The Roar of the Rings is more of a weeklong endurance race than a sprint, but it still helps getting a good jump out of the gates.
Calgary's Cheryl Bernard was the only rink to have a 2-0 start after a 6-5 victory over Regina's Amber Holland yesterday morning that required a triple measurement.
"That was pretty nail-biting at the end of that with the measure," Bernard said.
"We're struggling a little bit with the ice and some of the rocks on that sheet. It's an end sheet, so it's a little bit different. It worked out in the end, though.
"I don't like measurements."
But she does like a strong start, which she added to in the evening draw with a 9-6 win over Crystal Webster's fellow Calgary rink in Bernard's most dominant win on her way to 3-0.
"That was a little struggle, but it feels good to be where we are," Bernard said.
Especially after escaping with a big five-ender to close out Sunday's opener against Thunder Bay's Krista McCarville and the measurement in yesterday's second draw.
Bernard said it was the closest of her career, ahead by only 0.4 of a measure. But it was enough for a win.
"That was pretty close," said Bernard. "It seemed really close because the game meant a lot too.
"It's just one game at a time, you've got to keep going."
Webster dropped a pair yesterday after opening the tournament with a win over Calgary's Shannon Kleibrink on Sunday.
Scoring a pair in the 10th to tie the score 7-7, Webster forced extra ends in an 8-7 loss to Saskatoon's Stefanie Lawton yesterday morning.
"If we can be tied up in a game like that where I'm having a struggle it's a pretty good position for us to be in," Webster said.
"We had a really great chance to win that. (Lawton) made a really great shot with her last one."
With four other teams sitting at 1-2, Webster said the loss to Bernard wasn't the worst thing to happen.
"At this point, Bernard could just go win them all," Webster said.
"That's fine with me, and let the rest of us pick away at each other."
Kleibrink's rink bounced back from an opening loss to Webster on Sunday with a pair of victories yesterday.
She defeated B.C.'s Kelly Scott 9-6 yesterday morning in a rematch of the 2005 Canadian Cup of Curling.
"Really, it was just the right shot at the right time," said Kleibrink, who scored three in both the second and fifth ends to take a 6-3 lead.
"The first three was the one that was big."
As was the 9-3 victory Kleibrink earned over Holland last night.
She said yesterday wasn't exactly a do-or-die situation, despite coming in 0-1.
"You're still going to have to get on that roll, you're going to have to win five in a row at some point anyway," Kleibrink said. "My prediction is three losses will get you something. It's such a tight field."
GERRY.MODDEJONGE@SUNMEDIA.CA
