KILLALOE – The final of the 2017 Heritage Curling Bonspiel, at the Killaloe Curling Club this weekend, went down to the last rock thrown on the evening of March 19.
Both teams in the final came through their three pool games undefeated. Polska, or Poland, beat England, Eire/Ireland and Deutschland/Germany. Serbscina, represented by Wendish of the Sorbian Nation, beat France, Alba/Scotland and winners of the 2015 and 2016 bonspiels, Kasebe.
Serbscina is a small nation now a part of eastern Germany, around the city of Bautzen.
Heritage Curling Bonspiel Organizer David “Johnny Kashub” Shulist said that Combermere might be the first Wendish settlement in Canada.
Shulist said the bonspiel was an opportunity to promote culture through sport. Banners representing each nation were displayed in the clubroom with the date of first immigration from that nation to Renfrew County. There was also a chart showing the national origins of surnames common in the area. A display of books and pictures depicted Polish heritage in the clubroom. The food served in the clubroom included sausage on a bun, cabbage rolls and black forest cupcakes.
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