PEI’s Suzanne Birt rink, who were event runners-up last year, have advanced to the quarter-final round at 8:30 this morning at the Lady Monctonian cashspiel at Curl Moncton, where they’ll be playing Fredericton NB’s Mary Jane McGuire rink. Team Birt, who finished round robin play Saturday with a 3-2 win-loss record, includes third Shelly Bradley, second Sarah Fullerton, lead Leslie MacDougall, and coach Peter Gallant.

Photo (L-R): Birt, Bradley, Fullerton, MacDougall

The other quarter-final features two Nova Scotia rinks, skipped by Tanya Hilliard and Marie Christianson. The quarter-final winners face either Theresa Breen of Nova Scotia or Andrea Crawford of NB in their respective semi-finals at 11:30 this morning, with the semi-final winners squaring off in the 2:30 pm final.

The  Kim Dolan rink, last year’s PEI Scotties champions, includes Rebecca Jean MacDonald, Sinead Dolan, and Michala Robison, and also finished at 3-2, but did not advance to the money round. PEI’s Kathy O’Rourke team ended play at 2-2. The team includes Meaghan Hughes, Jackie Reid, Tricia Affleck, and fifth player Stefanie Clark, along with coach Peter MacDonald.

17 teams began play Friday in the annual event, with cash, and Canadian Team Ranking System points, used in the Olympic qualification process, on the line.