It鈥檚 Curling Day in B.C., and while teams around the province are beginning competition this weekend, the Vernon Curling Club continues to err on the side of caution.
Curling resumed at the Vernon club on Oct. 13, but with COVID-19 cases rising manager Dave Merlklinger says they鈥檒l be catering to their membership only, refraining from hosting bonspiels or allowing outside players into the rink until January at the earliest.
鈥淭he second wave is on, lots of people are still getting sick, so we鈥檝e got to be careful,鈥� Merklinger said Saturday, Nov. 7, shortly before the province announced 567 new cases of the virus.
Merklinger said things are otherwise going well at the club, which is only down about 10 per cent in its membership.
鈥淥ur membership numbers are good, everything鈥檚 been going good. We鈥檙e just staying away from bonspiels, staying away from having outside people coming in to curl.鈥�
The club on 39th Avenue has undergone some changes in response to the pandemic, including mask and social distancing requirements and a 50 person limit in the lounge.
So far so good when it comes to COVID concerns, says Merklinger, who鈥檚 glad to see the lanes occupied on Curling Day.
鈥淲e all need to get out and socialize and to take part in a sport that looks and is pretty safe,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need it.鈥�
This weekend marks the start of men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 BC Curling Tours, with increased safety measures. There are fewer teams and events this year, and the teams will be playing a modified game with only one sweeper at a time to allow for physical distancing, according to Curl BC.
The following BC Curling Tour events are scheduled to take place in November:
- Raymond James Double Cash 鈥� 麻豆精选 Curling Club 鈥� Nov. 6-8
- Ashley Home Store Classic 鈥� Penticton Curling Club 鈥� Nov. 13-16
- Raymond James Double Cash 鈥� 麻豆精选 Curling Club 鈥� Nov. 6-8
- 麻豆精选 Women鈥檚 Cashspiel 鈥� 麻豆精选 Curling Club 鈥� Nov. 20-22
Vernon isn鈥檛 alone in holding off on competitions for the time being. On Thursday the Golden Ears Winter Club in Maple Ridge cancelled its King Cash event planned for Dec. 4-6.
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