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Thursday we got to ta1ldng about the old days in
the history of Rossland. The winter of 1951-52 was
the first time I'd ever tried curling. The old curling
rink was still in operation, when Bob McCuaig, Jim
Flanders and I were sitting in the Allen Hotel one
Friday night. Our 12-day shift was over on the hill
and we had the weekend off. Bob suggested we go in
the weekend bonspiel. I told him, "I never curled
before and might be a drawback to your team."
Anyway, it turned out that we pooled our money
and we went over and saw Bob Rose and got our
entry into the competition. As I remember it, the
weekend turned out to be fairly warm and we had a
pretty tough time getting the rocks down to the
house on the natural ice in the old arena. Anyhow,
what I was getting at was that weekend I became a
curling devotee and have remained so since. I just
get more of a fan as the years have passed by. That
must have been the farewell spiel at the old arena
because work got underway on the present one with
the ice plant to make artificial ice which we use
today.
We have a young fellow making ice up at the
curling rink this winter who previously worked at
that trade in Montreal. His name is Ron Weldon and
he was telling me that he enjoys living in Rossland,
and I know as long as he does the kind of a job he's
doing now, he is going to be welcome for as long ~
he wants to stay in town.
From curling to golf. I got the report from the
Rossland-Trail Golf and Country Club. It concerned
the statement of the financial condition of the club. I
did not get a real chance to look it over yet, I'm kind
of waiting to talk ~ Jim Markle, an officer of the
club who attended the latest meeting. But from
what I can gather it is that there will definitely be
some new faces around when the next season rolls
around.
Not being a driver of transportation, I have to
look elsewhere to get a ride down to a course, and
living in Rossland I do practically all my playing on
the upper course. Occasionally the guys I play with
most of the time, attend retirees day at Birchbank,
but most of the time we play the old course. Personally I love the old course and it certainly has its
share of devotees. Both my boys, Rick and Dave
caddied on it and I certainly enjoy it very much.
This summer was particularly good as the three
guys who ran the clubhouse were Max Spearn, Bill
Blackbum and Dave Cochran. They made
everybody feel so welcome that it was a pleasure to
sit down after a round and have a quiet drink with
your partners. I was ·sure happy when the retirees
group were able to have a final meal with these
gents and show our appreciation of their efforts. I
may not ·be alone either when I say I hope these guys
come back next season. I'll bet a lot of people who
use the upper course will welcome them.
Now to the Warriors. After a win over Beaver
Valley on Friday, the postponement of Saturday's
fixture at Trail due to the Canadian-Germany game
at the Cominco Arena, and having lost to Spokane
on Nov. 25, the Warriors managed to salvage two
points out of the week's play. Their next weekend
fixtures will be played in the East as they tangle
with Kimberley on Dec. 5 and Dec.6-7 sees them in
CobimNI ¥au., to.face.the Rockies in back-to-baak
gamea. They return home to take on Castlegar on
Dec. 9. Would you say they could be in bad shape if
they don't salvage some points from this quartet of
contests. Only time will tell.
Retirees curling in Rossland is nearing the end
of its first round and things are beginning to heat up.
- ' Tlfthen I'll say, bye for now!