Image

Randy Bryden ready to deliver

It came down to the last rock for the final qualifying spot available at the Sasktel Southern Men's Curling Playdown in Swift Current.

Former Canadian Mixed Champion Randy Bryden hit and stuck for one to beat Langenburg's Jeff Hartung 3-2. Bryden lost in the A and B finals before finally qualifying in one of the C finals.

"You never like to lose that A-qualifier," Bryden said. "I've seen so many times where a guy loses the A-qualifier and then loses the rest of them. We tried to get focused and ready and kept battling. Came out today and it was the last shot. If you get last rock coming home tied, gives ourselves a chance and it worked out."

Bryden was impressed by the job the Swift Current Curling Club did in hosting the event.

"It was great the ice was fantastic," Bryden said. "I heard coming in that the ice was pretty straight, but we had lots of swing. When you have that you can play lots of shots. The crowds were pretty good. (Saturday night) I looked up and there wasn't a spot that was empty."

The Max Kirkpatrick rink out of the Swift Current Curling Club lost to Hartung 8-7 in the C semi-final Sunday morning. Whitewood's Jason Krupski topped Assiniboia's Alan Batty 9-5 in the other C-Final.

Brent Gedak, Chris Busby and Brent Goeres also qualified.

Interview with Randy Bryden:


Video of Bryden's second last shot:
 
Video of Bryden's final stone: