The region 2 (East Kootenay) BC Interior Masters Curling playdowns were held at the Creston Curling Club from Jan. 10-12. A total of 12 teams participated with six teams in the 60-plus age division and six in the 70-plus age division. Seven of the 12 teams were from the Creston Curling Club with two teams from each of the Cranbrook and Kimberley curling clubs and one team from the Fernie club.
A round robin was held in both divisions. The Al Tholl rink — skip Al Tholl, third Dave Dyck, second Leroy McNicholas and lead Larry Bouchard — from the Creston Curling Club went undefeated in the round robin to win the 70-plus division.
The 60-plus division was a close competition with the Dave Ralston, Terry O’Connor, Neil Dickson and Vern Ronmark teams all finishing with three wins and two ties. A team draw to the button was used as a tiebreaker and the Dave Ralston and Vern Ronmark teams then moved on to a playoff game, won by the Ronmark team, skip Vern Ronmark, third Laddie Pavlis, second Lorence Smeby and lead Ross Gowan.
The winners of the 60-plus and 70-plus divisions will attend the provincial championship in Chilliwack from Feb. 28-March 3. There will be eight teams competing in both divisions in Chilliwack. The competition will see four teams from the Pacific Coast Masters Association and four teams from the Interior Masters Association.