Nancy Martin wins A-event at Viterra Scotties, moves onto playoffs

Nancy Martin defeated her former skip to punch her ticket to the playoffs.

Martin’s rink defeated Sherry Anderson’s team 7-6 Friday afternoon at Affinity Place in Estevan to become the first team qualified for the playoffs after a perfect 3-0 start to the 2023 Viterra Scotties Provincial Championship. Martin will now get a lengthy break, not playing until 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Martin was the third on Anderson’s tour rink from 2019-22 and appeared at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts with her in 2022.

The loss by Anderson put her rink into the B-event. After defeating Brooklyn Stevenson’s team 7-2, Anderson will play in the B-event final on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

That set up a showdown with Robyn Silvernagle’s rink (4-1) and a battle between family members. Anita Silvernagle, who is Robyn’s mom, is the lead for Team Anderson (4-1).

Defending champion Penny Barker and her rink kept her hopes of defending the title alive with a 8-5 win over Ashley Howard in the C-event. Barker (1-2) lost her first two games of the tournament and will need to win five in a row to repeat and win a second straight title.

Barker will face off with Cindy Ricci’s rink at 10 a.m. Saturday. Also on at that time will be Jessica Mitchell and her team against Stevenson’s squad as well as Lorraine Schneider’s rink against Skylar Ackerman’s team.

The winner of the tournament will represent Saskatchewan at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Kamloops B.C. from Feb. 17-26.