Vancouver Island curling teams were once again on the podium at a Curl B.C. championship event.
Victoria’s Wes Craig and Parksville’s Penny Shantz both went undefeated through the 2014 Tim Hortons B.C. Senior Curling Championships to secure gold and the chance to compete at nationals in Yellowknife.
Team Shantz and Team Craig are the fourth and fifth Vancouver Island teams to have won a B.C. title, after the Nanaimo teams of Van Osch (junior women’s and women’s) and de Jong (junior men’s). An Island men’s team (Team Montgomery from Duncan/Victoria) were silver medalists at the 2014 Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. Men’s Curling Championship.
Team Shantz, rounded out by third Sandra Jenkins, second Debbie Pulak and lead Kate Horne, represent the Parksville Curling Club, but two members of the team hail from Salmon Arm (Jenkins and Horne).
Team Craig, rounded out by third Blair Cusack, second Tony Anslow and lead Kevin Britt, and coached by Roselyn Craig, beat last year’s champions, Team Lepine in the final 8-5. The Victoria Curling Centre team — whose members hail from Victoria, Shawnigan Lake and Sooke — scored deuces in the fourth, sixth and eighth ends to secure their win.
Craig Lepine skips the Peace Arch Curling Centre team, with Stan Walker, Berry Breton and new addition Mike Pelech.
The women’s final between Team Shantz and Team Deputan was a close affair. Tied 3-3 going into the 10th end, Shantz managed to score a single point to take the lead and the gold medal. Team Deputan, from the Chilliwack Curling Club, only lost to Team Shantz during the entire competition. The team, made up of skip Lisa Deputan, third Janet Klebe, second Laura Wigham and lead Jane Adam, took home silver.
Bronze was awarded to Team Thulin, from Campbell River Curling Club, with Dean Thulin as skip, Lyle Boyce at third, Brad Sullivan at second and Tom Green at lead, and Team Blashko, from Summerland Curling Club, with Lil Blashko as skip, Cindy Curtain as third, Sylvia Lowe as second, Tammy Brennan as lead and Diane Tetreault as fifth.
To see the results of all the draws at Comox Valley Curling Club, visit www.playdowns.com and click on Curl B.C.
“The Comox Valley Curling Club had a wonderful time hosting these senior championships and were totally amazed by the support of both the club members and the Comox Valley community,” said Judy Francis, chair of the Courtenay host committee.
Women’s results:
Gold: Team Shantz–Parksville Skip: Penny Shantz (Nanoose Bay) Third: Sandra Jenkins (Salmon Arm) Second: Debbie Pulak (Nanaimo) Lead: Kate Horne (Salmon Arm. Coach: Darryl Horne.
Silver: Team Deputan–Chilliwack Skip: Lisa Deputan (Chilliwack) Third: Janet Klebe (Chilliwack) Second: Laura Wigham (Chilliwack) Lead: Jane Adam (Rosedale). Coach: Doug Marshall.
Bronze: Team Blashko–Summerland Skip: Lil Blashko (Kaleden) Third: Cindy Curtain (Penticton) Second: Sylvia Lowe (Oliver) Lead: Tammy Brennan (Summerland). Fifth: Diane Tetreault (Oliver).
Men’s results:
Gold: Team Craig–Victoria Skip: Wes Craig (Shawnigan Lake) Third: Blair Cusack (Sooke) Second: Tony Anslow (Victoria). Lead: Kevin Britt (Victoria).
Silver: Team Lepine–Peace Arch Skip: Craig Lepine (Surrey) Third: Stan Walker (Vancouver) Second: Berry Breton (Surrey). Lead: Mike Pelech (Surrey).
Bronze: Team Thulin–Campbell River Skip: Dean Thulin (Campbell River) Third: Lyle Boyce (Campbell River) Second: Brad Sullivan (Campbell River). Lead: Tom Green (Campbell River).
— Submitted by Curl B.C.
