The opening men’s and women’s round robin draws are in the books at the third annual The Dominion Curling Club Championship, for club curlers who have won their respective club championships, being held at the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton.  Men’s teams are entered from all seven PEI curling clubs, and women’s rinks from five, with the winning rinks advancing to the 2011 national The Dominion, November 21-26 in Richmond BC.

In the opening men’s draw, the Barry Cameron rink of the Silver Fox trailed 6-1 after three ends, but fought back to edge the Clair Sweet team from the Maple Leaf Club in O’Leary by an 8-7 score. Last year’s winner Donald Clarey and his Montague team also came from behind, taking singles in the last three ends to shade Crapaud’s Alan Inman foursome 5-4.  The Blaine Hutt team from the host Western club beat Charlottetown’s Charlie Wilkinson rink 6-4 in the third game.

In the women’s division, Kimberly Ellsworth and her host club rink got by the Silver Fox team skipped by Nola Murphy by a 6-5 score, and the Marie Ford team from Crapaud downed Charlottetown’s Val MacLean rink 11-5. Cornwall’s men’s team, skipped by Brock Spence, and women’s rink, directed by Lorianne Davies, had the opening round byes.

Round robin play continues Friday and Saturday, with men’s draws at 9:30 am, and 2:30 and 8 pm both days, and women’s action at noon and 5:30. Tiebreakers, if needed, semi-finals and finals are on Sunday.