#30 World-Ranked Christina Black with Jill Brothers at third, Jenn Baxter, Marlee Powers and Karlee Everist on the front end look to gain momentum heading into the Canadian Olympic Trials this month.
Black had a bit of a slow start to their season, falling to #30 after being a team high of #15 this season. They have failed to qualify for the playoffs in four of their five events so far.
This week, they played in their home city at the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic. Last season at this event, they went 6-1, losing the final to Scotland’s Rebecca Morrison.
Black finished 4-1 in the 12-team qualifying round. In their opening game, Black defeated Brooke Godsland (St. John’s, NL) 9-3, then went on to lose 10-5 against Stevens. Black responded with an 8-4 win over Rebecca Regan (Lower Sackville, NS). Black won 7-6 against Melissa Adams, then won 5-3 against Tanya Hilliard (Halifax, NS) in their final qualifying round match.
In the quarterfinals, Black defeated Cassidy Blades (Halifax, NS) 7-1; they then defeated Andrea Kelly (Fredericton, NB) 6-4 in the semifinal.
This set up a match with Ontario’s Danielle Inglis in the final. Black started with the hammer due to their better round robin record.
Black got their single in the first end, then Inglis took the lead with two in the second. After a blank in the third end, Black got two in the fourth end. They then traded deuces in the fifth and sixth ends. Inglis tied the game in the seventh with a single point. Ultimately, Black was able to protect against the steal, taking the 6-5 victory.
On the men’s side, New Brunswick’s James Grattan defeated Newfoundland and Labrador’s Adam Boland 10-1 in the final.
Black gains much-needed momentum with that win, heading into the Canadian Olympic Trials starting next weekend.
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