MEDICINE HAT, December 15…North America and Europe each came away with nine points in the Mixed Doubles session Saturday afternoon at the Continental Cup, being presented by Monsanto.

The results left North America with a 137-63 lead, going into tonight’s (7:30 pm MST) three 30-point Skins games for women, men and Mixed.   The hosts are now only 64 points away from clinching the title, needing 201 to claim the Cup.

Draw 8 results at The Arena saw North America (Glenn Howard & Jeanna Schraeder) pull out an unlikely 8-6 win over Europe (Jackie Lockhart and Niklas Edin).  Unfortunately for Lockhart, her last brick took out two of Europe’s own stones in the house, leaving Howard with a hit for four and the win.

However, Europe (Andy Kapp & Denise Dupont) did score a 4-3 victory over North America (David Nedohin & Allison Pottinger) in the second game, while the other match ended in a 7-7 tie, when Europe (Andreas Lang & Lorna Vevers) took one in the eighth end against North America (Richard Hart & Sasha Carter), meaning each side got three points.  Wins were worth six points.

The revised Mixed Doubles format involved only two players per team, instead of the previous four (two throwers and two sweepers), who also become sweepers during the eight-end games.   Each team throws five rocks per end, with two stationary stones placed before each end, one in the house and one in front.

This was the second and last session of Mixed Doubles, which also were played on the opening morning on Thursday, when North America swept all three games.

The women’s Skins game tonight will see Europe’s Liudmila Privivkova battling North America’s Debbie McCormick, while Andy Kapp meets Randy Ferbey in the men’s game.   The Mixed Skins features teams skipped by Europe’s Andreas Schwaller and North America’s Glenn Howard.

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 feature Europe’s Kelly Wood facing off against North America’s Kelly Scott, while David Murdoch takes on Glenn Howard.

In Skins play, each end has a pre-designated value.  Teams take ‘skins’ either by stealing or by counting two or more with hammer.  If neither happens, the points are carried over to the next end.

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.

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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