Three men’s and three women’s draws have been played going into the Friday night late draw at the 10th anniversary Rodd Curling Classic at the Charlottetown Curling Club. Four men’s rinks, skipped by PEI’s Brett Gallant and Mike Gaudet, along with Chad Stevens of Nova Scotia, and Mike Kennedy of New Brunswick, are still unbeaten, with 2-0 records, while PEI’s Suzanne Birt and Heather Strong of Newfoundland/Labrador are 3-0 on the women’s side.
Birt, who was runner-up in this event last year, edged Melissa Adams of New Brunswick 6-5 in her Thursday opener, and on Friday beat Kelly MacIntosh of NS 5-2, and scored a point in each of the first six ends in a 6-0 blanking of Nova Scotia’s Sarah Rhyno rink. Gaudet edged Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc of Halifax 6-5 in his opener, and stole a single in end five and deuces in 6 and 7 in an 8-3 win over Danny Christianson of Nova Scotia. Gallant, backed up by PEI Tankard champion skip Eddie MacKenzie at third, doubled Bluenoser John Luckhurst 8-4, and beat Islander Spencer Pitre 8-5.
Round robin play continues with another men’s draw at 9 tonight, and wraps up on Saturday with women’s draws at 9 am, and 3 and 9 pm, and men’s action at noon and 6 pm. The championship round goes Sunday.
Fifteen men’s teams and 12 women’s rinks are taking part this year.
