The McArthur Island Curling Club has experienced an influx of curlers this winter with the Kamloops club closing for the season (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

RECREATIONAL CURLING

Kamloops Curling Club members hurrying hard to McArthur Island to keep curling over the winter

Nov 3, 2020 | 12:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Rocks are rolling on a Tuesday morning at the McArthur Island Curling Club. It’s busier these days with an influx of new curlers.

“We’ve definitely been busy,” said manager and ice maker at the McArthur Island Curling Club Andrew McDiarmid. “I wouldn’t say it wasn’t exactly a windfall or that we were swamped initially when the club downtown announced they were closing, but the end result of it was pretty much that we just basically mitigated any loss that we might have had, or negative impact that we might have had from COVID.”

It’s estimated 20 members from the Kamloops Curling Club have moved over to McArthur Island, so they can keep playing.

“Oh, it’s great because usually it’s a long winter if you don’t do something, and winter’s already started” said Kamloops Curling Club member Norm Cleveland. “We get to curl over here. Andrew’s got a good setup here.”

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Roger Parkes added, “I’ve been curling at the Kamloops downtown club for the last 12 years or so, and now we’ve moved over here and I enjoy it. The people here are really friendly.”

“It’s nice to meet new people,” noted McArthur Island Curling Club member Roxanne Walker. “It’s nice to have so many extra teams this year. Our numbers have been down, and so now our numbers are back up again, so it’s been good that way.”

Some like Cleveland played their last round of golf on the weekend and have switched to curling. Overall, the club on McArthur Island has been a doubling of teams participating in certain leagues.

“Definitely our Thursday night men’s league grew from 10 or 11 teams last year to 22 this year,” said McDiarmid. “So that is the one that’s definitely the busiest.”

Among the Kamloops Curling Club transplants is Wayne Saboe, a well-known curling in the city that’s formerly a B.C. masters curling champion. He appreciates having a secondary venue to work on his craft.

“They’ve tried to make it, in the times we’re in right now, as fun as they can for all of us,” he said. “I think everyone curling here is enjoying it.”

For the first time in years, Wayne is curling on the same team as his wife. As the skip, he says he has one distinct advantage on the ice versus at home.

“It’s enjoyable playing with her. Like I say, this is one time that she actually has to listen to me,” he joked.