The first draw of the Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. men’s curling championship in Vernon wasn’t too friendly to the two rinks with Kamloops connections.

Brian Windsor’s Kamloops rink lost 5-4 in 11 ends to Victoria’s Jay Tuson, while former Kamloops resident Jim Cotter, now curling out of Vernon, lost 8-4 to New Westminster’s Jay Peachey.

This year’s provincial championship is a triple-knockout event — four teams make the Page playoffs, with one rink qualifying out of the A Event, another out of B and the other two coming from C. The A-B winners will play in Saturday’s 1-2 Page game, with the final scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m.

The Windsor rink features Brian Windsor, third Brad Thompson, second Mike Smith and lead Adam Windsor, while Cotter’s defending-champion rink includes third Kevin Folk, second Tyrel Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky.

Windsor and Co. forced the extra end in their opener by scoring one with the hammer in the 10th end. Tuson ended it in the 11th.

The Kamloops rink went on to play Creston’s Tom Shypitka in a B event game last night — a result wasn’t available at press time.

Cotter, meanwhile, was ahead 4-3 after seven ends against Peachey, but gave up three in the eighth. Peachey sealed the deal with a deuce in the ninth, then ran Cotter out of rocks in the 10th.

Last night, Cotter took on Ron Vanderstar of Smithers — a result wasn’t available at press time.

Today’s draws are scheduled for 9 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.