Championship round is underway at Everest Canadian Seniors

Ontario’s Bryan Cochrane remains undefeated and Cathy King (Alberta) and Sherry Anderson (Saskatchewan) continue to battle for top spot on the women’s side as the championship round got underway on Thursday at the 2016 Everest Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championship. Cochrane, with Russell Curling Club teammates Ian MacAulay, Doug Johnston and Ken Sullivan, scored two decisive wins on the first day of the march towards playoffs: a 7-3 win over Jeff Thomas (Newfoundland/Labrador) and a 9-2 win over Prince Edward Island’s Rod MacDonald. Local favourite Alan O’Leary is right behind with a 7-1 record, followed by Bob Ursel of B.C. and defending champion Randy Neufeld of Manitoba, both at 6-2. On the women’s side, King and Anderson are leading the way, tied with 7-1 records, followed by a log jam of teams at 6-2: Jo-Ann Rizzo (Ontario), Cathy Cunningham (Newfoundland and Labrador) and Colleen Jones (Nova Scotia). In the Seeding Pool, Diane Foster (B.C.), Leslie Grant (Yukon) and Sandra Cowling (Manitoba) are tied with 3-4 records in the women’s competition, while Robbie Gordon (Northern Ontario) and Richard Faguy (Quebec) sit at the top of the men’s pool, tied at 4-4. Games in the Championship and Seeding Pools continue on Friday with draws at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. (all Atlantic time). The Competition Format for the event is outlined below: There shall be 14 teams per gender competing in the 2016 Canadian Seniors Curling Championships representing the 14 Member Associations of Curling Canada under a new format: 1. Teams will be seeded into two pools of 7 teams. Each pool (A & B) will play a six-game round robin. 2. The top four teams will advance to the Championship Pool where they will compete against the four teams from the opposite pool. Teams will carry forward their full win/loss records. 3. The bottom three teams will advance to the Seeding Pool where they will compete against the three teams from the opposite pool. Teams will carry forward their full win/loss record. 4. After the Championship Pool games, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs. The team finishing first overall will meet the team finishing 4th in one semifinal, while teams finishing #2 and #3 will meet in the second semifinal. Both winners will meet for the gold medal while both losers will meet for the bronze medal. Selected games will be broadcast online; check the event website, www.curling.ca/2016seniors/, for further details and broadcast times. Live draw results for the 2016 Canadian Seniors will be available at www.curling.ca. For event information, visit www.curling.ca/2016seniors.