<March 15, 2010>

The teams of Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial and Sherry Middaugh of London, Ontario, won the second event on the Manitoba Curling Tour's
2010-2011 schedule in Morris today.

Following up on the Coors Light Christmas Open at Fort Rouge, the DEKALB SUPERSPIEL wrapped up with six-team playoffs in the men's and women's divisions (Monday).

McEwen had a three-victory day after qualifying out of "C" event in the 16-team men's division.  His team of B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, and Denni Neufeld defeated Edmonton's Ted Appelman 4-2, Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour 6-5, and Dave Boehmer of Petersfield 5-4 in the final.

McEwen earned $9,000, Boehmer $5,000, losing semi-finalists Gunnlaugson and Chris Galbraith of West St. Paul $3,000 each, and losing quarter-finalists Appelman and Vic Peters of Fort Garry $2,000 apiece.

Skipping the Jo-Ann Rizzo team from London, with Rizzo at third, Lee Merklinger and Leigh Armstrong, Middaugh also needed three playoff victories to win the women's division.  Middaugh whipped Brette Richards of Assiniboine Memorial 8-0, bounced Chelsea Carey of Morden 7-6, then had to go two extra ends for a 6-4 win in the final over reigning world champion Bingyu Wang of China.  Wang is preparing to defend her world title in Swift Current later this month.

The Middaugh foursome earned $7,000, Wang $4,000, losing semi-finalists Carey and Alyssa Vandepoele of Ste. Anne $2,000 each,. and losing quarter-finalists Jennifer Jones of St. Vital and Richards $1,600 apiece (also from a 16-team field).

The DEKALB SUPERSPIEL was the last event of the winter on the Manitoba Curling Tour, which will resume at the end of September.

<March 14, 2010>

The playoff teams are set in the Dekalb SuperSpiel in Morris, the last event of the winter on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

In the men's quarter-finals (Monday 9:00 a.m.), defending champion Vic Peters will meet Dave Boehmer, while Edmonton's Ted Appelman will face Mike McEwen.  The women's quarter-finals bring together Ontario's Sherry Middaugh against Brette Richards, and Canadian champion Jennifer Jones versus junior star Alyssa Vandepoele.

The teams of Chris Galbraith, Jason Gunnlaugson, Chelsea Carey and reigning world champion Bingyu Wang of China are waiting in the semi-finals (Monday 12:30 p.m.).

In the last qualifying matches in "C" event (Sunday night), Boehmer defeated David Bohn 5-2, McEwen rallied to beat Coleman 5-4, Richards coasted to an 8-1 win over Kerri Flett, and Vandepoele beat Karen Fallis 5-3.

The winning teams in the finals (4:00 p.m. Monday) will earn $9,000 in the men's division and $7,000 in the women's division.

<March 1, 2010>

The final event of the winter on the Manitoba Curling Tour is the $50,000 DEKALB SUPERSPIEL in Morris, from March 11th to 15th.

The women's field is assured of 16 teams, headed by Canadian Scotties champion Jennifer Jones of St. Vital, and also includes MCT champion Kerri Flett of Fort Rouge, and the teams of China and Switzerland, who are preparing for the World Curling Championship in Swift Current later this month.

Openings still are available to fill the triple knockout men's field of 24 teams.  Contact chairman Brian Recksiedler at (204) 746-6618 or by e-mail -- bbrex@mts.net -- the entry fee is $1,000.

Some of the notables in the men's field are the teams of Mike McEwen, Jason Gunnlaugson, David Hamblin, Vic Peters, David Bohn, and Sean Grassie, plus Edmonton's Ted Appelman and Team China.

MCT champion Reid Carruthers will be among the missing.  His curling season is finished due to a knee injury, and the 25-year-old skip from West St. Paul could be in line for surgery.  The Carruthers team has filed an entry in Morris, and will secure a replacement.

<February 4, 2010>

The 2009-10 Manitoba Curling Tour champion, Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul, is the fourth seed in Curl Manitoba's 32-team field for the provincial Safeway championship in Steinbach this month.

Supported by Chris Galbraith, Derek Samagalski, and Shane Kilgallen, Carruthers earned $28,050 in tour events this past season, and won the MCT title in Brandon in December.

Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial, who won the MCT crown in the two previous seasons (2007-08 and 2008-09), received the second seed in Steinbach, behind defending Manitoba champion Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood.

David Bohn and Kerry Burtnyk of Assiniboine Memorial, and Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, who finished second, third and fourth in total MCT earnings, are seeded third, fifth and sixth by the teams for the shooting at the TG Smith Centre in Steinbach.

The Manitoba champion will represent the province in the Tim Horton's Brier in Halifax March 6th to 14th.

The next event on the Manitoba Curling Tour is the DeKalb SuperSpiel March 11th to 15th in Morris.

<December 30, 2009>

Curling out of the Pembina club in Winnipeg, Dave Johnson skipped his team of Gary Shibata, Craig Scott, and David Bay to victory in the first event on the Manitoba Curling Tour's 2010-11 schedule (Wednesday night, Dec.30th/09).

Johnson won the COORS LIGHT CHRISTMAS OPEN at the Fort Rouge Curling Club with two playoff wins, 5-4 over Jay DeFoort of Fort Rouge in the semi-finals, and 7-1 over Bryan Zachary of the Granite in the final.

The double triumph was worth a total of $1,025 to the Johnson team on the progressive payout format, plus a berth in the MCT Championships in the season ahead.  Zachary's team earned $775, while DeFoort received
$385 and Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge, who lost 7-6 to Zachary in the semi-finals, picked up $305.

Nigel Milnes of Pembina received $335 and Norm Magnusson of Fort Rouge $305 for reaching the Coors Light quarter-finals (24 teams--six qualifiers).  Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge won the Consolation event and $240, beating clubmate Linda Stewart (who had Don Nelson skipping) 10-9 in an extra end final.

The Manitoba tour suspends at this point for the Curl Manitoba championship season, resuming March 11th-15th, 2010, with the DEKALB SUPERSPIEL at the Morris Curling Club.

<December 29, 2009>

The first event crediting results to the 2010-2011 Manitoba Curling Tour schedule will conclude at the Fort Rouge Curling Club tonight (Wednesday, December 30th).  The COORS LIGHT CHRISTMAS OPEN moved into the playoff round last night.

In the quarter-finals, Jay DeFoort of Fort Rouge defeated Nigel Milnes of Pembina 5-3, and will advance to meet Dave Johnson of Deer Lodge in tonight's 6:00 p.m. semi-finals.

Bryan Zachary of the Granite scored a 4-3 victory over Norm Magnusson of Fort Rouge; Zachary will face Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge in the semis, with the final to follow tonight at 9 o'clock.

The final of the Consolation bracket at 6:00 p.m. will bring together host clubbers Mark Franklin and Don Nelson, skipping the Linda Stewart foursome.

<December 20, 2009>

The Reid Carruthers team from West St. Paul had qualified in seven curling events this season, but had failed to be a winner until rolling to victory in the men's division of the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships at the Brandon Wheat City Curling Club today (Sunday).

With Chris Galbraith, Derek Samagalski, and Shane Kilgallen, Carruthers posted a 6-and-1 record in the 16-team triple knockout playdown, beating Allan Lyburn of Brandon three times, including a 6-5 last-rock triumph in the final.

The Carruthers foursome earned a top prize of $6,000 plus a berth in the Curl Manitoba Safeway provincials in Steinbach in February. In total, Carruthers had $28,050 in leading the MCT in earnings this season.

Lyburn received runner-up cash of $3,000, while Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan and Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge picked up $2,000 apiece. Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial, who was trying for three straight MCT men's titles, lost in the quarter-finals to Lyburn, and settled for $1,000.

Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, Terry McNamee of Hamiota, and Doug Riach of West Kildonan also earned $1,000 apiece in bowing out in the quarter-finals (16 teams-8 qualifiers).

 Kerri Flett of Fort Rouge, with support from Janice Blair, Sue Baleja, and Alison Harvey, won the MCT women's division title, earning $4,000 for a final 5-4 victory over clubmate Joelle Brown, who received $2,000.  Losing semi-finalists Jill Thurston of Deer Lodge and Lisa Blixhavn of Brandon each took home $1,000 (8 teams-4 qualifiers).

The Brandon weekend completes the tour season, but the schedule resumes December 26th-30 with the Coors Light Christmas Open at Winnipeg's Fort Rouge Curling Club, and the second annual DeKalb Superspiel will follow March 11th-15th, 2010, at the Morris Curling Club.  Results of both events will be credited to the 2010-2011 MCT season.

<December 15, 2009>

Mike McEwen and his Assiniboine Memorial team (B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, Denni Neufeld) will be gunning for a third straight men's title in the MCT Championships at Brandon's Wheat City Curling Club this weekend (Dec.18th-20th).

The McEwen foursome won the last two seasons, in Portage and in Morris, and along with Jason Gunnlaugson's team from Beausejour rates as a prime favorite in the 16-team triple knockout event in Brandon.

The teams are seeded based on money earnings on the MCT this season.  Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul leads the tour with $22,050, followed by David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial at $21,500.  Others expected to be top contenders are Dave Elias and Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan, Terry McNamee of Hamiota, and the Brandon's Lyburn brothers, Allan and William, skipping separate foursomes.  The top cash prize is $6,000, and a berth in the Curl Manitoba Safeway provincials in Steinbach (Feb.10th-14th) goes to the highest finishing eligible team.  There will be eight qualifiers.

The eight-team women's division also will have a defending champion in the field.  Chelsea Carey of Morden will try for a repeat, facing formidable opponents in a double knockout chase.  Janet Harvey is the top seed based on MCT earnings of $10,060, followed by Carey, Kaileigh Strath of Winkler and Kerri Flett of Fort Rouge.  The top cash prize in the women's division is $4,000, with four qualifiers.

The opening round draws are as follows:

        MEN'S DIVISION -- FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 9:00 A.M.
************************************************************
Reid Carruthers, West St. Paul - Kelly Marnoch, Carberry
David Hamblin, Morris - Allan Lyburn, Brandon
Brendan Taylor, West Kildonan - Jerry Chudley, Brookdale
Sean Grassie, Deer Lodge - Jason Gunnlaugson, Beausejour

                        FRIDAY, 12:00 P.M.
************************************************************
Mike McEwen, Assiniboine Memorial - William Lyburn, Brandon
Randy Dutiaume, West Kildonan - Dave Elias, West Kildonan
Terry McNamee, Hamiota - Dave Boehmer, Petersfield
Doug Riach, West Kildonan - David Bohn, Assiniboine Memorial

             WOMEN'S DIVISION -- FRIDAY, 6:30 P.M.
************************************************************
Janet Harvey, Assiniboine Memorial - Joelle Brown, Fort Rouge
Jill Thurston, Deer Lodge - Kerri Flett, Fort Rouge
Kaileigh Strath, Winkler - Lisa Blixhavn, Brandon
Karen Fallis, Wildewood - Chelsea Carey, Morden

<December 12, 2009>

Club affiliation to Pembina was in large evidence in the final games of this weekend's event on the Manitoba Curling Tour, the INTEGRITY STAKES at Winnipeg's Thistle Curling Club.

Peter Nicholls guided his team to a 6-2 victory over the Scott Madams foursome in the championship final, while Kelly Lauber beat Cory Chambers 6-4 in the consolation final.  All four teams are members of Winnipeg's Pembina club.  Nicholls skips and throws third stone for his team, Dean Dunstone is at fourth, and James Kirkness and Wayne Sigurdson are the front end shooters.

Nicholls earned $2,500, Madams $1,400, and Lauber $400.  In the championship semi-finals, Nicholls defeated Vic Peters and his senior team from the Granite club  6-4, while Madams was a 5-3 winner over Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, whose team was skipped by Daley Peters.

The semi-final losers received $1,000 apiece, while Bob Sigurdson of the Granite and Joel Marcon of St. Vital each earned $500 for reaching the quarter-finals (24 teams - 6 qualifiers).

<December 10, 2009>

Chelsea Carey of Morden will defend the women's title in the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships, to be held at Brandon's Wheat City Curling Club December 18th to 20th.

With the same personnel that won the women's MCT crown in Morris last season, Kari White, Kristen Foster, and Lindsay Titheridge, and guided by her father Dan Carey as the team coach, Carey was a winner in the Interlake Pharmacy Classic in Stonewall last month.

Her primary opposition in Brandon could come from Janet Harvey of Assiniboine Memorial, who is the top seed based on MCT earnings.  Harvey won the tour's Atkins Curling Supplies Charity Classic at Charleswood in October this year.

Others in the women's field in order of seeding behind number two Carey are Kaileigh Strath of Winkler, Kerri Flett of Fort Rouge, Jill Thurston of Deer Lodge, Lisa Blixhavn of Brandon, Karen Fallis of Wildewood, and Joelle Brown of Fort Rouge.

The eight teams will play a double knockout format with four teams qualifying, aiming for a top prize of $4,000.

Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial will defend the men's title in Brandon, and that field will be finalized after this weekend's Integrity Stakes at Winnipeg's Thistle Curling Club (December 10th-13th).

<December 7, 2009>

"Winning another major curling event has been a long time coming for me.."  That was David Hamblin's post-game comment after beating Travis Graham of Thompson 6-5 in an extra end final of the DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASH SPIEL in Dauphin today (Monday).  Hamblin won the World Junior Curling Championship in 2002.

Hamblin's team of Ross Derksen, Ryan Thomson, and Mark Georges earned $8,000 and a berth in the MCT Championships (Dec.18th-20th) in Brandon, qualifying out of the "C" section in Dauphin and winning three playoff games.

Graham is in his second season in Thompson after moving from Winnipeg, and with Farrol Asham, Grant Brown, and Glen Ringrose, earned runner-up cash of $5,000 in the Dauphin event.

Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial won five straight games before losing 9-3 to Hamblin in the semi-finals, while Graham defeated Murray Woodward of Ste. Anne 6-5.  McEwen and Woodward received $3,500 apiece; losing quarter-finalists Allan Lyburn of Brandon, Ian Beavis of Morden, and Brendan Taylor and Andrew Wickman both of West Kildonan, each went home with $2,500 (32 teams-8 qualifiers).

<December 6, 2009>

The eight playoff teams have been determined in the DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASH SPIEL, this weekend's stop on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

David Hamblin of Morris, Travis Graham of Thompson, Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan, and Murray Woodward of Ste. Anne, nailed the last four spots in qualifying tonight (Sunday) in "C" Group.

In the last qualifying games, Hamblin beat Brennan Jones of Regina 7-4, Taylor eliminated Kelly Marnoch of Carberry 6-0,  Graham bounced the last local threat, Nick Ogryzlo of Dauphin 7-3. while Woodward was a 7-2 winner over Brad Haight of West Kildonan.

Earlier, Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial and Andrew Wickman of West Kildonan won "A" Group playoff berths, and Ian Beavis of Morden and Allan Lyburn of Brandon qualified in "B" Group.

The Monday morning quarter-finals (9:00 A.M.) will send McEwen against Taylor, Lyburn versus Hamblin, Wickman facing Woodward, and Beavis meeting Graham. Semi-finals and the final will follow at 12 noon and 3 o'clock.

The playoff payout is $30,000 with $8,000 going to the winner.

<December 6, 2009>

The first teams to qualify for Monday's playoffs in the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Cash Spiel are Mike McEwen's foursome from Assiniboine Memorial and Andrew Wickman's West Kildonan crew.

Both have chalked up four straight victories in Dauphin.  McEwen defeated David Hamblin of Morris 8-3 to clinch an "A" group playoff spot in the triple knockout format tonight (Saturday night).

Wickman also won his fourth in a row in "A" group, beating Nick Ogryzlo of Dauphin 7-3, to earn the second berth in the playoffs in the 32-team Manitoba Curling Tour cashspiel.

Six more teams will qualify in "B" and "C" groups Sunday

<December 4, 2009>

Curling action resumed on the Manitoba Curling Tour with the start of the DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASH SPIEL at Dauphin's Parkland Recreation Complex this morning (Friday).

Defending champion Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan was a first round upset victim, losing 8-7 to Jason Ackerman of Regina as the 32-team triple knockout event got under way.

The heavy favorite, Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial, rolled to a 9-3 victory over Wes Jonasson of Arborg on the opening draw.

The Dauphin cash spiel continues through to Monday, offering a $30,000 purse with eight qualifiers and $8,000 going to the winner.

<November 23, 2009>

Chelsea Carey's Morden team had its high point this year back in January, in winning the Manitoba Curling Tour Women's Championship.  Since then, the Carey crew has been inconsistent, until putting together an excellent effort this weekend in Stonewall.

With Kari White, Kristen Foster and Lindsay Titheridge in support, Carey posted a 6-and-1 record in winning the 8th annual INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC.  They capped it off with a 9-2 semi-final victory over Holly Scott of Fort Rouge, and a 7-2 win over Janet Harvey of Assiniboine Memorial in the cashspiel final on Monday (Nov.23rd).

Carey's team earned $5,000 for the Interlake title, and will defend its MCT Championship in Brandon December 18th-20th.  Harvey picked up $2,500, while Scott and Jill Thurston of Deer Lodge received $1,500 apiece for reaching the semi-finals.  Derna Hintz of Fort Rouge earned $750 as the Consolation event winner.

In the men's division, David Bohn's team from Assiniboine Memorial qualified in "C" section, then won three straight playoff games to earn a $7,500 prize.  The Bohn foursome, with David's brother Dennis, Kody Janzen, and Larry Solomon, had a previous tour victory this season in the McMillan Insurance Classic in Selkirk.

Bohn defeated Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul 8-3 in the semi-final, and Dave Elias of West Kildonan 8-7 in an extra end final on Monday.  Elias rallied to erase a four-point deficit to force the extra end.

Elias earned $5,000, Carruthers and Brandon's Allan Lyburn each received $2,500 for reaching the semis, and Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan and Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge $1,750 apiece as losing quarter-finalists

<November 22, 2009>

The semi-final playoffs are set for Monday (Nov.23rd) afternoon in the INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC in Stonewall, this weekend's event on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial and Dave Elias of West Kildonan advanced with quarter-final victories in the men's division on Sunday's evening draw.  Bohn defeated Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan 6-2, and Elias eliminated Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge 5-3.  The Taylor and Grassie teams earned $1,750 apiece in their losing cause.

Bohn will meet Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul, the tour's leading money winner, while Elias goes against Brandon's Allan Lyburn in the 4:30 p.m. semi-finals.

In the women's division, Janet Harvey of Assiniboine Memorial will face Jill Thurston of Deer Lodge, and Holly Scott of Fort Rouge meets Morden's Chelsea Carey, also at 4:30 p.m.  The finals in both divisions are scheduled for 7 o'clock (Monday).

In "B" section qualifying matches Sunday night, Thurston moved up with a 7-3 victory over Deer Lodge clubmate Joelle Brown, and Carey sidelined reigning Manitoba women's champion Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge, also by a 7-3 score.

Derna Hintz of Fort Rouge captured the women's Consolation event and $750 with a 5-3 win over Patti Burtnyk of Assiniboine Memorial.

<November 16, 2009>

The return to the Manitoba Curling Tour of the COURTESY FREIGHT NORTHERN ONTARIO SUPERSPIEL in Thunder Bay offered two incentives to local teams, a berth in the Northern Ontario men's playdown this season, plus eligibility for the MCT Championships in Brandon (Dec.18-20th) to the winner.

The winning foursome was skipped by Art Lappalainen (lappa-LIE-nen) of Thunder Bay, along with Ron Rosengren, Rob Sinclair, and Gary Manaula, who also earned $5,000 for a 5-3 final victory (Monday) over Mike Pozihun of Thunder Bay.  The Pozihun team received $3,000 in runner-up cash.

The losing semi-finalists Chris Briand and Bryan Burgess picked up $1,800 apiece, and Dylan Johnston, Brian Adams, Jr., Scott Henderson, and Mike Assad each earned $1,200 for reaching the quarter-finals.  All eight qualifiers in the 24-team field have Thunder Bay affiliation.

In another MCT event, Brendan Taylor's West Kildonan team, with Kyle Werenich, Taren Gesell, and Cory Naharnie, won the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC and $5,200.  Taylor defeated Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul 6-4 in Sunday's final.  Second place money of $2,800 boosted Carruthers to the top of the MCT money standings, with a total of $19,550.

The Deer Lodge teams of Alex Forrest and Peter Nicholls received $2,000 each as losing semi-finalists; David Kraichy of Pembina and Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge won $1,000 apiece as losing quarter-finalists, and Andrew Wickman of West Kildonan received $500 as the Consolation winner.

<November 15, 2009>

Brendan Taylor's team from West Kildonan won three straight games on Sunday, capturing the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC and $5,200, by topping Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul 6-4 in the final (Nov.15th).

With support from Kyle Werenich, Taren Gesell and Cory Naharnie, Taylor defeated David Kraichy of Pembina and Alex Forrest of Deer Lodge to reach the final.  Earlier this season, Taylor spared for Brandon's Allan Lyburn, and skipped his team to a runner-up finish in the KING SPUD CLASSIC on the tour in Carberry.

Carruthers, whose former team now skipped by Jason Gunnlaugson won a berth in the Olympic Trials on the weekend, earned $2,800 in second place cash in Gimli, and vaulted into first place in MCT earnings with a total of $19,550.

Losing semi-finalists Peter Nicholls and Forrest, both of Deer Lodge, received $2,000 apiece.  Sean Grassie of Deer Lodge and Kraichy each earned $1,000 for reaching the quarter-finals, and Andrew Wickman of West Kildonan won the Consolation event and $500 (19 teams--6 qualifiers).

A second tour event this weekend, the COURTESY FREIGHT NORTHERN ONTARIO SUPERSPIEL in Thunder Bay, will move into the playoffs tomorrow (Monday) at the Port Arthur Curling Club.  All eight qualifiers are from Thunder Bay -- Dylan Johnston, Chris Briand, Brian Adams, Jr., Scott Henderson, Mike Assad, Mike Pozihun, Bryan Burgess and Al Lappalainen.

<November 9, 2009>

Kevin Martin's Edmonton team invaded Swan River in continuing preparations for its challenge in the Canadian Olympic Trials, and made it worthwhile with a $10,000 pick-up in winning the 12th edition of the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

The Martin foursome, with John Morris, Marc Kennedy, and Ben Hebert, had a 7-and-1 record in the Whites, including a 3-1 victory over Randy Bryden of Saskatoon in the quarter-finals, a 7-1 romp over Terry McNamee of Hamiota in the semis, and a 6-3 win over Dave Boehmer of Petersfield in the final.  A game-breaking four points for Martin in the third end put it out of reach for Boehmer, who accepted runner-up cash of $8,000.

Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul and McNamee earned $5,000 each as losing semi-finalists, while William Lyburn of Brandon (who scored the only win over Martin in Swan River), David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial, Brent Scales of Swan River, and Bryden, received $3,500 apiece by qualifying for the quarter-final playoffs (18 teams -- 8 qualifiers).

Earlier on the weekend, Randy Neufeld's team from La Salle, with Cory Anderson, Birk Cramer, and Scott Podolsky, won the 9TH KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL at Rossmere Country club in Winnipeg, earning $2,000 for a closing 5-4 win over Kaileigh Strath of Winkler in the final.

Next up are two events on the tour, the COURTESY FREIGHT NORTHERN ONTARIO SUPERSPIEL at Thunder Bay (24 teams), and the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC in Gimli (both November 13th-16th).  The Gimli spiel has 19 teams and still has openings for any late-comers; contact Phyllis Zaborosky at (204) 642-6670 or gra@mts.net by e-mail.

<November 8, 2009>

Randy Neufeld of La Salle has placed his name on the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL winner's trophy for a third time.

Neufeld skipped his team of Cory Anderson, Birk Cramer, and Scott Podolsky to five straight victories in earning a top prize of $2,000 at the Rossmere Country Club in Winnipeg.  Neufeld defeated the Kaileigh Strath foursome from Winkler 5-4 in Sunday's final of the open bonspiel that had three women's teams.  To add another sidelight, the Strath team had Neufeld's daughter Sabrina playing third.

The Strath quartet earned runner-up cash of $1,200, and losing semi-finalists Michael Johnson of Assiniboine Memorial and Kelly Marnoch of Carberry $700 apiece.  Trevor Buchanan of Argyle picked up $600 by qualifying for the quarter-final, and Andrew Irving won the Consolation event and $400.

Neufeld won the inaugural Kurbis bonspiel playing third for Bill Kuran in 2001, and skipped a team that included his present front end of Cramer and Podolsky to the 2005 title.

Meanwhile ... the quarter-finals are under way tonight in the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC in Swan River.  The match-ups have William Lyburn of Brandon meeting Terry McNamee of Hamiota, Kevin Martin of Edmonton versus Randy Bryden of Saskatoon, David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial facing Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, and Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul challenging the Swan River home town team of Brent Scales.

In the "C" event qualifying games, McNamee beat Clint Dieno of Saskatoon 7-4, Bryden eliminated Allan Lyburn (last year's winner) of Brandon 5-4, Boehmer went to an extra end for a 6-4 win over Travis Graham of Thompson, and Carruthers bounced Murray Woodward of Ste. Anne 6-4.

<November 7, 2009>

Moving into Sunday (Nov.8th), playoff qualifiers have started to emerge in two events on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

In the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC in Swan River, the teams of William Lyburn of Brandon and David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial earned the "A" event qualifying positions.

The two "B" event qualifiers will come from Sunday's 1:30 draw in Swan River, when Edmonton's Kevin Martin meets Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul, and Terry McNamee (MACK-na-mee) of Brandon faces Brent Scales of Swan River.

In the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL at Winnipeg's Rossmere Country Club, the five playoff teams have been determined.  Trevor Buchanan of Argyle will meet Kelly Marnoch's Carberry team in the 9:30 morning quarter-final.  The winner advances against Kaileigh (Kay-lee) Strath of Winkler, while Randy Neufeld of La Salle meets Michael Johnson of Assiniboine Memorial in 1 o'clock semi-finals.

The Kurbis final is scheduled for 4:30 at Rossmere.

<November 5, 2009>

Action resumes on the Manitoba Curling Tour this week with two events, the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC in Swan River, and the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL at Winnipeg's Rossmere Country Club.

In both cases, the size of the entry is below expectations.  The 12th edition of the WHITES has attracted only 18 teams to what used to be one of the more popular cashspiels on the tour.  The Galaxy dates back even longer, but only 16 teams will be in the field at Rossmere.

Edmonton's Kevin Martin is the top seed in Swan River, as his team continues preparations for the Olympic Trials in December.  Defending champion Allan Lyburn and Terry McNamee of Brandon head up the Manitoba notables, along with Reid Carruthers, Vic Peters, David Bohn, and Brent Scales.  Peters is fresh off his victory in the Gunnlaugson Senior Spiel at Thistle, but will have his men's team with son Daley Peters throwing fourth stone in Swan River.

At Rossmere, Rob Cosens of West St. Paul will try for a repeat, with a challenge expected from Randy Neufeld of La Salle and Brad Haight of West Kildonan.  The Galaxy is an open cashspiel, and the women's teams of Karen Rosser, Kaileigh Strath, and Derna Hintz will be challenging their male counterparts.

The Galaxy starts with a 7 p.m. draw on Thursday (Nov.5th), while the Whites will go to the hacks for the first draw at 1:30 p.m. Friday (Nov.5th).

<November 1, 2009>

Joyce McDougall of Brandon and Vic Peters of the Granite skipped their teams to victory in the 21st edition of the LLOYD GUNNLAUGSON MEMORIAL SENIOR BONSPIEL at the Thistle Curling Club in Winnipeg (Sunday).

With the addition of Bev Atkins at third, and her holdover front end of Pam Horn and Lynn Locke, McDougall was unbeaten in five games in the Gunnlaugson, topping Deb McCreanor of Fort Garry 6-3 in the women's final to earn a top prize of $1,100.

Peters activated former Manitoba champion Mark Olson to play third, and with Chris Neufeld and Charlie Salina at second and lead, came out of the "B" side of the draw, winning six straight games including an 8-3 victory over Clare De Blonde of Fort Rouge in the men's division final.  The Peters quartet earned a $2,800 first prize.

Linda Van Daele of Brandon and Deb Collyer of Killarney lost in the women's semi-finals, while Keith McLeod of Springfield and Jamie Hay of the Granite reached the men's semi-finals.  Chris Scalena of Fort Garry and Henry Klassen of Winkler won the women's and men's Consolation events.

Regular curling action resumes on the Manitoba tour later this week with the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC in Swan River and the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL at Rossmere in Winnipeg.

<October 27, 2009>

The 21st edition of the LLOYD GUNNLAUGSON MEMORIAL SENIOR BONSPIEL will start at the Thistle Curling Club in Winnipeg (tomorrow) on Wednesday night, with opening draws at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The bonspiel has a field of 28 men's teams and 10 in the women's division, and will continue with draws on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., followed by five draws each all day Friday and Saturday, and the playoffs on Sunday.

Former winners Lois Fowler of Brandon, who also won the Mondetta provincial senior women's title last season, Jean Garbolinsky of Minnedosa, Joyce McDougall and Linda Van Daele of Brandon, and Chris Scalena of Fort Garry are favorites in the women's division.  Last year's Gunnlaugson champion, Rita VandeVyvere of Heather, will team up with Elaine Owen for this season's edition.

Brian Fowler of Brandon will defend the men's title in the double knockout plus playoff format.  Chief opposition is expected to come from the Granite's Vic Peters, who has a new senior team, plus former provincial senior champions Clare De Blonde of Fort Rouge, Lionel Walz of Pembina, and Carl German of East St. Paul.

The Gunnlaugson spiel and Brandon's Neil Andrews Legends Classic form the first two legs of the Manitoba Senior Tour in advance of the men's McDiarmid Lumber and the Mondetta senior women's berth spiels in November.

Kerry Burtnyk and his Assiniboine Memorial team shifted gears in preparation for the Olympic Pre-Trials in two weeks time, winning the MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC in Portage on Monday.

"This definitely will give us momentum as we try to peak in the Pre-Trials in Prince George," said Burtnyk, after a 4-2 victory over Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour in the Portage final.  Burtnyk and his team of Don Walchuk, Richard Daneault, and Garth Smith earned $18,000, while Gunnlaugson, who also has a berth in Prince George, accepted the runner-up cash of $10,000.

Dave Elias of West Kildonan recorded a major upset in knocking off Wayne Middaugh of Toronto 8-2 in the quarter-finals, but had to settle for a $6,000 prize in losing 7-5 to Burtnyk in the semi-finals.  Two down playing the 7th end, Burtnyk struck for four points to pave the way to his team's victory.

Gunnlaugson won the other semi-final 7-4 over Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood, who also earned $6,000.  The losing quarter-finalists, Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul, Allan Lyburn of Brandon, Robert Desjardins of Saguenay, Quebec, and Middaugh, received $4,000 apiece.

Four teams, skipped by Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, Pete Fenson of Bemidji, Minnesota, Don Spriggs of Portage, and Glen Muirhead of Perth, Scotland, each earned $500 in losing "C" event qualifying games.

The other champion declared Monday was Kelly Scott of Kelowna, who topped Jennifer Jones of St. Vital 5-4 in the final, winning the MANITOBA LOTTERIES WOMEN'S CLASSIC at Winnipeg's Fort Rouge club.  Scott and her team of Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter, and Jacquie Armstrong, won seven straight games and a top prize of $15,400.  Jones had won six in a row before the final, earning $10,400.

Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay dropped a 7-5 decision to Jones in the semi-finals, while Heather Nedohin of Edmonton gave up an extra end steal in losing 6-5 to Scott.  McCarville picked up $6,500 and Nedohin $6,400, including $100 pay per victory in the round robin.

Losing quarter-finalists Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge, Marie Larouche of Quebec City, Cheryl Bernard of Calgary, and Amber Holland of Kronau, Saskatchewan, all received $4,200.

Four Manitoba teams advanced to the playoffs in the MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC in Portage (Sunday night), by winning qualifying matches in the "C" event of the MCT cashspiel.

Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood, Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, Dave Elias of West Kildonan, and Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul won the key games to join "A" qualifiers Robert Desjardins of Saguenay, Quebec, and Wayne Middaugh of Toronto, and "B" qualifiers Kerry Burtnyk of Assiniboine Memorial and Allan Lyburn of Brandon.

Stoughton defeated Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge 7-4, Gunnlaugson was an 8-3 winner over Pete Fenson of Bemidji, Minnesota, Elias downed Portage mainstay Don Spriggs 5-3, and Carruthers won a 4-3 squeeker over Glen Muirhead of Perth, Scotland, to reach the playoffs.

The Monday 10:00 a.m. quarter-finals will have Stoughton against Desjardins, Gunnlaugson facing Lyburn, Elias meeting Middaugh, and Burtnyk versus Carruthers.  Semi-finals will be held at 2:00 p.m., and the final at 6 p.m. (Monday) in Portage.

In the MANITOBA LOTTERIES WOMEN'S CLASSIC at Winnipeg's Fort Rouge Curling Club, home clubber Barb Spencer won her "C" event qualifying match to join Jennifer Jones of St. Vital as local teams in the quarter-finals Monday (10:00 a.m.) morning.  Others reaching the playoffs out of "C" event were Marie Larouche of Quebec City, Heather Nedohin of Edmonton, and Amber Holland of Kronau (CROW-naw) Saskatchewan.

Spencer beat Mirjam (MEER-yam) Ott of Switzerland 6-3, Larouche defeated Lisa Blixhavn (BLIX-hay-vun) of Brandon 6-4, Holland whipped Janet Harvey of Assiniboine Memorial 10-3, and Nedohin (NED-a-win) bounced Karen Porritt of Wildewood 6-4 in the last qualifying matches.

The Monday quarter-finals (also at 10:00 a.m.) will have Kelly Scott against Holland, Nedohin meeting Cheryl Bernard of Calgary, Janes facing Larouche, and Spencer versus Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay.

Monday afternoon semi-finals at Fort Rouge go at 1:30 p.m. and the final will follow at 5 o'clock.

One of the leading curlers in Westman won his first MCT title of the season in capturing the men's division of the KING SPUD CLASSIC in Carberry on Sunday (Oct.18th).

Now curling out of Hamiota, Terry McNamee guided his team of Steve Irwin, Allan Lawn, and Travis Saban to a $2,500 prize, beating Brendan Taylor of Brandon 7-4 in the final.  Taylor earned $1,750, skipping a team with Scott Ramsay, Mark and Trevor Taylor.

Alex Forrest of Deer Lodge and Don Spriggs of Portage received $1,250 apiece as losing semi-finalists in the 16-team men's division, while Rob Van Kommer of Carberry, Greg Todoruk of Dauphin, Blair Goethals of Deloraine, and Rob Fleming of Morden each went home with $750 by qualifying for the quarter-finals.

In the women's division, Kaileigh Strath of Winkler knocked off defending champion Lisa Blixhavn of Brandon 5-3 in the final.  Strath had support from Sabrina Neufeld, Karen Hodgson and Brenna Philp in earning $1,200, while Blixhavn received $800 for her runner-up finish.  Lois Fowler of Brandon and Liza Park of Deloraine received $500 apiece for reaching the semi-finals in the 10-team women's section.

In the other MCT weekend event, two members of the youth brigade in Manitoba women's curling met in the final of the SUNOVA WOMEN'S CLASSIC in Beausejour.  Alyssa Vandepoele of Ste. Anne, with Selena Kaatz throwing fourth stone, and a front end of Kristin MacCuish and Lindsay Baldock, followed up on two junior victories this season by scoring a tight 3-2 decision over Kelsey Boettcher of West St. Paul in the final.

Earlier, Kaatz made a superb double raise to the button with last rock on the 8th end to beat reigning Manitoba women's champion Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge 6-5 to qualify for the playoffs.  Vandepoele was a 5-2 winner over Tracy Konzelman of Elmwood in the semi-finals, while  Boettcher sidelined Michelle Montford of Assiniboien Memorial 6-5.

The prize money in the 12-team event in Beausejour was divided with $2,000 to Vandepoele, $1,000 to Boettcher, and $750 apiece to the teams of Konzelman and Montford.

Next up this week are two events with the largest purses on the tour, the $60,000 MANITOBA LOTTERIES WOMEN'S CLASSIC at Fort Rouge, and the men's MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC in Portage, worth $58,000.

Organizers of the SUNOVA CLASSIC in Beausejour (October 15th-18th) regret to announce the cancellation this year of the men's division due to lack of entries.

The women's division will be conducted with 12 teams using a triple knockout format, with an adjustment in the prize money.  The draw will be ready by Wednesday (Oct.14th).  For more information contact Doug May by e-mail at - d_may@mts.net or phone (204) 268-4612.

The other MCT event this coming weekend is the KING SPUD CLASSIC in Carberry, starting on Thursday (Oct.15th) at 6:30 p.m., with 16 men's teams and 10 in the women's division.

<October 12, 2009>           

A busy Thanksgiving weekend on the Manitoba Curling Tour concluded on Monday in three locales.

Jeff Stoughton's team from Charleswood, prepping for the Olympic Pre-Trials in Prince George, won the MANITOBA LOTTERIES MEN'S CLASSIC at the Brandon Curling Club.  With Kevin Park, Rob Fowler and Steve Gould, Stoughton completed an unbeaten string of six straight victories in beating David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial 5-2 in the final, earning $9,000.  Bohn's foursome received $6,000.

Losing semi-finalists Terry McNamee of Brandon and Shawn Joyce of Saskatoon earned $4,000 apiece, while quarter-finalists Brent Scales of Swan River, Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan, and Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge each went home with $2,750.

Janet Harvey's team from Assiniboine Memorial repeated as the champion of the ATKINS CURLING SUPPLIES CHARITY CLASSIC, topping Kaileigh Strath of Winkler 5-4 in an extra end final at Charleswood.  With Cherie-Ann Loder, Kristin Loder and Carey Kirby, Harvey earned $4,000, while Strath's foursome settled for $2,200.

Karen Rosser's team from Springfield, skipped by Sam Owen in Rosser's absence due to a leg injury, and Jill Thurston of Deer Lodge picked up $1,200 apiece for reaching the semi-finals.  The losing quarter-finalists were Amy Wright of Duluth, Minnesota, Kristy Jenion of Assiniboine Memorial, Lisa Blixhavn of Brandon, and Kim Link of East St. Paul, each receiving $750.

Dave Elias of West Kildonan won the weekend's third event, the NOTT AUTOCORP THANKSGIVING CHARITY OPEN at the Thistle club, nipping David Kraichy of Pembina 5-4 in the final.  Elias, with support from Bill Kuran throwing fourth stone, plus Hub Perrin and Chris Suchy, earned $2,300 plus eligibility as a winner for the MCT Championships in Brandon in December.

Kraichy received $1,200, losing semi-finalists David Hamblin of Morris and Bob Sigurdson of the Granite $750 each, while Scott Madams of Springfield and Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan earned $500 each by qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Next up on the MCT are the KING SPUD CLASSIC in Carberry and the SUNOVA CLASSIC in Beausejour, to be held next weekend (Oct.15-18th).

<October 11, 2009>

On the Manitoba Curling Tour, the playoff teams are set in the Manitoba Lotteries Men's Classic at the Brandon Curling Club.

Reid Carruthers, Brent Scales, Shawn Joyce, and David Bohn won the last four qualifying positions in the "C" event.  They will advance to tomorrow's 9 a.m. quarter-finals, Carruthers meeting Terry McNamee, Scales against Jeff Stoughton, Joyce facing Peter Nicholls, and Bohn to play Jason Gunnlaugson.

In the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Classic at Winnipeg's Thistle club, Bob Sigurdson, Dave Elias, David Kraichy, Randy Dutiaume, and David Hamblin have qualified for tomorrow's playoffs.  Scott Madams and Sean Grassie are meeting in a tiebreaker tonight for the last of six berths.

Seven teams have qualified for tomorrow's playoffs in the Atkins Curling Supplies Charity Classic at Charleswood.  Amy Wright, Kristy Jenion, Kim Link, Lisa Blixhavn, Janet Harvey, Kaileigh Strath and Karen Rosser are into the quarter-finals.  Jill Thurston is meeting Jenna Loder in a tiebreaker tonight for one remaining playoff spot.

<October 5, 2009>

Following up on the Dekalb SuperSpiel last March, the Manitoba Curling Tour resumed with the McMILLAN INSURANCE CLASSIC that concluded with Monday night (Oct.5th) finals at the Selkirk and District Curling Club.

Kerri Flett of Selkirk won the women's division and a top prize of $4,500, skipping her team (Janice Blair, Susan Baleja, and Alison Harvey) to a 5-3 victory over Janet Harvey of Fort Rouge in the final.  Harvey (with Cheri-Ann Loder, Kristin Loder, and Carey Kirby) settled for runner-up cash
of $3,000.

David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial (with Dennis Bohn, Kody Janzen, and Larry Solomon) won the men's title, also pocketing $4,500, for a final
7-1 win over Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan.  The runner-up spot was worth $3,000 to Carruthers (and Chris Galbraith, Derek Samagalski, and Shane Kilgallen).

The teams of Holly Scott, Barb Spencer, Dave Elias and Brad Haight earned $1,250 apiece for reaching the semi-finals.

The MCT resumes with three Thanksgiving weekend events starting on Friday, the Manitoba Lotteries Men's Classic at the Brandon Curling Club (first draw at 6:00 p.m.), the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open at Winnipeg's Thistle Curling Club (first draw at 6:30 p.m.), and the women's Atkins Curling Supplies Charity Classic (first draw 3:00 p.m.) at the Charleswood Curling Club.

<October 4, 2009>

The finalists are set in the McMILLIAN INSURANCE CLASSIC at the Selkirk and District Curling Club.

Janet Harvey, Kerri Flett, Reid Carruthers and David Bohn have skipped their teams into the McMillan finals, to be played at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (Oct.5th).

Harvey defeated Holly Scott 6-4, while Flett beat reigning Manitoba champion Barb Spencer 6-5 in the women's semi-finals.  Carruthers was a 3-2 winner over Dave Elias, and Bohn subdued Brad Haight 4-3 in the men's semis (all held on Sunday's 4 p.m. draw).

The semi-final losers in both divisions earned $1,250 apiece.  The cash prizes for the finalists will be $4,500 for the winners, and $3,000 to each of the runner-up teams.

The Manitoba tour continues on the Thanksgiving weekend with three events, the Manitoba Lotteries Men's Classic at the Brandon Curling Club, the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open at Winnipeg's Thistle Curling Club, and the women's Atkins Curling Supplies Charity Classic at the Charleswood Curling Club.

<September 29, 2009>

The Manitoba Curling Tour swings back into action this week with the McMillan Insurance Classic, starting on Thursday (Oct.1st) with draws at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Selkirk and District Curling Club.

Two 16-team divisions, men's and women's, are set to go with a prize purse of $10,000 and a first prize of $4,500 in each section.  The Selkirk event will continue all weekend, with finals on Monday night.

Reigning Manitoba champions Jeff Stoughton and Barb Spencer head the respective fields, but will be facing some top flight opposition. The men's winner in Selkirk last year, Peter Nicholls, will be back to defend, and Vic Peters, who captured the inaugural Dekalb SuperSpiel in Morris last March, will be trying for two straight MCT victories.

Other expected challenges could come from the teams of Jason Gunnlaugson, Randy Dutiaume, Reid Carruthers and Sean Grassie.

Spencer will be facing last season's MCT champion Chelsea Carey, plus former Manitoba champions Janet Harvey, Jill Thurston, and Karen Rosser, and 2003 provincial junior champion Jackie Komyshyn.

Selkirk products Shauna Streich and Kerri Flett will be drawing local support, and so will 2009 Manitoba Mixed champion Dave Boehmer, who hails from nearby Petersfield.

<Sept. 21, 2009>

The Manitoba Curling Tour is set to continue its 19th season, offering cash purses totalling $469,625 in 17 events.  In addition, two cashspiels to be held after the MCT Championships, will be worth $59,600 as the starting events for the 20th season in 2010-11.

The initial event for 2009-10, the DEKALB SuperSpiel, was staged last March in Morris, when the teams of Vic Peters of Fort Garry and Calgary's Crystal Webster won first prizes and qualified for this season's MCT Championships at the Wheat City Curling Club December 18th-20th in Brandon.  Tour action now resumes with the McMillan Insurance Classic in Selkirk October 1st-5th.

The tour continues with Canad Inns as a major sponsor, associate sponsors in Labatt Breweries Manitoba and Asham Curling Supplies for the MCT Championships, and a website (www.mancurltour.ca) under the guidance of Lori Pelissier.

The tour welcomes back the Courtesy Freight Northern Ontario Superspiel in Thunder Bay November 13th-16th, with continuing events in Selkirk, Thistle (two), Brandon, Charleswood, Beausejour, Carberry, Fort Rouge (two), Portage, Rossmere, Swan River, Gimli, Stonewall, Dauphin, and Morris.  The winners of the Coors Light Christmas Open at Fort Rouge, December 26th-30th, and the second annual DEKALB SuperSpiel in Morris, March 11th-15th, 2010, will qualify for the 2010-11 Manitoba Curling Tour Championships.

The largest purses on the MCT are offered on the same weekend, October 23rd-26th, in the $60,000 Manitoba Lotteries Women's Classic at Fort Rouge, and the $58,000 Meyers Norris Penny Prairie Classic for men in Portage.

The MCT Championships, won last season by the teams of Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial and Morden's Chelsea Carey, will be held for the first time in Brandon.  The men's champion, or the highest ranking eligible team in the men's division, will earn a provincial berth in the 2010 Safeway Championship in Steinbach in February.

Both defending champions have committed to playing in this season's MCT Championships.  McEwen's team  is in Oslo, Norway, to open its season this week (September 24th) in the Radisson SAS Oslo Cup.  Carey's foursome will start in the Schmirler Classic in Regina (September 25th-28th), followed by the McMillan Classic in Selkirk.

At last report the McMillan Classic still has one position to fill in the 16-team men's division (the women's field is complete), and the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic October 9th-12th for women at Charleswood has two openings.

The complete 2009-10 MCT Schedule is as follows:

Oct.1-5         McMillan Insurance Classic - Selkirk
Oct.8-12        Nott Autocorp Charity Open - Thistle
Oct.9-12        Manitoba Lotteries Men's Classic - Brandon
Oct.9-12        Atkins Curling Supplies Classic - Charleswood
Oct.15-18       Sunova Men's & Women's Classic - Beausejour
Oct.15-18       Carberry King Spud Classic - Carberry
Oct.23-26       Manitoba Lotteries Women's Classic - Fort Rouge
Oct.23-26       Meyers Norris Penny Classic - Portage
Nov.5-8         Ken Kurbis Memorial Galaxy Bonspiel -- Rossmere
Nov.6-9         Whites' Drug Store Classic - Swan River
Nov.13-16       Pharmasave Gimli Classic - Gimli
Nov.13-16       Courtesy Freight Superspiel - Thunder Bay
Nov.19-23       Interlake Pharmacy Classic - Stonewall
Dec.4-7         Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Spiel - Dauphin
Dec.10-13       Thistle Integrity Stakes - Thistle

Dec.18-20       MCT Championships - Brandon Wheat City

Dec.26-30       Coors Light Christmas Open - Fort Rouge
March 11-15/10  DEKALB SuperSpiel - Morris

The Manitoba Curling Tour will launch its 19th season with the now- traditional opening event, the McMillan Insurance Classic, at the Selkirk and District Curling Club October 1st to 5th, 2009.  The women's division of the Selkirk event has been full (16 teams) since June, and the men's field also is expected to have a complete 16-team entry.

The tour welcomes back the Courtesy Freight Northern Ontario Superspiel at Thunder Bay, November 13th-16th to make a total of 18 events, concluding with the DEKALB SuperSpiel March 11th-15th, 2010, in Morris.

The Thanksgiving weekend, October 9th-12th, is the busiest on the MCT schedule with three events, the Manitoba Lotteries Men's Cash Bonspiel at the Brandon Curling Club, plus the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open at Thistle, and the women's Atkins Curling Supplies Charity Classic at the Charleswood club in Winnipeg.

Note these title changes at the Fort Rouge club -- the former Casinos of Winnipeg Women's Classic now will be called the Manitoba Lotteries Women's Curling Classic to be held October 23rd-26th, and the annual holiday bonspiel has a new sponsor and a reduced entry fee, becoming the Coors Light Christmas Open from December 26th-30th.

The notable date changes are for the Ken Kurbis Memorial Galaxy Bonspiel at Rossmere, to be shifted a week later to November 5th-8th to avoid a conflict with the MCA Safeway Southern Berth Bonspiel at East St.
Paul.  And, this season's Manitoba Curling Tour Championships will be held two weeks earlier, December 18th-20th, at the Wheat City Curling Club in Brandon.

<June 7, 2009>

The Manitoba Curling Tour has a tentative schedule for next season, with one event (Dauphin) still to firm up its dates. Application has been made by the Courtesy Freight Classic in Thunder Bay to rejoin the tour after a three-year absence, and the Ken Kurbis Memorial Galaxy spiel at Rossmere will be held one week later to avoid conflict with the MCA Southern Berth Bonspiel at East St. Paul.

The MCT Championships will be held this season at the Wheat City Curling Club (December 18th-20th) in Brandon, and the results of two events after that (Fort Rouge and Morris) will be included in the 2010-11 schedule:

<March 29, 2009>

2nd Annual   March 18 – 22, 2010

Join us for the second annual DEKALB SuperSpiel in Morris, Manitoba.  This event is a WCT event and is included in the 2010-11 MCT season.  This event will also contribute towards CTRS points.  Entries will open on June 2, 2009.  Entries will require a $100 deposit to hold the spot with the balance due January 15, 2010.  We will accept the first 24 men’s teams and the first 16 women’s teams. (Entry will be refundable if replacement teams can be found)

DATES:   March 18 -22, 2010 (Thursday, March 18 will involve only teams in close proximity)                         

WHERE: Morris Curling Club, Morris, MB (Southern Manitoba Convention Centre)
    
TEAMS: 24 Mens (8 Qualifiers) --- 16 Ladies (6 Qualifiers)
       
PURSE: $50,000 Minimum (subject to full entry) Men $33,000  Ladies $17,000
CTRS Points Qualifier 

FORMAT: Triple Knockout
        
ENTRY:   Men’s $1000 CAD, Ladies’ $800 CAD  (Includes WCTPA Fee, MCT Fee) -- entry non-refundable (unless a replacement team is found)

TO ENTER: Cheques payable to

Morris Curling Club MCT   
C/0 Brian Recksiedler Box 171 Morris, Man. ROG IKO

HOTELS: Let us know the number of rooms needed and we will ensure the rooms are booked.

TRAVEL: Nearest airport is Winnipeg (YWG) Inform us of your flight times and we will make arrangements to pick your team up

Further Info: Lorne Hamblin (204-746-6403) (chamblin@mts.net)
Brian Recksiedler (204-746-6618) (bbrex@mts.net)

<March 23, 2009>

The teams of Vic Peters of Fort Garry and Calgary's Crystal Webster were the winners as the Manitoba Curling Tour made a unique spring launch of the 2009-2010 curling season on the MCT.

With his son Daley at fourth stone, Kyle Werenich at second, and Cory Naharnie at lead, Peters played third and won the men's division of the DEKALB SUPERSPIEL in Morris, beating Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan 5-3 in the playoff final Monday, earning a top prize of $8,000.

Webster was supported by Desiree Owen, Samantha Preston, and Stephanie Malekoff, in capturing the women's division in Morris.  Webster earned $5,250, topping Eve Delisle of Quebec City 6-4 in the final.

Dutiaume's team earned $4,500, while the losing men's semi-finalists Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour and Chris Schille of Calgary (who had Pat Simmons of Moose Jaw skipping) picked up $3,000 apiece.  Sam Good of Pembina, Jim Coleman of Deer Lodge, David Hamblin of Morris, and Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan each received $2,000 for reaching the men's quarter-finals (16 teams-8 qualifiers).

Belisle's foursome took home $3,000 as the women's runner-up, Chelsea Carey of Morden and Heather Rankin of Calgary earned $2,000 apiece, while Karen Porritt and Barb Spencer both of Fort Rouge were $1,600 winners by qualifying for the quarter-finals (12 teams-6 qualifiers).

<March 22, 2009>

The playoffs in the DEKALB SUPERSPIEL, the first event on the Manitoba Curling Tour for 2009-2010, opened last night (Sunday) with quarter-finals in both the men's and women's divisions in Morris.

Advancing to today's (Monday) 12 noon semi-finals in the men's bracket were the Winnipeg teams of Randy Dutiaume, Vic Peters, and Jason Gunnlaugson, plus Chris Schille's foursome from Calgary.  In the womens, Heather Rankin of Calgary and the reigning MCT champion Chelsea Carey from Morden won their first playoff matches.

Dutiaume beat Jim Coleman 5-3, Peters nipped Sam Good 4-3, Gunnlaugson was a 4-2 winner over David Hamblin, while Schille needed an extra end to sideline Reid Carruthers 7-6 in Sunday evening games.

Rankin rolled over Manitoba Scotties champion Barb Spencer 7-2, and Carey bounced Karen Porritt 9-3 in the women's divisin.

The losing men's teams in the first playoff round earned $2,000 apiece, while the quarter-final losers in the women's category picked up $1,600 each.

Monday's semi-final match-ups have Dutiaume meeting Schille, and Peters against Gunnlaugson in men's play, and Rankin facing Eve Belisle of Quebec and Carey meeting Crystal Webster of Calgary in the women's.  Both finals will follow at 3 o'clock at the Morris Curling Club.

<March 18, 2009>

The first event on the 2009-2010 schedule of the Manitoba Curling Tour is set for this week in Morris.  The DEKALB SuperSpiel will be the initial spring cashspiel held on the tour, raising the curtain on the MCT's 19th season, Thursday to Monday (March 19th-23rd).

A field of 28 teams, 16 in the men's division and 12 in the women's, will put a set of new curling stones to the test at the six-sheet Morris Curling Club in a triple knockout format.

The featured foursome in the men's division is the national team of China, skipped by Fengchun Wang, the fourth place finisher in the 2008 Ford Men's World Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  The Chinese team is preparing for this year's World Championships in Moncton next month.  It chalked up the only victory over Canada's Kevin Martin in round robin play in Grand Forks a year ago.

Another out-of-province invader in Morris is Chris Schille's Alberta team, bolstered by Pat Simmons of Saskatchewan for this event. Local notables are Randy Dutiaume, Vic Peters, Reid Carruthers, Dave Boehmer, David Hamblin, Randy Neufeld, David Bohn and reigning Manitoba Junior champion Sam Good.

Joining the Good team in the field are others from junior ranks skipped by Mike Johnson and Jim Coleman, all with subsidized entries.  The 2008 provincial junior championship team of Kyle Peters has been re-united for the bonspiel.

The women's division is headed by Manitoba Scotties champion Barb Spencer, MCT champion Chelsea Carey, Kristy Jenion, Janet Harvey, and Karen Porritt, plus Eve Belisle from Quebec, and the Alberta teams of Heather Rankin and Crystal Webster.

Thursday's opening draw time is at 8:00 p.m., followed by Friday evening draws at 6:00 and 9:00 p.m., five draws on Saturday, four on Sunday, plus semi-finals and the final on Monday.

<Jan 27, 2009>

Send-off receptions for the Manitoba Junior Championship teams of Kaitlyn Lawes and Sam Good were held at the Pembina and Stonewall clubs this past weekend, as they prepare to leave for the M & M Junior nationals.

The Lawes and Good foursomes will shoot for Canadian titles in Salmon Arm, B.C., from January 31st to February 8th.  With different personnel, Lawes won the Junior Women's Championship last year in Sault Ste. Marie.  The last Manitoban to win the Canadian Junior Men's Championship was David Hamblin in 2002.

The Manitoba Curling Tour was pleased to join the fund raising support for the two teams, making modest $100 donations to each to help to cover ancillary expenses for Lawes and Good.

The Lawes foursome played on the Manitoba tour this season, finishing in third place in the women's division with earnings of $9,020. In the years to come, both Lawes and Good are expected to develop into outstanding contenders for top MCT honours.

<Jan 21, 2009>

The directors of the Manitoba Curling Tour have announced that next season's 19th edition of the MCT Championships will be held December 18th-20th at the Wheat City Curling Club in Brandon.

Sponsored by Labatt Breweries, Canad Inns, and Asham Curling Supplies, the 2008-09 championships were held this month in Morris, where Mike McEwen of Assiniboine-Memorial and Chelsea Carey of Morden won the men's and women's titles.  McEwen's second straight MCT victory earned his team a berth in the Safeway provincials in Selkirk in February.

"We look forward to staging the MCT Championships for the first time in Brandon," said Garry Poole, the Wheat City club manager.  "This event has attracted most of the top competitive teams in the province, including many notables from Western Manitoba."

Allan Lawn of Hamiota won the MCT men's crown twice, in 2001 and 2003, Allan Lyburn of Brandon won in 2000, Murray Warren of Deloraine in 2002, and Graham Freeman of Virden in 2006.  Brandon's Lois Fowler won the women's division three times, in 2001-03-06, Maureen Bonar was tops in 1999, and Liza Park's Brandon foursome prevailed in 2005.

Prior to Morris, the MCT Championships were held in Selkirk, Dauphin, Ste. Anne-Steinbach, Valour Road-Wildewood, twice in Swan River, three times at Winnipeg's Granite club, and eight times in the central location of the Portage Curling Club.

"A shift in the timing of the event was required for next season," said MCT president Andy Stewart.  "We wanted to avoid curling on New Year's Day, and we can't conflict with the Safeway zone playdowns."

The winner of the tour's Shaw Fort Rouge Open, held during Christmas week, will have deferred eligibility to the 2010 MCT Championships.

<Jan 14, 2009>

MCT TEAMS QUALIFY FOR SAFEWAY PROVINCIALS
*****************************************

Fourteen teams that competed in the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships in Morris (Jan.2nd-4th), have captured zone berths in the Safeway Provincial Championship in Selkirk (Feb.18th-22nd).

Winning rural zone titles were Daley Peters of Beausejour, Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, Chris Galbraith of Rosser, Ryan Hyde of Portage, Allan Lyburn of Brandon, Kelly Skinner of Hamiota, and Murray Woodward of Rorketon.

The seven Winnipeg berths went to Scott Madams of Pembina, Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, David Bohn of Assiniboine-Memorial, Bob Sigurdson of the Granite, and Reid Carruthers, Doug Riach, and Brendan Taylor, all of West Kildonan.

By winning the MCT Men's Championship, Mike McEwen of Assiniboine-Memorial qualified for Selkirk.  Runner-up Terry McNamee of Brandon also by-passed the zone playdowns by winning the MCA Southern Berth Bonspiel in Carberry in November.

Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood, who curled in Morris, and Kerry Burtnyk of Assiniboine-Memorial, who was absent in Scotland (reaching the semi-finals of the Perth Masters event), earned their provincial berths as the Manitoba leader in Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points, and as the defending Manitoba champion respectively.

Many of the teams that curled in Morris will be back for the first event on the Manitoba tour for the 2009-10 season, the $50,000 DEKALB Super Spiel, March 19th-23rd.  This inaugural event will play on a triple knockout format, with fields of 24 men's teams (8 qualifiers) and 16 women's teams (6 qualifiers).

Click on Schedule in our index and scroll down to find the event and more information on the spiel in Morris, the first major cashspiel to be held in Manitoba in the month of March.

<Jan 5, 2009>

Mike McEwen's team from Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club became the first back-to-back winner of the MANITOBA CURLING TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS in Morris tonight (Sunday).

McEwen has won 10 straight games without a loss in the crowning event of the Manitoba tour over two seasons.  With solid support from B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, and B.J.'s brother Dennis Neufeld, McEwen defeated Terry McNamee of Brandon 7-4 in the men's division final.

The McEwen foursome earned $7,000 in prize money plus the MCT berth in the 2009 Manitoba Safeway Championship, to be held in Selkirk February 18th to 22nd.  McNamee's team, with Steve Irwin, Travis Taylor and Travis Saban, had earned its berth in Selkirk by winning the MCA Southern Berth Bonspiel in Carberry in November.  They received the MCT runner=up cash of $4,000.

Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan and David Bohn of Assiniboine Memorial picked up $2,000 apiece for reaching the semi-finals, while Doug Riach and Reid Carruthers, both of West Kildonan, each earned $1,500 as losing quarter-finalists (24 teams-6 qualifiers).

Chelsea Carey's Morden team, with Kari White, Kristen Foster, and Lindsay Titheridge, won the women's division title in Morris, worth $4,000, by virtue of a 7-1 victory over Janet Harvey of Fort Rouge in the final.  Harvey received $2,000, and Kim Link of East St. Paul and Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge earned $1,000 apiece as semi-finalists (eight teams-four qualifiers).

This was the 18th MCT Championship (it started in 1991-92), and caps off the 2008-09 tour season.  The 2009-10 MCT season will have an early start, with the Dekalb Super Spiel scheduled for Morris from March 19th to 23rd.

<Dec 31, 2008>

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.
************************************************
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.
************************************************
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.
************************************************
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

<Dec 30, 2008>

Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan made two excellent chip-outs on the final end to nail down a 5-3 victory over clubmate Sean Grassie to win the SHAW DIGITAL CHRISTMAS OPEN at Fort Rouge, the last event on the regular schedule of the Manitoba Curling Tour.

Dutiaume drew the benefit of a high performance game from his fifth player David Tonnellier, who curled at third position during the Fort Rouge spiel.  Scott McCamis and Cory Wolchuk provided front end support as Dutiaume earned a total of $2,230 from the progressive payout purse.

Grassie's team (with Andy Stewart, Matt Wozniak and A.J. Girardin) earned $1,830 as the runner-up, sufficient to secure the last men's berth in the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships this coming weekend in Morris (January 2nd-4th).  Dutiaume had clinched a berth in Morris on MCT earnings earlier.

Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan and Rich Muntain of Carberry lost in the semi-finals (worth $700 apiece), while Mark Franklin and Ken Schenkeveld, both of Fort Rouge, Kyle Peters of Pembina, and Dan Lilla of Centerville, Wisconsin, each earned $480 for reaching the quarter-finals.

Kelly Lauber of Pembina won the Consolation event and $315.

<Dec 29, 2008>

Two undefeated teams have advanced to the final of the SHAW DIGITAL CHRISTMAS OPEN at the Fort Rouge Curling Club.

Randy Dutiaume and Sean Grassie, both affiliated at West Kildonan, have won four straight games after capturing two playoff matches last night (Monday).

Dutiaume beat Dan Lilla of Centerville, Wisconsin, 6-4 in the quarter-finals, and followed with a 7-3 victory over clubmate Reid Carruthers in the semi-finals.  Grassie was a 4-2 winner over Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge, then came from behind to sideline Rich Muntain of Carberry 8-5 in the semis.

The final will be televised live on Shaw Cable Channel 9 starting at 7 o'clock tonight (Tuesday).  The winner will earn $2,230 in prize money, the runner-up $1,830.  The Consolation final will be played on the same draw, between Kelly Lauber of Pembina and Brian Baker of Fort Rouge.

By reaching the final, Grassie is assured of securing a berth in the MCT Championships in Morris this coming weekend (January 2nd-4th). Dutiaume had qualified previously for Morris on MCT money earnings.

<Dec 28, 2008>

The eight playoff teams will move into quarter-finals in the SHAW DIGITAL CHRISTMAS OPEN at 6 p.m. Monday (Dec.29th) at the Fort  Rouge Curling Club.

Six teams qualified in Sunday's action.  Rich Muntain of Carberry and Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan won their third straight games to advance out of the "A" event.  Two other West Kildonan skips, Randy Dutiaume and Sean Grassie, had qualified on Saturday.

Last season's Manitoba Junior champion Kyle Peters of Pembina, Dan Lilla of Centerville, Wisconsin, plus Ken Schenkeveld and Mark Franklin, both of the Fort Rouge home club, qualified out of the"B" event.

The quarter-final matches have Dutiaume meeting Lilla, Peters against Carruthers, Muntain versus Schenkeveld, and Franklin facing Grassie.  Semi-finals will follow at 9 p.m. tonight, setting the stage for Tuesday's 7 p.m. live televised final, on Shaw Cable Channel 9.

The Shaw Fort Rouge event is the last on the regular schedule of the Manitoba Curling Tour, and will determine the final two entries in the MCT Championships that start on Friday (January 2nd) in Morris.

<Dec 27, 2008>

The West Kildonan teams of Randy Dutiaume and Sean Grassie are the first qualifiers in the Shaw Digital Christmas Open at Fort Rouge Curling Club, the last event of the regular season on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

Dutiaume earned a playoff berth by beating Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge Curling Club 7-5, while Grassie made it with a 7-1 victory over Colin Sundell, who now curls out of Ste. Anne.

The Fort Rouge spiel is an Open event, allowing for men's and women's teams, or a combination of both genders.  Home from Ottawa for the Christmas holidays, Rhonda Varnes has skipped a mixed team from Fort
Rouge to two victories and will qualify with one more "A" event win.

Six more teams will qualify for the playoffs, which will start on Monday night (Dec.29th) with quarter-finals at 6 o'clock, and the semi-finals at 9:00 p.m.  Tuesday night's final will be televised live on Shaw Cable Channel 9 at 7:00 o'clock.

The winner of the Shaw event is eligible for the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships, January 2nd-4th in Morris.

<Dec 24, 2008>

The eight-team women's field is set for the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships January 2nd-4th at the Morris Curling Club.

Defending champion Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge heads the field, and will try for her fourth MCT women's title.  Spencer defeated her sister Darcy Robertson in last season's tour final in Portage, but the two former Kirkness sisters have re-united this season with Darcy at third. Brette Richards and Barb Enright returned at the second and lead positions.

Kim Link of East St. Paul, who won the women's division of the Interlake Pharmacy Classic this season, is the number two seed.  Kristy Jenion of Fort Rouge qualified by winning the McMillan Insurance Classic in Selkirk, and Janet Harvey of Fort Rouge with her victory in the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic at Charleswood.

Other cashspiel winners in the field are Kerri Flett of Selkirk, who won the Sunova Classic in Beausejour, and Brandon's Lisa (Roy) Blixhavn, who captured the inaugural King Spud Classic in Carberry.

Rounding out the women's cast in the double knockout event are the teams of Chelsea Carey of Morden and Patti Burtnyk, playing out of Assiniboine-Memorial.

Four women's teams will earn prize money in Morris, with the winner receiving $4,000, the runner-up $2,000, and the losing semi-finalists $1,000 apiece.

The 24-team men's lineup will be finalized after the last event on the MCT schedule, the Shaw Christmas Open at Fort Rouge.  The latest skips to confirm their entries are the Granite's Bob Sigurdson, Ryan Hyde of Portage, Brad Haight of West Kildonan, and Vic Peters of Fort Garry, who has won the men's MCT title three times.  There will be one out-of-province invader in the field, Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw.

The mens' division will divide up $18,000, with a top prize of $7,000 plus a berth in the Safeway provincials in Selkirk for the winner or highest finishing eligible team.

<Dec 17, 2008>

After a break over the Christmas holidays, 28-year-old Mike McEwen will lead his Canada Cup-bound team in defense of the MANITOBA CURLING TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP in this season's renewal January 2nd-4th in Morris.

McEwen's foursome, including B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, and Denni Neufeld, is fresh from reaching the semi-finals in the Canada Cup Qualifying Bonspiel in Edmonton this past weekend.  The team thus earned a berth on CTRS points in the Canada Cup March 18th-22nd in Yorkton.

As the defending champion (he won in Portage last season), McEwen was one of the first to confirm his entry in the 24-team men's division of the MCT Championships in Morris.

Other skips who have firmed up their entries are Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, a three-time winner on the MCT this season, and the tour's leading money winner Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood. Terry McNamee of Brandon and Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, who have won Safeway provincial berths, plus other Western Manitoba notables Allan Lyburn of Brandon, Kelly Skinner of Hamiota, and Graham Freeman of Virden have entered.

Other possible threats in Morris will be Daley Peters of Beausejour, and four teams from West Kildonan skipped by Randy Dutiaume, Brendan Taylor, Doug Riach, and Reid Carruthers.  Murray Woodward of Ste. Anne, Ian Beavis of Morden, and David Bohn of Assiniboine-Memorial also will be in the field.

Like the men's division, the women's eight-team field in Morris is not complete, but confirmed entries are in from Kim Link of East St. Paul, Kerri Flett of Selkirk, Janet Harvey and Kristy Jenion of Fort Rouge, Chelsea Carey of Morden, and Lisa Blixhavn of Brandon.

The format in Morris is double knockout with a $26,000 prize purse and a berth in the Safeway provincials in Selkirk for the men's champion or highest finishing eligible team.

One more tour event precedes the MCT Championships, the Shaw Christmas Open (Dec.26-30) at the Fort Rouge Curling Club, which offers the final qualifying berth for Morris.

Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge guided his team to a third victory on the Manitoba tour this season, by winning the THISTLE INTEGRITY STAKES at Winnipeg's Thistle Curling Club today (Sunday).

Nicholls, with Dean Dunstone at fourth and his front end of James Kirkness and Wayne Sigurdson, won five straight games at Thistle, including a 5-1 triumph over Calleen Neufeld of La Salle in the Integrity final. Nicholls had previous tour wins in the McMillan Insurance Classic at Selkirk and the Pharmasave Gimli Classic.

The Neufeld foursome, including Sabrina Neufeld, Jasmine Bracken, and Brenna Philp, had recorded earlier victories in the Integrity playoffs over Travis Bale of Springfield and Bob Sigurdson of the Granite, in trying to become the first women's team to capture an MCT open event since Maureen Bonar won at Boissevain six years ago.

Nicholls won the top prize of $2,300, Neufeld $1,400, Sigurdson and Brad Haight of West Kildonan $700 apiece for reaching the semi-finals, and Bale and Ken Ringaert of the Heather each earned $500 in qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Bryan Zachary of the Granite picked up $500 by winning the Consolation event, topping Bryce McEwen of Victoria 7-5 in that final.

<Dec 13, 2008>

The first three qualifiers have emerged in the THISTLE INTEGRITY STAKES, this weekend's event on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

Bob Sigurdson of the Granite, Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, and Travis Bale of Springfield won three straight games to advance from "A" section to Sunday's prize round at the Thistle Curling Club.  In the shootout for playoff positions, Sigurdson and Nicholls finished 1-2 to earn the byes to the semi-finals.

Sigurdson qualified with a 10-2 win over Ross Rybak of Pembina, Nicholls with a 7-2 win over Brad Haight of West Kildonan, and Bale moved into the money with an 11-6 victory over Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge.

Three more teams will qualify from Saturday evening draws.  The Sunday playoff times are 10 a.m., 1 o'clock and 4 p.m.

<Dec 7, 2008>

Doug Riach wiped out a three-point deficit in skipping his West Kildonan team to an extra end 6-5 victory over clubmate Reid Carruthers in the final of the MORRIS CURLING CLASSIC at the Morris Curling Club today (Sunday).

Riach guided his foursome of Kevin Thompson, Brent Baschuk and Greg Klassen to five straight wins in Morris, beating Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge 8-2 in the semi-finals before his team's clinching success over Carruthers in the final.

Riach's team earned $2,600 and a berth in the MCT Championships (to be played in Morris January 2nd-4th, 2009), while Carruthers had to settle for $1,700.  Losing semi-finalists Franklin and Craig White of West Kildonan received $1,000 apiece, while Kris Mazinke and Lorne Hamblin, both of Morris, each picked up $600 for reaching the quarter-finals.  Greg Todoruk of Dauphin won the Consolation prize of $500.

Action resumes on the Manitoba Curling Tour tonight (Friday, December 5th) with the start of the MORRIS CURLING CLASSIC at 6:00 p.m. at the Morris Curling Club.

Defending champion Lorne Hamblin leads a field of 18 teams aiming for a top prize of $2,800 and a berth in the MCT Championships (January 2nd-4th, 2009) at the same Morris Curling Club site.

Hamblin will open against Colin Sundell of Ste. Anne on Friday's 9:00 p.m. draw.  Other favorites in the field are Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan, Randy Neufeld of La Salle, and Ian Beavis of Morden.  Randy Baird of Bemidji, Minnesota, is the one out-of-province invader.

Six teams will qualify for Sunday's playoff round, plus the Consolation event.

Brendan Taylor's team from West Kildonan won the DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASHSPIEL at the Parkland Recreation Complex in Dauphin today, capping a three-victory day in the playoffs by beating Terry McNamee of Brandon 6-5 in an extra end final.

With support from Kyle Werenich, Taren Gesell, and Cory Naharnie, Taylor rang up earlier wins today (Monday) over Allan Lyburn of Brandon and Kelly Skinner of Hamiota en route to an $8,000 top prize. It was the first cashspiel victory of the season on the MCT for the Taylor foursome.

McNamee's team, which won the MCA Safeway Berth Bonspiel in Carberry in early November, earned a runner-up $5,000.  Skinner and Brent Scales of Swan River received $3,500 apiece as semi-finalists, and losing quarter-finalists Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan, Ken Anderson of Balmertown, Ontario, Ryan Hyde of Portage, and Lyburn each picked up $2,500 (29 teams-8 qualifiers).

The DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASHSPIEL on the Manitoba Curling Tour has advanced to the eight-team playoffs at the Parkland Recreation Complex in Dauphin.

Sunday evening's "C" event qualifiers were Randy Dutiaume and Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan, Terry McNamee of Brandon, and Brent Scales of Swan River.

They joined Allan Lyburn of Brandon and Ken Anderson of Balmertown, Ontario, who won four straight games to qualify in the "A" event, and Ryan Hyde of Portage and Hamiota's Kelly Skinner, the "B" event qualifiers.

The Monday 9 a.m. quarter-finals have Lyburn against Taylor, Skinner facing Dutiaume, Anderson versus Scales, and Hyde meeting McNamee.

Semi-finals are scheduled for 12 noon, and the final at 3 o'clock Monday.  The playoff teams will divide a $30,000 purse, with $8,000 going to the winner (runner-up $5,000, 2 x $3,500, 4 x $2,500)

This weekend's stop on the Manitoba Curling Tour, the DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASH SPIEL is under way today (Friday) with a field of 29 teams at the Parkland Recreation complex in Dauphin.

Defending champion Chris Galbraith of Rosser was an early upset victim, falling behind 4-0 in three ends and skidding to an 8-5 defeat at the hands of Jason Krupski of Whitewood, Saskatchewan.

In other results on the opening 8:30 a.m. draw, Safeway Northern Berth Bonspiel winner Richard Muntain of Carberry lost 10-5 to Dauphin's Jim Todoruk, Brett Brezden of Dauphin bounced Blaine Gogal of Flin Flon 9-3, Terry McNamee of Brandon whipped Mark Hadway of Dauphin 12-5, and Ken Lawn of Hamiota nipped Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan 8-7.

The $30,000 Dauphin cashspiel continues all weekend, offering a top prize of $8,000.

<Nov 24, 2008>

Jeff Stoughton and his Charleswood team chalked up a second victory on the Manitoba tour this season, beating Brad Haight of West Kildonan 7-6 in tonight's (Monday) final of the INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC in Stonewall.

The victory was worth $10,000 to Stoughton, and vaulted his team of Kevin Park, Rob Fowler and Steve Gould into first place in the MCT money standings.

Haight settled for runner-up cash of $6,000.  Allan Lyburn's team (with Scott Ramsay skipping in Lyburn's absence and Darcy Hayward subbing on the front end) from Brandon, was a 7-1 loser to Stoughton in the semi-finals, and Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan fell 9-3 to Haight, as the losing teams earned $3,000 apiece.  The two quarter-finalists, Dave Smith of Lorette and Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan, each picked up $2,000 (24 teams, 6 qualifiers), while Reid Carruthers of West Kildonan won the Consolation prize of $1,000.

The women's champion in Stonewall was Kim Link of East St. Paul, who piloted her team of Colleen Kilgallen, Pam Kolton, and Renee Fletcher to an 8-3 win over Kerri Flett of Selkirk in the final, earning a top prize of $5,000.  Flett received $2,500, while losing semi-finalists Barb Spencer and Janet Harvey, both of Fort Rouge, earned $1,500 apiece (16 teams, 4 qualifiers).  Due to acceptable commitments, Maureen Bonar of Brandon and Tracy Konzelman of Elmwood shared the Consolation prize of $750.

<Nov 24, 2008>

The INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC on the Manitoba Curling Tour has advanced to the semi-final playoffs in Stonewall.

The match-ups in the women's division for today's (Monday's) 4 o'clock semi-finals have Janet Harvey of Fort Rouge meeting Kim Link of East St. Paul, and Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge facing the challenge of Kerri Flett of Selkirk.

The quarter-finals in the men's division were held last night (Sunday) as Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood eliminated Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan 6-2, and Brad Haight of West Kildonan was a 6-5 winner over Dave Smith, now curling out of Lorette.

Stoughton advances to meet Allan Lyburn's team from Brandon, while Haight goes against Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan in 4 o'clock semis today.  The Lyburn and Dutiaume foursomes finished 1-2 in the A Event Shootout to determine playoff positions.

The finals in both divisions in Stonewall will be held at 7 o'clock tonight (Monday).  Top prizes are $10,000 in the men's bracket, and $5,000 to the women's champion.

<Nov 23, 2008>

The men's playoff round is under way tonight (Sunday) in the INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC on the Manitoba tour in Stonewall.

Brendan Taylor of West Kildonan is meeting Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood, and Dave Smith of Lorette is facing Brad Haight of West Kildonan.  The winners will advance to meet Brandon's Allan Lyburn and Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan in Monday semi-finals at 4:00 p.m., with the final to follow at 7:00 o'clock.

Lyburn and Dutiaume earned the playoff byes by finishing 1-2 in the "A" Event Shootout, while Haight was the third qualifier.  Taylor, Stoughton and Smith qualified out of the "B" Event.

The women's division is ready for Monday 4 o'clock semi-finals, Janet Harvey of Fort Rouge versus Kim Link of East St. Paul, and Kerri Flett of Selkirk against Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge, the final to follow at the same time as the men's, 7 p.m.

<Nov 16, 2008>

In the fourth game of the day for both teams, Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge won the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC at the Gimli Recreation Centre tonight (Sunday), beating Bob Sigurdson of Winnipeg's Granite club 5-4 in an extra end final.

Both teams played "B' Group qualifying games at 9:00 a.m., and followed up with quarter-final and semi-final victories at 12 noon and 3:00 p.m., before agreeing to play the final at 6 o'clock tonight.

It was the second cashspiel win of the MCT season for Nicholls, who won the opening McMillan Insurance Classic in Selkirk with his team of Dean Dunstone at fourth, second James Kirkness, and lead Wayne Sigurdson. The Pharmasave top prize was $5,200, while Sigurdson (with Darren Oryniak, Al Purdy, and Cory Walchuk) earned $2,800.

Morden's Ian Beavis lost 9-4 to Nicholls, and Vic Peters of Fort Garry fell 4-2 to Sigurdson.  Beavis and Peters received $2,000 apiece for reaching the semi-finals, while three-time Gimli champion Chris Galbraith of Rosser and Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan each went home with $1,000 by qualifying for the quarter-finals (22 teams - 6 qualifiers).  Kyle Einarson of Selkirk won $500 for his second victory in a Consolation event this season.

<Nov 15, 2008>

The Sunday 9 a.m. draw will produce three more playoff qualifiers in the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

Wayne Ewasko of Riverton will meet Bob Sigurdson of the Granite, Greg Romaniuk of Seattle goes against Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, and Kyle Foster of Arborg will be facing Chris Galbraith of Rosser, who won the Pharmasave three times, in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

The winners will advance to join Vic Peters of Fort Garry, Ian Beavis of Morden, and Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan in the six-team playoffs in Gimli.

In addition, the Consolation final goes at 12:00 noon, Dale Lott of Petersfield against Kyle Einarson of Selkirk.

<Nov 15, 2008>

The first three qualifiers in the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC will be determined on the 6:30 p.m. draw today (Saturday).

The lineup for "A" group qualifying matches has Ian Beavis of Morden meeting Peter Nicholls of Deer Lodge, Vic Peters of Fort Garry against Chris Galbraith of Rosser, and Bob Sigurdson of the Granite facing Randy Dutiaume of West Kildonan.

The 6:30 "A" winners will do a Team Shootout after the draw to decide Sunday playoff positions.

.

<Nov 10, 2008>

Allan Lyburn's Brandon team vaulted into third place in the MCT standings by winning the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC today in Swan River, topping Kelly Skinner of Hamiota 8-4 in today's final.

 With support from Scott Ramsay, Mark Taylor, and Cory Barkley, Lyburn opened an early 4-1 lead in the final, and coasted to a victory worth $9,000 to the Brandon foursome.  Playing out of Hamiota, Skinner's crew of Allan Lawn, Darcy Hayward, and Trevor Taylor, failed to add a second MCT triumph to its earlier win this season in the King Spud Classic in Carberry.  Runner-up money in Swan River was $7,000.

Skinner defeated Randy Bryden of Regina 3-2, while Lyburn was a 6-2 winner over Murray Woodward of Ste. Anne in the semi-finals.  Bryden and Woodward took home $5,000 apiece, while losing quarter-finalists Brent Scales of Swan River, last year's winner Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw, Craig Disher of Rolla, North Dakota, and Saskatoon's Shawn Joyce each received $3,500 (18 teams - 8 qualifiers).

All eight playoff teams have been determined in theWHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSICin Swan River, this weekend's event on the Manitoba Curling Tour.

Allan Lyburn of Brandon, Murray Woodward of Ste. Anne, Randy Bryden of Regina, and Brent Scales of the home club in Swan River were the final qualifiers out of the "C" bracket.

Earlier, defending champion Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw, Craig Disher of Rolla, North Dakota, Shawn Joyce of Saskatoon, and Kelly Skinner of Hamiota qualified out of "A" and "B" sections.

The lineup for the Monday morning 9 o'clock quarter-finals has Jordison against Lyburn, Joyce meeting Woodward, Disher facing Bryden, and Skinner versus Scales.

The prize purse is $40,000, with a $9,000 payout to the winner, $7,000 to the runner-up, $5,000 each to the losing semi-finalists, and $3,500 each to those losing in the morning quarter-finals.  The semis are scheduled for 12:30 p.m., and the final at 4 o'clock.

This weekend's MCT event in Swan River, the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC, was disrupted by the onset of winter in Manitoba, and road conditions on Thursday and Friday.  Two teams and two members of a third team failed to travel to Swan River (those of Randy Dutiaume, Bryan Derbowka, and Dave Boehmer) and had to be cancelled out.  The schedule was adjusted, and the local teams of Barry Tall and Craig Zamzow were inserted for draw purposes.

Defending champion Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw and Craig Disher of Rolla, North Dakota, are the "A" qualifiers as the the triple knockout event continues through to Monday (Nov.10th).

<Nov 3, 2008>

Rob Cosens of West St. Paul won the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL tonight (Monday), beating Darryl Friesen of St. Vital 4-3 in the final at the Rossmere Country Club.

Cosens opened a 3-0 lead after five ends, then saw Friesen charge back to tie the game 3-3 going to the final end (8th).  Cosens didn't need to use the hammer when Friesen failed to negotiate a narrow port with his last stone. 

The Cosens team, with Jim Ireland, Todd Russell, and Mike Trager, earned $3,200 and a berth in the MCT Championships (Jan.2nd-4th) in Morris for the victory. Friesen's foursome, with Ernie Funk, Jamie Wall and Curt Bergen, a semi-finalist in the 2007 Galaxy 'spiel, received $1,600 in runner-up cash.

Others in the prize money at Rossmere were losing semi-finalists Randy Neufeld of La Salle and Ryan Hyde of Portage ($800 each), Robin Nelson of St. Vital and Alex Forrest of Deer Lodge ($600 apiece), who lost in the quarter-finals, and Kyle Einarson of Petersfield, who won the Consolation event and $500 (24 teams - 6 qualifiers plus the Consolation event)

<Nov 2, 2008>

The weekend event on the Manitoba Curling Tour has advanced to a final at 7 o'clock tomorrow night (Monday) at the Rossmere Country Club.

The teams of Rob Cosens of West St. Paul and Darryl Friesen of St. Vital will meet in the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL final, shooting for a top prize of $3,200 (runner-up money $1,600).

Cosens defeated Randy Neufeld of La Salle 8-5, while Friesen idelined Ryan Hyde of Portage 5-2 in the semi-finals.  Neufeld and Hyde each earned $800, while losing quarter-finalists Alex Forrest of Deer Lodge and Robin Nelson of Charleswood received $600 apiece.  Kyle Einarson of Pembina won the Consolation event and $500.

+++++

One other local curling event concluded on Sunday.  Brian Fowler of Brandon won the men's division (and $2,800) of the LLOYD GUNNLAUGSON MEMORIAL SENIOR BONSPIEL at the Thistle Curling Club, beating Ron McMorris of Fort Rouge 6-1 in the final.  Rita VandeVyvere of Heather topped Lois Fowler (Brian's wife) of Brandon 6-5 in the women's final, earning $1,100.

<Oct 27, 2008>

Both events on the Manitoba Curling Tour produced runaway finals, as Michelle Englot of Regina and Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ontario, romped to major cashspiel victories today (Monday, Oct.27th).

Englot was a 6-0 shutout winner over Kelly Scott of Kelowna in the final of the CASINOS OF WINNIPEG WOMEN'S CLASSIC at the Fort Rouge Curling Club.  Englot's team (with Deanna Doig, Roberta Materi, and Cindy Simmons) earned $16,500, while Scott settled for $11,500, which included an extra $500 for both teams for pay-per-win money in the preliminaries.

Kaitlyn Lawes of Pembina, the 2008 Canadian Junior champion, joined Cathy King of Edmonton as losing semi-finalists, worth $6,500 apiece, including their $500 pay-per-win bonuses.

Losing quarter-finalists Anette Norberg of Sweden and Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge each earned $4,200, while Cheryl Bernard of Calgary and Jennifer Jones of St. Vital each received $4,100 (32 teams-8 qualifiers).

At the Portage Curling Club, Howard's team (with Richard Hart, Brent Laing, and Craig Savill) chalked up a three-peat, winning the MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC for a third straight year by pounding Brad Heidt of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, 9-1 in the final.  Howard's foursome earned $18,000, while Heidt pocketed $10,000.

Wayne Middaugh of Toronto and Brad Gushue of St. John's, Newfoundland, went home with $6,000 apiece as losing semi-finalists, while Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, Kerry Burtnyk of Assiniboine-Memorial, Daley Peters of Beausejour, and William Lyburn of Brandon received $4,000 apiece for reaching the quarter-finals (32 teams-8 qualifiers).

Mike McEwen of Assiniboine-Memorial, Reid Carruthers of Beausejour, Mark Bice of Sarnia, Ontario, and Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw each received $500 consolation money for losing in "C" event qualifying matches.

<Oct26, 2008>

Two events on the Manitoba Curling Tour advanced to the playoff round in action at Fort Rouge and in Portage Sunday night (Oct.26th).

In the CASINOS OF WINNIPEG WOMEN'S CLASSIC at Fort Rouge, reigning world champion Jennifer Jones of St. Vital led the way into the quarter-finals, winning four straight to qualify in the "A" event, along with Cheryl Bernard of Calgary.  Two-time world champion Anette Norberg of Sweden and Canadian Junior champion Kaitlyn Lawes of Pembina are the "B" event qualifiers.

In the "C" event, Cathy King of Edmonton, Michelle Englot of Regina, Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge, and Kelly Scott of Kelowna won the qualifying matches to advance to the Monday playoffs.

Toronto's Wayne Middaugh and Dave Boehmer of Petersfield are the unbeaten "A" event qualifiers in the MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC in Portage.  Kerry Burtnyk's Assiniboine-Memorial foursome and Brad Gushue of St. John's, Newfoundland, moved into the quarter-finals out of the "B" event.

In Sunday night's "C" event qualifying matches, 2006 and 2007 champion Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ontario, earned a shot at a three-peat, and others advancing to the playoffs were Daley Peters of Beausejour, Brad Heidt of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, and Brandon's William Lyburn.

Quarter-finals start in both locales at 10 Monday morning; the semis at Fort Rouge go at 1:30, and the final at 5 o'clock.  In Portage, the semi-finals are scheduled for 2 p.m. and the final at 6 p.m.

<Oct 19, 2008>

Two of the major events that double on the Manitoba Curling Tour and the World Curling Tour are set to start tomorrow morning (Friday, Oct. 24th) at the Fort Rouge and Portage Curling Clubs.

With a purse of $62,000 ($16,000 to the winner), the CASINOS OF WINNIPEG WOMEN'S CLASSIC opens at 9:00 A.M. at Fort Rouge in a triple knockout format.  Defending champion Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary starts defense of her title against Kim Link of East St. Paul on the first draw.

Thirteen Manitoba teams are in the Casinos' field, including 2008 world champion Jennifer Jones, who opens against Linda Stewart of Fort Rouge on Friday's 3 o'clock draw.  Others in the field of 32 teams who ruled the women's curling world in the past are Anette Norberg of Sweden, Debbie McCormick of Madison, Wisconsin, Kelly Scott of Kelowna, B.C., and Jan Betker of Regina.

After winning in 2006 and '07, Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ontario, will be gunning for a three-peat in the MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC in Portage.  Twenty Manitoba teams are in the triple knockout cast, aiming for a top prize of $18,000 from a $58,000 purse.

Three American teams are entered -- Jason Larway of Seattle will face Kerry Burtnyk on the opening 8:30 draw, while reigning U.S. champion Craig Brown of Madison, Wisconsin, meets Jeff Stoughton, and John Shuster of Duluth, Minnesota, goes against Chris Galbraith, both on the 12:30 draw.

The eight-team playoffs in both events will be held on Monday (Oct.27th); the Casinos' at 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., while the Portage playoff times are 10 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.

<Oct 19, 2008>

It was Peters against Peters in the men's final of the SUNOVA CLASSIC on the Manitoba Curling Tour in Beausejour today (Sunday, Oct.16th), and Daley Peters of the home club defeated Kyle Peters of Pembina 5-3. Daley Peters, with his team of Jason Gunnlaugson, Justin Richter, and Tylor Forrest, earned $3,500 for the victory, while reigning Manitoba Junior champion Kyle Peters received $1,750.

Bob Sigurdson of the Granite club and Travis Bale of Springfield went home with $1,000 apiece as losing semi-finalists, while Colin Sundell of St. Vital and Ross Rybak of Pembina received $750 for reaching the quarter-finals (20 teams - 6 qualifiers).

Kerri Flett's Selkirk team, with Daley's sister Liz Peters, Tamara Bauknecht, and Sarah Wazney, won the women's title and $2,200 in Beausejour, whipping Karen Rosser of Springfield 8-1 in the final. Rosser received $1,200, while losing semi-finalists Kelsey Boettcher of West St. Paul and Angela Wickman of Rossmere each earned $800 (14 teams -- four qualifiers).

In the inaugural KING SPUD CLASSIC in Carberry, Kelly Skinner and his Hamiota team, with Allan Lawn, Darcy Hayward and Trevor Taylor, won the men's division and $3,100, beating Ian Beavis of Morden 5-3 in the final Sunday night.  Beavis settled for runner-up money of $2,000.

The losing semi-finalists in the men's division were Don Spriggs of Portage and Graham Freeman of Virden who earned $1,250 apiece, while Ed Barr of Killarney, Jerry Chudley of Neepawa, plus Rob Van Kommer and Joey Witherspoon of Carberry each received $500 as quarter-finalists (16 teams -- eight qualifiers).

The women's title in Carberry went to Lisa Blixhaven (with Jamie Campbell, Lana Hunter and Tanya Enns), who won an all-Brandon club final over Maureen Bonar 7-6.  Blixhaven pocketed $1,550, while Bonar's foursome earned $1,000.

Brandon's Lois Fowler and Stacey Fordyce lost in the semi-finals, earning $625 apiece, while Linda Stewart and Jennifer Lamont of Fort Rouge, plus Betty Buurma of Carberry and Darla Hanke of Neepawa picked up $250 each as losing quarter-finalists (16 teams -- eight qualifiers).

<Oct 13, 2008>

Jeff Stoughton, Janet Harvey, and Alex Forrest skipped their teams to victory in the three events on the Manitoba Curling Tour this weekend.

Stoughton's Charleswood team (with Kevin Park, Rob Fowler, and Steve Gould) won the MANITOBA LOTTERIES CURLING CLASSIC at the Brandon Curling Club, piling up six straight wins, including an 8-7 extra end triumph over Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw in the final. Stoughton needed a tying deuce on the 8th end, then stole the winning point on the extra end to earn the top prize of $12,000.

Jordison earned $7,000 for his runner-up finish, while losing semi-finalists David Bohn of Assiniboine-Memorial and Allan Lyburn of Brandon received $4,500 apiece, and losing quarter-finalists Darrell McKee of Saskatoon, Graham Freeman of Virden, Terry McNamee of Brandon, and John Shuster of Duluth, Minnesota, each pocketed $3,000.

Harvey's foursome (with Cherie-Ann Loder, Kristin Loder, and Carey Kirby) from Fort Rouge won the ATKINS CURLING SUPPLIES WOMEN'S CLASSIC at Winnipeg's Charleswood club, topping Chelsea Carey of Morden 7-4 in the final to earn $3,500.

Carey received $2,000, Joelle Brown of Deer Lodge and Patti Burtnyk of Assiniboine-Memorial received $1,100 apiece as losing semi-finalists, while Tracy Konzelman (unaffiliated) and Kerri Flett of Selkirk each picked up $650 for reaching the quarter-finals in the 18-team event.

Alex Forrest and his junior team from Deer Lodge (with Kody Janzen, Braden Zawada, and Trevor Grenkow) needed to advance with a tiebreaker win over former provincial champion Randy Dutiaume to reach the semi-finals of the NOTT AUTOCORP THANKSGIVING CHARITY OPEN at Winnipeg's Thistle Curling Club.  Forrest followed by beating Reid Carruthers of Beausejour 5-4 and Brad Haight of West Kildonan 7-6 in the final.  Forrest received $2,300, Haight $1,400, while losing semi-finalists Carruthers and Sean Grassie of Stonewall earned $900 apiece.

<Oct 13, 2008>

Three Manitoba Curling Tour events will move into the playoffs today (Monday).

In the MANITOBA LOTTERIES CURLING CLASSIC at the Brandon Curling Club, eight qualifying teams will meet in the 9 a.m. quarter finals.  Three out-of-province teams are in the hunt as Jeff Stoughton goes against Darrell McKee of Saskatoon, David Bohn will meet Terry McNamee, Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw faces Graham Freeman, and John Shuster of Duluth, Minnesota, will challenge Allan Lyburn.  Semis are at 12 noon, with the final to follow for a top prize of $12,000.

At Winnipeg's Thistle club, Brad Haight will meet Shawn Grassie in one semi-final in the NOTT AUTOCORP THANKSGIVING CHARITY OPEN n at 12 noon.  Reid Carruthers will face the winner of a 9 a.m. tiebreaker between Randy Dutiaume and Alex Forrest in the other semi-final.

And at the Charleswood club in Winnipeg, Chelsea Carey and Joelle Brown have skipped their teams into semi-finals of the ATKINS CURLING SUPPLIES WOMEN'S CLASSIC.  Patti Burtnyk, Kerri Flett, and Janet Harvey are assured of positions in the quarter-finals.

All three events will conclude with 3 o'clock finals this afternoon.

<October 6, 2008>

Peter Nicholls and his team from Deer Lodge and Kristy Jenion's foursome from Fort Rouge are the opening MCT cashspiel winners for 2008-09, capturing top money in the McMILLAN INSURANCE CLASSIC in Selkirk tonight (Monday, Oct.6th).

Nicholls (with Dean Dunstone at fourth stone, James Kirkness at second, and Wayne Sigurdson at lead), defeated Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood for the second time in the event, nailing his victory in the men's division final 3-2.  Jenion (supported by Karen Klein at third, Theresa Cannon at second and Jillian Sandison at lead) beat the 2008 Canadian Junior champion Kaitlyn Lawes of Pembina 6-4 in the women's final.

In the semi-finals (on Sunday), Nicholls defeated Reid Carruthers of Beausejour 8-1, Stoughton bounced Mike McEwen of Assiniboine-Memorial 7-6, Jenion was a 6-4 winner over Joelle Brown of Deer Lodge, and Lawes doubled up on Kim Link of East St. Paul 8-4.

The winning teams received $3,520 apiece, while the losing finalists each earned $2,520.  The losing semi-finalists picked up $1,020 apiece.

<October 6, 2008>

The finalists have been determined in the McMILLAN INSURANCE  CLASSIC in Selkirk, as a result of Sunday's play.

In the men's division, Jeff Stoughton's new foursome (with Kevin Park at third, and his returning front end of Rob Fowler and Steve Gould) will try to turn the tables on Peter Nicholls of West Kildonan, who defeated Stoughton in an "A" qualifying match on Saturday.

In the women's division, Kristy Jenion, also with a new team  (Karen Klein, Theresa Cannon, and Jillian Sandison), will face Canadian Junior champion Kaitlyn Lawes in the final.  Both finals are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

In the Sunday prize round semi-finals, Stoughton topped Mike  McEwen 7-6, Nicholls whipped Reid Carruthers 8-1, Jenion was a 6-4 winner over Joelle Brown, and Lawes doubled up on Kim Link 8-4.

The first prize in both divisions in Selkirk is $3,520, while the runner-up teams each will receive $2,520.  Losing semi-finalists  earned $1,020 apiece.

<October 1, 2008>

An impressive field will gather in Selkirk this week for the opening event on the Manitoba Curling Tour for 2008-09, the McMILLAN INSURANCE CLASSIC, with maximum fields of 16 men's and 16 women's teams.

The $16,000 cashspiel starts with draws at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Thursday (October 2nd) at the Selkirk and District Curling Club, continuing Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday, and concluding with finals at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

Former Manitoba Safeway championship skips Jeff Stoughton, Vic Peters, and Randy Dutiaume head the men's division, along with reigning MCT champion Mike McEwen, Manitoba Mixed champion Sean Grassie, and recent provincial finalists David Bohn, Peter Nicholls, and Reid Carruthers.

2008 Canadian Junior champion Kaitlyn Lawes, three-time Manitoba Junior champion Calleen Neufeld, two-time provincial Junior champion Kristy Jenion, and defending McMillan Insurance champion Kaileigh Strath are among the notables in the women's division.

OTHER MCT NOTES -- Three MCT events will be featured on the Thanksgiving weekend October 10th-13th, the Manitoba Lotteries Stakes at the Brandon Curling Club, the Atkins Curling Supplies Women's Classic at Charleswood, and the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open (Oct.9th-13th) at Winnipeg's Thistle club.

+++
Applications to enter The Sunova Classic in Beausejour (October 16th-19th) are still being accepted in the men's division (the women's division is complete with 16 teams).  The entry list also is complete (16 men's, 16 women's teams) for the first edition of the King Spud Classic (October 16th-19th) in Carberry.

<September 18, 2008>

The Manitoba Curling Tour is set to move into its 18th season, offering cash purses totalling $451,760 in 19 events.  The schedule begins in Selkirk with the McMillan Insurance Classic in men's and women's divisions.  It has a full entry of 16 teams in each division, starting on Thursday night October 2nd, running to the finals on October 6th.

The tour continues with Canad Inns as a major sponsor, associate sponsors in Labatt Breweries Manitoba and Asham Curling Supplies for the MCT Championships, and a website (www.mancurltour.ca) under the guidance of Lori Pelissier.

Four events have new title sponsors this season, the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open October 9th-13th at the Thistle Curling Club, the Atkins Curling Supplies Women's Classic October 10th-13th at Charleswood, the Beausejour Sunova Classic October 16th-19th, and the Shaw Christmas Open December 26th-30th at the Fort Rouge Curling Club.  The tour also has welcomed back to the lineup a cashspiel at the Brandon Curling Club, the Manitoba Lotteries Stakes, to be held October 10-13th.

For the first time, the tour will have an event in Carberry.  The Carberry King Spud Classic October 16th-19th is aiming for 16 teams in each of men's and women's divisions, with modest entry fees of $600 and $300.

The largest purse on the MCT now is offered by the Casinos of Winnipeg Women's Classic October 24th-27th at the Fort Rouge Curling Club. An increase of $12,000 (including payouts of $100 per win in the preliminary round) will produce a total purse of $62,000.

The MCT Championships will be held January 2nd-4th, 2009, at the Morris Curling Club with a 24-team men's and 8-team women's divisions. Morris also will play host to the Morris Curling Classic December 5th-7th, and a new event is planned for the same club March 20th-23rd, to be known as the '09-10 MCT Launch Bonspiel.  Once again the men's champion or the highest ranking eligible team in the men's MCT Championship will earn a provincial berth in the 2009 Safeway Championship.

<Aug 15, 2008>

The organizers of the CASINOS OF WINNIPEG WOMEN'S CLASSIC at the Fort Rouge Curling Club (October 24th-27th) have announced an increase in the event's prize money for the coming season.

The total purse has been boosted from $50,000 to $62,000, with a playoff payout of $16,000 - $11,000 - 2 x $6,000 - and 4 x $3,700 (eight qualifiers).  In addition, $100 per win will be paid out for each of the 82 games leading up to the prize round.

The entry fee will remain at $1,000 for this premier women's event on the Manitoba Curling Tour, and it also continues to be a fixture on the Asham World Curling Tour.  It was won in 2007 by Shannon Kleibrink's team from Calgary.

<Aug 13, 2008>

As indicated on July 16th, another women's event now has been confirmed for the Manitoba Curling Tour this season.  The ATKINS CURLING SUPPLIES WOMEN'S CLASSIC will be held on the Thanksgiving weekend at the Charleswood Curling Club, October 10th-13th.

It replaces a 10-team event that was held on the same weekend at Charleswood last season.

Tamara Bauknecht is the chair and contact (phone 775-6998 or by e-mail - tbauknecht@mts.net), and applications now are open for interested teams.  The entry fee is $500, the target is for 18 teams playing in a three-group round robin with six playoff qualifiers, a $9,000 total purse with a $3,500 first prize, and eligibility for Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points.

The Manitoba tour is set to go with 19 events for 2008-09, starting with the McMillan Insurance Curling Classic in Selkirk October 2nd-6th.  New sponsors are in place in Beausejour for the Sunova Classic, at Thistle for the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open, and at Fort Rouge for the Shaw Christmas Open.  In addition, Brandon is back on the tour with the Manitoba Lotteries Stakes, and a new event will be held in Carberry, the King Spud Classic. 

Morris will be site of the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships, January 2nd-4th, 2009, and also will play host to two other cashspiels on the tour, December 4th-7th and March 20th-23rd, when the MCT will experiment with the '09-10 MCT Launch Bonspiel.

<July 16, 2008>

Another women's event on the Manitoba Curling Tour is in the planning stages for the upcoming season.

The Charleswood Women's Classic is projected for the Thanksgiving weekend, October 10th-13th, 2008 (presently an open weekend on the women's MCT schedule), at the Charleswood Curling Club, where a 10-team event (the Valour Road Women's Spiel) was held on the same weekend last year.

The entry fee will be $500.  With a minimum of 12 teams, the format would be a two-group round robin with four qualifiers, the total purse $6,000, and would be eligible for Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points.  The first draw is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday, October 10th, concluding with playoffs on Monday, October 13th.

For more information, contact Tamara Bauknecht, phone 775-6998, or tbauknecht@mts.net -- by e-mail.

<July 8, 2008>

All cashspiels on the Manitoba Curling Tour now are accepting applications to enter the events on the 2008-09 schedule.

The tour is in the process of updating the pertinent information on all events for this website, including contacts, phone numbers and e-mail addresses, entry fee amounts and purse details.

We draw your attention to new events this year -- the Manitoba Lotteries Cash Spiel in Brandon, the Nott Autocorp Thanksgiving Charity Open at Thistle, the Carberry King Spud Classic, plus all the mainstays that form the backbone of our tour.  Also note the new sponsorship and event title in Beausejour, now known as the Sunova Classic.

The MCT Championships for the upcoming season will be held at the Morris Curling Club, January 2-4th, 2009.

<June 6, 2008>

Another event has been added to the 2008-09 schedule of the Manitoba Curling Tour, bringing the total number of cash spiels to 18, including the MCT Championships in Morris. The Nott Autocorp Charity Open will replace the former Asham 8-Ender Open at the Thistle Curling Club, and will be held October 9th - 13th, 2008.

It will be a men's event, 24-team maximum, with an entry fee of $479.00 and a total purse of $13,500. It is intended to be a four-group five game guarantee round robin with 8 qualifiers.

The contact and cashspiel chair is Barry Swain, phone (204)282-0110 or email barry@nottautocorp.com.

<May 26, 2008>

The Manitoba Curling Tour 2008-09 schedule has been finalized.  It will consist of 16 events, plus the MCT Championships, January 2-4th, 2009, at the Morris Curling Club.

The six-sheet Morris club has conducted a regular event (formerly the Enns Brothers Classic) on the tour since its inception.  In addition to the MCT Championships, it will continue this coming season with the Morris Curling Classic December 5-7th, and will hold a new event, the '09-10 MCT Launch Bonspiel from March 20-23rd, 2009.

An event in Brandon will return to the tour, the $35,000 Manitoba Lotteries Cash Spiel, October 10-13th, at the Brandon Curling Club, being organized by Scott Ramsay.  Another new cashspiel on the tour is the Carberry King Spud Classic for men and women with $9,600 and $4,800 purses, October 16-19th, under the guidance of Kelly Marnoch and Betty Buurma.

The East St. Paul Curling Club, the site of the Scotties Berth Bonspiel for women, November 14-17th, will not be holding its annual cashspiel this coming season.

The largest cash events on the tour will continue to be the Meyers Norris Penny Prairie Classic for men in Portage, and the women's Casinos of Winnipeg Classic at the Fort Rouge Curling Club.

The schedule follows:

Oct.3-6     Selkirk - McMillan Insurance Classic        (men-women)
Oct.10-13   Brandon - Manitoba Lotteries Cash Spiel     (men)
Oct.16-19   Beausejour - SI Credit Union Classic        (men-women)
Oct.16-19   Carberry - King Spud Classic                (men-women)
Oct.24-26   Hamiota - Hamiota Men's Cash Spiel          (men)
Oct.24-27   Fort Rouge - Casinos of Winnipeg Classic    (women)
Oct.24-27   Portage - Meyers Norris Penny Prairie Classic   (men)
Oct.30-Nov.3  Rossmere - Kurbis Memorial Galaxy Bonspiel    (open)
Nov.7-10    Swan River - Whites' Drug Store Classic      (men)
Nov.14-17   Gimli - Pharmasave Gimli Classic            (men)
Nov.20-24  Stonewall -- Interlake Pharmacy Classic     (men-women)
Nov.28-Dec.1  Dauphin - Clinic Pharmacy Cash Spiel      (men)
Dec.5-7     Morris - Morris Curling Classic             (men)
Dec.10-14   Thistle - Thistle Integrity Stakes          (open)
Dec.26-30   Fort Rouge - Fort Rouge Christmas Spiel     (open)

Jan.2-4/09  Morris - MCT Championships                  (men-women)

Mar.20-23/09  Morris - '09-10 MCT Launch Bonspiel       (men-women)

<Jan 6, 2008>

The champions of the Manitoba Curling Tour for this season are the MIKE McEWEN team from Assiniboine-Memorial and BARB SPENCER'S Fort Rouge foursome.

McEwen went undefeated with five straight wins in Portage, capturing the MCT men's division title in a field of 24 teams.  With support from B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, and Denni Neufeld, he defeated Ryan Fry of Jeff Stoughton's Charleswood team 4-2 in the final.

The McEwen unit earned $7,000 in prize money plus the MCT berth in the Manitoba Safeway Championship, to be held at the Brandon Keystone Centre, February 13th to 17th, 2008.  Jeff Stoughton and Rob Fowler could not play in Portage, so Fry and Steve Gould picked up Chris Schille (who formerly played for Brad Gushue in Newfoundland) and played as a 3-man team all weekend.  They earned runner-up cash of $4,000.

Terry McNamee of Brandon and Reid Carruthers of Beausejour received $2,000 apiece for reaching the semi-finals, while Don Spriggs of Portage and James Kirkness of Deer Lodge each earned $1,500 as losing quarter-finalists (24 teams-- 6 qualifiers).

Spencer skipped her team of Kristen Williamson, Brette Richards, and Barb Enright to a $4,000 cheque for a final 11-4 victory over her sister Darcy Robertson of Fort Rouge, who earned $2,000 as the runner-up team in the women's division.  Holly Scott of the Granite and Maureen Bonar of Beausejour received $1,000 as semi-finalists (8 teams-- 4 qualifiers).

This was the 17th MCT Championship (it started in 1991-92), and caps off the 2007-08 tour season.  McEwen's tour title is his first, and it is a third in the women's division for Spencer, who won previously in 2001-02 and in 2003-04.

(Final MCT Standings will be updated and released on Jan.8th, 2008)

<Dec 31, 2007>

The 24-team men's field for the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships
in Portage this coming weekend (Jan. 4th-6th, 2008) has been finalized.

Leading the luminaries who will compete for a top prize of $7,000 and the MCT berth in the 2008 Safeway provincials is the tour's money leader, Vic Peters of Winnipeg's Granite club, and his foursome becomes the number one seed.

Reigning Manitoba men's champion Jeff Stoughton will not play, but his team will be there with Ryan Fry doing the skipping.  Kerry Burtnyk is another absentee, away in Scotland curling in the Perth Masters event this week.

Defending MCT champion Don Spriggs of Portage is a natural local favorite, and will open the double knockout against second seeded Allan Lyburn, the winner of the Brandon's Men's Berth Bonspiel this month.

Other notables in the field are Reid Carruthers of Beausejour, who has impressed on the World Curling Tour, plus two-time winners on the MCT this season Chris Galbraith of Rosser and Lorne Hamblin of Morris.  Dave Boehmer of East St. Paul, Randy Dutiaume and David Bohn of Thistle, and Canada Cup qualifier Mike McEwen also should be contenders.

The one out-province invader is Bryan Derbowka of Yorkton, who is a regular performer on the Manitoba tour, and will be warming up for the Saskatchewan zone playdowns the following weekend.

The men's champion in Portage, or the highest finishing eligible team, will represent the tour in the Safeway provincials February 13th-17th at Brandon's Keystone Centre.

The MCT Championships begin with draws in the men's division at 12:00 p.m. and 3 o'clock on Friday, while the eight-team women's division begins with the first round at 6:15 p.m.

The pairings and the first two draws:

Friday 12:00 p.m. --

Allan Lyburn, Brandon - Don Spriggs, Portage
Daley Peters, Petersfield - James Kirkness, Thistle
Randy Dutiaume, Thistle - Sean Grassie, Stonewall
Reid Carruthers, Beausejour - Michael Martin, Deer Lodge
Terry McNamee, Brandon - Rob Atkins, East St. Paul
Chris Galbraith, Rosser - Murray Woodward, Ste. Anne

Friday 3:00 p.m. --

Ryan Fry, Charleswood - Scott Madams, Granite
Lorne Hamblin, Morris - Brendan Taylor, Grain Exchange
Dave Boehmer, East St. Paul - Rich Muntain, Charleswood
Bryan Derbowka, Yorkton - Bob Sigurdson, Granite
David Bohn, Thistle - Mike McEwen, Assiniboine-Memorial
Doug Riach, Thistle - Vic Peters, Granite

<Dec 30, 2007>

Two of the top three money winners in the women's division of the Manitoba Curling Tour will head an eight-team field at the Portage Curling Club (Jan. 4th-6th, 2008) next weekend in the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships.

Joelle Brown of Rossmere and Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge earned $10,775 and $10,025 respectively in tour events this season, and they will be the top seeds in the double knockout event. Only Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary ($15,000) ranked higher in the standings.

The top prize is $4,000, while the runner-up earns $2,000, and the losing semi-finalists $1,000 apiece.

The skips in the balance of the women's field are Maureen Bonar of Beausejour, Holly Scott of the Granite, Tracey Lavery, Janet Harvey, and Darcy Robertson all of Fort Rouge, and Chantal Lagasse of Charleswood.

Reigning Manitoba Scotties champion Jennifer Jones of St. Vital is unable to compete due to commitments in Switzerland.

The first round draw for the women's division:

Friday, Jan.4th/08, 6:15 p.m. --

Joelle Brown, Rossmere -- Chantal Lagasse, Charleswood
Holly Scott, Granite -- Tracey Lavery, Fort Rouge
Maureen Bonar, Beausejour -- Darcy Robertson, Fort Rouge
Janet Harvey, Fort Rouge -- Barb Spencer, Fort Rouge

<Dec 30, 2007>

Mike Mahon (man) of Deer Lodge (with support from Ian Mahon, Blair Smith, and Kevin Meadows) won the LABATT FORT ROUGE CHRISTMAS SPIEL tonight (Sunday), the last event on the tour's regular season schedule.

Mahon was a 6-4 winner over Lorne Hamblin's family team from Morris in the final.  Kevin Hamblin, the team's fourth, also handled skipping duties in the absence of his father for the semi-final and final.

Mahon earned $2,200 and is eligible for the MCT Championships in Portage next weekend.  The Hamblin team received $1,400, losing semi-finalists Randy Dutiaume and Lionel Chartrand, both of Thistle, $900 apiece, while Ryan Hyde of Portage and Sean Grassie of Stonewall earned $700 each for reaching the quarter-finals (21 teams--6 qualifiers). Doug Harrison of the Granite won the Consolation event ($500), topping Jay DeFoort ($400) of Fort Rouge 7-4 in the final.

<Dec 22, 2007>

Vic Peters, the leading men's division money winner to date on the Manitoba tour, has confirmed his entry in the MCT Championships, January 4th-6th, 2008, at the Portage Curling Club.

One of the opponents Peters may have to face in the 24-team field is his son Daley, who will skip his Safeway zone-winning Petersfield team in the Portage event.  In addition to the top prize of $7,000, Vic Peters and most other entrants in the men's division will be seeking the MCT berth in the Safeway provincials, which goes to the highest finishing eligible team.

A pair of two-event winners on the tour this season, Chris Galbraith of Rosser and Lorne Hamblin of Morris, also are confirmed for Portage,  The women's division will have Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge and Maureen Bonar of Beausejour heading an 8-team field with a top prize of $4,000.

<Dec 9, 2007>

David Bohn of Winnipeg's Thistle club (with support from brother Dennis Bohn, Robin Nelson and Chad Barkman) won the INTEGRITY STAKES at his home Thistle Curling Club tonight (Sunday).

Bohn came from behind in the final, scoring a tying two points on the 10th end and a winning deuce on the 11th, to beat Bob Sigurdson of the Granite 8-6.  The victory was worth $1,800 to the Bohn team, while Sigurdson earned $1,000 for his runner-up finish.

Doug Riach of Thistle and Rich Muntain of The Pas received $700 apiece for reaching the semi-finals, and Andrew Wickman of Thistle and Peter Nicholls of West Kildonan picked up $400 each as losing quarter-finalists (18 teams--6 qualifiers).

Corey Chambers of St. Vital won the the Consolation event and $400.

<Dec 3, 2007>

Chris Galbraith of Winnipeg's Thistle club (with Adam Norget, Derek Samagalski, and Dan Cox) won the DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASH SPIEL and a top prize of $8,000, beating Reid Carruthers of Beausejour 9-5 in the final (Monday, Dec.3rd).

Galbraith also won the Pharmasave Gimli Classic earlier on the Manitoba tour this season.  Carruthers will take home $5,000, while losing semi-finalists Brendan Taylor of Thistle and Jason Krupski of Whitewood, Saskatchewan, earned $3,500 apiece.  Losing quarter-finalists Murray Woodward of Ste, Anne, Craig Disher of Langdon, North Dakota, Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, and Glen Despins of Regina each received $2,500 (30 teams--8 qualifiers).

The other MCT event, the MORRIS CURLING CLASSIC, concluded on Sunday night (Dec.2nd), when Lorne Hamblin's team (with Kevin Hamblin at fourth, Doug Hamblin at third, and David Hamblin at second) defeated Kris Mazinke in an all-Morris final 9-4.

The Hamblins earned $2,800, Mazinke $1,800, while Brad Wainikka of Morden and Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge, who lost in the semi-finals, picked up $850 apiece (15 teams--4 qualifiers).  Troy Hamilton of Fort Rouge earned $500 by winning the Consolation event.

<Dec 2, 2007>

Lorne Hamblin's family team won a home town final over clubmate Kris Mazinke in the MORRIS CURLING CLASSIC, rolling to a 9-4 win.  It was the second tour victory of the season for Hamblin, who skips and throws lead stones, while sons David, Doug, and Kevin play second, third, and fourth. The team won the McMillan Insurance Classic in Selkirk to start the season.

Hamblin's foursome won first place money of $2,800, while Mazinke picked up $1,800.  Losing semi-finalists Brad Wainikka of Morden and Mark Franklin of Fort Rouge received $850 apiece, while Troy Hamilton of Fort Rouge picked up $500 by winning the Consolation event (15 teams--four qualifiers).

The DAUPHIN CLINIC PHARMACY CASH SPIEL is ready for Monday playoffs. Craig Disher of Langdon, North Dakota, Murray Woodward of Ste.Anne (skipping the former Mark Lukowich team), Chris Galbraith of Thistle, and Jason Krupski of Whitewood, Saskatchewan, won the "C" event qualifying matches last night (Sunday, Dec.2nd).

The quarter-final lineup for 9 a.m. Monday (Dec.3rd) has Woodward against Brendan Taylor of Thistle, Disher versus Reid Carruthers of Beausejour, Krupski meeting Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, and Galbraith facing Glen Despins of Regina.  Semi-finals will follow at 12:00 p.m., and the final at 3 p.m. (times are CST).

The winner in Dauphin will earn $8,000, the runner-up $5,000, the losing semi-finalists $3,500 apiece, and the losing quarter-finalists each will receive $2,500.

<Nov. 26, 2007> 

Kerry Burtnyk of Winnipeg's Assiniboine Memorial club won the INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC for a second straight year, beating Vic Peters of Fort Garry 11-9 in an extra end final in Stonewall last night (Monday, Nov.26th).

With his team of Dan Kammerlock, Rich Daneault, and Garth Smith, Burtnyk earned the first place prize of $10,000.  Peters had to settle for $6,000, but that amount boosted the Fort Garry veteran to the top of the MCT money standings.

Peter Nicholls of West Kildonan and Reid Carruthers of Beausejour lost in the semi-finals and received $3,000 apiece, while Brendan Taylor of Thistle and Scott Madams of the Granite earned $2,000 each for reaching the quarter-finals (24 teams--6 qualifiers).  Vic's son Daley Peters of Petersfield picked up $1,000 by winning the Consolation event, beating Bob Sigurdson of the Granite 9-4 in that final.

Joelle Brown of Rossmere (with Krista Chapman, Ainsley Champagne, and Kristie Moroz) denied a repeat victory for Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge in the women's division in Stonewall, winning the top prize of $5,000 by beating Spencer 11-7 in the final.

Spencer earned $2,500, while losing semi-finalists Holly Scott of the Granite and Kim Link of East St. Paul received $1,500 each (16 teams--four qualifiers).  Linda Stewart of Bowsman won the Consolation event and $750, beating Connie Shepell of Fort Garry 12-10 in the final.

<Nov 25, 2007>

Peter Nicholls of West Kildonan and Reid Carruthers of Beausejour advanced to the semi-finals of the INTERLAKE PHARMACY CLASSIC in Stonewall last night (Sunday).  Nicholls will meet Kerry Burtnyk of Assiniboine Memorial, while Carruthers will go against Vic Peters of Fort Garry at 4 p.m. today (Monday).

Nicholls beat Brendan Taylor of Thistle 8-2, while Carruthers topped Scott Madams of the Granite 6-4 in Sunday night's quarter-finals. The semi-finalists are set in the women's division, also to be held at 4 o'clock (Monday) in Stonewall.  Joelle Brown of Rossmere will meet Holly Scott of the Granite, and Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge will be facing Kim Link of East St. Paul.  Finals in both divisions are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (CST).

The men's champion will earn $10,000, the runner-up $6,000, the losing semi-finalists $3,000 each, while Taylor and Madamssreceived $2,000 apiece.  The women's champion will earn $5,000, the runner-up $2,500, and the losing semi-finalists will take home $1,500 apiece.

<Nov 19, 2007>

Chris Galbraith of Winnipeg's Thistle club won a clash of former junior curling champions in the final of the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC at the Gimli Rec Centre tonight (Monday).

With support from Adam Norget, Derek Samagalski, and Dan Cox, Galbraith scored a 10-7 victory over Daley Peters of Petersfield in the final, earning a top prize of $5,200.  Peters settled for $2,800.

Galbraith won the Manitoba and Canadian junior titles in 1995, while Peters won back-to-back Manitoba junior crowns in 2004 and 2005.

Peter Prokopowich of Dauphin and Jared Roland of Minot, North Dakota, lost in the semi-finals and received $2,000 apiece, while losing quarter-finalists Vic Peters of Fort Garry and Scott Madams of the Granite club earned $1,000 each.  Andrew Wickman of Thistle won the Consolation event and $500 (19 teams--6 qualifiers).

<Nov 18, 2007>

Chris Galbraith of Winnipeg's Thistle club will meet Daley Peters of Petersfield in the final of the PHARMASAVE GIMLI CLASSIC on Monday night (Nov.19th) at 7 o'clock (CST).

Galbraith defeated Peter Prokopowich of Dauphin 7-5, while Peters was a 9-3 winner over Jared Roland of Minot, North Dakota, in Sunday's semi-finals at the Gimli Rec Centre.

The finalists will play for a top prize of $5,200, while the runner-up receives $2,800.  Prokopowich and Roland earned $2,000 each, while the losing quarter-finalists, Vic Peters of Fort Garry and Scott Madams of the Granite club, picked up $1,000 apiece.

Andrew Wickman of Thistle won the Consolation event and $500, beating Wayne Ewasko of Riverton 6-5 in the final.

<Nov 15, 2007>

The tour schedule has passed the midway mark in the season, but six events remain, in Gimli, Stonewall, Dauphin, Morris, and at Thistle and Fort Rouge in Winnipeg, plus the MCT Championships in Portage January 4-6th, 2008.

The Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Cash Spiel (Nov.30-Dec.3rd), with a $30,000 purse, still had a few openings at last report.  Check under our Events listing for details and contact Ray Baker.

A block of rooms is being held at the Canad Inns in Portage for the MCT Championships.  Teams already eligible (Hamblin, Lyburn, McNamee, Fowler, Atkins, Jordison, Strath, Spencer, Bonar, and Brown) can confirm their reservations now -- call (204) 857-9745

<Nov 12, 2007>

For the fourth straight year, a team from Saskatchewan has won the WHITES' DRUG STORE CLASSIC in Swan River.  Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw (with Scott Bitz, Derek Owens, and Dean Hicke) defeated Darrell McKee of Saskatoon 7-5 in the final (Monday), earning a top prize of $10,000.

Jordison, a runner-up to Glenn Howard earlier this season in the Meyers Norris Penny Prairie Classic in Portage, followed the previous winning efforts (2006-05-04) of Bruce Korte, Gerald Shymko, and Brad Heidt in Swan River.

McKee earned $8,000 for his second place finish, while Allan Lyburn of Brandon (who lost a 7-6 extra end decision in the semis to McKee) and Shawn Joyce of Saskatoon received $5,000.  The losing quarter-finalists were David Bohn of Thistle, Vic Peters of Fort Garry, Dan Petryk of Calgary, and Bryan Derbowka of Yorkton, all earning $4,000 (26 teams--8 qualifiers).

On Sunday, Joelle Brown of Rossmere (with Krista Chapman, Ainsley Champagne, and Kristie Moroz) won the EAST ST. PAUL WOMEN'S CASH SPIEL, beating Tracey Lavery of Fort Rouge 9-5 in the final.

Brown earned $3,500, Lavery $2,000; losing semi-finalists Karen Porritt and Barb Spencer, both of Fort Rouge, picked up $1,000 apiece, while Maureen Bonar of Beausejour and Kim Link of East St. Paul each received $500 for reaching the quarter-finals (21 teams--6 qualifiers).

<Nov 5, 2007>

Rob Atkins filled a pair of vacancies on his East St. Paul team this weekend with Bill Kuran and Dave Boehmer at third and fourth stone, and proceeded to win the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL at Winnipeg's Rossmere Country Club.  With Curtis Atkins at lead, the foursome defeated James Kirkness of Thistle 5-4 in the final last night (Monday).

The victory was worth $3,200 to the Atkins team, while Kirkness earned $1,600 as the runner-up.  Randy Neufeld of La Salle, who won the Galaxy in 2005 and lost to Vic Peters in last year's final, continued to finish in the money at Rossmere.  Neufeld lost 9-4 to Kirkness in the semi-finals, while Darryl Friesen of St. Vital bowed out 7-0 to the Atkins team.  Neufeld and Friesen received $750 apiece.

The losing quarter-finalists were Corey Chambers of St. Vital, Wayne Ewasko of Riverton, Michael Martin of Deer Lodge, and Kyle Peters of Pembina, who received $450 each (27 teams -- 8 qualifiers).

<Nov 5, 2007>

The semi-finalists were determined last night (Sunday) in the KEN KURBIS MEMORIAL GALAXY BONSPIEL at Rossmere Country Club in Winnipeg.

Randy Neufeld of La Salle beat Kyle Peters of Pembina 8-7 in the quarter-finals.  His team will meet James Kirkness of Thistle in the semis; Kirkness knocked out Michael Martin of Deer Lodge 12-6.

In the other quarter-finals, Darryl Friesen of St. Vital bounced Wayne Ewasko of Riverton 8-6, while Rob Atkins of East St. Paul pounded Corey Chambers of St. Vital 8-1.  Short two players off his regular team, Atkins recruited Dave Boehmer to throw fourth stone and Bill Kuran to play third this weekend; Atkins is skipping and throwing second.

The semi-finals are scheduled for 6 p.m. at Rossmere tonight (Monday), with the final to follow at 9 p.m.

<Oct . 29, 2007>

he East St. Paul Curling Club has announced the cancellation of the Men's Division of the EAST ST. PAUL CASH SPIEL, scheduled for the period November 6th-12th, 2007.

A major reason for the decision was the conflict in timing this year with the MCA Southern Berth Bonspiel in Neepawa.  The Manitoba Curling Association shifted the berth bonspiel from its previous dates of the first weekend in November.

Not affected by the cancellation is the Women's Division of the EAST ST. PAUL CASH SPIEL, which will continue as scheduled, and is expected to be expanded.

For more information, contact Carl German 224-5282 or Kim Link at 668-1118.

<Oct. 29, 2007>

World champion Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ontario (with Richard Hart, Brent Laing, and Craig Savill) coasted to victory in the MEYERS NORRIS PENNY PRAIRIE CLASSIC in Portage la Prairie (Monday, Oct.29th).

Howard recorded seven straight wins at the Portage Curling Club, including decisive 6-1 and 7-1 victories over Kerry Burtnyk of Winnipeg's Assiniboine Memorial club in the semi-final, and Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw in the final.

Howard's second cashspiel success in three outings this season was worth $12,000 to his team, while Jordison earned $8,000.  Burtnyk and Jeff Stoughton of Charleswood received $6,000 apiece as semi-finalists.  Those losing in the quarter-finals -- Vic Peters of Fort Garry, Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, Randy Dutiaume of Thistle, and Mike McEwen of Assiniboine Memorial -- picked up $4,000 each, and the teams of Allan Lyburn of Brandon, Brad Gushue of St. John's, Newfoundland, and Todd Birr of Mankato, Minnesota went home with $3,000 each as the 9th-11th place finishers (32 teams--11 qualifiers).

In another MCT event, Brian Fowler of Brandon (with Greg Rabe, Ray McPhail, and Dave Burman) won the HAMIOTA MEN'S CASH SPIEL on Sunday, beating Lawrence Daniel of Hamiota 7-4 in the final.

Fowler received $3,000 for the win, Daniel $1,500, and the losing semi-finalists, Brent Strachan of Hamiota and Barry Rabe of Brandon, earned $750 each (12 teams--4 qualifiers).

<Oct 23, 2007>

Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary (with Amy Nixon, Bronwen Saunders, and Chelsey Bell) won the CASINOS OF WINNIPEG WOMEN'S CLASSIC at the Fort Rouge Curling Club (Monday night), beating Jennifer Jones of St. Vital 6-4 in the 8-end Grand Slam event final.

Kleibrink made the precise shots needed to produce three deuces on the way to an impressive $15,000 victory.  Jones, who settled for  $10,000, defeated Kleibrink in the 2005 Casinos Classic final, and has been a consistent money-maker with three runner-up finishes.

Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay and Cheryl Bernard of Calgary earned $5,500 apiece for reaching the semi-finals, while Maureen Bonar of Beausejour, Debbie McCormick of Madison, Wisconsin, Cathy King of  Edmonton, and Heather Rankin of Calgary each picked up $3,500 as quarter-finalists (32 teams--8 qualifiers).

<Oct 22, 2007>

The eight playoff qualifiers were determined last night (Sunday) in the CASINOS OF WINNIPEG WOMEN'S CLASSIC at Winnipeg's Fort Rouge Curling Club.

Two Manitoba teams are in the 10 a.m. quarter-finals (Monday). Jennifer Jones of St. Vital qualified out of "B" Group, while Maureen Bonar's team from Beausejour made it from "C".  Bonar advanced by beating Karen Rosser of Springfield 9-7 in their last chance match.

This is the quarter-final lineup:

Cheryl Bernard, Calgary -- Heather Rankin, Calgary
Debbie McCormick, Madison, Wisconsin -- Jennifer Jones, St. Vital
Shannon Kleibrink, Calgary -- Maureen Bonar, Beausejour
Krista McCarville, Thunder Bay -- Cathy King, Edmonton

Semi-finals will follow at 1:30 p.m., and the final at 5 p.m. (all times Central Daylight).

<Oct 14, 2007>

Terry McNamee's team from the Brandon Curling Club (with Brendan Taylor, Travis Taylor and Travis Saban) won the men's division of the SOUTH INTERLAKE CREDIT UNION (SICU) Classic in Beausejour, downing Chris Galbraith of Thistle 8-2 in the final at the Sun Gro Centre (Oct.14th).

McNamee won five straight games in Beausejour, and following the success of Allan Lyburn in the Valour Road Men's Open last weekend, posted the second win in a row for   Brandon team on the tour.

McNamee's quartet earned $3,200, Galbraith $1,600, while Don Spriggs of Portage and Kyle Peters of Pembina received $950 for reaching the semi-finals, and $650 went to losing quarter-finalists Daley Peters of Petersfield and Michael Martin of Deer Lodge (22 teams -- 6 qualifiers).

In women's play, Maureen Bonar skipped a team of three sisters curling out of Beausejour (with Quinn, Megan and Leigh (lee) Adams) to the top prize of $1,500, topping Kerri Flett of Selkirk 6-2 in the final. Flett earned $850, while Tracey Lavery of Fort Rouge and Kim Link of East St. Paul received $550 each as semi-finalists (12 teams -- 4 qualifiers),

<Oct 8, 2007>

Allan Lyburn's team from Brandon Riverview (with Scott Ramsay, Mark Taylor and Hub Perrin) won the VALOUR ROAD MEN'S OPEN, topping Peter Nicholls of West Kildonan 5-3 in the final at the Thistle Curling Club (on Monday, Oct.8th).

Lyburn scored three on the third end to jump into command, and coasted to a victory worth $7,500.  Nicholls had a second runner-up finish in the first two weeks on the Manitoba tour, settling for $5,500.

Earlier, Reid Carruthers of Beausejour and Vic Peters of Fort Garry lost in the semi-finals, worth $3,250 apiece, and $2,000 cheques went to losing quarter-finalists James Kirkness and Randy Dutiaume of Thistle, and the Minnesota teams of John Shuster of Duluth, and Pete Fenson of Bemidji (24 teams--8 qualifiers).

In women's play, Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge (with Kristen Williamson, Brette Richards and Barb Enright) won the VALOUR ROAD WOMEN'S SPIEL at Charleswood.  Spencer drew the four-foot with last stone to beat Joelle Brown (unattached) in the final 5-4.

Spencer's team earned $4,025, Brown's foursome $2,275, and losing semi-finalists Holly Scott of the Granite and Kaileigh Strath of St. Vital received $1,225 apiece (10 teams--4 qualifiers).

<Oct 4, 2007>

Two events have been organized to replace the cancelled Asham8-ender Men's and Women's Opens on the Thanksgiving weekend.

With a field of 24 teams, the 2007 Valour Road Men's Open will beheld at the Thistle Curling Club, using a four-group round robin (plus playoffs) format.  It will start with an opening draw at 3 o'clock on Friday (Oct.5th), concluding on Monday.  The total purse will be $25,000.

The 2008 Valour Road Women's Spiel will be held at the Charleswood Curling Club with 10 teams, using a two-group round robin (plus playoffs) format.  It will start with its opening draw at 6 p.m. on Friday (Oct.5th), also concluding on Monday.  The total purse still is to be determined.

Further details will be available on the MCT website (www.mancurltour.ca) as they become available, and there will be a link to the World Curling Tour website for more information on the men's event.

<Oct 1, 2007>

The winners of the first event on this season's Manitoba Curling Tour, the McMILLAN INSURANCE CLASSIC, are the Lorne Hamblin team from Morris (with Lorne skipping and throwing lead stones, Kevin Hamblin at fourth, David Hamblin at third, and Doug Hamblin at second) in the men's division, and the Kaileigh Strath foursome from St. Vital (with Sabrina Neufeld, Laryssa Grenkow, and Breanne Meakin)) in the women's division in Selkirk.

Hamblin defeated Peter Nicholls of West Kildonan 6-2 in the men's final last night (Monday, Oct.1st), while Strath topped Barb Spencer of Fort Rouge 9-7 in the women's final.  Both winning teams won five straight games in the Selkirk cashspiel.

In the semi-finals, Hamblin defeated Vic Peters of Fort Garry 8-7 in an extra end, Nicholls was a 6-3 winner over Travis Bale of Springfield, Strath eliminated Kristy Jenion of Fort Rouge 7-5, and Spencer scored five on the 10th end to come from behind for a 10-8 win over Janet Harvey of Fort Rouge.

The McMILLAN INSURANCE CLASSIC replaced the SELKIRK STEELTOWN CLASSIC on the tour, with 16 teams and four qualifiers in both divisions (prize money below).

STANDINGS -- MEN'S DIVISION
TEAM                CLUB/LOCATION           MONEY EARNED
****                *************`          ************
1   Lorne Hamblin           Morris                      $3,500
2   Peter Nicholls          West Kildonan                2,500
3   Vic Peters              Fort Garry                   1,000
4   Travis Bale             Springfield                  1,000

WOMEN'S DIVISION
****************
1   Kaileigh Strath         St. Vital                   $3,500
2   Barb Spencer            Fort Rouge                   2,500
3   Kristy Jenion           Fort Rouge                   1,000
4   Janet Harvey            Fort Rouge                   1,000

UPCOMING ON THE MCT -- the next event on the tour is the VALOUR ROAD MEN'S OPEN at the Thistle Curling Club, starting Friday, October 5th with an entry of 24 teams.  It replaces the Asham 8-ender Open which was cancelled. Still uncertain is the status of a women's cashspiel at Charleswood Curling Club, also on the Thanksgiving weekend.

The women's cashspiel at the Charleswood Curling club, intended to replace the Asham Women's Open on the Thanksgiving weekend, needs two more entries to reach a required total of 12 in order to proceed. Contact Lisa Fargey by phone 219-4642 (home) or e-mail at lisa_fargey@standardaero.com for information.

Also short of entries is the men's section of the South Interlake Credit Union Classic October 11th-14th in Beausejour.  Contact Doug May by phone 268-4612 (home) or 949-1454 (office) or e-mail at d_may@mts.net for information.

<Sept. 18, 2007>

The Manitoba Curling Tour is set to move into its 17th season, offering cash purses totalling $431,460 in 17 events.  The schedule begins in Selkirk with the newly-sponsored McMillan Insurance Classic (formerly the Steeltown Classic) with men's and women's divisions, from September 28th to October 1st.


In other developments, the tour now has Canad Inns as a major sponsor, joining Labatt Breweries Manitoba and Asham Curling Supplies, and a new website has been created (www.mancurltour.ca) to provide improved local information and liaison with MCT event operations.

To avoid conflict with the Canada Cup qualifying bonspiels of the Canadian Curling Association and the Continental Cup, the Manitoba Curling Tour Championships will be shifted back to January 4th-6th, 2008, and will be held once again at the Portage Curling Club with 24-team men's and 12-team women's divisions.


In addition to the McMillan Insurance Classic, two other MCT events will have new titles and sponsors this season.  Beausejour's cashspiel (October 11th-14th) now is known as the SICU Classic (South Interlake Credit Union Classic), and in Morris, the former Enns Brothers Classic will be called the Morris Curling Classic (November 30th-December 3rd).


The sale of the Agricore United operation in Manitoba has resulted in a one-year suspension of the long running Oiltown Classic in Virden, and in another change the two Asham Open events (men's and women's) both will be held on the Thanksgiving weekend (October 5th-9th) at the Thistle Curling Club in Winnipeg.

At its annual meeting in June, the Manitoba Curling Association approved an MCT request to clarify the tour's representation of its men's champion each year in the Safeway Championship.  The highest ranking eligible team in the men's MCT Championship will earn a provincial berth, this season in Brandon in February.

        The complete 2007-08 schedule:

    Sept.28-Oct.1     Selkirk-McMillan Insurance Classic      (men-women)
Oct. 5-8            Thistle-Valour Road Men's Open        (men)
Oct. 6-9            Charleswood- Women's Open      (women)
Oct.11-14          Beausejour-SICU Classic                 (men-women)
Oct.19-22          Fort Rouge-Casinos of Wpg. Classic      (women)
Oct.26-28          Hamiota-Hamiota Men's Cash Spiel        (men)
Oct.26-29          Portage-Meyers Norris Penny Prairie Classic (men)
Nov. 1-5            Rossmere-Kurbis Memorial Galaxy Bonspiel    (open)
Nov. 6-12          East St. Paul-East St. Paul Cash Spiel  (men-women)
Nov. 9-12          Swan River-Whites' Drug Store Classic   (men)
Nov.16-19          Gimli-Pharmasave Gimli Classic          (men)
Nov.22-26          Stonewall-Interlake Pharmacy Classic    (men-women)
Nov.30-Dec.3      Morris-Morris Curling Classic           (men)
Nov.30-Dec.3      Dauphin-Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Cash Spiel  (men)
Dec. 5-9            Thistle-Thistle Integrity Stakes        (open)
Dec.26-30          Fort Rouge-Labatt Fort Rouge Xmas Spiel (open)

Jan.4-6/2008      Portage-MCT Championships               (men-women)


F.M.I.-- Bob Picken, phone (204) 489-8642;
E-mail -- bponsport@shaw.ca

<Sept 10, 2007>

The annual pre-season News Conference of the Manitoba Curling Tour will be held on Tuesday September 18, 2007 in the 2nd floor Rossmere Room of the Rossmere Country Club, 925 Watt Street, Winnipeg, MB at 11:30 a.m. Complete information on the tour, adjustments, and interviews will be available.