An eight-year break from competitive curling apparently did little to diminish Randi Ludwar乌鸦传媒檚 skill on the ice or passion for the game.

Ludwar乌鸦传媒檚 Kelowna foursome was in fine form on the weekend at the Kelowna Curling Club, securing a berth at next month乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淚t was a nice surprise,乌鸦传媒� said Ludwar, 26. 乌鸦传媒淥ur first season being together, we thought it might be more of a practise season but it turns out we乌鸦传媒檝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乌鸦传媒檙e excited to be going to provincials.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒檚 super league.

乌鸦传媒淲e haven乌鸦传媒檛 won that many games, but it乌鸦传媒檚 helped our game a lot,乌鸦传媒� Ludwar said of competing against men乌鸦传媒檚 teams. 乌鸦传媒淢en tend to play a more aggressive style, they乌鸦传媒檒l try trickier, harder shots you don乌鸦传媒檛 see as often in the women乌鸦传媒檚 game. It乌鸦传媒檚 been really good competition for us.乌鸦传媒�

Ludwar and her teammates are now in preparation mode for the B.C. women乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淭hey don乌鸦传媒檛 give you much time, it乌鸦传媒檚 coming up pretty quick, so we乌鸦传媒檙e a little nervous but excited,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭his is the closest we乌鸦传媒檝e actually been to having a chance to get to the Scotties. I feel like we乌鸦传媒檙e in a good zone right now, so we want to go as far as we can.乌鸦传媒�

Royal City Kayte Gyles and Nanaimo乌鸦传媒檚 Kesa Van Osch also earned berths at the qualifier and will join Ludwar乌鸦传媒檚 team at provincials.

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