Team Brothers bounces back at Ottawa event
Birt, Gunnlaugson rinks will get a second chance at pre-trials event in Nova Scotia
OTTAWA – The Jill Brothers-skipped rink from Halifax, N.S., bounced back at the Canadian Curling Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event on Sept. 24 and 25.
After losing its first two games, Brothers, third stone Erin Carmody, second stone Kim Kelly, and lead Jenn Mitchell won four straight games to stay alive in the triple-knockout competition. Carmody, a product of the junior curling program at the Silver Fox Entertainment Complex in Summerside, lives in Halifax.
Team Brothers continued its pursuit of a berth in the Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials competition in Liverpool, N.S., against Jessie Hunkin in the second qualifying game on Sept. 26. The result of that game was unavailable at deadline time.
The event in Liverpool runs from Oct. 26 to 31.
Kerry Galusha defeated Hunkin 9-8 in an extra end on Sept. 25 to clinch the first berth in the Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials competition.
Suzanne Birt and Jason Gunnlaugson competed in the Canadian Curling Trials Direct-Entry Event.
This competition and the Canadian Curling Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event took place at the same time in Ottawa.
The Kathy O’Rourkecoached Birt rink, which curls out of the Cornwall and Montague clubs, completed round-robin play 1-3 (wonlost). Team Birt, including third stone Marie Christianson, second stone Meaghan Hughes and lead Michelle McQuaid, opened play with a 9-7 loss to Corryn Brown on Sept. 23, and dropped a 9-2 decision to Casey Scheidegger in the late draw on Sept. 24. On Sept. 25, Birt outscored Laura Walker 8-5 and lost 6-5 to Kelsey Rocque.
The top three women’s teams will advance to the Tim Hortons Curling Trials, presented by AGI, in Saskatoon, Sask., from Nov. 20 to 28. The fourth- and fifth-place teams this week have another chance to qualify for the Olympic Trials in Liverpool.
After winning its opening game 8-4 versus Colton Flasch on Sept. 23, the Gunnlaugson rink dropped five straight games – 8-4 to Mike McEwen on Sept. 23, 7-6 against Glenn Howard on Sept. 24, 7-3 versus Matt Dunstone on Sept. 24 and 9-8 and 6-5 decisions to the Mike McEwen and Matt Dunstone rinks on Sept. 25.
Adam Casey, who grew up in Seven Mile Bay and now lives in Winsloe, plays third stone for the Gunnlaugson rink. The Birt and Gunnlaugson rinks will have a second chance to qualify for the Olympic Trials at the Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials competition.