The Suzanne Birt rink, playing out of the host Montague Curling Rink this season, scored five points in the sixth end and stole a single in the seventh to defeat the Veronica Smith team from the Summerside Silver Fox club 8-1 in seven ends on Sunday morning to repeat as PEI Scotties champions.

PEI Scotties champs (L-R): Mitchell O’Shea (coach), Michelle McQuaid, Meaghan Hughes, Marie Christianson, Suzanne Birt

This is the eleventh PEI Scotties title for Birt, a former world junior curling champion. Birt, backed up by third Marie Christianson, second stone Meaghan Hughes, and lead Michelle McQuaid, along with coach Mitchell O’Shea, won the “A” and “C” events in the modified triple knockout draw, and would have had a second chance at 2 pm to win the title, but accomplished the task with the morning game.

Finalist team (L-R): Veronica Smith, Sabrina Smith, Emily Gray, Whitney Jenkins, Pat Aylward (coach)

Smith, who won the “B” section, would have had to win both games. Playing with Veronica Smith were third Sabrina Smith, second Emily Gray, and lead Whitney Jenkins, with coach Pat Aylward.

The first half of this morning’s game was close, with two blank ends, and neither team scoring more than a single. Birt stole the third end and had a slim 2-1 lead at the fifth end break, but brought the game to an early conclusion in the sixth and seventh ends. The Birt foursome will now advance to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Feb. 15-23, 2020 at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, 

The PEI Tankard men’s championship, held concurrently at the same venue, wrapped up on Saturday, with the Bryan Cochrane team from the Cornwall Curling Club going undefeated to advance to the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, Feb. 29 to March 8, 2020 at Leon’s Centre in Kingston Ontario, 

Detailed results from the combined PEI Scotties and Tankard event are available at:  PEICurling.com/scoreboard

Eleven men’s and 5 women’s rinks took part this year.