The organizing committee for the Bob Picken Valour Road Masters Bonspiel has announced that the 2020 edition of the bonspiel will be postponed.
Originally scheduled for September 28 to October 2, the committee hopes to be able to schedule a 2020 bonspiel later in the 2020-21 season. An announcement will be made at a later time.
“Given the age group of the curlers who will be playing in the bonspiel, we are delaying the bonspiel until curling has re-started and our curlers have had a chance to adapt to the return-to-play rules being implemented across the sport,” say co-chairs Bob Minaker and Brian Kushner.
“We want be confident that the return-to-play procedures implemented by Curling Canada, CurlManitoba, and the clubs are practical for our bonspiel and that our curlers feel their safety and health are assured.”
In addition to providing an early season bonspiel opportunity, the bonspiel’s other objective was to support the development of junior curling in the province. After the first bonspiel in 2019, $500 grants were made in support of the junior programs at Brandon’s Riverview Curling Club, the Oakville club, and the host Thistle Curling Club.
The junior development initiative will continue in the 2020-21 season with at least two $500 grants to be awarded after the 2nd annual bonspiel takes place.
The Bob Picken Valour Road Masters Bonspiel at the Thistle was established in the fall of 2019 in tribute to the memory of the late Bob Picken, a member of the Manitoba, Canadian and World Curling Halls of Fame in recognition of his leadership and service to the sport. Wearing the colours of the Valour Road Curling Club he was an on-ice force with a competitive resume which included being the Manitoba British Consols finalist in 1963.
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Media (and interested curlers) may contact: Bob Minaker ([email protected]), Brian Kushner ([email protected]), Norm Magnusson ([email protected]), OR Resby Coutts ([email protected])
