Defending champion Jeff Bauer and Jim Birch are the first two rinks to reach the semifinals in the A event of the 67th annual Red Deer Farmer’s Bonspiel at the Red Deer Curling Centre Wednesday.
Bauer downed Rob Purdie 6-3 and Birch stopped John Evans 9-3 and the two will meet Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw four rinks moved into the quarter-finals.
Keith Glover downed Stuart Steele 8-4 and will face Dale McMullen, who stopped Bill Brett 8-4. Miles Lewis also remained alive with a 7-5 win over Graeme Rice and will face Wayne Edmondson, who defeated Norm Crossman 6-1. Both quarter-finals go at 2:30 p.m. today.
Two rinks — Don Bonham and Melvin Johanson — also advanced into the B event semifinals. Bonham defeated Steve Ramsey 8-3 and Johanson edged Jim Richardson 4-3.
On women’s side, Michelle Bradford and Corrine Lougheed reached the Farmerettes final, set for 7 p.m. Friday.
Bradford advanced with a 10-2 win over Corinne Dixon and Lougheed stopped Kate Kosola 9-2.
Farmers
Wednesday
Noon Draw
A Event
Wayne Edmondson 6 Norm Crossman 1, Miles Lewis 7 Graeme Rice 5, Jeff Bauer 6 Rob Purdie 3, Jim Birch 9 John Evans 3.
B Event
Melvin Johanson 4 Jim Richardson 3, Don Bonham 8 Steve Ramsey 3.
C Event
Henry Rangen 7 John Sahlin 2, Dennis Duncan 8 Richard Scott 3.
2:30 p.m. Draw
A Event
Dale McMullen 8 Bill Brett 4, Keith Glover 8 Stuart Steele 4.
B Event
Jody Towers 7 Larry Marshall 3, Murray Stringer 8 Brian Bickley 3, Doug Radomski 4 Joey Gustavson 3, Ross Morrison 7 Murray Reay 4.
C Event
Ken Brown 9 Charlie Watley 0, Clarence Martin 6 Frank Olson 1.
Tuesday 8 p.m.
Bonham 9 Smith 7; Crossman 9 Watley 4; Lewis 7 Stol 6; Ramsey 9 Ray 4; Johanson 7 Duncan 4; Richardson 9 Scott 1; Rice 8 Lougheed 5; Edmondson 5 Brown 1.
Farmerettes
A Event
Corrine Lougheed 9 Kate Kosola 2, Michelle Bradford 10 Corinne Dixon 2.
B Event
Brenda Williams 7 Mel Belich 2, Gina Belich 6 Kim Lewis 1.
C Event
Jacquie Cummerford 6 Linda Steele 3, Linda Dick 6 Kerri Towers 5, Laurie Duncan 9 Mary Verbunt 3, Dorothy Dixon 8 Sandy Phillips 7.