Comox Valley Curling Club’s Michell rink brought home the bronze medal from the Pacific International Cup in Richmond.
The club curling season usually finishes by the end of March, but these Comox Valley ladies had their sights set on the PIC, a prestigious event held April 16-20. In order to qualify, the five-person Michell rink (Val Schultz, Mare Michell, LeeAnne Alberti, Stasia Johnson and Colleen Robson) first won their home club ladies championship by stealing a point in the extra end of the final.
Then with Melanie Rait coming to the rescue sparing in the lead position, they battled their way with a final decisive victory over the Campbell River ladies champions with a tournament record of 5-0 at the North Island playdowns in Port McNeill.
Being the 15th anniversary of the PIC, the event promised competitive curling, as well as exciting fundraising and festive opportunities. A silent auction helped raise money for the PIC’s official charitable organization, Spinal Cord Injury BC, and curlers were treated to a banquet and a “funny money” casino night.
But if you asked any of the 150-plus curlers, committee organizers, participants and supporters from the B.C. teams to the international teams ranging from Alaska all the way to Australia, they would tell you that the most amazing experiences came from sharing in the laughs, camaraderie and sportsmanship of the event.
The PIC provides a competitive venue for club curlers dedicated to grassroots curling, and the Michell rink represented their club, Valley and whole North Island by bringing home the bronze.
Off to a shaky start dropping their first two games, the girls quickly rallied by winning five of their next six, including a nail-biter of a tie-breaker game against Cloverdale to earn a spot in the semifinal against the team from Golden Ears (Maple Ridge).
Although this proved to the be the end of the road for the Michell rink, the end of the road landed them a bronze with silver going to Golden Ears, and gold going to the Cowichan Rocks.
The Michell rink had an amazing time and thank their sponsors: End of the Roll-Comox Valley and Canadian Tire-Courtenay for their incredible generosity, the Broughton Curling Club in Port McNeill for hosting the North Island playdowns, Brazen Sportswear for their help and speedy service, and all their friends and supporters from the Comox Valley Curling Club.
For more information about the event visit www.picup.ca.
– Michell Rink