Athletes and coaches from Powell River competed against 21 teams at Coquitlam Curling Club recently to win the gold medal in the provincial championships for Special Olympic curling.
Peter Cossarin, lead, Lance Barker, second, Dale Eckert, third, and Richard Lang, skip were accompanied by team manager Susan Storry and head coach Cameron Reid.
Two-end seeding rounds determined which section teams were placed into, based on experience and ability. Powell River joined Nakusp, Parksville, Kelowna, Vancouver and Port Alberni in division C.
Games throughout the competition were six ends with a three-minute break after the third end. No conversation was allowed between coaches and players while the games were in process.
During Powell River’s first divisional game against Port Alberni, the team was behind 2-1 at mid-point. But, with encouragement during the three-minute intermission, the players pulled back in the fourth end and won 5-3.
Against Vancouver, the score was 4-2 for Powell River at the start of the final end. Vancouver had three in the house without the last rock, but Lang made a perfect takeout for second shot. Vancouver’s skip missed his last shot and the final score remained 4-2 to Powell River.
During the third game, play was at the sixth end with a score of 5-2 to Powell River over Parksville Oceanside. With his last rock, Lang secured the win by knocking two of his own team’s rocks into the house for a final score of 7-2.
Having won each of the division games and collected maximum points, Powell River received a bye into the gold medal game against Kelowna.
In the final, the whole team continued to play extremely well. Bringing up the rear with last rock in the first end, Lang took out two of Kelowna’s rocks, and with four other biters around the rings gave Powell River five points. In the second end, with Kelowna lying four, Lang took out two and rolled to the button. Final score was 8-5 and Powell River became provincial champions.
This competition was a wonderful opportunity for the team and officials to work together and be rewarded with gold medals.
