Canadian rinks end world senior curling round-robin on victorious note

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This article was published 19/04/2013 (4867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FREDERICTON – Edmonton’s Cathy King will head to the playoff round at the world senior curling championship as the team to beat in the women’s event.

King defeated American Margie Smith 6-4 on Friday to cap the round-robin with a perfect 6-0 record. The win extended Canada’s streak to 49 straight in this event, going back to the 2008 competition in Finland.

“They made us play, and they played well,” said King. “It wasn’t our best game, and the ice started out a little differently.

“It was a little heavier and then it got lightning fast. But we figured it out. I think we needed a game like that to sharpen us up a bit.”

Canada faces Sweden’s Ingrid Meldahl (5-1) in semifinal action Saturday. Meldahl is a two-time world senior women’s champion.

“We’ve seen (Sweden) play some good games this week,” said King. “I guess we’ll both be in the same boat playing on new ice (playoffs being moved to main arena).

“The difference might be playing with the lights (electronic hog-line detection handles) on the rocks and they might have a few more problems than us.”

In the men’s competition, Rob Armitage of Red Deer, Alta., also finished the round-robin undefeated after posting two wins Friday. Armitage’s rink downed Wim Neeleman of the Netherlands 8-2 before beating American Gert Messing 7-5 to post an unblemished 9-0 record.

“That’s where we wanted to be,” said Armitage. “A 9-0 record doesn’t give us the hammer but fair enough.

“We’re playing well enough to overcome that.”

In the playoffs, teams will draw to the button for hammer before each game.

Canada broke open a tight game against the U.S. with back-to-back deuces in the fifth and sixth ends.

The Canadians will play Switzerland’s Werner Attinger (7-2) in semifinal action Saturday.