MEDICINE HAT, December 14…North America continues to hold the lead after six draws of the Continental Cup, presented by Monsanto, being played at The Arena.

Although Europe managed to win two of three men’s team games Friday evening, North America still heads into the weekend with an 82-40 lead.

In the six-point men’s games, Europe’s Andy Kapp and Andreas Schwaller emerged victorious, while North America’s Randy Ferbey earned the host side its only victory.

Kapp edged Todd Birr, 5-4, stealing one in the eighth end when Birr was wide and heavy with his final draw.  Schwaller took out two of Glenn Howard’s three counters with his last stone to win 5-4 as well.

Ferbey had an easier time with David Murdoch, winning 7-4, helped by a steal of three in the sixth end.

Earlier in the day, North America took five of six Singles matches, each worth four points, plus an eight-point bonus for highest aggregate, to collar 28 out of a possible 32 points.

In the morning’s women’s team games, North America earned 12 of the 18 available points by taking two out of three.

However, the majority of the points are up for grabs on the weekend.  In Saturday’s action, a men’s, women’s and mixed Skins game, each worth 20 points, take place at 11:30 am MST/1:30 pm EST, live across Canada on CBC-TV.

The women’s Skins game features Europe’s Angelina Jensen against North America’s Jennifer Jones, while the men’s game matches Schwaller against Birr.

Then, at 4:00 pm MST, three Mixed Doubles games, worth six points each, are featured, followed by another men’s, women’s and mixed Skins game, each worth 30 points, at 7:30 pm.

The women’s game sees Europe’s Liudmila Privivkova battling North America’s Debbie McCormick, while Kapp meets Ferbey in the men’s game.

On Sunday, starting at 10:30 am MST/12:30 pm EST, live on CBC-TV, the final women’s and men’s Skins games, each worth 55 points, will see Scotland’s Kelly Wood facing off against Canada’s Kelly Scott, while Scotland’s David Murdoch takes on Ontario’s Glenn Howard in the men’s game.

The Continental Cup involves four disciplines within the sport, each worth a designated number of points - Team Games (72 points), Mixed Doubles (36 points), Singles (32 points) and Skins Games (260 points).   The first side to score 201 points is declared the winner. Each member of the winning side receives $2,000, while the losing side members get $1,400 each from the $88,400 total purse.

Coming into Medicine Hat this year, both sides were knotted at two wins apiece.   North America took the inaugural ‘Cup’ in Regina in 2002 and the 2004 renewal in Medicine Hat, when an attendance record of 42,317 was set.    Europe prevailed in 2003 in Thunder Bay and last year in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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