On March 3-4, Special Olympics BC-Quesnel hosted the Region 7/8 curling qualifier for Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games, which will be held in February 2019.
Eleven teams competed in the curling qualifier with three from Region 7 (Kitimat, Terrace and Smithers) and eight from Region 8 (Dawson Creek, three from Prince George and four from Quesnel).
The Quesnel teams include the Rock Stars, with Cherie Swaan, Paul Goyette, Tyler Kent and Kally Lokken. They finished fourth in B Division.
The Goldpanners included Cory Melnychuk, Travis Burkett, Doug King and Candice Valois, and they finished third in A Division.
The Quesnel Lightning – Glenda Melnychuk, Travis Burt, Martin Scriver and Dean Cake – finished second in B Division.
The Quesnel Ti-Cats, including Alfred Schotel, Brock Terlesky, Cory Peck and Ahstin Gruending, won the A Division.They went undefeated in a very competitive three-team division.
The Ti-Cats won its first game against Kitimat despite falling behind 4-0 after two ends. The team scored three in the third, and then stole points in the fourth and fifth ends to take a 5-4 lead.
They blanked in the final end to secure a hard-fought victory.
In its second game against the Quesnel Goldpanners, the Ti-Cats fell behind 4-3 after the Goldpanners scored three in the fourth end.
By scoring two in the fifth and stealing two more points in the sixth, the Ti-Cats took a 7-4 win.
In its game against Kitimat, the Goldpanners took a 5-4 lead into the final end.
However, Kitimat used its last rock advantage to score two and win 6-5.
The victory put Kitimat into the finals and a rematch against the Ti-Cats.
This time, a steal of one in the fourth end put the Ti-Cats ahead 4-2, and that made the difference in another tight game.
“Excellent shot-making by both skips was a highlight of the final,” says special Olympics BC-Quesnel program co-ordinator Rick Prosk.
Prince George teams won the B and C divisions.
Snowshoeing results
In Otway on Feb. 25:
• Candice Valois: first, 100 metres; first, 200m; and third, 400m
• Paulette Prosk: second, 50m; third, 100m; third, 200m; and second, 400m
Paulette and Candice raced each other to the finish of the 400-metre, and finished within half a second of each other, says Prosk.
• Cherie Swaan: second, 50m; third, 100m; first, 200m; and first, 400m Prosk says it was great meet for Cherie with some excellent times.
• Glenda Melnychuk: 3rd, 50m. Glenda raced in some very tough divisions in the 100m, 200m and 400m, finishing fourth in the three events. As always, Prosk says she put on an excellent effort!
• Thomas McHugh: first, 50m; second, 100m; third, 200m; and third, 400m. “Great participation from Thomas!”
• Cory Melnychuk: second, 50m; 2nd, 100m; and first in the 5 kilometre “Cory set a blistering pace to finish in 34 minutes. Well done!”
Alpine Skiing results
Jerman Severeid finished first in the Super G at the alpine ski qualifier in Kimberley March 23.
Joshua Tilsner was third in the slalom.
Four athletes competed in the Alpine Skiing qualifier.
Cross-country skiing results
This event was held in West Kelowna on Feb. 10-11.
Cory Melnychuk finished first in the 2.5 km (19:22), first in 500m (3:34) and 5th in the 1 km (12:22).
Danny Dodgson took first 1 km (10:30), fifth in the 500m (3:27).
It was a good showing by the lads.
Next Qualifiers
The floor hockey team travels to Mission for its qualifier on March 17-18, and on March 24, four Quesnel bowling teams will travel to 100 Mile House for their qualifier.
When will we know
The official decision about Winter Games qualification will not be made until all of the qualifiers for all winter sports are completed at the end of March, Prosk says.
“For the last games, two Region 8 teams qualified for Winter Games, so we are hopeful that, this time, Quesnel Ti-Cats will earn a spot since it was one of only two undefeated teams.”
Prosk adds no announcements will be made about winter games qualification for several months.