16 rinks filled with the best curlers in Alberta over the age of 60 will descend on the Airdrie Curling Club today (March 3) for the start of the Provincial Master's Curling Championship.  

Eight men's and eight ladies rinks will take part in the event that runs until Sunday, March 8th.  Two of the rinks are from Airdrie.  The men's team is skipped by Lorne Goodman and includes third Barry Ralph, second Terry Gair and lead Les Lovstad.  The Airdrie women are skipped by Laverne Salyn and includes third Janet Biagioni, second Adele Williamson and lead Lynn Hartsburg.

Don Delair is the Manager of the Airdrie Curling Club.  He says teams arrive today and will get together to try out the ice in Airdrie as well as for team meetings.  The curling action gets underway with the first draw tomorrow morning at 10:00 am and the spectators that come out are in for some great action on the ice.

"Most of them have played competitively their whole lives," explains Delair.  "They came up through the men's and ladies division and a lot of them played in the senior levels and represented different levels throughout Alberta and then, of course, going on to Master's level which is 60 plus.  So they've played competitively all their lives and we're looking forward to some good curling."

Delair says the opening ceremonies are set for 3:00 pm Wednesday.  If tie-breakers are needed, they'll go Saturday at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm.  If no tie- breakers are needed, the semi-finals will go Saturday evening.  Sunday morning at 9:00 am another semi-final will be played.  The Championship final goes Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm.  

The winners from Airdrie will advance to the National Championship in New Brunswick.

Delair really hopes that Airdrie will come out to witness this high calibre event.  "Yeah, absolutely.  We're hoping the local community will come out and watch some good curling.  We've got a lot of volunteers here who helped everything out so we're hoping for a big event."

You can follow the scores of the event HERE.

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