O’LEARY — The defending-champion Shirley Berry rink from the Cornwall and Charlottetown Curling Clubs and Rod MacDonald’s Silver Fox/Charlottetown foursome have 1-0  records after the opening draws of the 2011 Credit Unions of P.E.I. provincial senior curling championships.

The eight women’s teams are playing out of the Crapaud Community Curling Club, and the eight men’s teams are seeing action at the Maple Leaf Curling Club in O’Leary. 

Play in the triple-knockout championships started at both clubs on Thursday night. Games continue today and all weekend.

The Berry rink that represented P.E.I. at last year’s nationals — Berry, Sandy Hope, Shelly Ebbett and Arleen Harris — is intact.

Peter MacDonald skipped the winning men’s team last year. 

He’s not entered this year, but three of his teammates are back and his brother, Rod, is skipping. Returning are third stone Peter Gallant and lead Doug MacGregor.

Tom Fetterly joins the crew this year at second stone.

Three other women’s rinks  — Debbie Rhodenhizer of Cornwall, Karen A. MacDonald of Charlottetown and June Moyaert of Montague  — posted wins Thursday.

Bob Matheson of the Maple Leaf Curling Club, Grant Somers of the Silver Fox and Bill Hope of Charlottetown/Cornwall also won their opening men’s draws.

The champions will represent P.E.I. at the Canadian senior curling championships in Digby, N.S., March 19 to 26.

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Shirley Berry