News National

HUMBOLDT, Sask. — Pierre Charette of Gatineau, Que., captured the National Grand Slam of Curling title after holding off defending champion Glenn Howard 8-7 in Sunday’s final.

Charette, who picked up $25,000, also spoiled Edmonton’s Kevin Martin bid to sweep the Grand Slam of Curling this season with a 7-5 win in the afternoon semifinals. Martin, the 2002 Olympic silver medallist, won the first two stops of the four-event series capturing the Canadian Open in December and the Masters in January.

Howard, of Coldwater, Ont., scored three in the 10th to beat Winnipeg’s Vic Peters 7-4 during the semis to reach the championship game. Howard earned $15,000 while semifinalists Martin and Peters collected $10,000 each.