FERBEY MAKES SHORT WORK OF MARTIN AT SKINS GAME TSN.CA STAFF 1/11/2009 1:48:23 AM The Casino Rama Curling Skins Game presented by Tow Truck In A Box got off to a fast start on Saturday with Randy Ferbey securing a spot in Sunday's final. Ferbey's rink took on Kevin Martin's foursome in the opening match-up of the event and captured seven of eight skins to punch their ticket. Ferbey captured the first skin, worth $1,000, in the first end but Martin replied quickly and took a skin of his own in the second end to knot the score at $1,000. But that was all his Alberta rink could muster on Saturday. The next two ends resulted in carry-overs and $5,000 was on the line in the fifth. Ferbey made the most of his opportunity coming up with the skin. He struck again in the sixth and stole a $3,000 skin. Martin just missed in an attempt to knock Ferbey from the house with the final rock of the end and fell behind $9,000-$1,000. After a carry-over in the seventh there was $11,000 on the line in the final end and once again Ferbey's rink came out on top. On the final rock of the end, Dave Nedohin managed to avoid several guards and make a tap-back to score the deuce and give his side the skin and the win with $20,000 in earnings. Ferbey admitted after the match that Martin was the victim of a few bad breaks. "They had a bad set of rocks and unfortunate picks but John (Morris) still made a great shot in the last end to force Dave to make his shot," explained Ferbey. Ferbey's rink will now face Glenn Howard in Sunday final on TSN and TSN HD at 1pm et/10am pt. Howard defeated reigning women's world champion Jennifer Jones in Saturday's second semifinal (TSN, 1pm et/5pm pt). The inclusion of the Jones' rink in the event marks the first time a first women's team will compete against men at the annual skins game competition. HOWARD STEALS HIS WAY TO BERTH IN SKINS GAME FINAL TSN.CA STAFF 1/11/2009 1:31:43 AM Glenn Howard made out like a thief in Saturday's battle of the sexes semifinal with Jennifer Jones at the Casino Rama Curling Skins Game presented by Tow Truck In A Box. The three-time world champion Howard stole six skins en route to earning $19,500 and a berth in Sunday's final against Alberta's Randy Ferbey, who earned $20,000 for his win over reigning world champion Kevin Martin. You can watch Howard and Ferbey square off for the remaining $57,000 in prize money live on TSN and TSN HD, Sunday at 1pm et/10am pt. Jones started with last rock but it didn't turn out to be much of an advantage as Howard stole the first two skins to open up a $2,000 lead early. Jones got on the board in the third end when she made good on a raise take-out attempt with last rock to score the deuce and a $1,500 skin. But Howard went into the fourth-end break with his $2,000 intact when Jones was unable raise her rock into the four-foot with her last shot. Howard stole three more skins as he continued to fill the four-foot with rocks, leaving Jones few options to remove them and score her deuce. With a $4,500 skin in the seventh end, he built up an insurmountable lead and claimed the victory. "Sometimes you're on the wrong side of the inch but we've got a great team and I wouldn't play with any other team," said Jones after the game. "It's a last rock game and I just didn't make enough of my shots today." For good measure, Howard stole the eighth and final skin as well to add another $6,500 to his winnings. Jones ended the day with one skin worth $1,500. Despite the loss, the Jones rink made history by becoming the first women's team to compete against men at the annual skins game competition. "It's a huge honour that they would include us with the likes of a Kevin Martin and a Glenn Howard and a Randy Ferbey," said Jones. "I believe that women's curling is turning a new leaf and getting to a better level." FERBEY RINK DEFEATS HOWARD IN FINAL END OF SKINS GAME TSN.CA STAFF 1/11/2009 11:26:38 PM Three-time World Champion Glenn Howard and Randy Ferbey went back-and-forth in the final of the Casino Rama Curling Skins Game presented by Tow Truck In A Box, but in the end the Ferbey rink won their second TSN Skins title. The two rinks traded skins over the first five and were even at $7,000 as they moved into the final three ends. Then, things got really interesting. After a carry-over in the sixth and again in the seventh, there was $43,000 on the line heading to the eight and final end. Ferbey's rink looked to be in control early in the end, but as the two teams had done through the entire match, they went back-and-forth. It came down to the final four rocks with a stone from each rink sitting in the house. Dave Nedohin continued his strong showing at the competition and made a pair of excellent throws to leave his rink with two rocks in the house. Howard could not come up with the shot he needed with the last stone and the Ferby rink stole the $43,000 and the win. As the winner, Ferbey is guaranteed a spot in the next Casino Rama Curling Skins Game. Over the competition, Ferbey's rink won $70,000, bringing his career TSN Skins Game winnings to $168,300. Howard takes home a total of $27,500 from the weekend. "Playing against such top-notch competition in a special venue like Casino Rama is a real pleasure," said Ferbey. "This is an unbelievable event and we're looking forward to coming back for the next one." Howard struck first and picked up $4,000 in the second after a carry-over from the opening end. His lead didn't last as Ferbey's rink quickly responded in the third and got themselves on the board with $3,000. They traded skins again in the following two ends with Howard taking $3,000 in the fourth and Ferbey picking up $4,000 in the fifth. This made-for-TV original TSN production is an annual all-Canadian event featuring four invited Canadian rinks competing for a total cash purse of $100,000. This year's event marks the first time a women's rink has competed against men's rinks in a TSN skins game. ENDS SEMIFINALS FINAL 2009 FINAL STANDINGS: 1 & 2 $1,000 $2,000 Randy Ferbey $70,000 3 & 4 $1,500 $3,000 Glenn Howard 26,500 5 $2,000 $4,000 Jennifer Jones 1,500 6 $3,000 $6,000 Kevin Martin 1,000 7 $4,500 $9,000 8 $6,500 $13,000 Draw to the Button Bonus = $1,000 Draw to the Button Bonus = $1,000: Howard Tournament Winner Bonus = $15,000 Total Prize Money = $100,000