By Medicine Hat News on January 4, 2020.
The meat of the competitive curling season has arrived, and with it is a chance for a spot at provincials for Medicine Hat’s Trevor Funk and team. Funk, with third Jordan Kindrat, second Bryden Smith and lead John Owsjanikow, split their first two games in Calgary at a qualifying event. At the Inglewood Curling Club, Funk’s side lost 9-5 to the Calgary-based Chad Dahlseide foursome, but rebounded with a 6-4 win over Jeff Reich from Fort McMurray. A slow start to the morning draw saw Funk fall behind 6-0 before finally getting its first point against Dahlseide. Similarly, Funk didn’t score until the seventh end against Reich, but four blanked ends made the three-spot well worth the wait. A steal in the 10th made that lead stand up. Funk and Dahlseide will play again Saturday morning in a B event matchup. They’ll need three or four more wins before two additional losses to secure one of the four spots available from the qualifier to provincials, which take place next month in Westlock. Yuletide Bonspiel The Medicine Hat Curling Club hosted its annual Yuletide Bonspiel Dec. 27 and 28 with 20 teams taking part in the fun event. The Stodalka and Lutz family teams each went 3-0 to win their divisions, while Team La La Landsiedel beat Sid McCurdy’s rink in another division final and Evan Ramage’s crew bested Rumberg’s Reindeers in another. The last division ended in a round robin tie between Staff Stuffers, Stroh Family and Schweddy Balls. Suffice to say the bonspiel was, as always, fun first. 11