The president of the Golden Gals Curling Association says this weekend was the first time they have every held their provincial tournament in Steinbach.

Lynda Draper says the tournament kicked off on Thursday and the provincial final was played on Sunday morning at 9am. She notes the Golden Gals Board likes to move the tournament around Manitoba so that every area gets a chance to host.

“We go to different places. We have been as far as Thompson, we have been right down to Morden and over to Virden and Swan River, it does go all over. The last few years we have tried to get in places that have never had it just to try and get the word out.”

Draper says the Golden Gals Curling Association was started in 1984 because the Manitoba Curling Association didn't have a 60 and over category for women. She says the league is still going strong with 33 teams. She notes 16 of those 33 were in Steinbach this last weekend for the provincial tournament.

Draper says the women in the league are always excited to compete.

“They still like to go out there and have a good game, and curl other curlers. They can still be out there, that is the main thing to keep everybody exercised, and visiting. People like to visit. I always find curlers are a little serious, but they still like to have a good time, and have fun curling.”

Draper says for the curlers in the Golden Gals Curling Association the provincial tournament is the last step, they don't go on to a national level. She says it still a competitive league but it is a bit more relaxed then some other leagues.

“I would call us a more lower profile provincial group. We still have a provincial, but the curling is more relaxed there is no timing on it, and we don't have a lot of strict rules. There are still the curling rules, but not as strict as some of the other provincials.”

Draper says next years provincial tournament will be held in Assiniboine Memorial in Winnipeg. She says it is also the first time they will have ever hosted.