MEDICINE HAT, December 13…North America inched further ahead at the 2007 Continental Cup Thursday afternoon, taking two of the three women’s teams games in Draw 2 to open a 30-6 lead over Europe.

Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones edged Russia’s Liudmila Privivkova, 6-5, while Debbie McCormick of Wisconsin had no trouble with Denmark’s Angelina Jensen, 8-3, scoring three’s in the first and third ends.  Each victory was worth six points.

Europe finally broke through on the scoresheet when Scotland’s Kelly Wood defeated the reigning world champion, Kelly Scott of British Columbia, 8-6, to earn the visitors their first points in the unique, four-day competition.

Tonight, at 6:30 pm MST, three men’s team games will be featured, as Alberta’s Randy Ferbey faces Andy Kapp of Germany, 2007 Ford world men’s champion Glenn Howard of Ontario takes on 2006 world champion David Murdoch of Scotland and Todd Birr of Minnesota meets Switzerland’s Andreas Schwaller.

The Continental Cup, presented by Monsanto, involves four disciplines within the sport, each worth a designated number of points - Team Games (72 points), Mixed Doubles (36 points), Singles (32 points) and Skins Games (260 points).   The first side to score 201 points is declared the winner. Each member of the winning side receives $2,000, while the losing side members get $1,400 each from the $88,400 total purse. 

Both sides are knotted at two wins apiece.   North America took the inaugural ‘Cup’ in Regina in 2002 and the 2004 renewal in Medicine Hat, when an attendance record of 42,317 was set.    Europe prevailed in 2003 in Thunder Bay and last year in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

CBC-TV will provide live coverage of the Continental Cup on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, when the final men’s and women’s Skins Games take place.   CurlTV (www.curltv.com) is also offering event coverage to its subscribers.

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