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by Len Gagne
Lloydminster Meridian Booster
When Ted Collins decided to start a curling bonspiel for local oilmen in 1968, he never thought it would catch on in such a big way. But 25 years later, the Annual Oilmen's Bonspiel is one of the largest curling bonspiels in northeastern Alberta..
What started out as a 32-rink field, has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and beginning Wednesday, 120 rinks will descend upon the Border City for the five-day event.
"I never thought it would get this big, when I first started this thing 25 years ago, I went around to collect donations and I think I got $175. But after that, the oil industry took a hold of it and it's really mushroomed from then on right after that first spiel."
Looking back over the spiels' rich history, Collins points to one factor as the event's most notable achievement. "The highlight has to be starting the Oilman of the Year Award 18 years ago. That was one of the things that really helped the event become so successful."
To celebrate the event's 25 year history, what better way to honor its founder. Earlier this month, Bonspiel Chairman Monte Armstrong announced that Ted Collins would be the recipient of this year's prestigious honor. "That's a real special honor to me because of all the hard work I've put in over the years to start this bonspiel. It's just a real honor."
What will probably go down as the bonspiel’s largest achievement yet will take place Wednesday night as 14 previous recipients of the Oilman of the Year Award will be gathered from all over western Canada to celebrate the spiel's silver anniversary. "That's very special to me because of all the hard work the executive put in to get these people back."
Collins went on to explain that although 120 rinks will battle it out over eight events, the bonspiel has gained a rather friendly reputation of being an event that stresses the less competitive aspect of the game. Collins added that although some of the rinks are "social curlers" at best, competition over the years has been quite tough.
Listed below is a list of previous Oilman of the Year
honorees who will attend the Bonspiel:
Carl Nygren, Ace Drummond, Ross Yeoman, Ralph Conlon, Bob Kerr, Jim Lamb, Leo
Cavanagh, Joe Gallagher, Alex RuhI, John Willoughby. Harry Willoughby, Howard
Willoughby, Reg Summers-Gill and Hamish Garland.