WINNIPEG – The most gruelling day of competition left Kirsty Williams sweating and collapsed on the floor, clutching a can of Coke as she tried not to pass out.
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
WINNIPEG – The most gruelling day of competition left Kirsty Williams sweating and collapsed on the floor, clutching a can of Coke as she tried not to pass out.
WINNIPEG – The most gruelling day of competition left Kirsty Williams sweating and collapsed on the floor, clutching a can of Coke as she tried not to pass out.
Williams is one of the many who have gone deep into the world of speed puzzling, adding a boost of adrenalin to an otherwise tranquil hobby by racing others.
It was at the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship last September, when Williams ran into trouble. The air conditioning in a pavilion in Valladolid, Spain, had conked out as the temperature outside soared above 30 C. She was in the front row, a livestream camera keeping a close eye, and she sensed it would be a tough day.
“Before I had even finished flipping and sorting my edge pieces, I could feel pins and needles in my hands. And I was like this, this is not good.”
Williams had trained relentlessly doing puzzles, enough to have lucked out and done the exact puzzle in front of her. She knew she could get it done in 35 minutes and could likely go even faster on a race day.
But elite speed puzzling requires deep focus, and she wasn’t able to on that hot day.
“I had tried to join a centre piece onto an edge piece, like, three times. And I was like, I know this physically can’t go there. What am I doing?”
