The final games before Christmas in the Kootenay Savings Super League were all exciting finishes, coming down to the dramatic last rock at the Trail Curling Club Thursday.
Kevin Norbert and his Castlegar Hyundai squad had their hands full with Justin Umpherville and the Junior Men’s team. Team Hyundai started quick with a four ender, but Umpherville made a delicate come-around tap for two in the second, then jumped in the lead with a steal of five after Norberts draw was slightly wide and heavy.
The teams traded singles over the next three ends with Umpherville leading 8-6 after six. Hyundai stole two in the seventh to tie, then Norbert pulled off the shot of the year, with an around the world double that ended up in the four-foot guarded, and stealing the win from the Junior Men’s.
Team Fines and Team Nichol slugged it out in their tilt. Nichol took three then stole a single, but Ken Fines made an incredible double-raise runback, picking Nichols shot stone off the button to lay four.
After Nichol drew for one in the fourth, Fines again made an angle raise take-out to lay a huge six and take a 10-4 lead. Myron manufactured another three in the sixth, then stole the seventh to be one down coming home without, but came up short on his last draw in the eighth, giving Fines a 10-9 win while only scoring in two ends.
With first place on the line, the game between Deane Horning and Rob Ferguson didn’t disappoint.
Horning scored deuces in the first and third ends, with Ferguson countering with his own deuce in the second, but missed his chance for another in the fourth when his last shot takeout rolled too far for only a single.
Horning drew for another two in the fifth for a 6-3 lead, and looked to steal the sixth before skip Ferguson saved the end with a beautiful raise-tap to the button for one. Horning attempted a come around tap for four to put the game away in the seventh, but racked on a guard, giving Fergie a steal of one, and a tight 6-5 game coming home. Horning didn’t have to throw his last rock, when Skip Rob’s last draw fudged coming over the hogline, stopping short of the house, and a 7-5 Horning win.