Mike Blashko (far left) skipped the winning team at the 2014 Osoyoos Summer Bonspiel this past weekend. Other team members include, from left, third Lil Blashko, second Glen Brennan and lead Diane Tetrault. (Keith Lacey photo)
Tony Blashko and his teammates proved they could handle pressure remarkably well as they emerged victorious in the 35th Annual Osoyoos Summer Bonspiel.
Facing three opposing stones and leading by only two points with only one stone to play, Blashko made a terrific draw to the four foot to allow his rink to defeat the Paul Duncan rink 6-5 in the A draw final Sunday afternoon at the Osoyoos International Curling Club.
It was the third-consecutive game in the tournament where Blashko had to use his final stone to secure victory.
“We needed the final stone in our last three games, so that makes this victory a little bit more special,” said Blashko, who lives in St. Andrews by Lake and plays out of the Summerland Curling Club.
“Any time an entire tournament comes down to the final shot, it’s exciting and I was just glad I was able to make the shot when it counted the most. I have some terrific sweepers on this team and they did a great job of sweeping that stone and not allow them to steal it away from us.”
Blashko’s teammates include his wife Lil, who played third, second Glen Brennan and lead Diane Tetrault. Tetrault is from Oliver, while Brennan lives in Summerland.
Blashko first played in the Osoyoos Summer Bonspiel more than 30 years ago when he was living and curling competitively in Calgary.
“I would guess that this is my eighth time in this tournament from the first time we played just over 30 years ago,” he said.
Blashko’s team was undefeated in six games over the four-day tournament to capture the A draw and take home the top prize and bragging rights.
Blashko and his team are heading to defend their title at the B.C. Senior Games in Langley from Sept. 9-12. They captured last year’s championship in Kamloops.
Brennan’s wife Tammy will be replacing Tetrault at the B.C. Senior Games bonspiel.
Blashko said making clutch shots when it counts is a big part of curling.
“It’s always a little more fun to make a big shot when you’re under a little pressure,” he said. “Our last three games came down to the final shot, which you don’t see too often in curling. I’m just glad we could make the big shot when we needed it.”
Blashko said he’s thrilled to see the Osoyoos Summer Bonspiel alive and healthy once again.
The tournament used to attract as many as 70 teams back in the 1970s and 1980s when it was played over a full week, but dropped down to 18 only four years ago.
This year’s tournament drew 40 teams with an extensive waiting list.
‘To me, the Osoyoos Summer Bonspiel is the best summer bonspiel there is,” he said. “The weather is almost always beautiful and the organizers do a terrific job.
“I’m really glad the tournament is healthy again and up to 40 teams because we would sure like to come back in the future.”
Members of the Duncan foursome that lost in the A final include lead Janet Duncan, third Betty Steinbart and second Sean Beckett. The Duncans are from North Vancouver, while Steinbart and Beckett are from Osoyoos.
The Phil Ramsey rink captured the B draw easily winning their final. Other team members included third Joyce Kuzyk, second Bruce Ramsay and lead Cathy Thompson.
The Mike Freeman rink from Mission captured the C draw, winning the final in an extra end. Other team members include third Sherry Freeman, second Casey Freeman and lead Brayden Jensen, who had never curled before.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
