Photo submitted by: Peterborough Curling Club
Some of Ontario’s top wheelchair curlers, including a Paralympic gold medallist, are heading to Peterborough this weekend for a tournament that could earn one team a spot at the 2027 Ontario Parasport Winter Games.
The Peterborough Curling Club will host the eighth annual Sticks, Stones & Wheels Wheelchair Bonspiel on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8.
Six teams from across southern Ontario will compete in the two-day event, with admission free and spectators welcome.
Among the competitors is Dunsford’s Jon Thurston, a 2026 Paralympic gold medallist, 2022 bronze medallist, world championship silver and bronze medallist, and four-time provincial champion.
Thurston will skip a team featuring Curling Canada National Podium member Chrissy Molnar of Trent Lakes, along with International Podium members Karl Allen of Keene and Jill Hopkins of Toronto.
The Peterborough Curling Club will also have players competing on three other teams.
Alec Denys will skip a team featuring Joanne Berdan and Carl Bax.
Dan Flint will lead a team with Stuart Houlahan, Matt Abbott and Jessi Rate, while Neave Alderson will compete alongside skip Julianna Rothfeld.
The six teams will participate in a round-robin points competition, with the highest-scoring team crowned the Shauna Petrie champion.
The winning team will also receive automatic entry into the wheelchair curling competition at the 2027 Ontario Parasport Winter Games, scheduled for February 19 to 21 in Brantford.
Saturday’s games are scheduled for 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Sunday’s competition begins at 8:45 a.m., with another draw at 12:30 p.m.
Awards are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is free throughout the weekend.
For more information, contact the Peterborough Curling Club at peterboroughcurling@cogeco.net.
