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Fort Simpson dominates curling
Bonspiel, Firefighters Tournament go to village teams

April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 11, 2016

LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Two curling championships over two consecutive weekends saw Fort Simpson teams come out on top.

NNSL photo/graphic

Vanessa Murtsell and her team came out as champions of the B Division during the Merchants Bonspiel, which took place from Jan. 29 to 31. Murtsell's team, the Sweeping Beauties, included Laurie Nadia, Alison Brown and Cait Blyth. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

From Feb. 5 to 7, curlers took to the rink in the village recreation centre to participate in the Territorial Firefighters Tournament.

Four Fort Simpson teams faced off against a team from Hay River, with the winner expected to travel to Truro, N.S. for a national game.

The tournament was a friendly match with Roger Pilling, Scott Whitmore, Kirby Groat, Pat Rowe and Laurie Nadia placing first.

Player Neil Mitchell said despite Fort Simpson's win, Hay River would be taking on the nationals. Hay River placed second.

"The team that won couldn't commit to it this year, and Hay River was in second place so they'll go," Mitchell explained.

Roger Pilling said his team has gone to nationals many times in the past but were just too busy for it this year.

Mitchell said one highlight of the tournament was a prime rib dinner on Feb. 6, hosted by himself and Pilling.

As for the territorial tournament, Pilling said it was fun.

"It gives us a chance to interact between departments, talk about what the other departments are doing," he said.

In the past, the tournament has drawn as many as five communities at a time. In recent years, however, only Hay River and Fort Simpson participated.

The Firefighters Tournament followed on the heels of the Merchants Bonspiel, which ran Jan. 29 to 31 and attracted 17 teams.

The bonspiel began at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29 and saw curlers play past midnight.

Games began again the following day at 8 a.m. The tournament's final game was played on Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

The ultimate winner of that tournament was Fort Simpson's Colin Munro with teammates Leah Keats, Wayne McKay and Lynn McKay.

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