Even though he wasn't at his sharpest, Vic Vallee still had the golden touch.
The 63-year-old local horseshoe pitcher claimed four separate titles during a weekend tournament at the local courts, located in Carrie Jane Gray Park. Vallee was victorious in the men's A, men's B, mixed A and senior 40-foot divisions. Two of his wins came in playoffs.
"I've been struggling lately and I didn't play real well," he said. "I was just a little bit lucky to get by."
In men's B, Vallee went to a playoff with fellow P.G. resident Bob Taschner.
"We actually had a three-way playoff because Mike Cunningham and me and Bob were all tied," Vallee said. "I had the highest average so I got the bye and they played off and then I got to play the winner."
Vallee's other playoff came in the mixed A category against Bob Price of Terrace.
Other category winners during the two-day tournament were: men's C, Lorenzo Ferrara (Quesnel); men's D, Orlando Pellizzari (Quesnel); men's E, Kurt Breuer, Prince George; ladies A, Ida Boschman, Prince George; ladies B, Pat Duncan, Prince George; ladies C, Duncan; ladies D, Benita Karlson, Prince George; senior men's 30-foot (Saturday), Elmer Braun, Prince George; senior men's 30-foot (Sunday), Price; senior ladies, Boschman; and junior girls, Ameryllis Braun.
Local pitchers are now preparing for the Western Canada Classic on June 22 and 23 in Prince George.
"The entries are trickling in," Vallee said. "There are only about 15 so far but I expect it's going to speed up soon. And of course we'll be fine, we'll be ready. We've just got a little bit of maintenance to do."
To register for westerns, contact Taschner at 250-564-6608.
Entry deadline is June 18.
