CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Although P.E.I. curling facilities are iceless still, Island curlers are doing well in other provinces led by Charlottetown native Brett Gallant and his partner Jocelyn Peterman of Winnipeg, Man., winning the recent Battleford mixed doubles Fall Curling Classic in North Battleford, Sask.
The duo defeated Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres of Edmonton, Alta., 7-5 and grabbed the $2,000 first place cheque.
Meanwhile, the Suzanne Birt-skipped rink from Charlottetown made the semifinals at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Oakville, Ont., but lost 8-1 to Kerri Einarson of Winnipeg, Man. Birt’s foursome also includes lead Michelle McQuaid, second Meaghan Hughes and third Marie Christianson.
In the final Einarson faced three-time winner and defending champion Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland, who’s coached by Charlottetown’s Peter Gallant, and won 6-0 in five ends.
On the junior scene, the Mitchell Schut and Chase MacMillan P.E.I. Canada Games finalist rinks saw action at Curl Moncton, along with the newly-formed Team Kelly female rink as play began in the Maritime Junior Competitive League.
It runs Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the month. Teams choose which days they can compete and receive a payout per win.
Finally, the rink of Gloria Clarke, Ruth Stavert, Elaine Hughes and Janette Fraser from the Cornwall Curling Club won the 65-plus division, while the 55-plus men’s rink of Philip McInnis, Pius McInnis, David Murphy and Alan Long from Charlottetown lost in the medal qualifying game at the recent Canada 55-Plus Games in Saint John, N.B.
In competitive curling team news, P.E.I.’s Adam Casey is throwing third stones on the Charley Thomas rink in Toronto this season, Sarah Fullerton has formed a Charlottetown-Summerside team including third Amanda Colter, second Anita Casey and lead Aleya Quilty and Cornwall’s Lauren Lenentine is curling with the world junior champion Kaitlyn Jones rink in Halifax, N.S.
