Stonewall’s Judy and Bill Kitching are headed east to represent Manitoba at the Canadian Stick Curling Championships in Wolfville and Windsor, NS, March 25 to 29, after capturing the Manitoba Stick Curling Association’s inaugural Sun Life Mixed Two-Person Provincial Championship, held in Stonewall Feb. 20–22.
The Kitchings finished second in their six-team pool before advancing to face 2025 Canadian Open champion Ralph Nespor and mixed partner Norma Purdy (Stonewall/Assiniboine Memorial). A key win over the Nespor-Purdy duo propelled them into the semifinal, where they defeated 2023 Canadian Open champion Norm Magnusson and partner Melanie Shura (Fort Rouge).
In the championship final, the Kitchings squared off against 2019 Canadian Open champion Ross McMillan and his partner and sister, 2024 Manitoba women’s champion Bev Schick (Warren/St. Vital). McMillan and Schick had edged the Kitchings in round-robin play to claim top spot in the pool.
In a tightly contested final, McMillan and Schick trailed by one coming home but managed a single to force an extra end. With hammer in the extra end, the Kitchings scored one for a 4-3 victory.
To reach the final, McMillan and Schick defeated David Green and Arlene Deprez (Stonewall), who had topped their pool with a perfect 5-0 record.
In the bronze medal game, Magnusson and Shura used a pair of deuces and a stolen single to build a 5-2 lead over Green and Deprez heading into the final end.
the Canadian Stick Curling Championships will be held in Wolfville and Windsor, NS, March 25 to 29, 2026.
