Winning the Dominion Club Challenge was important to Blaine Black’s rink.
Black’s Penticton team with Chris Jones, Tim Haberstock and Shaun Everest, defeated Glen Brennan’s 9-4 at the Penticton Curling Club Sunday.
Black’s rink played in the final of the Pacific International Cup two years ago and lost. With that defeat still fresh in the mind, Black’s team wanted a return trip and earned it. Facing Brennan for a second time in the championship tournament, Black felt his team was in for a tough rematch.
“It was a good game. We curled with Glen quite a few times,” said Black. “He always keeps it pretty light. Good friends as well so it was a good game.”
Black said the difference was them placing pressure on Brennan.
“We made them make some shots and they had a few misses and we capitalized,” he said. “I had a couple lucky breaks as well. We had a lot of tough matches. There was a lot of tough competition here.”
Brennan said his team put on an amazing effort, but struggles with draws hurt them. He said they just came out flat.
“I had a hard time getting a feel of the ice,” said Brennan. “Yesterday (Saturday), I didn’t have any problems drawing and today (Sunday) I had a hard time. Outside of that, maybe the nerves are going a little bit.”
Karla Thompson’s rink from Kamloops defeated Sharon Verrier’s rink 6-2.
The Penticton team said they didn’t bring their “A” game in the final.
“They were making their shots,” said Verrier. “They will represent the zone well.”
Cathy Jones, a fill-in lead for Verrier, said they didn’t capitalize on their chances.
“I would say the team swept well,” joked Jones. “We were very good hosts. We were good sportsmans and wanted to be good ambassadors for the club.”
As disappointing as it was to lose, Verrier said they worked well and performed better than expected.
The Black and Thompson rink will go to the PIC held at the Richmond Curling Club April 18 to 22.
Invitations to participate are extended to curling associations/clubs from Alaska, Arizona, Australia, British Columbia, California, China, Chinese Taipei, Colorado, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, Japan, Korea, Michigan, Minnesota, New Zealand, North Dakota, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Yukon.
The Dominion Curling Club championship will be held in Scarborough, Ont, from Nov. 19 to 24, 2012.