The hand of fate got the 2015 B.C. Scotties off to an exciting start, as the two skips from last year’s championship met in a rematch in the opening random draw on Wednesday night.
Kesa Van Osch and Kelly Scott, the two skips from last year’s final, went head-to-head in the first draw of the tournament.
Each rink also has two curlers who curl out of the host club.
Van Osch is out of the Nanaimo Curling Centre, and her rink features second Trysta Vandale and lead Kelsey Steiger of Golden Ears.
Scott is out of the Kelowna Curling Club, but has third Shannon Aleksic and fifth Kristen Recksiedler of the local club.
The four Golden Ears Winter Club women curl together as a team on Monday nights in Maple Ridge.
Scott won the opener by a score of 5-4, on her last rock.
“We had a very close game against Scott – she had to draw the pin for the win,” said Vandale. “So as much as losing is never fun, losing that way is not so bad. She deserved the win. She had to make a really tough shot.”
“Kesa being last year’s champ, and Scott, obviously – they both have targets on their back,” she said.
Scott is a six-time B.C. Scotties champion.
The four locals are “best buds,” but this weekend is about getting to the Canadian championship.
“We all want to go to the Scotties – and maybe if we could do it together one year that would be amazing,” said Vandale. “But right now we can’t. Someone’s got to win, and someone’s got to lose. We all know that as friends.
“If they win, and they beat us in the final, I’ll be super disappointed, but at the same time so excited for Shannon and Kristen to have that chance.”
“We’re best friend and that always wins out in the end.”
Recksiedler said the two rinks with “targets” on them will face a lot of stiff competition.
“It is a really close – there’s a lot of great teams out here,” she said. “It’s really good competition. You can’t expect to go undefeated.”
The event is taking place at Golden Ears Winter Club.
Team Sivertson, contains three of the curlers that won gold alongside Van Osch last year. The team is now skipped by Dailene Sivertson and curls out of the Victoria Curling Centre.
The field contains several other experienced teams including Team Knezevic who were runners up at the 2013 B.C. Scotties. The rink curls out of Prince George Golf and Curling Club and Howe Sound Curling Club, and is skipped by Patti Knezevic.
Team Gushulak qualified as Canadian Team Ranking System winners. The team from Vancouver Curling Club is skipped by Diane Gushulak.
Team Wark, which represents Victoria Curling Centre and Juan de Fuca Curling Centre, won the A-event at the first open playdown. Skip is Sarah Wark.
In the first draw they will face Team Russett who will be making their debut at the B.C. Scotties. The team from Kamloops Curling Club is skipped by Amanda Russett.
The field is rounded out by Team Lewis from Royal City Curling Club. The rink is skipped by Kristy Lewis.
The team which takes the provincial crown will go on to represent B.C. at the 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Sask., Feb. 4-22.
• The schedule and results are available at www.playdowns.com/ under the Curl BC tab.
