Travis Graham's team from Thompson won one of two available berths in the Safeway provincial men's curling championship with an undefeated run at the Norman regional playdown at Burntwood Curling Club in Thompson Dec. 15-16, while Rae Hainstock's squad, also playing at its home rink, recovered from a loss to Graham's team in the A-side final to win the B side and the second available berth.
Graham's team, which also includes Jon Sawatzky, Shaun Kennedy and Jeff Ziemanski, beat Hainstock's team 5-3 in the A side final Dec. 16 after a 7-2 win over Farrol Asham's team from Thompson and an 8-1 victory over Shaun Robertson's foursome from The Pas on the first day of the tournament.
Hainstock's team, with Grant Brown, Gerry Haight and Alex Sutherland, shook off the morning loss to Graham to squeeze out an 8-7 win over Sam Antila's team in the B side final in the afternoon.
Antila's squad had earlier knocked of Asham's team 10-8 in the B side semifinal despite giving up a five-point end early in the game.
Team Hainstock opened the playdowns with a 6-5 win over Jim Quinn's team from the Flin Flon Curling Club on Dec. 15 and then beat Antila 7-6 in the A side semifinal.
Team Antila made it to the B side final by beating Don Holmes from the Uptown Curling Club in Flin Fl;on 5-4 on Saturday night. Their first game was an 8-6 victory over Jared Schumann's team from Gillam.
Asham's team beat Holmes 5-2 in their first game of the tournament Dec. 15 then beat Schumann 8-6 that evening to make it to the B side final.
The Safeway Championship will be played Feb. 6-10, 2013 in Neepawa.
