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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Rocks were spinning and gliding over the ice as the Fort Simpson Curling Club hosted its first event of the season.

Teammates Shane Dominey, left, and Val Gendron sweep hard to get a rock into place. Team Pilling and Friends, comprised of Roger Pilling, Gendron, Dominey and Trish Clough, won the Cashspiel. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Four teams participated in the Cashspiel on Dec. 3.

"It went over really well," said organizer Pat Rowe. "Everyone out there had a lot of fun, I think."

Rowe said the club was hoping for more participation, but had made the decision to hold the event as long as there was a minimum of four teams.

The bonspiel followed a round-robin format with each team playing three games.

After the last rock had been thrown, Team Pilling and Friends emerged undefeated in first place. The team included skip Roger Pilling, Val Gendron, Trish Clough and Shane Dominey.

Pilling said the win was a team effort and made special mention of Clough and Dominey, who are new to the team and to the sport.

"They're just obviously natural athletes," Pilling said. "They have good mechanics."

The most challenging competition in the bonspiel came from Pat and the Sweeping Beauties skipped by Rowe, said Pilling.

At one point Pilling's team was ahead 8-0 but the Sweeping Beauties got one and then stole two until they were only five points behind by the sixth end.

"Things can change pretty fast," he said.

The Sweeping Beauties finished second in the bonspiel. Rowe credited his three female teammates, Laurie Ozmun, Vanessa Murtsell and Alison Brown, for the team's success.

"When you have your beauties out there, there's very little chance of losing," he said.

Third place in the bonspiel with one win went to Off Constantly made up of skip Michael Rowe, Sheldon Brown and Tyler Pilling.

The Paperweights, with skip Scott Cameron, Justin Byatt, Nina Squires and Aaron Donohue, finished in fourth place.

The bonspiel was more about having a good time than curling competitively, said Pilling.

Despite the small number of teams Pilling said he was glad the event was held.

Each team won a prize in the Cashspiel, $100 to match their original entry free and an extra $5.

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