A full slate of curlers and spectators descended on the Tara Curling Club on Saturday (Jan. 21/23) to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Club.
For many, it was also a time to reminisce with old friends. A video and slide presentation, created by Ian Sinclair of Square Deal Neil’s (Southampton) of the 50th Anniversary celebration, brought back many memories of those who are now gone.
In addition, there was memorabilia from throughout the years including trophies, photo albums and championship jackets, all indications of the achievements by the Tara Club.
The Club has been, and continues to be, a community hub of curling for all ages. In the past, junior curlers were a force to be reckoned with as they won the Tim Bits 2003 Provincial Championship and the 2004 Western Division Ontario Championship.
This year’s 75th Anniversary bonspiel included many prizes, donations from many local businesses and individuals for a silent auction, a fundraising turkey shoot, and a beef dinner with more than 100 in attendance.
Draw mistress, Heidi McLeod, kept everything organized and rolling smoothly.
The history of Tara curling dates back to the 1850s but the Club was officially started in 1946 by the Arran-Tara Agricultural Society that built a pavilion which could be flooded and used for curling in the winter. With two sheets of ice, the men’s games consisted of 12 ends and each curler had to purchase his own pair of rocks, which could then be left at the curling club.
The first bonspiel was held in February, 1947 with 24 rinks playing in three events on six sheets of ice. Each rink had to pay a ‘hefty’ entry fee of … $6.00, and the Women’s Institute served homemade meals to participants.
Then, in 1975, the Arran-Tara Community Centre was built with a separate section for curling, and rinks for hockey and skating.
Curling continues to be a mainstay for sports in the community of Tara and as the community continues to grow, the Tara Club welcomes new members.
<< Poem from the 1946 newspaper, the Tara Leader.
