The Zone 1 Kootenay rink skipped by Heather Nichol didn’t win the 2014 B.C. Senior Women’s Curling championship in Comox last week, but the Castlegar curler was recognized for arguably something more important.
Nichol was awarded the Lottie Hill Award for the most sportsmanlike senior women curler as voted on by all other senior curlers.
Nichol skipped Trail’s Rose Beauchamp, and Castlegar’s Sue Babiarz and Cindy Pettapiece to a 2-5 record, but from the very start it was clear that her goal was more than just winning a provincial title.
“When Rose asked me to curl with her, I said, ‘Rose, fun is number one, curling is secondary and if you can live with that then I’m in,’” said Nichol before the provincials. “For us we’re going to play as well as we can, to play to our ability, but the bottom line is to gain experience at that level.”
Vancouver Island curling teams won both the Senior Men’s and Women’s events at the Curl B.C. championship event.
Victoria’s Wes Craig and Parksville’s Penny Shantz both went undefeated through the championships to secure gold and the chance to compete at nationals in Yellowknife, N.W.T. next month.
Team Shantz, rounded out by third Sandra Jenkins, second Debbie Pulak and lead Kate Horne, represent Parksville Curling Club.
Team Craig, rounded out by third Blair Cusack, second Tony Anslow and lead Kevin Britt, and coached by Roselyn Craig, beat last year’s champions, Team Lepine in the final with a score of 8-5.
The women’s final between Team Shantz and Team Deputan was a close affair. Tied 3-3 going into the 10th end, Shantz managed to score a single point to take the lead and the gold medal.