For the fifth time in his career, Kelowna’s Gerry Austgarden is celebrating a BC Wheelchair Curling title.
Austgarden skipped his Richmond-based rink to a 6-4 victory over Frank LaBounty of Prince George in Sunday’s final at the Richmond Curling Club.
Austgarden was joined by 2010 Paralympic champion Darryl Neighbour, from Richmond, first-time champion Bob Macdonald and returning champion Janice Ing. The team was coached by Brad Burton.
Winning the BC title means another trip to nationals for Austgarden, who got his first taste of a Canadian championship in 2004, and then traveled again in 2005—as the second on the BC team—2010, 2012 and 2015.
Austgarden led his team to victory at the nationals in Boucherville, Quebec in 2015 and will look to repeat the feat this spring.
The 2017 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships are set for April 24 to 27 in Boucherville.
Sticks and Stones, a combined team from Kelowna and Langley, featuring skip Cyril Kinakin, third Mark Peeren, second Tracy Boyd and lead Zosia Ettenberg, were awarded bronze medals.