Jan. 17-The Mel Bernard rink from the Summerside branch, which includes third Blair Jay, second Douglas Simmons, and lead Earle Proude, beat the defending champion Charlie Wilkinson foursome in both the A and B finals to win the 2010 PEI Legion Curling Championship at the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton.  On Sunday evening, they won the B division of the double-knockout event by a 7-2 score, following  a third-end triple with a steal of two in the fourth to grab an early 7-1 lead. The Wilkinson rink came back with a single in the fifth, and they called it quits in the sixth end of the scheduled ten end match. Bernard won the Saturday evening A final by an 8-4 score, aided by a seventh-end triple. Wilkinson did not play on Sunday due to a family illness. Third John Mullin played in the skip position, with Matt Smith sparing on the team. Roger Beazley and David Murphy round out the Wilkinson rink.

Bernard advanced to the B final by edging the Lou Nowlan rink, also from Summerside, by a 5-4 score, while Wilkinson stole 3 in the 9th to beat Rick Hardy of the host Bloomfield branch 9-5. As Bernard won both A and B sections, a championship game was not necessary. The winning Bernard foursome now advance to the Dominion Legion Curling Championship, March 13-19, in Stephenville NL. Eleven teams from seven Island Royal Canadian Legion branches took part in the PEI championship.

Pbotos courtesy of www.albertoncurlingclub.ca

Eldon Doucette, Vice-President of the Legion's PEI Command and its sports chairman, presents the trophy to the winning team. From L to R: Eldon Doucette, skip Mel Bernard, mate Blair Jay, second Doug Simmons and lead Earle Proude.

The runner-up Wilkinson team receives their individual trophies. L to R: Eldon Doucette, replacement skip John Mullin, mate Matt Smith, second David Murphy and lead Roger Beasley.

Duane Phelan, sports chairman of the Miscouche Legion (L) and Eldon Doucette, Vice-President of the Legion's PEI Command and its sports chairman prepare to deliver the ceremonial first rock on the opening day of the championship.