The Howard team is representing Ontario in its sixth straight Tim Hortons Brier and, on Saturday afternoon, it won the pre-Brier Ford Hot Shots skills competition for the third straight year.
Two years ago, it was lead Craig Savill driving the Ford unit out of the arena. Last year, it was skip Howard. And, this time, it was third Richard Hart out-pointing Alberta skip Kevin Martin 23-18 in the Hot Shots final at the John Labatt Centre.
Hart clinched the win before either player was required to throw the final shot, the double-takeout. So the actual scores were 23 of a possible 25, to 18 of a possible 25.
Hart won a two-year lease on a 2011 Ford Edge SEL FWD, an approximate retail value of $22,000.
“He had the button in his pocket the entire piece, whether it drawing or rolling or bumping,” said Martin of his lefthanded foe. “He earned it. Hope he enjoys driving it.”