She’s never curled before but she’s confident she can curl well enough to win the kinds of dollars Canada’s top professionals, arriving in Cranbrook soon, dream about.

Devon Twarowski will have a chance at winning $250,000 during the Canada Cup of Curling if she completely covers the button with a shot during the fifth end break of the Men’s Final on Dec. 4, after her name was drawn from more than 1,000 ballots by event co-sponsor Investors Group Financial Services Inc. on Nov. 15.

Appearing at an introduction event at the Cranbrook Rec-Plex Nov. 25, Twarowski admitted she’d “never ever before” curled but is practicing hard with the help of curling friend Samantha Young.

“I put one right on the button yesterday” at the Cranbrook Curling Club, she told the small gathering. “I think my lack of experience will help me because I won’t be thinking too much.”

Her confidence is brimming full at this time, as when Investors Group Kootenay Region Office director Bill Hughes explained the rules of the event, noting that “if” she covered the button completely she’d win the quarter of a million dollars, Twarowski interjected, “will win!”

Hughes noted that no matter what happens, she will be a winner on the day, as a wide variety of prizes will be presented to her, including tickets to the Men’s Final Draw that day, transportation to and from the event courtesy of Denham Ford, a one night stay at St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino, a spa gift certificate from the Vanity Room Salon and Day Spa and a prize variety bag from Investors Group.

“We are so excited about sponsoring this event and to have a local person qualify is the icing on the cake,” Hughes said.

Twarowski, a member of JCI Kootenay, said she entered the draw at the Wine, Stein and Dine event, put on by Investors Group, earlier this year.

The details of her attempt to land some riches feature three shots, followed by two practice slides.

The rock will be thrown without help of sweepers, must be released before the hog line and there will not be a skip target.

The first shot is the chance to win $250,000 and it must entirely cover the button, with no portion of the rock outside. If the rock only covers the pin a prize of $10,000 will be awarded. If Twarowski is unsuccessful she gets a second shot. If the rock stops completely inside the button, she wins $50,000. If it only covers the pin, she wins $5,000.

If a third shot is required, if the rock stops inside the button, without any part of it sticking outside, she wins $25,000 and if it only covers the pin, she takes home $2,500.

Hughes said the idea for the shootout emerged after Investors Group became a major sponsor of the Canada Cup of Curling.

“We thought we’d spice it up a bit,” he said. “We’ve already paid the insurer so we really hope she wins it.”

Above photo: Bill Hughes, left, with Devon Twarowski, who has a shot at winning $250,000 Dec. 4.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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