Six months after moving back to the province where she was born and raised, Brette Richards has her first B.C. women’s curling title.
Richards, who now lives in Kelowna, helped the Marla Mallett rink to the 2017 B.C. Scotties’ title on the weekend in Nanaimo.
Mallett’s Walnut Grove foursome defeated Diane Gushulak 6-3 in Sunday’s championhip game.
Richards, who grew up in Prince George, spent the previous 10 years in Winnipeg, winning a Manitoba women’s title in 2009 with Barb Spencer.
Still, Richards said winning a title in her home province carries a meaning all its own.
“This one was pretty special,” said Richards who plays second for Mallett. “I always wanted a B.C. crest when I was here. I got close in juniors and juvenile, but never quite got there. Even having played in Manitoba for 10 years, I still consider myself a B.C.er, so to get this is really nice.”
Richards, a psychologist with the Central Okanagan school district, had lived in Kelowna once before, spending the 2003-04 season with the Sherry Heath rink.
Mallett’s third, Shannon Aleksic, played with Kelowna’s Kelly Scott rink for the 2014-15 season.
The fourth member of the team is Richards’ sister, Blaine DeJager, from Prince George. The team is coached by Kelowna’s Gerry Richard.
Mallett, who last won the provincial title in 2009, will represent B.C. at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts national championship Feb. 18 to 26 in St. Catharines, Ont.