A number of mixed curling teams with familial connections competed in regional playdowns over the Family Day long weekend for a chance to compete in the 2019 BC Mixed Curling Championship.
Kimberley’s Team Buchy, consisting of the two father-daughter duos of Tom and Kaila Buchy and Dave and Arissa Toffolo, qualified for the event after a strong showing in the Kootenay playdown.
Three teams earned berths to the provincial championship at the Lower Mainland playdown, which came to a close on Family Day. Steve Kopf’s Royal City team of Ashley Sanderson, Matthew McCrady and Patty Wallingham was the first to qualify.
The young Vernon, Royal City and Tunnel Town team of Nicholas Umbach, Jaelyn Cotter, Connor Deane and Cassidy Schwaerzle was the second team through to the provincials. The final team to qualify through the Lower Mainland playdown was 2019 Canadian Junior Women’s silver medallist Sarah Daniels’ Delta Thistle team of Brayden Carpenter, Kayla MacMillan and John Cullen.
At the Island playdown, 2019 BC Men’s finalist Cameron de Jong led his Victoria team of Taylor Reese-Hansen, Zane Bartlett and Mariah Coulombe to victory.
Matt Tolley’s Penticton team of Jodie Brennan, Jason Larence and Jenna Denton claimed the berth available at the Okanagan playdown.
The mixed teams that have qualified so far for the 2019 BC Mixed Curling Championship are as follows:
- Team Tolley (Okanagan playdown)
- Team Kopf (Lower Mainland playdown)
- Team Umbach (Lower Mainland playdown)
- Team Daniels (Lower Mainland playdown)
- Team Buchy (Kootenay playdown)
- Team de Jong (Island playdown)
The remaining two teams will be determined at the mixed open playdown taking place at Mission Granite Curling Club from March 8 to 10.
The 2019 BC Mixed Curling Championship will be taking place April 10 to 14 at Vancouver Curling Club.