Saturday, November 25, 2006

Stonewall Interlake Pharmacy Classic 11:30 a.m. Saturday draw

Latest updates from the top, please refresh often:

Riach made a really nice thin hit and stick for the win... time for lunch.
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Kyle just drew top four with his last rock, so Riach needs to have a look with his last stone. Go for the tie or the win?
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Jen still gets a lot of attention coming off of the ice... several young girls came over with autograph books for signing, which she graciously accepted. We need more of that in curling to generate interest in the budding juniors.
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Jones closed it out with steal in 10.
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Werenich took one in nine to go up 6-5 coming home without hammer. Jones is looking good playing 10... Brown could have trouble getting her deuce.
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Jones rebounded with (you guessed it) a two to make it 9-7 playing 10. Hmmm... gotta be an extra end coming if we're to believe precedent.
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It's 5-5 in nine between Riach and Werenich.
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Jones and Brown are tied 7-7 playing nine. (Yes, another two scored.) Werenich's up 5-4 playing eight.
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Burtnyk wins after a nice touch bump... 8-3 final in eight.
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Woody had T-line weight, but he may not be shot. Kerry can bump out for the win.
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Burtnyk just drew edge button around cover... great touch. Woodward's only hope is to draw button.
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Woody just crashed on a guard trying to draw around cover.
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Woodward's in tough playing eight... Burtnyk's lined them up well behind cover. Dave Kraichy just threw a nice draw to the back of the four behind cover, but Kammerlock quietly bumped it out to sit four.
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This time they're shaking and they really mean it... Carruthers wins in seven ends, 7-2.
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Sean just suffered a really nasty pick on a freeze attempt... looked like a piece of gravel grabbed it.
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The first final of the draw... Spencer wins 9-3.
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It's a twofer festival in the Jones vs. Brown game, with Jones now up 7-5 playing eight. Werenich and Riach are tied 4-4 playing seven. Shepell is still battling Spencer, down 9-3 playing seven. Burtnyk's keeping it clean playing seven.
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After Carruthers took one in six to go up 7-2, PattyMac and Dave Johnson started the handshakes... However, Sean wasn't ready to pull the pin, so they continued play after some discussion. Forgot the score after the Woodward update... it's 5-3 Burtnyk playing seven.
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Richard Daneault just made a beauty pick-out up-weight takeout skinning a guard.
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The Doctor's sporting the classic white headband today, for those keeping score at home.
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Woody now has a free draw for two after Burtnyk's tricky double attempt over-curled. He looks good... and he's got it.
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Barb Spencer is shooting lights out... not really giving Shepell a chance to get back into the game. Woody just made a nice bump and roll to the back of the button behind cover, giving Kerry another long look at the lay of the land.
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Despite the lopsided score, Woodward has played well against Burtnyk. He's placed his rocks in good positions, leaving Kerry with long looks in the last three ends.
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It's 4-2 Werenich after five.
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At any given time in Manitoba, there's a Kirkness family member curling... kind of like at any given time there's a Simpsons episode on TV. One of the legendary curling families out there right now.
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Grassie took a single in the fifth to get back into the game. Spencer all but ended her game by stealing four in the fifth. Jones took two to go up 5-3.
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Burtnyk is brining workmanlike precision to his game today. Tight strategy, smooth shooting... easy to see why he's had success so far. He just stole another single as Woody rolled out on a last-rock hit. To show what a good sport he is, Woody just held the broom for The Doctor's first rock of the end as Kerry took a break.
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In other games... Jones and Brown are tied at three after four, Spencer's stolen three consecutive times to go up 5-2, and Riach/Wrench haven't posted the score yet, so I can't update that one just yet.

Carruthers is firing on all cylinders today... making all of the nice bump and rolls behind cover. All of the extra practice is clearly paying off. They just stole two to go up 6-1.
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Woody tried a runback and just missed... Burtnyk didn't throw his last stone and took two.

Burtnyk made a touchy bump guard to make the raise tougher.
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Burtnyk's facing an interesting situation with his first stone of the fourth with hammer. He has two on the back of the four foot, and Woody has two on top of the four with plenty of junk in front.
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A full slate of top teams on the ice right now, in women's and men's play.

I'm focusing on sheets 4 and 5 - Sean Grassie vs. Reid Carruthers and Murray Woodward vs. Kerry Burtnyk. Also playing are Doug Riach vs. Kyle Werenich on sheet 1, Jennifer Jones vs. Joelle Brown on sheet 2 and Barb Spencer vs. Connie Shepell on sheet 3.

This is my first time at this event in many years, and I'm remember why I rate it as one of the top events on the tour. The ice usually quick and consistent, the draw is fair and balanced, and the town rallies around the event.

Now, add free wi-fi access, LCD monitors updstairs focused on the away houses, and you have a first class operation.

Back to the action... after three ends:

Carruthers just popped a three in the third end to take a 4-1 lead over Grassie. Sean wrecked on a guard on a tight takeout attempt. Burtnyk leads 3-1 over Woodward. Shepell leads Spencer 4-2, Jones leads Brown 3-1 and Werenich leads Riach 2-1.

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