Curling

Curling has become a mainstream winter sport in Canada. Television has brought the sport into Canadian homes, and spectators are able to participate in the play of favourite teams in national and international briars. Curling is also an integral part of the BC Winter Games competitions, with large numbers of female, male and disabled athletes representing their BC communities.

The roots of curling are found in Scotland. An early curling stone inscribed with the date 1511 was found with another bearing the date 1551,when an old pond was drained at Dunblane, Scotland. The first written reference to a contest using stones on ice was found in the records of Paisley Abbey, Renfrew, in February 1541. The early stones were flat-bottomed river stones, sometimes notched or shaped; the thrower had little control over the rock, and relied more on luck than skill to win, in contrast with todayıs reliance on skill and strategy. Todayıs stones are cut precisely from granite with colored handles, so that teams and spectators more easily follow the play.

Curling came to Canada in 1760, soon after the British assumed control of Quebec City. The 89th Highlanders Regiment melted cannon balls to form stones and curled on the St. Charles River. In 1807, the Royal Mounted Curling Club was the first curling club formed in North America. In 1894,Golden became the first community in British Columbia to establish a curling club. In the early 1920ıs, Kimberley and Çhapman Camp formed curling clubs, and they joined the Crows ıNest Pass Curling Association, which had obtained its charter in 1912, covering southeast Alberta, Cranbrook, Bull River and Fernie. Cranbrookıs first curling rink was in Rotary Park, around 1915. A replacement 5 sheet rink was started in 1924 on the site of the present Kinsmen Arena.

Since those early days, curling in both Cranbrook and Kimberley has flourished, with both communities sending teams to national competitions. In 1964, Kimberley built a 6 sheet curling rink to go with the new hockey arena. In 1974, Cranbrook opened a new 8 sheet building in Balment Park, which today is adjacent to the Rec Plex.

Today, many young people are involved with curling and they will be represented by over a hundred athletes at the BC Winter Games. All the competitions will be held in the Cranbrook Curling Club Facility.

Location: Cranbrook Curling Club, 1777 2nd Street North (February 21 -24)

• Female Curlers (11-16): 40 athletes, 5 officials and 16 coaches
• Male Curlers(11-16):40 athletes,5 officials and 16 coaches
• Wheelchair: male and female (13 -55) 32 athletes, 2 officials and 8 coaches

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