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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - New memories were made and old ones were relived during the anniversary of a long-running and popular bonspiel in Fort Simpson.

Sixty-eight people on 17 teams competed in the 20th anniversary of the Merchants' Mixed Bonspiel from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. Despite celebrating this as an anniversary year, the history of the bonspiel in the village goes back even further, said Leah Keats, the president of the Fort Simpson Curling Club.

Members of Team Finning from Hay River including, from left, Jeff Bendell, Kyle Wright, Leah Plett and Wyatt Scheller won the A event at the Merchants' Mixed Bonspiel in Fort Simpson over the weekend. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The bonspiel has been held for 20 years at the current location but its origins can be traced as far back as the late 1970s. A resident has a trophy from the 1981 bonspiel and is confident that wasn't the first year for the event, Keats said.

She credited the amount of fun that everyone has at the event for the bonspiel's long and successful history.

"That's what the Merchants is about, it's just a fun weekend. Competition ends up being an afterthought," she said.

The Merchants brings out a mix of people, including regular curlers, people who used to curl and haven't in a while and even first-time curlers. The event even draws out-of-town curlers.

Ken and Anna Davidge, long-time village residents who moved away just over two years ago, made the trip from Grande Cache, Alta., to visit friends and play in the event.

The couple has played in 19 of the last 20 Merchants' bonspiels as well as some at the old rink Even after all those years the event continues to be exciting for them.

"It's just the fun of the whole thing, the atmosphere," said Anna. "It's a great place to meet everybody when you come back."

A team that had less distance to travel took home the title for this year's bonspiel

Wyatt Scheller, Leah Plett, Kyle Wright and Jeff Bendell on Team Finning from Hay River won first place in the A event.

The Hay River team went undefeated in all three of their games before heading into the finals against the Bushwhackers, a Fort Simpson team composed of Terry and Brian Jaffray, Val Gendron and Roger Pilling. The game started with Finning taking a point in both the first and second ends. The teams then blanked in the third end.

The teams shook hands after the fourth end when the Bushwhackers missed the final shot allowing Finning to get five points and win the game 7-0.

The members of Team Finning were making their shots and capitalizing on opponents' missed shots, said Scheller, the skip.

"We were just having a good time," he said.

Making good shots, as well as reading the unpredictable ice on sheet two, is what helped Team Gyro win in the B event, according the team's skip Liza McPherson.

After losing their first game and winning the next two, Team Gyro, including Erin Wyatt, Darrell Littlechild and Shannon Hilsden, faced off against the Paperweights in the B finals.

After a close start to the game Gyro pulled ahead in the seventh and eight ends to win the game 8-4.

"It was fun. It was good to come out and curl again," McPherson said.

The Paperweights, including Scott Cameron, Lisa Moore, Steve Catto and Troy Searson took second place.

In the C event Team Munro, composed of Colin Munro, Leah Keats, Jennifer Thistle and Glen Burritt took first. Team Harold, comprising Brian and Diane Harold and Dwayne and Tina Verge, took second.

In addition to the camaraderie and competition, the Merchants also stands out because of the support it garners from local businesses, said Keats.

"We always get incredible support from the merchants," she said.

At least $15,000 worth of goods and services were given away in the team prizes and the elimination draws at the bonspiel, Keats said.

Kevin Menicoche won the largest prize in the elimination draw, a trip for two anywhere Canadian North flies.