The tropical Isle of Hawaii was the theme at the annual Parksville Ladies Curling Bonspiel, held March 11-13.

With the curling season winding down and this one of the last bonspiels, four teams from the Comox Valley headed down to this oceanside paradise to compete in a weekend of great curling and lots of fun (some had more fun off the ice than on). Twenty teams participated with rinks arriving from Comox, Nanaimo, Mill Bay, Langley and Powell River and eight teams from Parksville-Qualicum. The bonspiel committee tried out a different 'spiel format by dividing the rinks into two groups of 10 teams. Four games were played and then, based on a win-loss record plus a team draw-to-the-button contest, the teams were seeded in their group for finals on Sunday. Everyone was a winner with placements in the A to F events and consolation finals with a cash reward for the remaining teams.

Two successful teams from the Comox Valley Curling Club saw Coleen Robson, skip her team of lead Mare Michell, second Kathy Branch; and third Gloria Sandberg to take first in the C event.

Robson's team was up against Nichole Backe from Nanaimo who had qualified for the women's Provincials last December. "It was a battle," says Robson, but they held on until the last rock was thrown to claim victory.

Kim Jonsson skipped her team to a win in the D event. Helping her claim the trophy of the Sallows team were teammates lead Janice Ainsworth, second Kathy Meunier and third Mary Holden.

"All being said, the ice was superb allowing your rock to glide effortlessly to its target; the rib dinner, sponsored by Quality Foods was superb; and the great hospitality of the committee, members and volunteers of the Parksville Curling Club showed all the curlers some great hospitality. Congrats to the Robson and Jonsson teams," a spokesperson said.

– Comox Valley Curling Club