Draw Announced for Manitoba Curling Tour Championships
Wednesday Dec 31 2008
by Bob Picken (MCT Release)
The 24-team men's field for the Manitoba Curling Championships in Morris this weekend (January 2nd-4th) now is complete.
Sean Grassie, the 2008 Canadian Mixed Curling champion, was the last skip to claim a berth. His runner-up finish and $1,830 in prize money in the Shaw Digital Christmas Open at Fort Rouge boosted his West Kildonan team into a talented cast of players in Morris.
Defending champion Mike McEwen of Assiniboine-Memorial is the top seed, followed by the MCT earnings leader Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood, Allan Lyburn of Brandon, and Kelly Skinner of Hamiota. Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, a three-time winner on the tour this season, and Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw, a notable Saskatchewan campaigner, are expected to be top contenders in pursuit of the $18,000 purse.
Fresh from his victory in the Shaw Open, Randy Dutiaume will be one of the challengers gunning for the $7,000 top prize and a berth in the Safeway provincials in Selkirk, which goes to the men's champion or the highest finishing eligible team. Terry McNamee of Brandon, Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, and Stoughton are three skips competing in Morris who have their positions clinched for the Safeway shoot-out in Selkirk.
Defending MCT champion Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge is the top seed in the eight-team women's division in Morris. Clubmates Janet Harvey and Kristy Jenion, Kim Link of East St. Paul, and Selkirk's promising Kerri Flett are top rated in the double knockout format, with a top prize of $4,000 to the winner.
The opening round draws are as follows:
MEN'S DIVISION -- FRIDAY, JANUARY 2nd, 9:00 A.M.
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Mike McEwen, Assiniboine-Memorial - Vic Peters, Fort Garry
Brad Haight, West Kildonan - Dave Boehmer, Petersfield
Reid Carruthers, West Kildonan - Murray Woodward, Rorketon
Terry McNamee, Brandon - Graham Freeman, Virden
Ryan Hyde, Portage - Peter Nicholls, Deer Lodge
Sean Grassie, West Kildonan - Kelly Skinner, Hamiota
FRIDAY, 11:30 A.M.
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Allan Lyburn, Brandon - Kyle Peters, Pembina
Joel Jordison, Moose Jaw - Doug Riach, West Kildonan
Randy Dutiaume, West Kildonan - David Bohn, Assiniboine-Memorial
Daley Peters, Beausejour - Bob Sigurdson, Granite
Ian Beavis, Morden - Brendan Taylor, West Kildonan
Darryl Friesen, Steinbach - Jeff Stoughton, Charleswood
WOMEN'S DIVISION -- FRIDAY, 5:00 P.M.
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Barb Spencer, Fort Rouge - Patti Burtnyk, Assiniboine-Memorial
Kristy Jenion, Fort Rouge - Janet Harvey, Fort Rouge
Kerri Flett, Selkirk - Chelsea Carey, Morden
Lisa Blixhavn, Brandon - Kim Link, East St. Paul
