Tour Roundup: Dunstone, Tabata win in Red Deer
Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone captured the Red Deer Curling Classic men’s title with a little help from super spare E.J. Harnden.
Dunstone defeated Team John Epping of Sudbury, Ont., 6-0 during Monday’s final in Red Deer, Alberta.
Harnden was subbing for third B.J. Neufeld, who could not attend the event due to prior commitments. It was a family reunion as he rejoined his brother Ryan Harnden, who plays lead for Team Dunstone. The pair won an Olympic gold medal, a Brier title and seven Grand Slam championships with their cousin, skip Brad Jacobs.
Colton Lott moved up to third with Harnden playing second.
Harnden played with Team Brad Gushue during the previous two years but parted ways last month.
Team Dunstone finished the event with a 7-1 record.
It’s the second tour title of the season for Dunstone, who won the Henderson Metal Fall Classic last month in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Meanwhile, Team Momoha Tabata topped Team Satsuki Fujisawa 7-4 in an extra end to take the Red Deer Curling Classic women’s title during a matchup between Japanese clubs.
Team Tabata had fallen to a 2-2 record and into the C Event of the triple knockout before rattling off six straight wins.
Tabata has now earned four tour titles this season.