Over 60 curlers from 16 teams hit the ice today at the Trail Curling Club, as the B.C. Senior Championship gets underway.
Prior to the evening draw tonight, the opening ceremonies will herald the event at 6 p.m., introducing the best eight men’s and eight women’s curling teams from across B.C.
Trail native Kathy Smiley (nee Kryski), returns to her hometown with her Royal City rink from New Westminister.
The four-time B.C. senior curling champion kicks off the week against the Wyatt rink from Terrace at noon today, before facing the Kootenay’s Teresa Hiram rink from Christina Lake at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Hiram rink begins its run to the Canadian championships in Summerside, P.E.I., at noon, taking on former national and world champion Debbie Jones-Walker.
The men’s side should be a wide-open affair with Cranbrook’s Tom Shypitka rink hitting the hack against former B.C. men’s champion Craig Lepine at noon today.
Castlegar’s Myron Nichol rink plays Wes Craig, winner of the 2010 Men’s title, to open the championship and Coastal qualifier Rick Pughe at 7 p.m.
The playoffs go on the weekend with any tie-breakers or the semifinal Friday with the championship game Saturday at 2 p.m. Followed by the closing ceremonies.