Field shaping up for 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance Men’s Curling Championships in Nelson

By Nelson Daily Sports

Tom Buchy of Kimberley is heading back to the BC Men's Curling Championships for the 11th time. — Bruce Fuhr file photo, The Nelson Daily

Tom Buchy of Kimberley and Creston’s Chris Ducharme are the two latest qualifiers for the 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance Men’s Curling Championships set for February 10-14 at the Nelson Curling Club.

The two skips earned spots in the 16-team field after the Men’s Kootenay Playdown Sunday in Fernie.

Buchy, back again at the Provincials for the 11^th time, teamed up with former Brier rep Deane Horning, second Dave Toffolo and lead Darren Will to outlast Tom Shypitka of Cranbrook 8-6 in the A Final Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 after three ends, the Buchy foursome scored five points in the next three ends to take a 5-2 lead.

However, Shypitka rallied to tie the game at 6-6 with a deuce in the tenth.

Playing with last rock, Buchy scored two in the 11^th to grab the A event title and a berth in Nelson.

Meanwhile Ducharme, third Josh Firman, second Jim Stewart, lead Jim Maccaulay and fifth man Brendan Stead also defeated Shypitka in the B Final 9-4.

The win avenged a 9-5 A-event loss to the Cranbrook rink for Ducharme

A pair of three-enders in the fourth and seventh ends proved to be the difference maker for Ducharme.

Buchy and Ducharme join defending champion Jim Cotter of Vernon and Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points winners for the year, Dean Joanisse and Sean Geall, both of Royal City Curling Club.

Also heading to Nelson following weekend qualifying in Penticton, Parksville and New Westminster are Michael Johnson and Chase Martyn, both of the Royal City Curling Club; Stephen Schneider of the Vancouver Curling Club; Kelowna skip Jeff Richard and Mark Longworth of Vernon; Wes Craig and Neil Dangerfield of Victoria.

The remaining three berths will be awarded at an open qualification event being staged in Salmon Arm from January 8-10.

This year’s championship in Nelson will be televised on Sportsnet.

For ticket information, and to find out more about the event, visit http://cdimens2016.curlbc.ca/ or the Nelson Curling Club website.

Story originated at The Nelson Daily