Brandon men’s bonspiel returns
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/01/2023 (621 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
For the first time in three years, the Brandon men’s competitive bonspiel is back at the Brandon Curling Club.
A total of 10 rinks are competing in the event, with the highest placing eligible team earning a spot at next month’s Vittera Championship in Neepawa.
“Any time you can get something that brings a vibe and an energy back to the curling club, especially after COVID-19 pretty much put a halt to a lot of things here over the last couple of years, it is always exciting,” said Shawn Taylor, who is a co-ordinator for the event and is also skipping a rink.
Third James Hay delivers a rock for Jay Kinnaird’s rink from Virden during the opening draw of the Brandon men's competitive bonspiel at the Brandon Curling Club on Friday night. (Lucas Punkari/The Brandon Sun)
The men’s bonspiel was last held in 2020, with Cale Dunbar coming away with the Viterra berth following a 7-3 win over Ty Dilello.
At that time, the competitive event was held alongside the men’s recreational event.
That has now been combined with the Brandon ladies’ bonspiel for the Wheat City Curling Classic, which will be held at the Brandon and Riverview Curling Clubs next weekend.
“That works out great for some of the guys here as they might want to compete in that event,” Taylor said. “They have that opportunity now, which they didn’t in the past.”
In addition to Dunbar and Taylor, the triple-knockout event also features Chris Bridges (Rivers), Hayden Forrester (Fort Rouge), Steve Irwin (Brandon), Andrew Kempthorne (Brandon), Jay Kinnaird (Virden), Kelly Marnoch (Carberry), Rhilynd Peters (Morden) and Jeff Stewart (Gladstone).
Dunbar, Marnoch and Stewart have already earned their way to the Viterra from previous qualifying bonspiels, while Irwin’s rink clinched their berth by winning the Manitoba Curling Tour championship in Carberry last month.
After this weekend, only three spots will remain for this year’s Manitoba men’s provincials. Those berths are up for grabs at the upcoming Manitoba Open.
“When you look at the group of teams that are here, there’s a little bit of everything,” Taylor said.
“There’s some extra pressure for these rinks that haven’t gotten a spot at the Viterra yet and I’m sure some of them will be hoping that one of the rinks that are already going to Neepawa will end up in the final.”
Morden’s Rhilynd Peters gives instructions to his teammates during their 9-1 win over Andrew Kempthorne in the opening draw of the Brandon men’s competitive bonspiel on Friday night. (Lucas Punkari/The Brandon Sun)
In the opening draw on Friday night, Dunbar defeated Forrester 5-2, Peters cruised to a 9-1 triumph over Kempthorne, Marnoch beat Kinnaird 5-2 and Bridges prevailed in a 6-4 affair with Taylor.
Irwin and Stewart had byes into the late draw, which was in progress at press time.
Two winners each from the ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ events on Saturday advance to Sunday’s playoffs.
The quarterfinals take place at 9 a.m., the semifinals start at noon and the final begins at 3 p.m.
» lpunkari@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @lpunkari