WHITESTOWN — The Utica Curling Club is hosting the 53rd annual Ross Tarlton International Bonspiel Thursday through Saturday at the facility at 8300 Clark Mills Road. It’s an invitational men’s competition pitting teams from clubs in the Ontario Curling Association (OCA) with those from the Grand National Curling Club (GNCC).

The competition, first held in November 1967 at the Board of Trade Country Club in Woodbridge, Ontario. The site now alternates between the U.S. and Canada.

The competition is a 32-team event (16 from the GNCC and 16 from the OCA), and the winning side is determined by the aggregate number of stones won after each team plays all four (8-end) games.

The identity of the winning side is not revealed until the banquet concluding the final day of play. The medals and awards ceremony begins with an announcement of the Collie Campbell Memorial Award winner, presented to a person in recognition of his “sportsmanship, leadership, and devotion to the best traditions of curling.” The award is named after Colin A. Campbell, a lifetime member of the GNCC. The award presentation is followed by the announcement of the winner of the Ross Tarlton plaque, and the distribution of the individual winners’ and finalists’ medals to banquet participants.

Two teams from the Utica Curling Club will participate in the bonspiel. The members of Utica #1 are Duane Farr, Michael Krumme, Charles Schatz and Patrick Costello. Members of Utica #2 are Mike Kessler, Roger Rowlett, Conrad Law and Bob Caine.

For more information regarding local curling, youth programs and rentals for corporate or social instructional events visit www.uticacurlingclub.org.