The 100 Mile House blind curling team placed third following three action-packed games at the 2017 West Coast Blind Curling Association Provincial Play Downs, Jan. 7-8.
The team started strong, coming from behind to tie Kelowna, the reigning provincial champions in the first draw. Skip Jim Vinson secured the three points needed to tie with his last shot in the eighth end.
The 100 Mile House team beat Vancouver in the second draw, 7-2.
Despite another tight game during the third draw, 100 Mile House saw their standing slip away during the seventh and eighth ends, says team member Lori Fry.
"Overall we felt pretty good," says Fry. "Skip did say, we still have to work on our weights a little more."
Fry says the team is always fine tuning, especially as the players' vision continues to change.
Teams in the tournament had the potential to score 10 points for a win and five points for a tie. Blind curlers play eight ends rather than ten, and score two points for each end they win, or one point for a blank end.
The 100 Mile curlers finished the tournament with 39 points. Kelowna scored 53 points, Prince George finished with 44 points and Vancouver placed fourth with 20 points.
Kelowna will advance to the national championship in Ottawa in February, while 100 Mile House and Prince George will compete at the Western Canadian championships in Winnipeg in March.
"It was a great weekend," says Fry. "The camaraderie is always wonderful between the teams."
In recent years, the 100 Mile team has been reduced to just a few players as others have either moved away from the community or retired from curling, says Fry. For the tournament, 100 Mile borrowed Vern White of Kamloops in order to fill out the team. "We're always looking for new players."
Fry says curling experience doesn't matter to join: "We promote healthy living. Life can become harder with a visual impairment, but it doesn't mean you have to become a recluse."
Fry says anyone of any ability – visually impaired or not – is welcome. "Overcome your challenges, no matter what they are."