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Kerri Einarson wins the Saville Grand Prix with Joanne Courtney replacing Shannon Birchard
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Kerri Einarson wins the Saville Grand Prix with Joanne Courtney replacing Shannon Birchard

Another week, another new lineup and another win for Team Kerri Einarson.

The quartet from Gimli, Manitoba, won their second tournament of the season on Sunday at the Saville Grand Prix in Edmonton.

Einarson, third Val Sweeting and lead Krysten Karwacki were joined by second Joanne Courtney who was sparing for injured Shannon Birchard.

Team Einarson posted a 6-1 record, including playoff victories over Team Myla Plett of Edmonton in the quarterfinals, Team Kaitlyn Lawes of Winnipeg in the semifinals and Team Seungyoun Ha of South Korea in the final.

Einarson scored two points in the eighth end to win 6-5.

Birchard, 30, who won five Scotties titles, including four with Einarson, has not played this season due to a knee injury.

After playing the opening event with just three players, Team Einarson used a handful of notable curlers who no longer play on the competitive circuit with four-player teams.

Laura Walker replaced their brief appearance at the PointsBet Invitational in late September before Dawn McEwen helped them win the first Grand Slam of the season – the Tour Challenge in Charlottetown – the following week, beating No. 1-ranked Team Rachel. Homan in the final.

Courtney, who stepped away from competitive curling at the end of the 2021-22 season, will remain with Team Einarson for this week’s Grand Slam event in Nisku, Alberta.

Karwacki has served as a leader for Team Einarson this season while a resolution regarding Briane Harris’ appeal regarding a doping violation has yet to be determined.

On the men’s side, American team Korey Dropkin defeated Japanese team Takumi Maeda 6-4 in the final.

Dropkin and company beat Calgary’s Kevin Koe, 6-5, in the semifinals by scoring two points in the final end.

Black does not win another victory

In the East, Team Christina Black found themselves in another final in search of a fourth straight at the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic.

The Halifax foursome almost got there, but lost a 6-5 decision to Scotland’s Rebecca Morrison after giving up three points in the eighth end and stealing one in overtime.

The Black team won all six of its matches leading into Sunday’s final.

Quebec team Laurie St-Georges and Ontario team Danielle Inglis were both eliminated in the quarters.

South Korea’s ByeongJin Jeong defeated Ontario’s Sam Mooibroek, 7-6, in an extra end in the men’s final.

For a complete list of winners, click on the links: Men’s Tour / Women’s tour

Head to the mixed doubles events

Brittany Tran and Rylan Kleiter of Calgary punched their ticket to the 2025 Canadian Olympic Trials in mixed doubles after defeating Lisa Weagle and John Epping of Toronto 6-3 on Sunday in the final of the first qualifying event scheduled for this autumn.

The duo joins already qualified Kadriana and Colton Lott, Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres, Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, Nancy Martin and Steve Laycock and Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing.

Sixteen teams will compete in the Trialswhich will take place from December 30, 2024 to January. on November 4, 2025 at Queens Place Emera Centre, Liverpool, Nova Scotia

Places will be available for winners in Guelph (November 21-24) and Banff (December 5-8), with the bottom eight teams coming from the Canadian mixed doubles rankings as of December 9, 2024.