The host committee of the Target Junior Men's and Women's Curling Championships are reading their lists, and checking them twice.

The Weyburn Curling Club is set to host the championships from Friday, Jan. 14 to Monday, Jan. 17. Marie Grohn, co-chair of the host-committee says they will be ready for the curlers when they arrive on Thursday.

"All we have to do is get the bleachers up and put up the corporate sponsor signage," said Grohn.

The teams will take to the ice on Thursday in practice sessions. Play begins at 8:30 a.m. with the men playing in Draw 1. The opening ceremonies, featuring speeches from Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Brenda Bakken, Mayor Don Schlosser, Weyburn Curling Club president Dave Rommann and host committee chair Marie Grohn and a welcome to curlers and curling fans, will start at 11:30 a.m. Draw 2 will see the women's teams take the ice in their first games starting at 12:30 p.m. Friday's play will conclude with the 4 p.m. men's draw.

There will be four draws on Saturday and Sunday. The finals are set for Monday.

Ticket prices for the championships are $10 for a weekend pass, $5 for a day pass and $3 for an event pass. For tickets, see Glen Tollefson at the Weyburn Curling Club.

Four-time world champion curler Sam Richardson is scheduled to be the guest speaker at Friday's gala banquet. The banquet will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Elk's Hall. Tickets are still available for the event, selling for $15 per person at the Weyburn Curling Club.

Aside from speaking at the banquet, Richardson will also be available throughout the weekend to sign autographs and copies of his book, The House that Sam Built. Richardson will be at Goski Books N' More on Saturday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a book signing, and at the Weyburn Curling Club from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The team placards had not been made yet, but the committee did not find out who the teams were until the Northern and Southern Playdowns finished on Monday.

In the women's competition, Ros Tanner of the Moose Jaw Hillcrest club qualified in the Southern Playdowns held in Davidson. Other qualifiers from the South are: Chantelle Seiferling, Regina Callie; Candace Weilgoz, Saskatoon Granite and Janelle Lemon, Maryfield. In the Northern Playdowns in Lanigan, Stephanie Miller, last year's champion from the Saskatoon Granite Curling Club will join Nicole Dunajski, Regina, Jolene McIvor, Saskatoon and Jana Markwart, Regina at the provincial championship.

In the junior mens championship the qualifying teams from Southern Playdowns in Estevan are: Curtis Lothian, Carlyle; Dane Roy, Moose Jaw Hillcrest; Brock Montgomery, Moose Jaw Hillcrest; and Jason Euteneir of Kronau. Qualifiers from the Northern Playdowns held in Tisdale are: Steven Laycock, Yorkton; Derek Gaudreau, Humboldt; Dean Highmoor, Saskatoon Nutana; and William Coutts, Bulyea.

"Our biggest concern is the weather and getting everyone here," said Grohn. "We hope to have people out to watch these talented rinks."