Strong start for Island rinks at men’s curling provincials

Victoria’s two veteran skips came through with victories in the opening draw of the Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. Men’s Curling Championship in Nelson on Wednesday morning.

Wes Craig and Glen Jackson, both representing the Victoria Curling Centre, snuck off with opening draw victories and Jackson added a second in the afternoon, setting up a morning match today against two-time defending champion and 2016 favourite Jim Cotter of Vernon.

Jackson, with Andrew Komlodi at third, second Corey Chester and lead Joel Cave, fought back and forth against Jeff Richard of Kelowna in the morning, scoring a single in the 10th for the 6-5 win.

Jackson then downed Kimberley’s Tom Buchy 4-2 in the afternoon in a defensive game that was scoreless through four ends. Jackson stole singles in the fifth and eighth ends as neither team recorded a multiple-point end.

Jackson and Cotter — who defeated Will House 6-3 and Chase Martyn 9-2 — were the only teams to record two wins in the opening two draws. The late results were not available by press time.

Meanwhile, Craig and his crew of Scott MacDonald at third, Tony Anslow at second and Victor Gamble at lead, outlasted VCC clubmate Neil Dangerfield 10-7 in the morning.

Dangerfield tied the game at 7-7 with a three-ender in the eighth, but Craig — who is also set to compete in the B.C. Seniors championship Feb. 16-21 in Richmond with the same team — struck back for three in the ninth, before running his opponent out of rocks in the 10th.

The VCC’s Jason Montgomery, with third Miles Craig, second Cameron de Jong and lead Dave McGarry, was tripped up 9-4 by Martyn of Royal City in New Westminster, allowing a three-ender in the fourth and a steal of four in the fifth end.

Montgomery was set to play House in the Wednesday evening draw while Dangerfield tackled Langley’s Daniel Wenzek. Craig was on the ice against Sean Geall.

The winner of this morning’s Jackson-vs.-Cotter game will advance to the A-event qualifier of the triple-knockout event.

Playoff games are set for the weekend with the semifinal and championship games slated for Sunday.