Martensville played host to some of the world’s top-ranked mixed doubles curlers this past weekend as the Aly Jenkins Mixed Doubles Memorial Bonspiel took place from November 21st–23rd at the Martensville Curling Club.
The annual event honours the legacy of Aly Jenkins, a talented Saskatchewan curler who passed away in 2019 at the age of 30 due to complications during childbirth. Jenkins, who played lead on Sherry Anderson’s rink during the 2019 provincial women’s championship, is remembered not only for her skill on the ice but also for her passion for developing future athletes. Funds raised from the bonspiel support the club’s junior curling program, a meaningful tribute to her commitment to the sport and community.
This year’s bonspiel drew an exceptionally strong and international field, welcoming 20 elite teams from Canada, Australia, Finland, South Korea, China, Switzerland, Poland, and Japan. Many of the competitors are currently chasing Olympic qualification and rank among the best in the world. The roster featured standout pairs such as Finland’s Lotta Immonen and Markus Sipilä; South Korea’s Seonyeong Kim and Yeongseok Jeong; Switzerland’s Olympic silver medalists Jenny Sarah Perret and Martin Rios; Australia’s 2025 World Bronze medalists Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt; and Japan’s top teams, including Tori Koana with Go Aoki and the duo of Chiaki Matsumara and Yasumasa Tanida.
Canadian representation was equally impressive. Nancy Martin and Steve Laycock entered as the sixth-ranked mixed doubles team globally, fresh off their Colorado Curling Cup victory. Local favourites were front and centre as well, with Martensville’s Jill and Garret Springer, champions of the 2025 Sask Tour Mixed Doubles. Another hometown duo, Melissa Remeshylo of Warman and Dylan Derksen of Hague, represented the Martensville Curling Club. Remeshylo and Derksen previously competed for Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
The competition followed a four-game round-robin format across four pools, starting Friday morning and culminating in Sunday’s playoffs. After a weekend packed with high-calibre curling, Switzerland’s Team Perret/Rios secured the 2025 title with a strong final victory over Team Gill/Hewitt. Remeshylo and Derksen put on an impressive performance throughout the weekend, bowing out in the quarter-finals and earning enthusiastic support from local fans.
With many of these teams heading to the Olympic mixed doubles qualifier in Kelowna this December, Martensville spectators may soon see familiar names on the international stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The bonspiel once again delivered world-class action while celebrating Aly Jenkins’ enduring influence on the sport and her community.
