BY NANCY KELLY
Kings County Register
Joel Smith’s foursome, representing the Berwick Curling Club, clinched one of two playoff spots up for grabs at the Western Region Junior Curling Qualifier hosted Nov. 27 to 29 at the Berwick Curling Club.
Six junior boys’ teams representing clubs from Bridgewater, Chester, Windsor and the host Berwick; and nine girls’ teams from Berwick, Bridgewater, Chester, Clare, Lunenburg and Kentville; took part in the double knock-out event.
After winning his first two games against Lucas Wile and David McNeil, both from Bridgewater; Smith and teammates Wade Davison, Brad Hughes and Ben Callaghan advanced to the first qualifier against Drew MacCormack’s team from the Windsor Curling Club, where Smith continued his winning ways with a final score of 8-5. MacCormack and McNeil met in the second qualifier, with McNeil winning 7-5.
On the girl’s side, Lindsay Doucet’s rink from Chester was named the first qualifier, after winning games against clubmate Claire MacDonald and Tara Legay from Bridgewater.
After losing their first game to Holly Lohnes from Lunenburg, the host club’s entry, skipped by Berwick curler Sterling Kelly and rounded out by Valley-based players Riley Kitchen, Windsor; Jacqueline Huntley, Glooscap; Kristine Spidle, Middleton and Chelce Cyr, Greenwood; dropped into the one-loss pool, where they lost to Mary Myketyn-Driscoll from Clare, who went on to secure the second qualifying spot after besting Legay in the second girl’s final.
Glooscap’s Gillian Cumby entry, with Katelyn Mason, Breanna Huntley, Tessa Mitchell and Jennifer Smith; also had an 0-2 record after games against Legay and Chester’s Micayla Dorey.
A total of 43 junior teams across the province played in three regional qualifiers over the weekend. Six men's and six women's teams from events in Berwick, Baddeck and Dartmouth advanced to the Junior Provincials Dec. 27 to 31 in Bridgewater. Two more junior girls’ and boys’ teams will be added to the roster at the Extra Chance Spiel at the Chester Curling Club Dec. 19 to 21.
Berwick Curling Club members Cooper Kelly and Bailey Lonergan took part in the Eastern Region Qualifier, held at the Baddeck Curling Club on the ame weekend. Both advanced to the junior championships after their respective teams, Brookfield’s Jonathon Crouse and Taylor Clarke of Truro, earned the first qualifying spots at the event.
