The final regional Masters berths were identified Wednesday – bringing to thirteen the number of competing teams identified for the provincial Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters Championship in Portage.

In Beausejour, former Canadian Senior Men’s champion Carl German (East St. Paul) was a shut-out winner over Doug May (Beausejour) to win the second East region berth.

In the West region, Lawrence Daniel (Hamiota) won the second berth in Minnedosa, needing an extra end to beat clubmate Brian Tolton 7-6 and in Melita, Barry Lowes (Virden) was a 7-4 winner over Al Fitzmaurice (Brandon). As there were a total of five available berths in the West, Fitzmaurice and Tolton will playoff for the extra spot.

TEAMS QUALIFIED for Manitoba Masters Men’s Championship:
Defending Champion: Randy Neufeld (La Salle)
Bob Picken Bonspiel Berth: Lionel Walz (Pembina)
Winnipeg Berth: Mark Franklin (Granite)
Winnipeg Berth: Robin Nelson (Granite)
Winnipeg Berth: Mike Mahon (Granite)
Winnipeg Berth: Stan Struthers (Pembina)
West-Melita Berth: Murray Warren (Brandon)
West-Melita Berth: Barry Lowes (Virden)
West-Minnedosa Berth: Murray Jorgenson (Hamiota)
West-Minnedosa Berth: Lawrence Daniel (Hamiota)
West-Playoff Berth: WINNER Tolton-Fitzmaurice
East-Beausejour Berth: Lawrie Hogg (Stonewall)
East-Beausejour Berth: TBD
South-Winkler Berth: Allan Gitzel (Miami)
North Berth: TBD in December
Brandon Bonspiel Berth: TBD in January

(Nov 14) (UPDATED) WARREN AMONG SEVEN MASTERS BERTH WINNERS TUESDAY: Murray Warren’s Brandon team, bronze medalists at last fall’s Canadian Masters at Pembina, defeated Jim Renwick (Brandon) 3-2 Tuesday to earn a berth in the Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters championship later this season at Portage la Prairie.

Renwick dropped to the B-Side of the draw in Melita and was beaten by Al Fitzmaurice (Brandon), who will play Barry Lowes (Virden) Wednesday for the second berth.

In Minnedosa, Murray Jorgenson (Hamiota) was a 5-4 winner over Morley Walker (Arden) to earn the first available berth. Walker, Lawrence Daniel & Brian Tolton (both Hamiota), and Butch Mouck (Minnedosa) will play Wednesday for the second berth.

In Beausejour, Lawrie Hogg (Stonewall) was an 8-2 winner over Carl German (East St. Paul) to win a provincial berth. German will play Doug May (Beausejour) for the second berth.

In Winkler, Allan Gitzel (Miami) defeated Louis Tanquay (Winkler) 7-5 to win the B-side of the playoff ands earn the provincials berth.

The three berth winners at Winnipeg’s Fort Rouge club were Robin Nelson- Granite (7-6 over Mike Mahon-Granite; Mahon (6-3 over Skuli Johnson-Granite); and Stan Struthers-Pembina (6-5 over Neil Okumura-Pembina.

(Nov 13) FORMER CHAMP FRANKLIN EARNS MASTERS BERTH: Former champion Mark Franklin and his Granite team are the first of thirty-two teams competing this week across Manitoba to earn a berth into this season’s Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters championship.

Franklin (Jamie Hay, Barrie Campbell, Greg Ziemanski) defeated another former champion skip, Gord McTavish, Monday afternoon to join the two teams already qualified for the Portage championship. Defending champion Randy Neufeld and Bob Picken Masters Berth Bonspiel winner Lionel Walz and their teams have previously qualified.

Across Manitoba, there are seven teams competing for two berths in each of Melita and Minnedosa; six teams are playing off in Beausejour for two spots; and there are three teams competing for one berth in Winkler. Nine teams started the Winnipeg regional playoff with four berths available.

Former Manitoba champion, and 2022 Canadian bronze medalist, Murray Warren and his Brandon team are in the Melita playoff. Warren will play perennial; contender Jim Renwick (Brandon) for the first Melita berth. Morley Walker (Arden) will play Murray Jorgenson (Hamiota) for the first Minnedosa berth. In Beausejour, former Canadian Senior champion Carl German (East St. Paul) will play Lawrie Hogg (Stonewall) for the first berth.

In WInkler, Joe Fouasse (Lorette) will play Allen Gitzel (Miami) in the A-side final.

At Fort Rouge, Mike Mahon (Granite) will play Robin Nelson (Granite) for the second Winnipeg berth to be awarded.