CARP – The Huntley Curling Club (HCC) will host the inaugural President’s Challenge Cup – a bonspiel bringing small, local curling clubs together for a weekend of curling and a shot at the ultimate Valley trophy.

The weekend long event will bring Huntley, the Carleton Place Curling Club, the Almonte Curling Club and the Richmond Curling Club competing in several divisions for a chance to bring home the President’s Challenge Cup on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9.

“I’m really excited,” HCC President Blake Sinclair said at a casual meeting with the three other club representatives at the Ridge Rock Brewery Saturday, Jan. 18. “What I want to do with this is get to know the other clubs in our area. We all face the same challenges. We all know the financial challenges of running small, rural clubs. I know we’ll become friends.”

Each club will bring eight teams two in each division including mixed, men, women and senior.

The weekend will be a series of bonspiels in each of the divisions. Points will be awarded and eventually, so will the Presidents’ Cup.

“Every game counts,” Sinclair said.

So far, the opportunity to represent the clubs has been popular. Some of the clubs have had to have qualifying tournaments to choose some of the teams representing the clubs.

The hope is the President’s Challenge Cup, sponsored in part by Thomas Cavanagh Construction and Cardel Homes, will grow to become a prestigious, annual event and a chance for the Valley’s local curlers to get to know each other socially.

“This gives us an opportunity for curlers from each club to meet each other,” Sinclair said. “It’s not about wins and losses even though we’re playing it up that way. It’s about meeting people and having some fun. Hopefully club members will want to play at bonspiels at some of the other game. This is about putting our clubs together, meeting each other and having fun.”

Sinclair says there is room to grow as well.

“Maybe we’ll get some other local clubs joining and we can develop this,” Sinclair said.

The tournament will be ongoing all weekend and for curling fans who want to enjoy some great, local curling, there is no admission to go watch.