5-year and Under

The Kettle Moraine Curling Club was the first club to host a 5 Year and Under event this season.

Good Luck to all that take part in the events coming up in March!

Wisconsin:

The 19th Annual 5 Year & Under Open Challenge for the Wisconsin Region was hosted by the Kettle Moraine Curling Club on November 30th, December 1st and 2nd. It was a great way to start off the holiday season. The bonspiel started on Friday night with a lavish Cocktail Party welcoming the eighteen participation teams. Great food and spirits were plentiful the entire weekend. After a delicious tenderloin dinner on Saturday night, entertainment was provided by a local band called the Sliding Stones. A good time was had by all. It was a great weekend for newer curlers to play positions they normally wouldn't play and to meet teams from other Wisconsin clubs Teams in the finals on Sunday had the honor of being piped on the ice. The piper was Tristan Derr, a young cadet from St. John's Military Academy. Pins for the winners and runners-up of the four events were provided by the USWCA. A beautiful traveling trophy plaque was presented to the winning Madison team. It was also provided by the USWCA. The results of the bonspiel were as follows - 1st Event Winner Todd Stuntebeck (skip), Phil Christman (vice), Andy Merlin (second), and Todd Bernhardt (lead). 1st Event Runner-Up from Kettle Moraine Neil Feil (skip), Randi Feil (vice), Dave Kawecki (second), and Linda Kawecki (lead). The Kettle Moraine Curling Club enjoyed hosting the 19th Annual 5 Year & Under Open Challenge and wish to congratulate the winning teams and to thank all the participants for joining them for a very memorable weekend. Next year's 5 Year & Under Open Challenge will be held at the newly opened Milwaukee Curling Club. The date is yet to be determined. Millie Buege - 5 Year & Under Chair, Kettle Moraine Curling Club.

Central:

5 & Under Women's Challenge at the Chicago Curling Club on Mar. 9-10, 2013 ( New Date)

For more information, download a copy of the flyer.
5 & Under Open Challenge at the Detroit Curling Club on Mar. 2-3, 2013. For more information, download a copy of the flyer.

East:

5 & Under Women's Challenge (Elisabeth Child's Challenge) at the Rochester Curling Club on Mar. 14-17, 2013

When the West Region Bonspiels are scheduled, look for the clubs and dates here.

Successful Five Year and Under Bonspiels were held in each region of the USWCA. The East Region held an Open Event in Schenectady and a Women's Event in Ardsley. In the Central Region Detroit held an Open and Exmoor hosted a Women's Event. Wisconsin's 5 & Under was an Open Challenge and in West I - St. Paul held a Women's Event with Grafton in West II's Event an Open.

The results reported for the 2008-2009 season are:

East: Schenectady Curling Club

Winners 5 & Under Open Event: Charles Brown, Mike Stefanik, Richard Gonyeau and Scott Brennan

East: Ardsley Curling Club

Winners 5 & Under Women's Event: Green Mountain CC: Tish Orr, Meg O'Donnell, Connie Dollinger and Blythe Leonard

Central: Exmoor Curling Club

Winners 5 & Under Women's Event: Detroit CC: Linda Duby, Jennifer Parmenter, Deb Freedlander and Pamela Sabara

Wisconsin: Portage Curling Club

Winners 5 & Under Open Event: Madison CC: Steve Day, Josh Koehler, Zach Miller and Paul Ryan

West I: St. Paul Curling Club

Winners 5 & Under Women's Event: St Paul CC: Adrienne La Pointe, Mary Jane Krantz, Anne Flis and Amy Anderson

These popular bonspiels began in the GNCC. The first Women's Challenge event was held at Norfolk, CT in 1991 and was an official GNCC event. In 1993 the USWCA adopted the plan for a Women's Challenge to be held in each region/area of the United States. This event has become so popular that the USWCA now sponsors an Open Five Year and Under Bonspiel along with the Five Year and Under Women's Challenge.

There are traveling award plaques for the winning rinks in each event. Special pins are presented to winners and runners-up in four events. Participants must have five years or less curling experience. The goal of these events is to give newer curlers a chance to participate in bonspiels, meet other new curlers and play positions they normally wouldn't play. It is felt that the curlers will feel less concern about attending regular bonspiels after they have played against others with the same experience.

All Curlers with five or less years experience are eligible to participate. membership in the USWCA is not necessary, but in order to host one of the events, the host club must be a member. The Women's Challenge is made up of women's teams, but the new Open Event may have teams made up of any combination. Team members do not have to all belong to the same curling club.

An Eligibility Form must accompany the Event Entry. The Eligibility Form must be signed by a Curling Club Officer, and verifies that each team member meets the criteria for under five years of curling.