Morning Star Staff
Alberta’s Japanese community started a provincial bonspiel 60 years ago. From there, some of the B.C. curlers started their own 15 years after their Alberta friends gathered to throw stones.
The first one, organized by Hiro Mukai, was held in Greenwood (three sheets), using also the ice in Midway (twin-sheet).
The curlers would charter a bus to travel to the spiel which would be the beginning of the camaraderie and friendships that are the highlight of the BC Nisei Bonspiel, held last weekend at the Vernon Curling Club.
“The bonspiel was a mixed event right from the beginning although teams could curl with only one woman,” said Jan Mori of Vernon. “They decided that the bonspiel should move around the province and over the last few years have settled into a rotation that includes Richmond, Kamloops, Hope, and Vernon/Kelowna.
“Hiro Hasabe, who competed in the Vernon spiel this weekend, was also at the first spiel, and did have to miss a few in the middle. Tom Miyahara missed the first one, but has competed in every one since then.”
Results of the 45th annual B.C. Nisei Bonspiel (held at the Vernon Curling Club):
A Event: won by Kate Horne of Salmon Arm (she played lead for Cathy King (Borst) out of Alberta – 1998 Canadian champion (bronze at the Worlds); also Heather Nedohin on that team). But one might say the real strength of the team was Vernon’s Betty Murray playing lead. Defeated Vancouver’s Tony Imai 8-6 in the final.
B Event: Terry Uyeda (Edmonton) over Bob Hatanaka (Salmon Arm).
C Event: Seiji Mukuyama (Vancouver) over Richard Omori (Vancouver).
D Event: Kaz Kitamura (Kamloops) over Tom Miyahara (Kamloops). This was Miyahara’s 44th bonspiel.
