The final of today’s Lady Monctonian cashspiel at Curl Moncton went to an extra end between two PEI rinks, skipped by Suzanne Birt and Kathy O’Rourke, with the O’Rourke team having last rock advantage. However, their final stone was heavy, and the Birt foursome came out with a 3-2 win. Birt led 1-0 after 4 ends, with O’Rourke grabbing a 2-1 lead after 6, and Birt tying the game at 2-all after eight to force the extra.

Team Birt at a recent event in Toronto (L-R): Suzanne Birt, Shelly Bradley, Michelle McQuaid, Susan McInnis

Other members of Team Birt are third Shelly Bradley, second Michelle McQuaid, and lead Susan McInnis. The O’Rourke rink includes Meaghan Hughes, Robyn Green,  Tricia Affleck, and fifth player Stefanie Clark.

In the semi-finals, O’Rourke was tied with Sylvie Robichaud of New Brunswick after 6 ends, but pulled out the win in a close contest, while Birt beat Canadian Seniors champ Colleen Pinkney of Truro in the other semi-final matchup. Birt beat Christina Black, while O’Rourke defeated Melissa Adams in the quarter-finals.

Both the Birt and O’Rourke rinks curl out of the Charlottetown Curling Complex, and both teams finished round robin play with 3-2 win-loss records.

The other PEI rink in the event, skipped by Kim Dolan, also finished the round robin at 3-2, tied with Kelly MacIntosh and Sarah Rhyno in their pool, but did not advance to the quarter-finals after draw to the button results were compared.

The Birt and O’Rourke teams are both off to Kemptville, Ontario next weekend for the Royal LePage OVCA Women’s Fall Classic, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, with 24 teams competing for a $15,000 total purse. Rachel Homan of Ottawa is defending champ, but is competing in the Masters Grand Slam of Curling event in Abbotsford BC the same weekend instead.