It's all about the ice

Last year our club received a Capital Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation of $200,000 to replace the chillers in the ice plant and add a dehumidifier. 

Our chillers had aged out at 25 years. They were still in good shape but would no longer receive service if needed. 

What does all this mean? 

The chiller is the refrigeration unit which uses Ammonia to cool a brine solution. Using a compressor, the chilled brine is pumped through over 6 miles of pipes under the ice. The brine circulates absorbing the heat from the ice and the surrounding area. This cools the sand base and the water above, causing the water to freeze the keep the ice solid.  

We use a calcium chloride brine, which has a low freezing point, and uses less energy to keep the brine flowing and the ice at an optimum temperature.

While we were at it, the old carpeted aprons were replaced. A rubber surface was chosen to reduce the amount of dirt going onto the ice. The rubber will also be less slippery. 

Andy Skipworth, our Ice Manager, brought his expertise and many hours of work in managing this project so effectively. Many volunteers have also played a part in making this change. 

Thank you to all! 

Heather Lecraw made a presentation at the Fenelon Falls Seniors Club about the health benefits of curling in an active lifestyle for an aging population. 

The presentation was well recieved with questions and answers after the presentation. 

Thanks Heather for promoting the Fenelon Falls Curlng Club in a healthy forum. Congrats

Ladies bonspiel 2025. |. Saturday, January 4, 2025

The snow squalls wailing outside kept the band away, but not the curlers. Probably because they knew the Fenelon Fall Curling Club really knows how to host a party. 

With a theme of Folktales in the house, our humble curling club was transformed into a dreamscape of tea pots, clocks that don't tell time and a Christmas tree re-visioned to match. Teams from Cobourg, Oshawa and as far away as Burlington came dressed up as The three little pigs, Alice in Wonderful, Goldilocks and the three bears, and more. 

This was the year of substitutes/spares and stepping up FFCC members. The one and only registered FFCC standby team was put into action on Monday evening following a team having to cancel and pull out of the bonspiel.  

Andy Skipworth stepped in to care for the ice for ill Jeff Marshallbecause of course without ice there is no bonspiel. 

When the scheduled band, The Young Lovelies had to cancel, Greg and Gunter stepped in for an inspiring musical combination we might be hearing more from at some point. 

The comments received from attendees yesterday was that it was "over the top" and "setting a pretty high bar" for other club bonspiels.

They say it takes a village to plan, arrange and run such a vast event.  From setting the theme, organizing sponsors, gifts, decorations, entertainment and an elegant menu for the whole day. 

Do you have photos to share? Want to connect post-bonspiel? You're welcome to do so on the FFCC Facebook Page. 

The day's winners:

With the amazing food, signature cocktail, prize table and great curling, we were all winners. Here is a list of the more "official" winners:

• First draw winner was Oshawa, FFCC member Tania Shepherd's team.
• Second Draw winner was FFCC member with an outside King team, Marnie Deathe.
• Best costume was won by Salmon Lake, Cynthia Payne playing as a spare. She did a fabulous job as the big bad wolf, the team provided her with the costume.  What a hit!
• Campbellford won for best costume in their category, our very own Cheryl Hooey brought in this outside team and their three little pigs impressed the judges.

Photos from the day: 

     

On January 27,  the Fenelon Falls Curling Club hosted a Charity Bonspiel for the l Lions Club raising $2,000 toward The Difference Campaign, which is helping build a new, state-of-the-art training facility for Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs.  

Please follow the link below for the story in the Peterborough Examiner. 

https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news/fenelon-falls-curlers-rock-the-rink-in-support-of-dog-guides/article_f79c7911-39a2-57a7-aed6-bd71703a9b4a.html