It was a great run for the Rae Ann Williamson rink, but they came up just one win short of the playoffs at the Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts provincial women’s curling championship in Melville.
The Williamson rink, which also boasted third Alexandra Meyer, second Chantel Martin, lead Amanda Kuzyk and coach Darcey Huyghebaert, had a 3-3 record at the tournament, and defeated some of the top teams in the province.
They opened with a 9-3, nine-end victory over the Ashley Howard rink, who went on to claim the B-side birth for the playoffs. Howard scored two in the first, but then Williamson took over, scoring two in the third to tie the game, and only surrendering one in the sixth the rest of the way.
The two teams shook hands after Williamson stole two in the ninth.
The next game was a 10-7 loss in an extra end to Penny Barker. Williamson scored two in the fourth and stole two in the fifth to lead 5-1 at the fifth end break, but Barker notched six of the next seven points to be up 7-6 through nine ends. Williamson forced the extra end with one in the 10th, but Barker then came through with three in the 11th frame.
The Williamson rink then lost 9-2 in eight ends to Mandy Selzer. Williamson trailed 4-2 through six ends, but then scored three in the seventh and stole to in the eighth to end the game.
Relegated to the C event, Williamson rattled off two straight wins. The first was 9-3 over Jana Tisdale. Williamson trailed 2-0 early, but scored five unanswered points to led 5-2 through five ends. Tisdale got one back in the sixth, but Williamson pulled away with two more in the seventh and eighth ends.
The next game was a 10-6 victory over Michelle Englot, one of the most decorated women’s curlers in Saskatchewan’s history. The teams went back and forth, with Williamson holding leads of 4-2 through three ends and 6-3 through six. Englot fought back with two in the seventh and one in the eighth to tie, but Williamson scored two in the ninth and stole two in the 10th to eliminate the multi-time provincial champion.
Williamson’s tournament ended Monday afternoon in a 9-2 loss to Barker. Barker scored three in the first and stole two in the second and one in the third to lead 6-0. Single points in the fourth and fifth ends gave Williamson a glimmer of hope, but a score of three for Barker in the sixth ended the game.
The other local rink was Shalon Fleming’s entry, comprised of Fleming, who is the skip, as well as third Candace Newkirk, second Sherrilee Orsted and lead Jasmine Kerr. They are coached by Bob Doerr.
They opened the tournament with a 9-8, 11-end victory over Lorraine Schneider. Schneider scored five in the fourth end to lead 6-2, but Fleming fought back with a score of one in the fifth, a steal of two in the sixth and another stolen point in the seventh to tie the game.
Schneider scored one in the eighth, but Fleming took two in the ninth, and then Schneider scored one more in the 10th to force the extra end. Fleming scored one in the final frame for the victory.
Their next game was an 8-2, eight-end loss to defending provincial champion Robyn Silvernagle. The Silvernagle rink had steals of two in the third and sixth ends.
Fleming then lost 10-5 to Howard’s rink. The two teams were tied 2-2 through four ends, but Howard scored three in the fifth, and after Fleming scored one in the sixth, Howard added fourth in the seventh for a 9-3 advantage.
The final game for the Fleming rink was a 12-1 loss to former national champion Amber Holland, whose team includes former Estevan resident Cindy Ricci.
Holland scored three in the first, stole four in the second and two in the third, and after Fleming had one in the fourth, Holland added three more in the fifth, leading to the teams shaking hands.
