Nanaimo Curling Centre members love to root for one another, so masters playdowns couldn’t have played out much better.
Two local teams made it through to this week’s Curl B.C. masters women’s championships at Qualicum Beach: the Marg Obee rink and the Sally Noonan rink.
The cheering has already started, even though provincials don’t get underway until tonight (March 10).
“It really is an outstanding club and the support is just amazing,” said Noonan. “Everybody has just been excellent in giving us encouragement and support.”
Obee is making her third trip to provincials and her team this time includes Noreen Martin, Moyra Graham, Inga Brunton and coach Gloria Palinkas.
Noonan is a first-time provincial qualifier, joined by teammates Jill McGlenen, Sharon Luttrell and Shirley Cookman and coach Ron Kaneen.
Noonan’s team swept through playdowns undefeated, quite a feat for a team that is in its first year together. The skip said the personalities on her team are very compatible.
“For putting a team together that hadn’t played with each other at the beginning of the year, we’ve come together really well and we’ve worked hard on our game and I think the hard work we’ve done is showing in how we’re playing,” she said.
Obee said her team played great at times during playdowns, but also had its rough stretches.
“We came through and I think it was just by persevering,” she said.
It shows the rink’s growth over the course of the season, Obee said.
“I think it’s quite a dynamic team,” said the skip. “We’re upbeat and if someone’s having a bad game or a down shot we have a way of perking each other up again, which is important.”
Especially at provincials, when opposing teams are capable of pouncing on any mistakes.
“The competition will be really good, but I think we’re curling well enough to probably be in every game,” said Noonan. “It’s a team game so if we play well like we did in the playdowns, we’ll be competitive.”
Obee knows from experience what it might take to win at provincials.
“It’s going to take confidence, it’s going to take shot-making and I’d say really focusing on what we’re doing,” she said.
Both teams have had a chance to curl at the Qualicum club this season at bonspiels, and the Obee rink has also gone up there to practise. The skips expect good ice and a well-run tournament.
“They have a really good club up there, so I just know they’re going to do a crackerjack job of hosting the event,” Noonan said. “We’re really looking forward to it; we can’t wait for it to start.”
The two Nanaimo teams are in different pools, so if they meet, it will be in the playoff round.
“Hopefully the finals,” said Obee. “That would be so wonderful for Nanaimo.”
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