Glen Jackson and his team of third Andrew Komlodi, second Corey Chester and lead Joel Cave have qualified for the 2018 belairdirect sa国际传媒 Men鈥檚 Curling Championship, presented by Berwick Retirement Homes in Parksville, Jan. 31-Feb. 4.
Jackson鈥檚 Victoria Curling Club rink built up a 3-0 record at the final men鈥檚 playdown in Abbotsford during the weekend before losing the A-qualifier 9-6 to Mark Longsworth of Vernon.
They rebounded to down clubmate Paul Henderson 7-2 in the B-semifinal and dropped Jeff Guignard of the Royal City club 7-1 in the B-final to advance.
Grant Dezura of the Golden Ears club and Wylie Eden of Penticton claimed the two C-event qualifiers to round out what will be a 12-team field for Parksville.
The winner of the sa国际传媒 championship will compete at the 2018 Tim Hortons Brier in Regina from March 3-11.
Jim Cotter will be back to defend his sa国际传媒 crown, but his Vernon rink will not include John Morris, who is off to the Olympics in mixed doubles with Kaitlyn Lawes. Catlin Schneider, Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky round out the Cotter team, which is coached by Victoria鈥檚 Jody Epp.
Meanwhile, a pair of Island rinks claimed berths to the 2018 Optimist sa国际传媒 U18 Curling Championships, set for March 13-18 at Salmon Arm Curling Centre.
Skip Gracelyn Richards, third Chanelle Meeres, second Keelie Duncan and lead Bryn Woloshyn of Comox Valley Curling Club qualified out of the Kerry Park club during the weekend. So did skip Rebecca Douglas鈥檚 rink, comprising third Brooke Reintjes, second Libby Elliot, lead Dalaena Reintjes and fifth Gabriella Higdon (who hail from Alberni Valley, Victoria, Duncan and Parksville).
