspiel – March 13-15
OTS Bonspiel — March 26-29
