Nova Scotia Opens with a victory
The host province kicked off the 2011 World Financial Group Canadian Senior Women’s Championship with an impressive 8-4 win over Prince Edward Island in the opening draw. Nova Scotia’s Nancy Delahunt, two time world women’s champion, skips the foursome with Colleen Jones delivering last stones.
www.curling.ca/championships/seniors/draw-schedule/
In other first round women’s play, 2007 Canadian and 2008 World Seniors champion Diane Foster of Alberta stopped Newfoundland & Labrador’s Laura Phillips 6-3; Ontario’s Joyce Potter, the 2005 Canadian Senior champion and 2006 World Seniors silver medallist, edged Quebec’s Odette Trudel 6-4; rookie skip Deborah Popovic of the Fort Garry Curling Club in Winnipeg, MB stole a single in the 10th to stun New Brunswick’s Heidi Hanlon; Saskatchewan’s Delores Syrota stopped Northern Ontario’s Barbara Ward 5-4; and finally, BC’s Lynne Noble scored a 6-3 win over Northwest Territories/Yukon Sandy Penkala.
In first round men’s action, 2000 World Men’s Champion Greg McAulay of BC was upset by George Hilderman of the Yukon/Northwest Territories 8-3 in an opening round stunner. Hilderman overcame a 3-1 deficit scoring seven unanswered points before McAulay conceded after the 9th end.
In other action, Nova Scotia’s Scott Saunders joined Delahunt with a first round victory by a score of 6-3 over PEI’s Bill Hope. Ontario’s Guy Racette, making his first appearance at the seniors, posted a 92% team average in thumping Quebec’s Robbie MacLean 12-6. Manitoba’s Kelly Robertson, another senior rookie, stole singles in the 6th and 9th ends to drop New Brunswick’s Wade Blanchard 7-3. A pre-tournament favourite, Saskatchewan’s Brad Heidt scored a single point in the 10th to edge Northern Ontario’s Eric Harnden 5-4. Finally, Alberta’s Brad Hannah needed an extra end to defeat Newfoundland & Labrador’s Jeff Thomas also by a 5-4 score.
For detailed results, go to