A 4 wins – 1 loss round robin record and three consecutive playoff wins over Canadian Open Stick champions has earned Bill & Judy Kitching (Stonewall) the championship in the Manitoba Stick Curling Association’s inaugural Sun Life Mixed Championship presented by Jim Anton.

The Kitchings finished second in their six team pool and advanced to play 2025 Canadian Open champion Ralph Nespor and his mixed partner Norma Purdy (Stonewall/Assiniboine Memorial). The win over Nespor/Purdy put them into the semi-final, where they defeated 2023 Canadian Open champion Norm Magnusson and his mixed team partner Melanie Shura (Fort Rouge).

That set up the final game against 2019 Canadian Open champion Ross MacMillan and his partner (and sister) 2024 Manitoba Women’s champion Bev Schick (Warren/St. Vital). McMillan/Schick had beaten them in the round robin to earn first place in the pool. Down one coming home, MacMillan/Schick could score only one to tie. With the hammer on the extra end, the Kitchings were able to score a point for a 4-3 victory.

To reach the final, MacMillan/Schick had beaten David Green/Arlene Deprez (Stonewall) who had won their pool with an unbeaten 5W-0L record.

In the Bronze Medal game, between Magnusson/Shura and Green/Deprez, two deuces and a stolen single point gave Magnusson/Shura an insurmountable 5-2 lead coming home.

The fourth pool winners, Jim Webster/Darlene Maywood (Stonewall/St. Vital) were also unbeaten before losing their first playoff game to Magnusson/Shura.

Nespor/Purdy had a 5W-0L record in winning their pool while MacMillan/Schick had a 4W-1L record to finish first in their group.

The other two playoff qualifiers were Blair Coggan & Brenda Woods/Stonewall and Harold Peterson/Donna Borkowsky/Beaiusejour.