Fifty years ago today, the Fort Rupert Curling Club (FRCC) members began to play.
Half a century later, on March 2-5, the curling club celebrated with the successful 32 team, four division Hugh Fraser Men’s Open.
A strong contingent of Comox Valley Curling Centre (CVCC) rinks also celebrated and swept the four divisions.
CVCC’s Norm Cote played spoiler in the championship final. Cote squeezed out six time winner and defending champ, Brad Zealand of Port Hardy, 7-6 in an extra end.
Down 6-3 in the last frame, Cote (with Ron Schmidt, Dave Bastock, and Randy Baert) hammered out three big points to tie the match.
In the extra end, Cote’s rock on the button inched out Zealand’s stone for the stolen, comeback win.
Cote won five games to claim the title. The runner-up side included Mark Hutchinson, Andrew Smith, and Kyle Burns.
Port McNeill’s Andy Quant and Brad Aitken were “A” semi-finalists. Mike Imrie (CVCC) defeated Rob Paterson of Mill Bay to grab the “B” event. In the “C” final, Rick Cowles (CVCC) outlasted Port McNeill’s Tom Baker by a score of 7-6 in an extra end.
Comox’s Stewart Larson took a big lead and the “D” title over Lyall Boyce (Campbell River).
Mel Ward of Port McNeill had the distinction of being the only 50th anniversary bonspieler to have curled at the Fort Rupert Curling Club in 1967.
Campbell River’s Kevin May Rink received the Hugh Fraser Spirit and Sportsmen trophy.
A event results:1 - Cote Rink, CVCC;2 - Zealand Rink, FRCC;3 - Aitken Rink, CVCC; and4 - Quant Rink, Broughton Curling Club (BCC).B event results:1 - Imrie Rink, CVCC;2 - Paterson Rink, Mill Bay;3 - Port Hardy Firemen Rink, FRCC; and4 - Cadwallader Rink, FRCC.C event results:1 - Cowles Rink, CVCC;2 - Baker Rink, BCC;3 - Hunko Rink, FRCC; and4 - Neff Rink, Campbell River Curling Club (CRCC).D event results:1 - Larson Rink, CVCC;2 - Boyce Rink, CRCC;3 - Maday Rink, FRCC; and4 - McCorquodale Rink, FRCC.