Homan, Dunstone earn victories at first Grand Slam of curling season

Rachel Homan’s dynastic rink is showing no signs of slowing down after back-to-back historically dominant seasons.

The Ottawa-based foursome, also featuring third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew and lead Sarah Wilkes, won the opening Grand Slam of the season on Sunday, defeating Swiss rival Team Silvana Tirinzoni in the Masters final from London.

Team Homan scored deuces in the fifth and sixth ends to pick up the 6-4 victory which was the skip’s record-extending 18th Grand Slam title.

Homan and company, who are back-to-back champions of both the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and World Women’s Curling Championship, won all seven of their games in London, including wins over Japan’s Momoha Tabata and Sweden’s Isabella Wrana in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively.

On the men’s side of the draw, more Canadian content found success as Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone defeated Scotland’s Team Ross Whyte in an extra end final, 6-4.

Dunstone, third Colton Lott, second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden also downed Calgary’s Team Brad Jacobs in the semifinal, 6-5, after losing to them in the Montana’s Brier final last winter.

The 30-year-old Dunstone now has two Grand Slams to his name, also winning the 2019 Maters.

This year’s Masters event also featured Tier 2 competitions for both men and women.

Japan’s Team Ikue Kitazawa topped Scotland’s Team Rebecca Morrison in the women’s final, 6-5, while Team Daniel Casper of the United States won the men’s title after defeating four-time Brier champ Kevin Koe and his Calgary rink, 4-2, in the final.

Some of the rink competing in London, including Team Homan and Team Dunstone, will now travel to Calgary to play in the 2025 PointsBet Invitational next week.

Other Winners on Tour

Women

Saville U25 Challenge - Serena Gray-Withers

MCT Challenge - Kristy Watling

Prague Ladies International - Dilsat Yildiz

Men

Invitation Valleyfield - Jean-Michel Menard

Tallinn Men’s International Challenger - Fredrik Nyman

Saville U25 Challenge - Zach Davies

MCT Challenge - Braden Calvert