Defending Canadian Mixed champion Robert Campbell, and former Canadian Junior champion Brett Gallant, both from the host club, were the winning skips in this afternoon’s opening draw of the M&M Meat Shops Provincial Mixed Curling Championship at the Charlottetown Curling Club.

Campbell, with teammates Rebecca Jean MacDonald, Robbie Doherty, and Jackie Reid, doubled a rink skipped by ten-time PEI Mixed champ John Likely by a 6-3 score, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to take a triple in the seventh, and steal singles in the next two ends for the win.

Gallant with 2010 national Scotties silver medallist Erin Carmody at third,  his long time teammate Anson Carmody at second, and Michelle Mackie at lead (a last minute lineup change), took a triple in the third, and a pair of deuces in ends seven and eight in an 8-3 win over Tammy Dewar and her Montague Curling Club rink.

Double-knockout play continues at 6 pm with winning teams Campbell and Gallant facing off in one game, and Likely and Dewar playing in the other.

This year’s winners will advance to the 2012 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, November 12-19, 2011 at the Sudbury Curling Club in Sudbury, Ontario.