Oliver’s fifth annual B.C. Open Crokinole championship on March 16 attracted 56 players.
In addition to regional competitors from Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Summerland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, Kamloops and Vancouver, players also came from as far as Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Washington.
Up for grabs was $1,700 in cash prizes. The day began with competitive and recreational doubles action, which had Linda Irvine (Oliver) teaming up with Ralph Hargrave (Osoyoos) to win the doubles action while the recreational side was won by Summerland’s Mark Siemens and Vic Jensen.
Taking second in the competitive doubles was Summerland’s Michael Hughes and Jody Good of West Kelowna, while third went to Quin and Ed Erzinger of Penticton. Rounding out the top three in recreational doubles action was Darin Fair of Summerland with Arleigh Fair of Vancouver in second, while Armstrong’s Nancy Clarke and Peter Critchely were third. Quin Erzinger won the competitive singles, while Good was second and Irvine was third.
In recreational singles, Clark won, followed by Siemens and Saje Good. Organizer Michael Hughes said in a release that he and other organizers expect the event to grow in 2014. That expectation comes from new players attending each year as Hughes feels crokinole is becoming competitive with the annual world championships held in Tavistock, Ontario.
There are local clubs in Summerland and Oliver with the prospect of a new clubs starting in Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton. Anyone interested in learning to play this game or to renew an old acquaintance can contact Crokinole Players of BC at 250-494-9310.