Six teams, including former ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ junior women's curling champion Kristen Recksiedler of Richmond, will be gunning for the final spot into the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Scotties Tournament of Hearts from today to Sunday at Juan de Fuca.
Recksiedler, who won the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ championship in 2004 and played in the Canadians at Juan de Fuca, Nicole Backe, Ashleigh Clark of Richmond, Rachelle Haider of Golden Ears, Lindsae Page of Royal City and Adina Tasaka of Royal City, all have their sights set on coming back to the Island for the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Scotties, Jan. 20-25 at Parksville.
The women's Coastal Backdoor opens with one draw on Friday at 6 p.m. and then three on Saturday (9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.). The final two draws are Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and if necessary at 3:30 p.m.
The winner will join Marla Mallett of Vancouver, Jodi Maskiewich of Royal City, Georgina Wheatcroft of Cloverdale and Brittany Palmer of Trail at Parksville. Another three teams will earn their spots to the provincials this week.
Island product Wheatcroft has assembled a young team with Steph Jackson of Victoria, Sarah Wark and Kristen Windsor. Wheatcroft has plenty of experience with two world titles (1987 with Victoria's Pat Sanders and 2000 with Kelley Law of Richmond). She was also a bronze medallist at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City with Law, Victoria's Julie Skinner and Diane Nelson.
Wark skipped the Victoria team of Darah Provencal, Jackson and Sarah Neal to a ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ junior women's title in 2005.
As the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ champion, the winner at Parksville can make plans for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Feb. 21-March 1 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
n The Kelly Shimizu team from Richmond won the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ junior women's championship on Wednesday at the Kelowna Curling Club. Shimizu defeated Dailene Sivertson of Victoria 10-4 in the final.
The Bryan Kedziora rink from Golden Ears took the junior men's crown with a 9-4 victory over Steve Kopf of Royal City. Kedziora was backed by Derek Errington, Cal Jackson of Victoria and Tyler MacKenzie.
The Canadian junior championships are Jan. 31-Feb. 8 at Salmon Arm.
