It’s been a very busy first two months at the Creston Curling Centre, and as the season continues to roll on into December the club would like to take the opportunity to highlight its junior program.
On Nov. 17, opening night this year, a record 42 kids turned out to try the sport for free. This turned into 48 kids registered for the program. This is the fourth year running the Tuesday night junior program, which wraps up Feb. 13 with a one-day bonspiel.
The program is thriving and the club would like to express its appreciation for the new equipment that it was able to buy in the off-season. Through generous grants from the Columbia Basin Trust, the Town of Creston and ViaSport, the club was able to ensure the juniors had some great quality equipment to use at the rink. Regional District of Central Kootenay Area A donated $175, both areas B and C gave $1,500, the town donated $714 and ViaSport granted $2,000.
With the money, the club purchased gear from the curling company Asham, which gave it a great discount, allowing it to buy almost twice the amount of equipment for the same price. The club bought 24 junior-sized brooms, 50 regular-sized brooms, 95 grippers and 80 sliders. The club was also able to have 14 members take the club coaches workshop in October, which will help with coaching both junior players and new curlers. A new curlers workshop is planned again this year in January.
The club was able to go to Erickson Elementary School this year to run the Sticks and Stones curling introduction program during gym class for grades 3-7. In the new year, Erickson, Adam Robertson Elementary School, Homelinks and Mormon Hills schools have all had interest in getting their classes on the ice.
The junior program was a success thanks to the effort of volunteers and coaches Cathy Robinson, Doug Hannah, Patrick Eddy, Laddie Pavlis, Greg Terrill, Ted Hutchinson, and Kelly and Dale Moberg.
Terry O’Connor and Ross Gowan have been coaching the high school boys and girls teams, and the girls team recently participated in the Own the Podium weekend workshop in Grand Forks.
The future is bright for curling in Creston, and the equipment and coaches will help us open the game up to many more kids and newcomers for years to come.
—BY ANDREW McINNIS