Kirkpatrick rink headed to Tankard in Shaunavon

Three Swift Current rinks took part in the 2014 SaskTel Men’s Southern Championship at the Regina Highland Curling Club last week.

On the line were five spots at the 2014 SaskTel Tankard in Shaunavon January 29 – February 2.

Swift Current’s Max Kirkpatrick was able to secure one of the five available spots in Shaunavon, overcoming a devastating loss to qualify out the B Event.

The Kirkpatrick rink won their first game Thursday evening in an 8-6 win over Whitewood’s Lyle Brown. They trailed 3-1 after four ends but took the lead for good in the fifth when they scored four points.

Kirkpatrick moved to 20 Friday morning with an 8-7 comeback win over Regina’s Jamie Schneider. The Swift Current rink trailed 7-4 before scoring three in the ninth and then stealing one in the 10th end.

Kirkpatrick faced Regina’s Joel Jordison in the A Event semi-final and advanced with a 7-5 win.

The Swift Current rink scored deuces in the fourth and sixth ends before stealing one in the seventh on their way to the win.

Kirkpatrick took on Estevan’s Brent Gedak in an A Event final and led 9-7 heading into the final end, where Gedak stole the game with three points for a 10-9 win to secure the first spot at the Tankard.

The Kirkpatrick rink had little time to regroup but were still able to do so in a 10-5 win over Josh Heidt in eight ends to earn a trip to Shaunavon.

The Swift Current rink scored three in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead but Heidt responded with three of his own the following end. Kirkpatrick slammed the door on the comeback bid with two in the seventh and a steal of two in the eighth for the 10-5 final.

Kirkpatrick was joined by lead Shawn Hiebert, second Jeff Chambers, and third Shawn Meachem.

Rod Quintin was joined by lead Clayton Wicks, second Mitch Minken, and third Dan Kennedy as they represented the Swift Current Curling Club.

Quintin lost his opening game Friday evening in a 64 defeat at the hands of Regina’s Jamie Schneider.

Quintin bounced back with an 8-6 win over Whitewood’s Lyle Brown to open the B Event. The game was tied 6-6 before Quintin scored one in the ninth and then stole one in the 10th end.

Quintin was knocked out of the B Event Friday evening in an 8-3 loss to Kerrobert’s Josh Heidt in eight ends. He took on Regina’s Catlin Schneider to open the C Event and was eliminated from the tournament in a 9-8 loss.

Quintin scored three in the fifth to tie the game 4-4 and then stole two in the sixth and seventh ends to take an 8-4 lead.

Schneider stormed back with three in the eighth, a steal of one in the ninth, and a steal of one in the 10th for the one-point win.

Swift Current’s Reagan Hadden was knocked out of the A Event with an 8-2 loss to Jordison on Thursday evening. He bounced back in the B Event with a 7-4 win over Regina’s Gord Bell, putting the game away with a single in the ninth and then a steal of one in the 10th end. Hadden was bounced from the B Event Saturday morning in a 7-6 loss to Schneider.

Hadden scored two in the eighth end to tie the game 6-6 but the ninth was blanked and Schneider scored a single in the 10th with the hammer to clinch the win.

Hadden was eliminated from the tournament Saturday afternoon in a 7-6 loss to Regina’s William Coutts. Coutts led 5-1 after four ends and Hadden was never able to draw even despite scoring three in the fifth to make it a one-point game.

Hadden was joined by lead Ryan Neustaeter, second Neil Anderson, third Ron Bailey, and coach Bevan Bailey.

The SaskTel Tankard will begin Wednesday in Shaunavon and the winner will be declared on Sunday afternoon.

The first six spots in Shaunavon were previously claimed by Jeff Hartung, Darrell McKee, Brock Virtue, Scott Bitz, Kevin Marsh, and Steven Laycock.

The Southern slots were claimed by Gedak (Estevan), Kirkpatrick (Swift Current), Randy Bryden (Regina Callie), Joel Jordison (Regina Highland), and Heidt (Kerrobert).

The Northern spots were earned by Terry Marteniuk (Yorkton), Scott Manners (North Battleford), Bruce Korte (Saskatoon Nutana), Mike Armstrong (Saskatoon Nutana), and Darren Camm (Saskatoon Sutherland).