Two highlights of the coming season are the US Wheelchair Curling playoffs scheduled for November 21-23 and the Grand National Men’s Curling playoffs scheduled for January 9-11.
Both of these events will bring teams competing at the national level to Belfast. They are not to be missed opportunities to watch great curling. The winner of the wheelchair event will go on to represent the US at the World Championships in Switzerland, January 19 – 24.
The Grand National winners will represent the eastern US at the national championships, held this year in Grand Forks, ND, February 28 – March 6.
The club sponsors the following international bonspiels (tournaments) annually and semi annually. Bonspiels draw curlers from New England and Eastern Canada to Belfast.
This years schedule includes the Ben Ames Williams mixed (men and women) January 16-18, Men’s Little International Feb 27-29, and the Wood Memorial March 19-21. The women’s Pine Tree Bonspiel is played every other year and is scheduled for February 13-15. In addition to the competitive ‘spiels, fun ‘spiels are scheduled throughout the season. These in-house events are theme based and focus on the less competitive side of curling.
Curling requires no special equipment and is fun for all ages. Curling is easy to learn, and skill development clinics are offered before the season starts and through the year.
Originally an outdoor sport, played on frozen lakes and rivers in Europe, curling was brought to North America by the Scots in the late 18th century. In the game, two four-person teams try to outscore each other while sliding 42-pound granite stones across the ice to a target area more than 120 feet away.
The Belfast Curling Club encourages handicapped curling and has a regular schedule for wheelchair curling as well as integrates handicapped curlers into regular league play.
The curling season includes opportunities to travel throughout the country and Canada to participate in bonspiels at other locations. For information call Bart Read 785 6134.
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