55 Plus Games

4 MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES 55 PLUS GAMES | SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games continue to introduce age-friendly events that encourage participation regardless of age. This year, stick curling — a sport that came to Manitoba about 13 years ago — will be showcased at the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games in Glenboro. In total, 16 two-player stick curling teams will compete in a bonspiel to be held at Glenboro Curling Club, March 21. The regular curling event will be held in the same venue the following day, on March 22 "Stick curling first came to Manitoba with the 2005 Two-person Stick Curling Provincial Championship held in Grand Marais," says stick curling enthusiast Fred Spiring. "It then came to Winnipeg in 2006 when Ernie Oliver helped organize the start of stick curling leagues in the city. The first was at the Fort Rouge Curling Club. From there, it just grew and grew. Leagues have doubled and tripled." In a nutshell, stick curling — which was developed to enable older curlers with mobility issues to continue to play the game they love — involves using a modified stick to propel a curling stone down the ice at rocks in the distant house from a standing or seated position. Here's what a typical stick curling game looks like, in case you haven't experienced one firsthand: teams are comprised of two players, with games being six ends in length (rather than the standard eight or 10 ends). Each player throws six rocks. There's no sweeping involved, and teams simply throw rocks back and forth — six one way, then six the other — until the game is completed. "It's comparable to doubles curling," says Spiring. "The free guard zone is different, as the first three rocks in play can't be removed. There are a good number of rocks in play, too. While there's a good bit of strategy involved, it's basically a race to the button, much like in doubles." He adds that the six-end games don't take up nearly as much time as eight- end games — a real plus for both curlers and spectators. "Stick curling games usually take an hour or so to complete," says Spiring. "You can basically get in two stick games for every one regular, eight-end game. The other great thing about stick games is that they're easier to organize; you only need two people for a team rather than four." However, while the games are easier to organize, the skills needed to play the game at a high level aren't necessarily easy to develop. "Getting draw weight with the stick can be a bit more difficult, so some time and effort has to be put in to develop it," Spiring says. "As you might imagine, it's easier to do take-outs. It's still as strategic as conventional curling, though." Not to mention just as competitive. "Make no mistake about it, the teams are very competitive despite being more advanced in years," he says. "At the same time, everyone gets along well because the participants are older and have the (mellower) life perspective that comes with being around into their 50s, 60s and beyond. The coffee and conversation after games is often the best part. The players replay the highlights of the game and toast each other for their efforts." It will be a whirlwind day for competitors in the two stick curling categories — 55-plus and 70-plus. "Every team will get three games, and eight teams will get four games if they advance to the playoffs," adds Spiring. "The field (of 16 teams) is now full. It should be a great day of stick curling. We are very pleased the stick curling event has already reached full capacity in its inaugural year." ❙ Stick curling involves using a modified stick to propel a curling stone down the ice at rocks in the distant house from a standing or seated position. STICK WITH IT BY TODD LEWYS FOR THE FREE PRESS Stick curling was developed to enable curlers with mobility issues to continue to play the game they love. SUBMITTED PHOTO

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