Consistent Middaugh finding her stride

Third straight win enough to put Ontario rink in first place at Olympic qualifier CURLING HALIFAX — Sherry Middaugh won her third straight game Sunday to move into first place at the Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials.

“ I thought overall we controlled the game,” said Middaugh, after pounding Saskatchewan’s Sherry Anderson 8- 5 in the only women’s draw of the day.

“It’s fun because we’re curling well, the ice is consistent and when you’re comfortable with your surrounding it’s easy to feel confident.”

This is the best start at an Olympic trials for Middaugh, from Coldwater, Ont., who was 36 at the 1997 trials in Brandon and 5-4 in Regina in 2001. It’s a long way to the f inish line, though, said Middaugh, who is hoping for a first- place finish and a bye into the final.

“When you’re the frontrunner people are willing to knock you off because they need the wins,” she said. “ We still have a long haul. We still have six tough games and we’re just going to have to be consistent and we’re going to have to make the shots.

Six- time Canadian women’s champion Colleen Jones moved into a five- way tie for second place with a 7-4 victory over JoAnn Rizzo of Ontario. Jones, along with Kelly Scott, Sherry Anderson, defending Canadian champion Jennifer Jones and Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon have 2- 1 records.

B. C.’ s Kelly Scott failed to keep pace with Middaugh when she lost 8- 7 in an extra end to Lawton.

Canadian Press