Nov 26, 2008 - 09:08 AM

By Jim Easson

AJAX -- Two of three Annandale rinks qualified for regionals after earning their way out of the Pepsi junior zone 6 playdowns in Whitby last weekend.

The junior men's and women's zone events were hosted by the Whitby Curling Club on Saturday. After all the sweeping was done, an Annandale junior women's rink and a junior men's team will curl at the regionals at the Oshawa Curling Club this weekend.

Lesley Pyne's junior women's team won the 'A' side of the two-team draw, thus qualifying for regionals. With Pyne were Stacey Hogan, Suzanne Miller and Katie Hickey, with coach Jennifer McGhee.

Meanwhile, two junior men's teams from Annandale competed at the three-team zone event, with one Annandale team advancing to regionals. Michael Bryson's rink won the 'A' side of the draw and will move on to regionals. The other Annandale entry, a bantam squad skipped by Ben Bevan, were sidelined after a close game on the 'B' side of the draw.

On the Bryson team were James McPherson, Sandy Martin and Josh Hall, with coach Susannah Moylan.

Playing on the Bevin foursome were Jake McGhee, Chris Avery and Carter Adair. Paul Bourque serves as the team's coach.

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More Annandale junior curlers had success with competitive teams they joined in other zones. Joan Moore in Zone 10 curls with Danielle Loney of Midland on a team that includes reigning Ontario champion Glenn Howard's daughter, Carly. The Moore rink advanced to the regionals in Meaford on Nov. 29. Annandale's Chantal Lalonde now plays with Danielle Inglis of Burlington in Zone 13 on the team, which includes ex-Annandale curler Tracy O'Leary, who now attends Laurier University. The Inglis rink also advanced out of zone play to qualify for the regionals in Burlington, also on Nov. 29.

Two teams from each of the four regions advance to the Ontario Provincial Junior Curling Championships at the Gananoque Curling Club from Jan. 7 to 11.

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The senior men's and women's zone 6 playdowns are at Dalewood Golf and Curling Club in Port Hope from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. Annandale is represented by Carl Vickers with Dave Gaudette, Doug Lawson and Geoff Peck in the men's zone event. Fifteen teams are competing for two spots in the regionals. Three Annandale competitive curlers are on two of those 15 teams. Warren Leslie is on an Uxbridge team skipped by Greg Timbers with Barry Acton and Kent Cochrane. Alex Bianchi and Mike Trudeau have joined an Oshawa foursome skipped by Brian Suddard with John Brotherhood.

Meanwhile, skip Sandra Thain will lead her senior women's team of Barb Luffman, Joan O'Leary and Janet Alexander into the zone 6 playdowns. The Annandale women's team is guaranteed to advance as there are only two senior women entries.

The Ontario Curling Association's senior men's and women's regionals are in Lakefield on Dec. 13 and 14.

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Annandale skip Lorraine Scanlan, with the team of Bev Cairns, Bea O'Regan and Diane Easson, travelled to a one-day bonspiel in Bobcaygeon on Saturday, Nov. 22. They lost two tight games, so the team didn't make it to the prize table, but enjoyed lunch, dinner and a show nonetheless.

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Annandale is hosting a Mixed Skins Cash Bonspiel at the club this weekend, Nov. 29 and 30. In a skins game, the team with the hammer has to score two or more points, or the other team needs to steal in order to get the skin. As in golf skins, any ends not won carry over until a team meets the win criteria.