Frontrunner Thompson stays in high gear
The playoff spot is secure, now Karla Thompson looks to lock up the top position at the 2018 B.C. Scotties Women’s Curling Championship at the Victoria Curling Club.
The 2016 provincial champion remains undefeated to sit alone atop the standings at 5-0 after defeating Holly Donaldson’s Vancouver/Victoria split rink 10-7 in the morning, then reverting to a defensive tussle that broke out late in an 8-2 victory over Kayte Gyles of Royal City in the night draw.
Thompson and her Kamloops rink, consisting of third Kristen Recksiedler, second Shannon Joanisse and lead Trysta Vandale, closes out the eight-team roundrobin with games today against Kim Slattery (2-3) of Vernon and Diane Gushulak (4-1) of Royal City in the 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. draws.
Corryn Brown is also 4-1 after a pair of lopsided Friday wins, including an 11-3 victory over winless Randi Ludwar after an 8-1 six-ends victory over Nanaimo’s Kesa Van Osch. Gushulak downed Donaldson 8-4 in the evening.
Thompson has her eyes set on No. 1, which carries last-rock advantage and choice of stones should her record finish clear of competitors.
“Being in the [Page playoff] 1-2 game would be a really great thing. We like the position we’re in so far, we’re just going to try and keep building from where we’re at,” said Thompson. “Having hammer is a huge advantage. The rocks are all pretty good so if we didn’t have first pick of rocks wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
The evening game was a case of patience as Thompson finally cracked Gyles for a deuce in the eighth end to take a 4-2 lead then stole four in the ninth when Gyles came up light.
In other evening games, Van Osch bounced back from her morning loss with a key 6-3 win over Slattery of Vernon to improve to 3-2 to currently hold down the fourth and final playoff spot.
In other morning games, Gushulak downed Slattery 5-2 and Gyles beat Ludwar 5-4.
The round-robin ends today and should there be tiebreakers, they would go tonight at 7 and Saturday at 8:30 a.m., if required. The Page 1-2 game is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. and Page 3-4 goes at 7 p.m.
EXTRA ENDS: The final open qualifier for provincials begins today in Abbotsford with 16 teams vying for four spots for the 2018 belairdirect B.C. Men’s Curling Championship set for Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 in Parksville. Among the local teams competing are the Neil Dangerfield, Paul Henderson and Glen Jackson rinks of the VCC.