Fun, friends, and family at annual Knobby’s Memorial Curling Bonspiel

Tim Brody - Editor

A long running holiday tradition in Sioux Lookout continued on Dec. 26, with six teams taking part in the Knobby’s Memorial Curling Bonspiel at the Sioux Lookout Golf and Curling Club.
A day of friends, family, and fun, JoAnne Van Horne, who helped organize the event, said, “I think it was wonderful for the six teams that came out to curl this year. I thank them and it was a successful day.”
At the 2023 edition of the event, veteran curler Knowles McGill shared with The Bulletin some of the history behind the long-running event, “Knobby Clark started it a long time ago. Before that, it was a family spiel. Beth and Bob Hendry started the family spiel, I would say, 50 years ago, and Knobby turned it into the Knobby Spiel, I’m guessing about 30 years ago.”
Event participant Natalie Popovic said she enjoyed curling in the event with her son Nick Popovic, “Fun obviously. First time I’ve got to curl with my kid in several years. It was a last-minute entry for us to help out another team. I’m glad I came out.”
Nick Popovic, who was vising his family from Kenora, said he enjoyed taking part in the event with his mom.
Charles Darling, a regular participant in the event, is a student at Sault College where plays on the men’s curling team. 
“I think it’s just a fun change of pace. It’s not as serious,” he said of taking part in the event. “Lots of new people out to play, good to see lots of younger faces getting into the game. Just a fun way to spend the holidays.”
Donovan McCord, a Grade 8 student at Sacred Heart School, said he enjoyed participating in the event with his family. 
The Sioux Lookout Golf and Curling Club thanked Tim Hortons for donating coffee and hot chocolate for the event and expressed their thanks to Knobby’s Fly-In Camps for their continued support of the event.