The Cochrane Super Seniors Bonspiel will be held in from Nov. 22 to 25 at the new curling facility in Spray Lake Sawmill Family Sports Centre.
The tournament expects 160 curlers from Cochrane, Airdrie and Calgary to participate from age 50 to 91 years, including a “Sturling group,” which is exclusively for a two-person team of stick curlers, and they will be playing modified curling rules.
The modified rules mean each game is scheduled for eight ends but can be shortened to five or six ends, and the scoring is the same as in a regular game of curling.
The only major difference between regular curling and doubles is the positioning of the two stones – one per team – that are set before the beginning of each end.
Other changes to the modified rules include the following: Each team shall receive 22 minutes of thinking, while there will be a four-minute break after the completion of the fourth end. Each team shall also deliver five stones … the player delivering the team’s first stone must also deliver the team’s last stone of that end, while the other team members will deliver the team’s second, third and forth stones for that end. The player delivering the first stone can change from end to end.
Organizer Bob Head says the tournament has become quite special over the past few years.
“The event has developed into a premier curling event over the past few years and this year is expected to be even better,” Head said.
“Each evening we have planned social events in the upstairs lounge with a dance on the Friday (Nov. 24) and the windup of prizes and banquet on Saturday (Nov. 25) evening.”
There will also be an abundance of silent and vocal auctions items, which were supplied by businesses in Cochrane.
