No championship trophies are coming home in Quesnel curlers’ hands, but our athletes clearly established themselves as the nicest, and there was a prize for that.
For the second year in a row, a Quesnel curler took home the Most Sportsmanlike award at the BC Senior Curling Championships (BCSCC). Last year it was won by Tim Richards, and this year it was his teammate Mike Pagurut who took home that trophy.
There were two local rinks representing the city at the BCSCCs, one on the men’s side and one in the women’s draw.
The men were led by skip Richards along with third Pagurut, second Shayne Yamamoto, and lead Dave Needham.
The women’s team was skipped by Brenda Ernst, with third Dana Johansen, second Penni Yamamoto, and lead Shari Needham.
“Both championships are triple knockout events meaning three loses and you’re out,” said Dave Needham, providing updates on the Quesnel competitors right from the Langley Curling Centre where this year’s events were held between March 21-26. “The top four teams advance to the playoffs in the ladies’, and top six advance in the men’s.”
Both teams lost their first matchup of the event, Ernst by a score of 10-5 and Richards by a score of 6-2, which bumped each rink into the B-Event set of teams.
Richards won his second game, an 8-3 victory, but then dropped his next matchup to Team Sutton in 6-4 fashion.
“The game was tied after seven ends with Richards having the hammer in the 8th,” said Needham. “Sutton got a rock on the button behind guards and Richards was unable to get to it, resulting in a steal of two.
“Richards dropped to the C-Event and played in the Thursday 7 p.m. draw, losing again 6-4 in another good match. A couple of rubbed guards by Team Richards resulted in missed opportunities and ended their championship quest.”
Earnst, meanwhile, also got bumped to the C-Event with a loss to Team Arsenault in her second contest, which put them in a must-win situation.
“Team Ernst played a good game but lost 5-2 to Team Mychaluk on the Friday night draw,” Needham reported. This eliminated the team from further competition.
The final championships were won by Team Gushulak from Kelowna on the women’s side and Team Craig from Vancouver Island repeated as champions on the men’s side. They will now represent B.C. at the national level.
“Both Quesnel teams were happy with their performance and will use this experience to build for future competitions,” Needham said.
READ MORE: Quesnel curlers closer than a foot to the button
READ MORE: BC Senior Curling Championships get underway
