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Bentley Senior’s ‘spiel a social event

Twenty-eight teams participated in the 2014 modified 4-event Bentley Senior's Bonspiel that ran from January 13 through 17.
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Winner of the Bentley 2014 Senior’s Bonspiel A Event was the team skipped by Cliff Carson from Lacombe

Twenty-eight teams participated in the 2014 modified 4-event Bentley Senior's Bonspiel that ran from January 13 through 17. The number of teams were down slightly from the usual 30 or 32 teams due to last minute cancellations.

"People like one game a day, with daytime curling, and knowing ahead of time what time they curl for their first three games," said volunteer organizer Ralph Scarlett.

Bentley is known for feeding its entrants well every day, especially with homemade desserts and this year soup as well, and for providing a banquet catered by Lora Walker on the Thursday night for all curlers and guests.

Many of the winners this year have won before.

The undefeated A Event winner was the Lacombe team of skip Cliff Carson, third Doreen Deardoff, second Craig Shaw, and lead Harvey Rice. They defeated the local Gary Sparrow team 8-3 after 7 ends. The Jim Bruns team placed third, and Merle Craven fourth.

Skip Bill Gibson, third Lonnie Staples, second Marvin Bruce and lead Merla Gibson from Red Deer won the B-event by defeating the local Merlyn Wilson team 9-2 after 7 ends, making Earl Carson third and Dwight Homan fourth.

There were two C-event final games.  Tom Barker, Dick Draves, Bob McKay, and Jo Hambling were ahead of the Lorne Stewart rink 5-1 after 6 ends but Stewart came back to tie the game 5-5 at the end of eight, so there was a throw off to the button.  Barker was the eventual winner.

In the other hard fought C-event game, after being tied 5-5 after 6 ends, John Hatala, Arnold Kubista, Lois Johnston, and Cecil Galloway ended up defeating the Bill Hanrahan foursome 7-5 when Hanrahan missed his last shot of the eighth end.

The D-event was played out to the fours. Placing were the teams of Chris Jensen, Norm Crossman, Ralph Scarlett, and Doug Culshaw.

"All prizes were cash, but it isn't about the winning for the seniors, it is about the socializing," says Scarlett.