2003 event champion Suzanne Birt is making an impressive return to the Southwestern Ontario Women’s Charity Classic in London Ontario, with proceeds for the care and cure of breast cancer. Her rink, which includes Shelly Bradley, Robyn MacPhee, and Leslie MacDougall, are now 3-0, after winning 8-3 over Glasgow Scotland’s Sarah Reid rink on Saturday evening, scoring four points in the fourth end and a seventh end triple en route to the victory. Friday, Team Birt 8-6 over the Marika Bakewell rink of London, and 6-2 over Toronto’s Julie Reddick in the 16 team event. Three time winner Sherry Middaugh of Brantford Ont. is also 3-0. By virtue of qualifying in the A section, Middaugh and Birt both bypass the quarter-final round and advance directly to the semi-finals Monday at 10 am, with the finals following at 2 pm Atlantic time. In the semis, Birt faces the winner of an 8 pm Sunday evening quarter-final between Cathy Auld of Mississauga and Scotland’s Sarah Reid, while Middaugh takes on the winner of the other quarter, between Julie Reddick of Toronto and Tracey Horgan of Sudbury.
The winning team in the $24,000 charity cashspiel will receive $7,000. In its previous 14 editions, the event has raised more than $195,000 for breast cancer care and research and will surpass $200,000 this time around.
Website: sowcc.com
Meanwhile, Calgary’s Crystal Webster rink, with PEI natives Erin Carmody and Geri-Lynn Ramsay on the team, are 4-0 and also have Sunday off, having qualified early for the Monday morning quarter-finals at the Meyers Norris Penny Charity Classic in Medicine Hat Alberta. Scotland’s Eve Muirhead is also 4-0. The winning team will go home with $8000.
Website: http://www.worldcurlingtour.com/events.php?eventid=2519