Dunstone gets first victory at Olympic trials

Matt Dunstone got into the win column Wednesday evening at the Canadian Olympic curling trials at SaskTel Centre.

Dunstone and his Regina-based team of Colton Lott, Kirk Muyres and Dustin Kidby posted their first victory of the competition after five straight losses, beating Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher 9-4.

The teams have 1-5 records and have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Dunstone scored three in each of the second and fifth ends to build up a 6-1 lead and cruised to the victory.

Earlier Wednesday, Dunstone lost 9-4 to Newfoundland & Labrador’s Brad Gushue.

The Gushue crew curled 97 per cent as a team, with lead Geoff Walker (100 per cent) and Gushue (99 per cent) leading the way. The Dunstone foursome curled 92 per cent in the loss.

Gushue led 5-4 going to the eighth, but he scored three in that end with hammer and then stole one in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Entering Thursday’s round-robin action, Gushue was in first place with a 5-1 record, with Alberta’s Kevin Koe and Ontario’s Brad Jacobs tied for second at 4-1.

Manitoba’s Mike McEwen and Ontario’s John Epping were next at 3-2, with Manitoba’s Jason Gunnlaugson (2-3), Ontario’s Tanner Horgan (1-4), Dunstone and Bottcher rounding out the field.

The top three teams after the round-robin advance to the playoffs.

On the women’s side, Manitoba’s Tracy Fleury was in first place at 5-0 after Thursday’s draw, with Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones second at 5-1.

Krista McCarville of Ontario and Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson were tied for third with 3-3 records, with Casey Scheidegger of Alberta, Ontario’s Jacqueline Harrison and Alberta’s Laura Walker next at 2-3. Rachel Homan of Ontario and Alberta’s Kelsey Rocque were tied for last at 1-4.