It’s a chance to recognize the heart and soul of one of Canada’s favourite winter pastimes with the Richmond Curling Club (RCC) providing the stage.
While TSN and Sportsnet draw huge national TV audiences to watch the stars of today’s game battle for national and international bragging rights, along with cash prizes, the Pacific International Cup puts the spotlight on the club curlers who typically play in their own weekly leagues throughout the season. The event got underway Wednesday and concludes on Sunday at the RCC.
It was back in 1998 when a group of curlers came up with the idea of launching a competition for club champions.
The Pacific Club Challenge was born and initially was limited only to men’s club champions from within the Pacific Coast Curling Association (PCCA).
It later became the B.C. Club Challenge and eventually included similar playdowns on Vancouver Island and in the Interior. In 2005, a women’s division was added too.
With strong support from Curl BC, the Club Challenge continued to gain momentum and now includes six regional events. The various winners not only have bragging rights, they are invited to the Pacific International Cup as well.
It was 17 years ago when the PCCA launched the international division, providing another unique competition for the Club Challenge winners.
Invitations were initially extended to every curling association in the geographic proximity of the PCCA. The Canadian Curling Association got onboard and assisted with the event’s promotion, including a two-year commitment of providing an all-expenses paid trip to a curling competition in Japan. Men’s teams from Gibsons and Vancouver finished third and first respectively.
The PIC women’s division was added in 2004 and international interest and representation continued to grow. Now there are a minimum 32 teams — 16 international and 16 from B.C. competing in men’s and women’s divisions each year.
The B.C. division winners now have the opportunity to also represent their province at the Travelers National Curling Club Championships, typically held each fall.
The PIC’s growing popularity has got to the point where the tournament committee even has to make some tough decisions on which rinks get to participate.
This year, the PIC committee received nominations from 14 regional associations for men’s teams and 13 for women. Due to time constraints only 10 and eight respectively were selected.
Those international rinks will play off determine which two teams will advance to the PIC final to take on the B.C. division winners. The B.C. and International finals are set for 10:30 a.m. and the men and women winning rinks move onto the Pacific International Cup at 1:30 pm.
