(by Jonathan Brazeau) The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is going to Pictou County, N.S., for the 2019-20 season.
Pictou County Wellness Centre will host the Tour Challenge, the second of six events in the series, running Nov. 5-10.
Full-event and weekend passes plus individual draw tickets are now available for purchase at the Pictou County Wellness Centre box office and online at Ticketpro.ca.
The Tour Challenge is the largest event in the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling featuring 60 of the top men’s and women’s teams from around the world split into two tiers. Tier 1 features 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams from around the world. Tier 2 spotlights 15 men’s teams and 15 women’s teams looking to move up the rankings including a handful of local Atlantic Canada clubs.
Winners of the Tier 1 division also receive berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup. Team Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Ottawa’s Team Rachel Homan are the reigning Tier 1 champions.
Winners of the Tier 2 division earn promotions to a future top-tier Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event to be determined. Saskatoon’s Team Kirk Muyres and Team Elena Stern of Switzerland are the reigning Tier 2 champions.
Tier 1 teams also compete for points towards the Pinty’s Cup, which is awarded to the overall season champions.