Canadian skip Rachel Homan achieved a significant milestone on Sunday by leading her Ottawa-based team to an 8-2 victory over Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni in the CO-OP Tour Challenge final held in Nisku, Alta. This victory marked Homan’s 19th Grand Slam title, surpassing Kevin Martin to become the most successful skip across both divisions. Homan, who hails from nearby Beaumont, Alta., clinched the final in front of a supportive crowd that included her family and friends.
Comprising of Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, and lead Sarah Wilkes, the team earned $34,500 for their triumph. This final encounter marked the ninth time Homan and Tirinzoni had faced off in a Grand Slam women’s final, with Homan emerging victorious in seven out of nine matches. Reflecting on her achievement, Homan expressed her gratitude for breaking records at her hometown Slam event, emphasizing the surreal experience of accomplishing it in front of loved ones.
In the final, Homan took an early lead by scoring four points in the first end and maintained control throughout the match, eventually securing a steal of one in the fifth end and two more points in the sixth. Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Scotland’s Bruce Mouat secured a 5-2 victory over Matt Dunstone of Winnipeg, Man., by scoring deuces in the first and fourth ends. This win added to Mouat’s collection of 11 Grand Slam titles, while Dunstone had previously claimed his second Grand Slam title at the AMJ Masters in London, Ont.
The match between Mouat and Dunstone was highly anticipated, as it was a rematch of the 2016 world junior final where Dunstone earned bronze for Canada and Mouat claimed gold for Scotland.
