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HOT STREAK CONTINUES – Bob Smallwood, pictured at last month’s Yukon Brier playdowns, led his team to the territory’s mixed championship title in Atlin, B.C.

Smallwoods sweep up mixed championship win

The Smallwoods’ torrid run atop the Yukon curling scene continued last weekend in Atlin, B.C.

By Marcel Vander Wier on February 10, 2016

The Smallwoods’ torrid run atop the Yukon curling scene continued last weekend in Atlin, B.C.

Bob Smallwood, who recently wrapped up his second straight Yukon Brier title last month, teamed up with his wife, Jody Smallwood, to earn the Yukon mixed championship title.

The team also included second Scott Odian – also a member of Yukon’s 2016 Brier roster – and lead Shannon Hall.

The rink finished the bonspiel with a 5-1 record – tops among participants – and will represent the territory at nationals in November.

The 2017 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, the 54th renewal of the traditional two-man, two-woman national event, will be played Nov. 14 to 19, 2016, at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, N.S., according to Curling Canada’s website.

Four teams competed for the Yukon berth in a double round-robin event last weekend.

Smallwood’s rink lost just once, dropping their final game 5-1 Sunday to runner-up Dustin Mikkelsen.

Smallwood had rapped off five straight wins: defeating Ray Mikkelsen, Herb Balsam 10-4, Dustin Mikkelsen 9-2, Ray Mikkelsen 7-5 and Balsam, again, 10-3.

Dustin Mikkelsen – Ray Mikkelsen’s son – finished with a 4-2 record, while the elder Mikkelsen took third with an overall record of 2-4.

Balsam’s rink finished 1-5 after knocking off Dustin Mikkelsen 9-3 in the event’s first draw on Friday.

In January, Smallwood earned the Yukon men’s title.

For the second straight year, his rink will attempt to win their way into the main draw, squaring off against the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia and Nunavut in a mini-tournament prior to the Brier, March 3 to 5.

Meanwhile, Jody Smallwood participated in the Yukon Scotties championship as a lead for Team Duncan, who ultimately lost to Team Baldwin in three games.

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