It was an exciting start to the PEI Scotties Tournament of Hearts Provincial Women’s Curling Championships at the Charlottetown Curling Complex, with both opening draw round-robin games going to an extra end. Kathy O’Rourke was trailing 2-1 after five ends in her game against defending champion Suzanne Birt, but scored a triple in the sixth and stole a single in the seventh end to lead 5-2. Birt came back with a deuce in eight, while O’Rourke was kept to a single in nine and Birt tied it was a tenth end deuce. O’Rourke scored a deuce in the extra end to pull out an 8-6 win.

Photo (L-R): Kathy O’Rourke, Shelly Bradley, Suzanne Birt

The Shirley Berry rink from Cornwall and the Silver Fox are former Senior Women’s champions, and had to sub in Karen Currie at the last minute, when their regular lead, Arleen Harris, was delayed in Calgary due to weather conditions. They picked up a 7-6 extra-end win over last year’s provincial Scotties runners-up, the Kim Dolan foursome, stealing singles in the second and ninth ends. Dolan scored a triple in the 7th end for a 5-4 lead in the game, but Berry took singles in the next two ends to pull ahead, with Dolan forcing the extra with a single in ten, giving Berry the last rock advantage coming home where she scored a single for the win.

Photo (L-R): Shirley Berry, Shelley Ebbett, Karen Currie

The opening ceremonies go at 6:15 pm, with Draw 2, featuring a matchup between last years winner, Birt, and runner-up, Dolan, as well as the Berry rink taking on the Lisa Jackson foursome beginning at 7 pm. Admission is $5 per draw or $25 for a full event pass. All rinks in the event, except for the Berry team, curl out of the host Charlottetown Curling Complex.

Live end-by-end results from each draw are available on the event website: PEICurling.com/scotties