Castlegar’s Desiree Schmidt rink joined 22 of the best women’s curling teams in the world in Kamloops to play for Valley First Crown of Curling on the weekend.
With a Kootenay Savings Super League bye last week, the team comprised of skip Desiree Schmidt, third Brittany Palmer, second Courtney Schmidt and lead Heather Nichol, made the journey and had a great weekend at the Kamloops cashspiel.
After losing their first game to former B.C. Womens Champion, Allison MacInnes, Team Schmidt rattled off three straight wins to get to the B qualifying game.
Unfortunately they lost to the four Kims of the Korean National Team, that eventually finished fourth.
Dropping down to the C Event, Team Schmidt won their next game to set up another qualifying match, only to lose against another world elite ladies’ team, and eventual cashspiel champion, Bingyu Wang of China.
China squeaked by Denmark’s Lene Nielsen 6-4 in the final to claim the $8,000 first-place prize.
Brent Pierce’s New Westminster rink won the men’s side, beating Edmonton’s Jamie King 7-6 in nine ends in the final.
Second place received $6,000, and the semifinalists $4,500.