Curling Resumes in Campbellford but with COVID Rules

Curling Rocks!

Article by Sue Dickens/Images submitted

Campbellford – Wed., Oct. 28, 2020 - Curling resumes in Campbellford but with COVID rules.

“There will be only one sweeper at a time and opposing skips must vacate the house when the other team is throwing. Curlers must space themselves out along the ice at a two-metre distance,” says Nan MacDougall, president of the Meyers Sports Club (MSC) of the Campbellford District Curling & Racquet Club (CDCRC).

A curler for 38 years, Nan added, “There’s been changes in the curling game over the years but no-one would ever have predicted this.”

She and her husband Dave were among the first members of the club when it opened in 1980.

Gord Reid is current president of the CDCRC. Each board has nine members.

“Masks will be worn to enter the building and until you reach your sheet of ice for curling. Our boards are recommending people wear masks while on the ice, as well,” she told Trent Hills Now.

Curlers who have already registered received a full list of protocols to keep players safe such as only allowing 50 people in the club at any one time.

The difficult decision to resume curling was made after a great deal of thought and discussion by the combined oard members of the CDCRC and MSC who met on Oct. 19 and gave the go-ahead to move forward.

In a letter to curlers the boards talks about their priorties which include keeping members safe and providing recreation in this difficult time.

The Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit has approved the club’s plan with protocols for entry, tracking participants, and safe distancing.

When making their decision the boards also took into account reports from other curling clubs that have opened.

It was decided that the bar would not open at this time. Keeping that area disinfected and people at a safe distance is much more difficult to do, they decided. As time goes on, if things are flowing smoothly with curling, CDCRC will look at opening the bar again.

Cleaning protocols are a priority with the CDCRC. In addition to COVID-19 standard wipe down procedures CDCRC is ordering a disinfecting system that makes hypochlorous acid and a fogger to use throughout the club. This system has almost no on-going cost as it uses salt and water to make the acid.

“It is a very safe and effective disinfectant that is easy to use and dissipates within a few minutes. As cleaning is going to be done by volunteers, for the most part, it is important to have a simple, thorough system,” say the boards in a letter to members.

And it is the volunteer efforts of club members that is making this curling season possible.

“A big thank you goes out to Barry Brown for volunteering to look after the ice this season,” says Nan.

“He is putting together an ice crew to help, but without his work and expertise, we would not have ice this year.”

The new ice monitoring system is ready for start-up and the procedures to be followed will result in thousands of dollars in savings over a curling season, as it is able to use the minimum power necessary for conditions, rather than running all out as it had done previously. It will also allow curling to go later into the spring if that is the wish of the members.

The club can’t continue to pay their manager, Rachel Whitton, but she has been carrying on with many tasks on a voluntary basis. Members of both boards are taking over several of the managers’ tasks to spread out the workload. There will be many opportunities for members to volunteer time throughout the season, so the boards are asking folks to consider doing so.

With about 100 curlers registered so far, about half the normal number, more people are welcome to sign up.

The Ad Hoc Curling Committee has been meeting to finalize plans. Those who have signed up for curling will get schedules within the next few weeks.

Anyone who has been thinking about curling should contact Nan MacDougall or Debbie McCarthy, the draw master, as soon as possible. There are spaces in most leagues.

There will be no bonspiels held this season but there’s evening and daytime league games Mondays through Thursdays and Friday mornings. There is also senior men’s curling on Thursday evening, women’s curling and mixed curling as well.
There is also a Sterling league on Monday and Wednesday mornings which is a type of curling which involves two players on each team.

With other curling clubs in Marmora, Stirling and Norwood not planning on opening until at least January and the Warkworth curling cancelled for this season, more people are being invited to join in at Campbellford.

They can do this by going to the club’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CampbellfordDistrictRacquetAndCurlingClub or website at: https://campbellfordcurlingandfitness.ca/ or call the club at: (705) 653-4433.

The price to join is the same as it has been for the last couple of years which is $420 for the season.

About Squash at the club:

Squash has been able to resume at the club as well, but it looks different in this pandemic year.

“We have opened squash but in a limited way,” said MacDougall.

The club has one enclosed court and one open court and only the open court can be used.

“People have to make a reservation to play and they have to play in their pod of 10,” she added.

Extra cleaning is part of the protocol for squash.

The fitness area is not open.