As renowned curler William Shakespeare said: “Winning this bonspiel, even by any other name, will still be just as sweet”
By Bill McGuire
Public Relations Chair
Cornwall Curling Club
If you mention ‘Red and Blue’ at this time of the year anywhere else on PEI except in Cornwall and area, you will likely get a query if someone was involved in an accident, mishap or brawl – and how extensive are the red welts and purple bruises.
Fortunately, things are not that physical on the ice at the Cornwall Curling Club.
The Red and Blue is the well-known nickname for the annual closing bonspiel to mark the end of another curling season. Curlers are grouped into two divisions – based on the colour of the rocks — and then battle each other on the ice for wins, points, title and bragging rights. Players basically remain in the same group for life – until those handles are pried from their cold, arthritic hands.
The competition is friendly but intense and this year will be no exception. The bantering has already started, and those bragging rights will carry over well into the new year.
Red and Blue bonspiel co-chairs Shauna McGill and Sue Pollard – the past president and social committee chair respectively on the board of directors – have been hard at work for weeks organizing the event and are confident it will match the success of the April 2023 historic finale.
Last season, the Red and Blue was selected as the bonspiel to celebrate the Cornwall Curling Club’s 40th anniversary. There were several special events during the closing spiel to mark 40 years of curling in Cornwall, and original Founders, board members and volunteers were singled out for special attention and thanks – those original members who played a key role in founding the club and guiding it through its formative years.
All that being said, this will likely also be the last year for the long-running Red and Blue bonspiel – well, sort of.
But, fear not, the bonspiel will continue, only under a slightly different name, the Red and Yellow. As Shakespeare said, a rose by any other name will smell just as sweet.
The colour change is one of necessity since the blue rock handles are being retired at the end of this season and are being replaced by the more popular and widely used yellow handles. This will all come to pass if our new rocks arrive in time for the 2024-2025 season and the club’s board of directors feel confident this will happen. The new handles will go on the new rocks and hopefully that will occur by this fall.
You can watch any bonspiel or curling event on television or go into any other curling club, and most rock handles are red and yellow. The board of directors decided on the colour change after a number of requests from members, because the blue handles are simply harder to see, especially at the far end during game action. Blue stones on blue circles are just a tough combination.
Our rocks are more than 42 years old, have different weights and the striking bands are worn. For the past three years, the club has held a fundraiser to replace the aging stones, and now, with some expected government help, it looks like our five-year timetable for new rocks will advance by a couple of years.
A positive decision on the provincial government help to assist the club’s fundraising efforts to buy new rocks is expected this spring. If that happens, then rocks will be ordered shortly afterward and should be here and ready for use this fall, in time for the start of the 2024-2025 season. The total cost will be over $70,000.
Board members have been busy selling new yellow handles most of the season and the final one or two were just sold in recent days, so members, sponsors and businesses will have their names on the new handles for many years to come.
A new tradition will launch next year – the Red and Yellow. It may sound a little different for the first year or so, and who knows, the ‘Red and Yeller’ might become a popular nickname. Several full-voiced skips at the club – and you know who you are – may appreciate it.
One curler suggested – perhaps tongue-in-cheek – that Ketchup and Mustard might be an apt nickname in the future, with the MVP or top team being named the Hotdog award winner.
But back to the April 5-6 final Red and Blue.
The sign-up sheet has been busy with room for just a few more slots out of the 96 spots available, said club manager Travis Jones.
McGill says it’s encouraging to see such strong support and she and Pollard are hopeful of a sellout. “It’s looking good to a full field.”
Teams will play three, six-end games — one Friday night and two more on Saturday – sandwiched around a 1:00pm banquet (a hot roast beef dinner) “to accommodate as many curlers as possible,” said McGill.
“That started last year to have more people available for the meal.” Daytime curlers and others who participate in the Red and Blue can come out to the banquet. The awards presentations will take place immediately after the final game late Saturday afternoon.
“Juniors and younger curlers have their own competition, and stick curlers and some daytimers, along with evening curlers,” will all compete in the Red and Blue. Each group will keep track of their points, and they will be added to the Red and Blue totals at the end of play April 6 to determine the overall winner. Eight daytime teams will join 16 evening teams for the two-day final bonspiel.
McGill said Team Blue has won the past two years, much to her chagrin, since she plays on Team Red. McGill says she is looking forward to getting revenge this year, especially since manager Jones insists on adding “GO BLUE” at the end of every email. “He likes to rub it in.”
McGill said registration is $40 which includes three games, breakfast, the banquet, snacks and a chance for some door prizes and team prizes.
“If anyone wants to contribute to the door prizes, we will take anything they can give us.”
McGill said there has been no title sponsor the past several years after the previous sponsor decided to switch to supporting a decal on the ice surface. “So, it’s a club run event, with donations.”
McGill said she’d like to see a title sponsor come forward as the club has much success with sponsorships for other bonspiels and events during the year. (Another update on Cornwall club sponsors is coming soon to the website.)
The Red and Blue is normally held a week earlier but because this year the Good Friday and Easter holiday weekend is the end of March, it was decided to avoid a conflict and go a week later with the club closer.
Then on Sunday, April 7, in another Cornwall tradition, the Little Rockers, Novices, and Junior curlers can go skating on the official last day before the plant is shut off for the season.
Players are encouraged to wear red or blue clothing during the closing bonspiel, an area where McGill noted there’s been some good-natured opposition to the name change.
“The Blues are going to be yellow. I’m not sure how that’s gonna go over. Paul Neima was telling me he has a tickle trunk full of blue stuff that he whips out just for the Red and Blue. Now he has to buy a whole new wardrobe.”
“I’m not sure how many people have yellow clothing stashed away. They’re gonna look like canaries out there. I’m just happy to stick with my red.”
McGill said, “I just want to encourage all curlers to come out. They’ll love this fun event. It’s a great way to come out and play or do some sparing … show some spirit.”
McGill said she and Pollard are always looking for more volunteers to help. “It’s always appreciated. There’s a lot of stuff going on and we need some extra help. There’s a volunteer and sponsor signup sheets at the club so anyone who would want to help out or volunteer would be great.”
The Red and Blue ends a very busy and productive season in Cornwall. Manager Jones says the club forwarded dues for some 430 curlers to Curl PEI. Except for Saturday, December 23 (during midseason maintenance), the club was busy every Saturday and weekend with bonspiels, rentals, club events and clinics from opening day in October to the upcoming closing in April.