Dec 03, 2008 - 10:35 AM

By Jim Easson

AJAX -- Curlers put brooms to ice and swept up some dollars at the Mixed Skins Cash Bonspiel at the Annandale Golf and Curling Club last weekend.

Eighteen teams competed in the bonspiel that featured a total payout of $2,400 in 'skins'.

The Terry Eastman rink was the big winners, capturing the 'A' event and collecting $338. Curling in the Eastman foursome were Cathy Menard, Mike Menard and Linda Eastman. The Jerry Pinkney team finished as runners-up in the 'A' division, taking home $327 in prize money.

In the 'B' division, Team Payne won over Team Jewer. The Payne rink earned $351, while the Jewer foursome settled for $250.

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The OCA Pepsi Junior Regional playdowns were last weekend and Annandale had members who were successful on competitive teams in other zones.

Chantal Lalonde played with Danielle Inglis of Burlington in Zone 13 on a team that included Annandale curler Tracy O'Leary, now at Laurier University. The Inglis rink won the 'B' side of Region 4 and now advances to the Ontario Provincial Junior Women's Curling Championship at the Gananoque Curling Club from Jan. 7 to 11.

Joan Moore curls with Danielle Loney of Midland in Zone 10 on a team that includes reigning Ontario champion Glenn Howard's daughter, Carly. The rink advanced to the Region 3 in Meaford but was sidelined with an 0-2 record.

The local Region 2 Playdown was held at the Oshawa Curling Club and neither of the competing Annandale teams advanced to the provincials. The junior ladies' team of Lesley Pyne, Stacey Hogan, Suzanne Miller and Katie Hickey, with coach Jennifer McGhee, posted a 2-2 mark.

The Annandale junior men's team of Michael Bryson, James McPherson, Sandy Martin and Josh Hall, coached by Susannah Moylan, went 0-2.

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An Annandale rink has advanced to the regionals after competing at the OCA senior men's and women's zones at Dalewood Golf on the weekend.

Sandra Thain's Annandale team of Barb Luffman, Joan O'Leary and Janet Alexander advanced as there were only two senior women's entries. They next play in the regionals in Lakefield on Dec. 13 and 14.

The Annandale men's team of Carl Vickers with Dave Gaudette, Doug Lawson and Geoff Peck went 0-2.

Three other Annandale competitive curlers were on two additional teams but none advanced. Warren Leslie was on an Uxbridge team skipped by Greg Timbers with Barry Acton and Kent Cochrane. Alex Bianchi and Mike Trudeau were on an Oshawa foursome skipped by Brian Suddard with John Brotherhood.

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Annandale will host the first step in the chase for a Tim Hortons Brier entry. The TSC Stores Tankard Zone Playdown is at the club starting Friday, Dec. 5.

The draw is full, with 16 men's teams playing a double-knockout draw for the two spots to the regionals.

Blair Metrakos skips one Annandale entry with Chris Van Huyse, Andrew Klein and Scott March.

Another Annandale entry is skipped by Wes Johnson with Patrick Janssen, Tyler Anderson and Spencer Yule. Johnson and Yule are playing with competitive memberships and do not play in house leagues.

There is no charge to drop by the club and watch the action.

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Skip Glenn Howard, with Pickering resident Richard Hart at vice and Brent Laing and Craig Savill on the front end, heads to The National in Quebec City from Dec. 3 to 7. The Quebec event is the second leg of the men's 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series.

Eight qualifiers out of 18 top teams will compete for a share of the $100,000 purse.