Jim Cotter to represent British Columbia at Tim Hortons Brier

Jim Cotter, and his team of Ken Maskiewich at third, Kevin Folk at second and lead Rick Sawatsky won the British Columbia provincial title on Sunday, February 13 in Vernon, defeating Victoria’s Neil Dangerfield, 6-4 in the final. Cotter had gone unbeaten in the 10-team round robin at 9-0, but lost the Page 1-2 game to Dangerfield , 5-4. That meant he needed to beat the winner of the Page 3-4 game, defending champion Jeff Richard, to advance to a rematch. That he did, 8-4 to set up the showdown. Cotter’s foursome, which represents both the Vernon and Kelowna Curling Clubs, now advances to the Tim Hortons Brier, March 5-13 in London. Cotter, Folk and Sawatsky played third (fourth rocks), second and lead, respectively, for skip Bob Ursel at the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier in Winnipeg, finishing fourth. Maskiewich is a Brier rookie. British Columbia has four Brier wins since the championship began in 1927 in Toronto…the last by skip Greg McAulay in 2000.