Vernon’s Team Slattery featuring Kim Slattery, Alyssa Kyllo, Kelsi Jones, Morgayne Eby won a spot in the BC Women’s Curling Championships by taking the A-side title at the No. 1 playdowns over the weekend.
The women’s open no. 1 playdown took place Dec. 14 to 16 at Tunnel Town Curling Club and determined two berths for the 2019 BC Women’s Championship. The B event was won by Vancouver’s Team Hudyma (Lindsay Hudyma, Heather Hansen, Jenna Duncan, Patty Wallingham).
“We played smart all weekend and made some spectacular key shots at just the right moments. It was a really strong field and each of our three games was a lesson in patience. We just kept our focus and played shot by shot, game by game, then on to the next one,” said Morgayne Eby.
“I’m extremely proud of how we played individually and as a team. We faced some tricky conditions out there, particularly in the A final, but we never gave up. We kept communicating with each other and worked through it. Once we had the ice figured out I think we could all feel the game was ours. The last end was just about eliminating their stones and keeping things open, we played it perfect and delivered on some tricky shots that really sealed the deal.”
Eby said preparation for the provincial is all about creating muscle memory and confidence, so when the pressure is on you don’t get tight and make mistakes you normally wouldn’t.
“We’ve worked extremely hard this season and it’s showing in our cashspiel and playdowns results. Our coach, Mark Longworth, has really pushed us to fine tune our deliveries and develop our strategy. And great support from our sponsors; WINGS Vernon, Superior Propane, HUB International, Jaw Wear, CLIF bar, and Twin Anchors Houseboats; has allowed us to play more events and develop our team dynamic. We’re really lucky to have such great support, you think of a curling team as just four players, but it’s really so much bigger than that,” Eby said.
The final two women’s berths will be determined at the women’s open no. 2 playdowns at Kamloops Curling Club from Jan. 4 to 6.
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The men’s regional playdowns also took place Dec. 14 to 16 and determined seven of the 2019 B.C. Men’s berths. The Lower Mainland playdown, which took place at Tunnel Town Curling Club, qualified three teams.
Langley, Royal City and Kamloops’ Team Wenzek (Daniel Wenzek, Jared Kolomaya, Jordan Tardi, Nicholas Meister, Ken Brown) won the Lower Mainland A event. Golden Ears, Royal City and Victoria’s Team Joanisse (Dean Joanisse, Andrew Bilesky, Steve Kopf, Paul Cseke) won the B event. Royal City, Kamloops and Victoria’s Team Klymchuk (Tyler Klymchuk, Corey Chester, Kyle Habkirk, Rhys Gamache) won the C event.
The men’s Kootenays playdown, which was hosted by Castlegar Curling Club, was won by Castlegar’s own Team Horning (Deane Horning, Travis Cameron, Dave Toffolo, James McKenzie).
Kelowna’s Team Eden (Wylie Eden, Sean Matheson, Justin Nillson, Tyler Jaeger) secured their spot in the provincials through the Thompson Okanagan playdown at Penticton Curling Club, while Victoria’s Team Blandford (Matthew Blandford, Chris Baier, Derek Ryan, Cal Jackson) secured their berth through the Island playdown at Victoria Curling Club.
The Northern playdown, which took place in Quesnel, the location of the 2019 BC Men’s and Women’s Championships, was won by Quesnel’s Team Waffle (Brady Waffle, Eric Eriksson, Mike Pagarut, Dave Vatamaniuck).
The final men’s berth will be determined at the men’s open playdown at Lillooet Curling Club from Jan. 11 to 14.
The complete list of teams that have qualified so far for the 2019 BC Men’s Curling Championship, presented by Barkerville Historic Town & Park, is as follows:
– Team Geall (Defending champion)
– Team Cotter (CTRS)
– Team Barry (BC Curling Tour)
– Team Tardi (BC Curling Tour)
– Team Wenzek (Lower Mainland playdown)
– Team Joanisse (Lower Mainland playdown)
– Team Klymchuk (Lower Mainland playdown)
– Team Horning (Kootenays playdown)
– Team Eden (Thompson Okanagan playdown)
– Team Blandford (Island playdown)
– Team Waffle (Northern playdown)
The complete list of teams that have qualified so far for the 2019 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Best Western, is as follows:
– Team Van Osch (Defending champion)
– Team Brown (CTRS)
– Team Wark (BC Curling Tour)
– Team Gushulak (BC Curling Tour)
– Team Slattery (Open #1 playdown)
– Team Hudyma (Open #1 playdown)
The 2019 BC Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships will be taking place Jan. 29 to Feb. 3 in Quesnel. More information can be found at http://quesnel2019.curlbc.ca/
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