Suzanne Birt, who has won five of the last six PEI Scotties Tournament of Hearts will not be in this year’s final against Charlottetown clubmate Kim Dolan.  In this afternoon’s semi-final at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club, Birt lost 10-4 to her former teammate Robyn MacPhee. A steal of four in the third gave the MacPhee foursome a 7-3 lead after five ends of play. Birt took a single in the sixth, but MacPhee came back with a deuce in the seventh and a stolen single in the eighth to bring the game to put the game out of reach.

Other members of the MacPhee rink are Robyn’s sister Rebecca Jean, along with Shelly Muzika and Tammi Lowther. Shelly Bradley, Leslie MacDougall, and Stefanie Clark, with coach Charlie Sullivan,  round out team Birt.

Tonight’s MacPhee vs Dolan final is at 7 pm.  Dolan’s lineup includes Kathy O’Rourke, Nancy Cameron, and Tricia Affleck. Dolan has won three PEI women’s championships playing third for Rebecca Jean MacPhee, and has skipped five winners herself.  Robyn MacPhee is in her first year as skip, but was third for Birt when she won in 2007 and 2008, and played second for Rebecca Jean in 2005, and for Birt on the  2003 championship team.

Tonight’s winner will advance to the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Feb. 21st to March 1st in Victoria BC.