From left to right: Jaclyn Collins, Stephanie Malekoff, Robbie Maksymetz and Skip Delia Dejong claimed the first title of the Peace Curling Tour season at the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel on Sunday (Photo: Peace Curling Tour)

By Shaun Penner

Peace Curling Tour

Dejong makes history at Peace Curling Tour stop in GP

Oct 17, 2019 | 4:56 AM

Sexsmith’s Delia Dejong was able to do something no woman has done before on the Peace Curling Tour.

Dejong became the first female to skip a team to a championship at a cash spiel in the tour’s 12-year history this past weekend at the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Grande Prairie Cash Spiel.

She and her rink took down Peace River’s Scott Webb in the final on Sunday to claim the victory. Dejong’s team also posted victories over Daylan Vavrek in the quarterfinals and Slave Lake’s Ryan Norman.

The win put Dejong’s rink off to a great start to not only their season but also their time together as a team, as this was the team’s first tournament together.

“We are pretty honoured. We had so much fun this weekend,” said Dejong. “This newly-minted team melded together from the first rock thrown, and knowing I had the full support of my team allowed me to relax and focus.

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Her rink featured her spouse, Rob Maksymetz, Jaclyn Collins, Vern Boyd and Stephanie Malekoff. Dejong says Malekoff played an integral role for the team on championship Sunday because was forced to switch positions after Maksymetz was unable to attend on the championship game because of work.

“In my mind, Stephanie Malekoff, who moved to third for the Championship round on Sunday, was, without doubt, the MVP in the Cash Spiel.”

Tour President Colin Griffith says the win for Dejong’s rink really represents what the tour is all about.

“This outstanding win by Delia over a field that included a number of provincial and Canadian championship curlers simply illustrates not only their great skill and ability but the wonderful opportunity our Tour gives curlers of all ages and genders to win the gold medal.”

In the Challenge Division, Dawson Creek’s Mark Heartt and his rink topped Cortland Sonnenberg to take the top spot after the Tour’s first event.

The Pomeroy Inn and Suites Peace Curling Tour continues October 25-27 with a stop in Peace River for the Encana Cash Spiel.