Because of one Togo family’s dedication to the sport of curling, and their ability to attract a “slough of volunteers,” ice was made, 14 teams signed up and a mixed bonspiel was held at Togo.
The Tyson Leis rink of Kamsack, with Alison Stefuik, Trevor Shabatoski and Chris Leis, topped the first event of the bonspiel that was held February 13 to 17 on two sheets of natural ice.
Placing second, third and fourth in the first event were the Jeff Airriess rink of Togo, Dawn Krawetz of Kamsack and Loretta Erhardt of Togo.
Mike Ruf of Togo, curling with Tom Longthorne, Al Staub and Michael Fedoruk won the second event. Doug Elsasser of Togo placed second; Zac Petruk of Togo, third, and Robert Ferguson of Roblin, fourth.
The Ralph Hilderman rink of Togo topped the third event. He curled with Brock Camsell, Rosalie Hilderman, Ralph Hilderman and Ed Guenther.
The Craig Mohr rink of San Clara placed second in the event; Jared Ruf of Kamsack was third and Linda McGinnis of Roblin, fourth.
The Togo District Curling Club folded 2016 and the future of curling in Togo was unclear, said information from the organizers of the bonspiel. This year, ice was made for the Togo curling rink by a group of people spearheaded by Wayne and Jeff Airriess.
Supper was catered by a group of volunteers organized by Donna Airriess and donations were made by local businesses from “both sides of the border.”
Overall the partial week and all day Saturday curling was well attended and was considered to have been a huge success, the information said. “This was definitely a community effort and wouldn't have been successful without everyone pulling together.”
The ice is still in excellent condition and the Airriess family is willing to keep it ready for anyone who would like to use the ice for another bonspiel, or a single night of curling, it said.
