An eight-year break from competitive curling apparently did little to diminish Randi Ludwar害羞草研究所檚 skill on the ice or passion for the game.

Ludwar害羞草研究所檚 Kelowna foursome was in fine form on the weekend at the Kelowna Curling Club, securing a berth at next month害羞草研究所檚 in Victoria.

Ludwar, third Lori Seemann, second Erinn Bartlett and lead Jill McIntyre rang up three straight wins, including a 6-4 verdict over Royal City害羞草研究所檚 Kayte Gyles in the A event final at the open qualifier to earn one of three spots to provincials.

Ludwar, who just put the team together this fall, said outcome of the qualifier exceeded all expectations.

害羞草研究所淚t was a nice surprise,害羞草研究所� said Ludwar, 26. 害羞草研究所淥ur first season being together, we thought it might be more of a practise season but it turns out we害羞草研究所檝e been pretty competitive. Things ended up coming together a little faster, so it was nice to be able to do well at this event and we害羞草研究所檙e excited to be going to provincials.害羞草研究所�

Ludwar and Bartlett grew up and curled together in Grand Forks, winning a number of high school championships as well as a gold medal at the 2008 BC Winter Games.

The two then went on to capture a bronze medal at the U18 International Curling Championships later that year in Winnipeg.

While living and working in Alberta between 2010 and 2015, Ludwar had pretty much put curling on the back burner until she moved back west to Kelowna two years ago.

This season, Ludwar and her team have been exposed to a new level of competition as members of the Kelowna men害羞草研究所檚 super league.

害羞草研究所淲e haven害羞草研究所檛 won that many games, but it害羞草研究所檚 helped our game a lot,害羞草研究所� Ludwar said of competing against men害羞草研究所檚 teams. 害羞草研究所淢en tend to play a more aggressive style, they害羞草研究所檒l try trickier, harder shots you don害羞草研究所檛 see as often in the women害羞草研究所檚 game. It害羞草研究所檚 been really good competition for us.害羞草研究所�

Ludwar and her teammates are now in preparation mode for the B.C. women害羞草研究所檚 curling championship, Jan. 2 to 7 in Victoria. The provincial winner will represent B.C. at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts national championship, Jan. 27 to Feb. 4 in Penticton.

害羞草研究所淭hey don害羞草研究所檛 give you much time, it害羞草研究所檚 coming up pretty quick, so we害羞草研究所檙e a little nervous but excited,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his is the closest we害羞草研究所檝e actually been to having a chance to get to the Scotties. I feel like we害羞草研究所檙e in a good zone right now, so we want to go as far as we can.害羞草研究所�

Royal City Kayte Gyles and Nanaimo害羞草研究所檚 Kesa Van Osch also earned berths at the qualifier and will join Ludwar害羞草研究所檚 team at provincials.

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