New Brunswick's Kennedy and Adams rinks win
Rodd Curling Classic in come-from-behind finishes
Nov. 6-The Atlantic Curling Tour’s 10th anniversary Rodd Hotels and Resorts Curling Classic wrapped up this afternoon at the Charlottetown Curling Club, with two New Brunswick rinks, skipped by Mike Kennedy and Melissa Adams, going home with the $5000 men's and $3000 women's championship prizes, respectively. Kennedy was trailing 6-5 coming home with hammer in his final game against PEI's Mike Gaudet foursome, and picked up a triple in the final end for an 8-6 win. Gaudet goes home with $3000 for his runner-up finish. Other members of the Kennedy rink are Chris Jeffrey, Scot Fox, and Dave Konefal. Tyler MacKenzie, Tyler Harris, and Sean Clarey round out the Gaudet foursome.
Adams was behind 4-1 after four ends in her game against Moncton's Sylvie Robichaud, but rebounded quickly, keeping Robichaud off the scoreboard in the second half, taking two singles, a deuce, and another single to win 6-4. Robichaud, who is off to the Canadian Mixed next weekend, pocketed $2000 for her second place finish. The women's rinks also received a $40 per win payout in the event. Rounding out Adams' team are Jaclyn Crandall, Shannon Williams, and Emily MacRae. Robichaud’s team includes Danielle Nicholson, Marie Richard, Kendra Dickison, and fifth Denise Nowlan, with coach Ellery Robichaud. Note: all team rosters are unconfirmed - rosters were not provided for the event.
Kennedy beat PEI's Brett Gallant rink by a 7-4 score in the quarter-finals, while Gaudet got by defending event champion Robert Campbell, from the host club, 4-3. Gaudet knocked out previously-unbeated Chad Stevens of Nova Scotia 4-3 in the semi-finals, while Kennedy blanked PEI's Rob MacDonald foursome 7-0. Stevens and MacDonald pocket $1500 each, while Gallant and Campbell each go home with a grand.
Robichaud edged out PEI women's champ Suzanne Birt 4-3 in an extra end in the semis, after Birt, who was runner-up in the women's section last year, had tied the game with a triple in the eighth. In the other semi, Adams beat Cornwall's Donna Butler foursome 7-4. Birt and Butler each go home with $1200, plus a $40 payout per win.
Round robin play wrapped up Saturday night, with the Birt rink finishing in first place in the 12 team women’s division with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record. Nova Scotia’s Stevens rink were undefeated on the 15 team men’s side, at 4-0, after handing PEI’s Brett Gallant foursome their first loss on Saturday evening, by a 6-1 score. Stevens put the game out of reach early with a stolen triple in the third end. Birt blanked Newfoundland/Labrador’s Heather Strong rink 7-0 in her last round robin game, grabbing a 5-0 lead after two ends, with a triple and a deuce. The Butler team finished second in the women’s division, with a 4-1 win-loss record, their only loss being to Coralie Richard of NS on Friday.
Kennedy, and the Island men’s rinks skipped by Gallant, Gaudet, Campbell and MacDonald, all finished the round robin with 3-1 records.
15 men's and 12 women's teams took part in the event.
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=last rock advantage in 1st end. All games 8 ends. Round-robin format.