A pair of women鈥檚 teams know that they鈥檒l be staying in North Battleford for the weekend at the Pinty鈥檚 Grand Slam of Curling鈥檚 Meridian Canadian Open.
Switzerland鈥檚 Silvana Tirinzoni and Edmonton鈥檚 Val Sweeting both clinched spots in the playoffs after they each won their 鈥楢鈥� finals at the Civic Centre Thursday afternoon.
Tirinzoni, who was the runner-up at the Boost National in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. last month, picked up her third win of the week with an 8-3 triumph over Michelle Englot鈥檚 Winnipeg rink.
鈥淭he girls have been playing great so far,鈥� Team Tirinzoni third Cathy Overton-Clapham said. 鈥淪ilvana鈥檚 been calling a great game, we鈥檝e been executing our game plan, and we just want to keep that going.
鈥淵ou always want to be better for the playoffs, and I know that I need to make a few more shots myself in order to help the team.鈥�
Overton-Clapham has been with the Tirinzoni rink for the last two Grand Slam of Curling events while regular third Manuela Siegrist has been sidelined with a knee injury.
鈥淗aving that one event under our belts already has been huge for us,鈥� Overton-Clapham said. 鈥淲e all like to win games, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e been able to do so far.鈥�
Sweeting was sublime in her 6-3 win over Mississauga鈥檚 Jacqueline Harrison, as she made a number of spectacular takeouts.
鈥淪he made every hit and roll and she got us out of a couple of pickles,鈥� Team Sweeting third Lori Olson-Johns said. 鈥淚 think she was really inspired to not have to play again on Friday.
鈥淚f she can play like that through the playoffs, we鈥檒l be in great shape. I鈥檒l just need to sharpen my toolbox up a little bit.鈥�
The other two women鈥檚 games were in the 鈥楤鈥� bracket.
In an all Winnipeg contest, Jennifer Jones had a 6-5 win over Kerri Einarson, while Allison Flaxey of Caledon, Ont. cruised to an 11-5 triumph over Brianne Meilleur of Winnipeg.
In men鈥檚 competition, Kyle Smith鈥檚 Scottish rink saw his week come to an end as they fell 6-3 to defending Canadian Open champion John Epping of Toronto.
Thursday night鈥檚 draw will also see another men鈥檚 team eliminated, as Saskatoon鈥檚 Steve Laycock faces off with American Heath McCormick in a 鈥楥鈥� event contest.
The first women鈥檚 bracket elimination will also occur tonight when Calgary鈥檚 Chelsea Carey matches up with Tracy Fleury of Sudbury.
There will also be three games in the men鈥檚 鈥楤鈥� event.
Kingston鈥檚 Greg Balsdon will play St. John鈥檚 Brad Gushue, Mike McEwen of Winnipeg faces off with Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton and Winnipeg鈥檚 Reid Carruthers takes on John Morris of Vernon, B.C.
