Surrounded by friends, family and loved ones, Kesa Van Osch and her Nanaimo rink captured the 2018 B.C. Scotties Women’s Curling Championship early Sunday evening at the Victoria Curling Club.
Skip Van Osch and her sisters Marika and Kalia (third and second, respectively), lead Amy Gibson and coach Bill Tschirhart easily handled Karla Thompson of Kamloops 11-4 to claim the provincial title. The team now advances to the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts at Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre, Jan. 27-Feb. 4.
The Van Osch clan broke open a tight 5-4 game at the midway mark, outscoring Thompson 6-0 down the stretch, including steals of one in the seventh end, followed by thefts of two in each of the eighth and ninth before the teams shook hands.
The Nanaimo foursome immediately gathered for a celebratory hug, much to the delight of the partisan local crowd on hand rink side and behind the glass at the club as spectators crammed in for the final.
“I couldn’t be more proud. They’re a bunch of amazing girls. They’ve played great all week and it’s great that we could take it home in the final,” Kesa said at game’s end as she celebrated what will be her second trip to nationals after winning the 2014 B.C. crown, while based out of the VCC.
Thompson was also trying to win her second B.C. title in two years, but it wasn’t meant to be.
(More to come in Tuesday’s paper)
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter/tc_vicsports
