Ten ladies rinks took to the ice on the weekend for the SaskPower Women's Northern Playdown in Tisdale and the Battleford rink skipped by Tina Hill came within a point of advancing to the Provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Hill went up against Heather Burnett of Martensville in the first game and won 12-0 in seven ends. From there, Hill's rink played Robyn Silvernagle of Meadow Lake and pulled out a 9-8 win while scoring two points in the ninth and 10th ends.
Next, was Debbie Folk of Saskatoon, and again it was a close match, as the Battleford rink held on to take a 6-5 victory and advanced to the A side qualifier.
Hill's rink was shutout 7-0 by Patty Hersikorn of Saskatoon, who earned a berth at provincials with the win.
Hill's rink dropped down to the B event and this time the Silvernagle rink earned the win by a 7-4 score.
In a win or your out situation for the remainder of the weekend, Hill's rink won 9-7 over Burnett and advanced to a C qualifier.
Darelene Gillies of Unity along with teammates Wanda Heitt, Trish Johnson and Tracy Heidt edged Hill's team by a 7-6 score. Gillies scored two in the ninth and one in the 10th to earn the final qualifying spot.
Hill's rink includes Nicole Beausoleil, Christy Walker and Rebecca Venn.
Joining the Hersikorn and Gillies rinks at Provincial Scotties from the north will be Silvernagle and Folk. From the south advancing to provincials is Michelle Englot, Cindy Ricci, Mandy Selzer and Samantha Yachiw. The four teams, which received pre-qualifying spots to Outlook's Provincial Scotties included defending champion Amber Holland, Stefanie Lawton, Chantelle Eberle and Penny Barker.
The men look to complete the provincial field after northern and southern playoffs are completed this weekend. In the north Rosetown, Eston, Martensville, Yorkton, Naicam, Prince Albert, Shellbrook, Saskatoon, Unity and Battleford will be represented. The local team hoping to advance to the Tankard in North Battleford Feb. 2 to 6 includes skip Louie Lessard, Lorne Voinorosky, Kevin Valliere and Brian Welford.
