The Corryn Brown rink from Kamloops played one game at the Okotoks Ladies Classic before it was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta (Image Credit: Contributed)

By Chad Klassen

CURLING CANCELLATION

Brown rink season hits first obstacle after COVID restrictions cancel bonspiel in Alberta

Nov 13, 2020 | 12:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — Corryn Brown knew there may be some bumps on the ice this curling season thanks to the global pandemic. Her Kamloops rink has hit its first snag.

After winning their opening game of the Okotoks Ladies Classic on Thursday, the team was told the bonspiel was being postponed as the Alberta government implemented COVID-19 restrictions. Alberta has suspended all recreational sports for the next two weeks.

“It’s obviously frustrating, but I think the health and safety of everyone involved is first and foremost. We knew definitely there would be a risk regardless of where we went that an event could be shutdown. We’re not too surprised that this is something like that happened,” Brown told CFJC Today as the team was driving back to Kamloops. “I respect the decision anyone makes postponing or cancelling an event.”

The Brown rink started the season with a bang, winning the Kelowna money bonspiel, after waiting months for the first official event.

Now it’s back to playing in the men’s league at McArthur Island and practicing a couple days a week.

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“We’re making the most of any opportunity to either play or have a practice weekend all together as a team,” she said. “We are lucky we have three of us, as well as [coach] Allison [MacInnes] in Kamloops, so we are able to play and practice together a little more frequently than some teams might be able to.”

Brown’s next schedule event is Nov. 27-30 in Red Deer.

The B.C. Women’s Curling Championships are set for Jan. 26 to Feb. 1 at McArthur Island in Kamloops, but the Brown rink is not looking ahead to defending its provincial crown just yet. They know a lot can change around COVID-19 from now until then.