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Creston Curling Centre hosting 67th annual Butterfly Bonspiel

For the second time in a month, the Creston Curling Centre will be packed when 48 teams take part in the 67th annual Butterfly Bonspiel...

For the second time in less than a month, the Creston Curling Centre will be packed when 48 teams take part in the 67th annual Butterfly Bonspiel.

About half of those teams are from out of town, with competitors visiting from as far away as Calgary. As with February’s Valentine Bonspiel, two teams from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, will participate.

“The only time they really get to curl is when they come up here,” said Vern Ronmark, one of the organizers.

The action starts at 1 p.m. this afternoon and runs into the evening, and, with the exception of dinner breaks, from 8 a.m.-midnight on Friday and Saturday. The finals will run on Sunday afternoon, when spectators and players alike will see if Creston teams win the A, B, C and D events, as they did last year.

The bonspiel often draws a lot of spectators.

“Some people come to see who’s there,” said Ronmark. “Many have curled before, and they go up to see if a team they’ve curled against from out of town is there.”

And that social aspect is one of the best parts of the game.

“It’s about the camaraderie and getting together with other folks,” said Ronmark. “You enjoy the game, then you go to the lounge and visit over a beer.”