By GLENN MacDONALD Sports Reporter | 4:41 AM
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Eight of the World Curling Tour’s top 10 women’s teams will be in New Glasgow later this year for the Sobeys Slam.
Thirty-two rinks will participate in the Women’s WCT Grand Slam event, Jim Nix, chairman of the Sobeys Slam 2007, announced on Wednesday.
“It will be the best field to ever play in Eastern Canada,” Nix said in a news release.
“Included in this elite group is No. 1-ranked Jennifer Jones of Manitoba and Olympic medalist Shannon Kleibrink (Alberta). Other favourites include Sherry Middaugh (Ontario), Cathy King, Cheryl Bernard (both from Alberta) and Sherry Anderson (Saskatchewan).”
Colleen Jones, Mary-Anne Arsenault and Meredith Harrison, a third with Jill Mouzar’s provincial Scotties championship team, will headline Nova Scotia’s contingent at the Sobeys Slam, the first women’s Grand Slam event held east of Winnipeg.
Two American rinks will also make the trip to central Nova Scotia. Cassie Potter of Minnesota, the 2006 U.S. Olympic representative, and veteran Patti Lank of New York will partake in the event.
“It was a difficult decision to pare down the list to 32 rinks,” Nix said. “In the end, we went with a team’s current standing in the Order of Merit. In fact, only 31 spots are presently filled.”
The final regional spot will be decided in November when the leading money winner from bonspiels in Moncton and Charlottetown will receive the final berth in the spiel.
The Canadian rinks will be competing for Canadian team-ranking system (CTRS) points, which will enable them to qualify for the 2010 Olympic Trials. There is also $54,000 up for grabs, making the Sobeys Slam one of the richest women’s cash spiel.
The event is slated for Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 at the John Brother MacDonald Stadium and the Bluenose Curling Club.
( gmacdonald@herald.ca)
