Manitoba’s Robertson Out Of The Gate

Manitoba’s Kelly Robertson, the 2011 Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Champion began the defence of his title with a solid 8-5 win over a tough Ontario squad led by Brian Lewis of the Ottawa CC. The game in Draw 1 of the 2012 Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Championships in Abbotsford, BC, featured key scores of three points in the 4th and 8th ends to put the Neepawa CC skipper on top. Alberta’s Rob Armitage, a rookie at the Canadian Seniors, thumped PEI’s Charlie Wilkinson 10-4 with scores of three points in the 1st and 5th ends. Northern Ontario’s Robbie Gordon of Sudbury used his last stone in the 10th end to count two points edging Nova Scotia’s Dave McCusker 7-6. In an opening round battle of national championship veterans, Newfoundland & Labrador’s Glenn Goss, with Geoff Cunningham tossing the last stones, scored four in the 7th end breaking open a close game with Quebec’s Pierre Charette. The home province favourite Dennis Graber, with Brian Windsor throwing skip stones, scored often in subduing the Yukon’s George Hilderman 8-2. Graber’s BC squad stole singles in the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th ends winning 8-2. Former Canadian and World Senior Champion Eugene Hritzuk of the Nutana CC in Saskatoon, opened his quest for another national senior championship taking 5 in the 8th end in defeating a stubborn Mark Armstrong of NB. The final score was 10-3. Play continues at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre all week with the championships finals for both men and women scheduled for Sunday, March 26 at 2:00 pm Eastern. For end by end results, visit www.curling.ca/championships/seniors/scores-and-standings Results of games already played, visit www.curling.ca/championships/seniors/scores-and-standings/draw-by-draw-reports Host Committee web site, visit www.canadianseniors2012.com