Belfast curling tourney to begin Jan. 17

BELFAST – For three days starting next Friday, the sight of granite stones sliding across 120 feet of ice and the sound of the stones bumping into each other around the target area will greet spectators attending the 36th Ben Ames Williams Bonspiel at the Belfast Curling Club.

Curling involves four-person teams sliding the stones, one at a time, with teammates brushing the ice in front of the moving stone in order to maneuver it into scoring position or to knock an opponent’s stone out of position.

Sixteen teams from New England, New York, New Brunswick, and Quebec will participate in the event, named for author Ben Ames Williams, who had a home in Searsmont and was an avid curler.

Play begins with preliminary matches Friday afternoon and evening and all day Saturday in classes A, B, and C. Finals in each class will be held Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

The Belfast Curling Club is located on Route 3 in Belfast, two miles west of Route 1. For more information, call Marietta Ramsdell at 548-0142 or, during the bonspiel, call the club at 338-9851.