Kimberley’s Tom Buchy rink won the Mixed Kootenay Curling Playdown at the Trail Curling Club on Sunday.
The three-time B.C. Mixed champion held off a determined Tom Shypitka team from Cranbrook to advance to the provincials after a 9-5 win in the final match of the playdown.
Shypitka, a two-time Men’s provincial champion, started the competition hot, beating the Myron Nichol rink from Castlegar 6-4 in the opening draw. Shypitka then faced Buchy’s rink and down 3-2 in the sixth, Shypitka would draw for one to tie it in the sixth, then steal in seven and eight for the 5-3 victory.
After Buchy dispatched Nichol 5-2, he faced Shypitka in the elimination match. With a win Saturday night, the Cranbrook foursome comprised of skip Shypitka, third Lynn Lee, second Steve Termette, and lead Tracy Amy, would advance to the provincials, but Buchy jumped out to a 5-1 lead and would cruise to a 6-3 victory in seven ends, forcing the rubber match on Sunday.
In a contest marked by deliberate and thoughtful play, the game was tied 3-3 in the fourth, but the Buchy rink would count two in the fifth end to go up 5-3. Shypitka would cut the lead to one in the sixth, but the Kimberley rink would score one in the seventh and steal three in the eighth end for the 9-5 victory.
The Buchy foursome, comprised of Lori Buchy third, second Dave Toffolo, and lead Robyn Toffolo, won the Mixed provincial championship in 2006, 2010, and 2012 and will look for its fourth title at the B.C. Mixed Curling championship in Kelowna Mar. 19-22.
