PEI’s Suzanne Birt rink lost out to the Sylvie Robichaud foursome from New Brunswick by a 5-3 score in this afternoon’s final of the Lady Monctonian Invitational cashspiel at Curl Moncton. Single steals by Robichaud in ends five and six made the difference in the low-scoring final, and the New Brunswick skip had to make a clutch draw in the final end for the win.

Both rinks finished round robin play on Saturday with perfect 5-0 win-loss records and earned byes into the semi-finals, at 11:15 this morning, where Birt edged New Brunswick’s Sandy Comeau rink 6-5, and Robichaud got by Marie Christianson of Halifax 5-4. Playing with Birt, who won the event back in 2008, are Shelly Bradley, Robyn MacPhee, and Leslie Macdougall, while Robichaud’s team includes Danielle Nicholson,  Marie Richard,  Kendra Dickison, and fifth Denise Nowlan, with coach Ellery Robichaud.

PEICurling.com photo: Suzanne Birt at the 2011 Scotties

In the quarter-finals earlier this morning, Christianson beat Nova Scotia’s Mary-Anne Arsenault 9-6, while Comeau topped Theresa Breen of Nova Scotia 6-4.

PEI’s Kim Dolan, Donna Butler, and Meaghan Hughes rinks wrapped up play on Saturday with 3-2, 2-3, and 0-5 records respectively, and did not advance to the money round.

The organizing committee were fundraising and are making a donation to The Autism
Resource Centre of Moncton. 18 Maritime women’s teams took part in the annual event.

Results website: http://www.playdowns.com/nbca/teams.php?id_cmp=24