You can sweep into curling registration this evening (August 13) beginning at 6 pm.

David Cooper, President of the Cochrane Curling Club, says the Club had a very successful first season in the new curling centre. Raving about the quality of ice and overall environment, Cooper feels Cochrane has one of the best surfaces to curl on in greater Southern Alberta. "From a surface to play the game on it's outstanding. Even when there were some difficulties with the facility in the mid-season they were resolved quickly with no detriment to play."

Having a great facility to house the Cochrane Curling Club has added to their growing success in membership numbers. "Our numbers were up quite a bit last year, in terms of new teams. We have attracted some teams who had left when we were still in the old rink and those teams came back. Our indications are numbers are going to be up again this year. So all in all, an excellent start to the first year in the new facility; great ice to play on and new members to go with the new facility."

While interest in the junior curling program continues to grow great guns, Cooper shares there wasn't one particular division that came out on top. "Every league had new teams in it so there wasn't one particular area that grew. Everything from the Friday night more recreational league to the competitive single-sex league during the week to the seniors' programs. There is interest from outside the normal catchment area for seniors and sterling, so it's an increase across the board."

One of the other advantages the new facility brings is the opportunity for more teams to compete in bonspiels and tournaments. Since there is a limited opportunity to expand on the actual number of events, the increased ice surface helps."What this facility allows us to do, is say okay, rather than the bonspiel being capped at 24 teams we can now accept 32 or 36 teams."

More competing teams adds to the viability of the club, a boost to our local economy and the desire to add more programming; which members will see this fall.

Registration this evening is open to absolutely everyone from newbies to experienced, youth to seniors, pairs or single sexes. "If you've never curled before and you're interested in trying it out, come down and we'll sort you out with a program to get you into it. If you used to curl in high school and now 30 years later you want to come back and try again, come back and try again. If you are a returning curler, come on down, we're happy to see you back." 

If you can't make the 6 to 8 p.m. time tonight at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre you are welcome to contact the club HERE.

The new curling season is scheduled to get underway the first week of October.