When it comes to curling, older isn't always better.

The tandem of Dezaray Hawes and Tyler Tardi proved such a point two weeks ago in North Vancouver.

Hawes, a 16-year-old from Anmore, teamed up with Tardi, 14, of Langley to capture the B.C. Mixed Curling championships, beating such rivals as Ernie Daniels' father-and-daughter duo. The win spirits the pair to next month's Canadian Mixed Doubles championship in Leduc, Alta.

"It's so exciting to get this," said Hawes, who curls out of the Royal City Curling Club. "I've worked so hard this year and I'm just happy to be representing B.C."

In the final, the Hawes-Tardi team defeated Langley's Kerri Miller-Edward Blumke rink for the crown.

Two-person mixed curling is something relatively new to Hawes, but the pair practiced the past few months when they had a chance.

"You have to get up and sweep your own rocks, so that was a new thing," said the Heritage Woods Secondary student. "Since both Tyler and I skip our own teams we had to be quick on our feet."

It also features just five rocks per team.

"Going in I knew it wouldn't be easy," she added. "There was lots of talent, including our dear friends Sara and Ernie Daniels. I had high hopes that we would advance to the semifinals."

Hawes also skips her juvenile team, that includes lead Angelique Miller, second Caitlin Cooke and Kirsten Zucchet, and will competing for a spot at the under-18 B.C. championships.

A curler for five years, Hawes said that the road to the final wasn't too tumultuous, despite finishing 2-1 in the round robin. They were the only juvenile-aged squad - with both members on the u-16 circuit - and one of just two junior-aged teams to advance to the quarterfinals.

"All my life I've been competing against people older than me," remarked Hawes. "I don't look at myself as being a young player. I just go out to play my best every game."

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