Registered: Apr 2011
Location:
Posts: 208

I'm looking to create a list of all the big cross town bonspiels: the type where multiple clubs work together to host a large number of teams over the course of 4+ days.

Please help by filling in my survey here: http://goo.gl/forms/oQKZqid782

Classic examples:

- Manitoba Open (was the MCA bonspiel) - Manitoba
- TCA Goldline Men’s Championships - Toronto
- etc.

The general format is that each team plays in a different club every night, with a guarantee of 3-5 games, followed by a multi stage playdown to a series of finals.

I chair the Waterloo Region version of the event (http://www.homehardwarebonspiel.ca), and our attendance has been slowly dropping. My hope is that the organizers of these events can share some ideas and best practices. Step one is to make a list of events.

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Registered: Feb 2011
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Posts: 272

A Montreal version is called the "Lakeshore".

https://www.sites.google.com/site/l...rebonspiel/home

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Posts: 812

Curling clubs in the Twin Cities USA host a "Big Spiel" in January. First spiel was last season -- 96 teams playing at 3 clubs. Teams were guaranteed 4 games including one game at each club. This season a 4th club has opened. Big Spiel is again targeting 96 teams but with a 4th club can no longer guarantee that each team can play at each club.

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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Harriston
Posts: 71

City of ... Bonspiels

Aw shucks, there are a number of classics that come quickly to mind from my early days in eastern Ontario ...

City of Ottawa (ca. 256 mens and 48 seniors teams)

Kingston Whig Standard (ca. 80 teams)

Quebec International (ca. 80 teams)

The North Bay Jamaica Spiel runs on a similar model.

I believe that all of these spiels still run today.

There is a fascinating history behind these 'City of ...' style bonspiels. In the days before cash prizes were awarded for curling prowess, these were the biggest bonspiels of the season. Even the competitive teams of the day thrashed it out in these multi-day, multi-event, multi-club marathons.

They usually are straight knockout play to the Main Event final, so the winning team has to put a lot of good games together. They are great fun to play in.

Good luck with your search!

Last edited by Bugman on 11-30-15 at 03:15AM

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Registered: Feb 2014
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Posts: 538

Goldline TCA Bonspiel in Toronto (formerly the Canada Life)

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Jim

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