Local curlers do well

Photo: Colin Dacre

The best curlers in Canada right now may be at the rink in Penticton this week, the future might very well be in the North Okanagan.

The 2018 Optimist BC U18 Curling Championships in Salmon Arm is still more than a month away, but the field is set. 

Among the 16 teams — eight boys and eight girls — a few were from around our parts. 

The Colwell team from Vernon and Salmon Arm curling clubs features skip Eric Colwell, third Ben Morin, second Adam Raber, lead Andrew Cowell, fifth Gray Simms and coach Dale Hofer.

Team Kopytko from Kamloops Curling Club features skip Mitchell Kopytko, third Colorado Marr, second Ryan Watson, lead Kieren O’Neil and coaches Brenda Nordin and Chad Kopytko.

2018 Optimist BC U18 Curling Championships in Salmon Arm will take place from Mar. 13-18, 2018, at Salmon Arm Curling Centre.

The final playdowns for the 2018 BC Senior Curling Championships also took place this weekend with competitions at Tunnel Town, Enderby, Grand Forks and Juan de Fuca curling clubs.

The men’s and women’s provincials are being held separately, with the men playing at Duncan Curling Club and the women playing at Enderby Curling Club. 

Team Jenkins from Salmon Arm and Team Anderson from Kelowna were also qualifiers. 

Team Anderson features skip Karen Anderson, third Susan Moran, second Janelle Cheyne, lead Janis Page and coach Gerry Richard. 

Team Jenkins features skip Sandra Jenkins, third Kate Horne, second Wendy Cseke, lead Carol Murray and coach Darryl Horne.

In senior men’s play:

Team Mellof of Kelowna and Team Longworth of Vernon qualified at the Okanagan playdowns. 

Team Mellof features skip Dave Mellof, third Gary Brucker, second Shaun Everest and lead Keith Anderson. 

Team Longworth features skip Mark Longworth, third Dean Mackney, second Greg Hamilton and lead Ron McDougall.

The 2018 BC Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships will go ahead from Feb. 20-25, 2018.