BARRHEAD – The senior curlers held a four-person curling bonspiel at the Barrhead Curling Club on March 25 and March 26.
“It’s a group of really positive people who are happy to get along,” said Louise Nielsen, president of the seniors curling club.
“We have a big meal, drink beer and laugh.”
Twelve teams played in the two-day bonspiel with each team playing three to four games.
Henry Lappin, one of the bonspiel curlers and club members was winning so far on March 25.
He joked with other curlers about the last game being close when he had won by four points.
Lappin felt it was close because he could have missed that last shot, but he didn’t which got reactions from the group.
He has been playing for 14 years since he retired and is now 84 years old.
Lappin is well known in the area for his spectacular Christmas light display of over 25,000 lights.
Nielsen said there were 42 playing curlers in the seniors curling club and 62 curlers in the stick curling group although some people play in both groups.
Players ages range from just retired at 65 to the oldest player who is 88 years old.
They don't keep track of scores and each individual win is a win. The group is quite casual and welcoming.
Neilsen said she wishes more people would try curling. People are concerned they can slip on the ice and curlers wear grippers on their shoes to reduce the chance of falling, but with the seniors curling players don't have to get down in the hock to throw the rock – instead, they can use sticks to push the rocks.
Each fall the seniors curling club organizes a try-out day where people can come and get help from an experienced curler to get on the ice and try curling.
If they like it, they are welcome to join the group.
Curlers really enjoy being part of the group and are really disappointed if they can’t curl each week. This year the ice was down for a week and Nielsen said club members were very disappointed.
Nielsen and Lappin have a relationship based on licorice – he brings it and she eats it.
The club is a social outing and is great for exercise regardless of the person’s mobility.
Nielsen invited anyone interested to be sure to come out when the curling starts next year and get involved for the sheer fun of it.
