Rachel Homan and Brad Gushue capped off the summer with victories at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard on Labour Day in Oakville, Ont., the first Canadian event on the World Curling Tour this season. Homan defeated reigning world champion Alina Patz while Gushue beat Reid Carruthers in the final on the men's side.
Men's Tour
Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Oakville, ONT (Sept 3-7)
Purse - $27, 200
St. John's Brad Gushue continued the strong start to his season with a victory at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard, beating Reid Carruthers 5-3 in the final. The 35-year-old and his rink of vice Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker went a perfect 6-0 in the tournament and took home $8000 in winnings. Winnipeg's Carruthers won $4000 for finishing second. Gushue defeated the likes of Mark Kean, Jake Walker, Carruthers (on Saturday), Niklas Edin and Steve Laycock en route to the finals. This is already the second final he's made this season, as he was the runner-up at the Uiseong International in Uiseong, Korea in late August.
The massive 28-team field included 21 rinks from Canada, most notably Alberta's Kevin Koe (4-3), Saskatchewan's Steve Laycock (5-2), Prince Edward Island's Adam Casey (3-3) and British Columbia's Jim Cotter (5-1). Scotland's David Murdoch (4-3) and world champion Edin of Sweden (4-3) were part of the European contingent. Defending champion Mike McEwen of Winnipeg did not play this weekend.
Women's Tour
Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Oakville, ONT (Sept 3-7)
Purse - $30, 400
Rachel Homan went a perfect 7-0 at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard to kick of her curling season. Homan edged 2015 world champion Alina Paetz of Switzerland in the final, 5-4. The Ottawa skip as well as third Emma Miskew, second Joanne Courtney and lead Lisa Weagle also beat Russia's Anna Sidorova, Edmonton's Val Sweeting and defending champion Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland on her way to the finals.
Out of 32 rinks participating, 17 were Canadian. Other notable names that played in Oakville included Canadian champ Jennifer Jones (5-3), Saskatoon's Stefanie Lawton (4-3), Calgary's Chelsea Carey (2-3) and Edmonton's Kelsey Rocque (1-3).
Looking Ahead
Men's Tour
Sept 8-13: GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 1 from Paradise, NL
Defending Champion: New Event
Sept 8-13: GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 2 from Paradise, NL
Defending Champion: New Event
Sept 10-13: Oakville OCT Fall Classic from Oakville, ONT
Defending Champion: New Event
Women's Tour
Sept 8-13: GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 1 from Paradise, NL
Defending Champion: New Event
Sept 8-13: GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 2 from Paradise, NL
Defending Champion: New Event
Sept 10-13: Oakville OCT Fall Classic from Oakville, ONT
Defending Champion: New Event