Surprise! Martin and Glenn Howard top the Brier
Last Updated: Monday, March 9, 2009 | 12:24 AM ET
CBC Sports
No one's exactly taken aback by the fact that defending champ Kevin Martin, pictured, and rival Glenn Howard are leading the Brier. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)The 2009 Brier is off to a predictable start.
Pre-tournament favourites Kevin Martin and Glenn Howard are tied atop the standings with perfect 3-0 records after convincing wins Sunday evening in Calgary.
Martin — the defending champion who's representing Alberta — crushed Saskatchewan's Joel Jordison 11-3 in Draw 5 at the Saddledome, while Howard — the 2007 champ from Ontario — defeated British Columbia's Sean Geall 7-4.
"It's going pretty good," Martin said. "That was a good solid effort tonight. We didn't miss much."
Earlier in the day, Martin beat Quebec's Jean-Michel Ménard 7-5, and Howard routed Northern Ontario's Mike Jakubo 9-2.
Martin and Howard, who have accounted for four of the last six finalists at the Brier and are currently the top two skips on the World Curling Tour's money list, won't meet in Calgary until the 17th and final draw of the round robin.
"I want to get off to a great start because the bottom line is you want to get as many wins under your belt to get yourself to the playoffs," Howard said. "You start losing games and you're in that hole and the pressure is on you to get to the playoffs."
Four skips are in hot pursuit of the leaders at 2-1 — Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton, Newfoundland and Labrador's Brad Gushue, Prince Edward Island's Rod MacDonald and Ménard.
The Quebec skip pounded New Brunswick's Russ Howard — Glenn's older brother is making his record 14th Brier appearance — by a count of 10-3 in eight ends on Sunday evening.
Gushue breezed past the winless Jakubo 8-5.
Heartbreaking loss
Gushue lost a heartbreaker in his first game against Ontario but came back with a win Sunday over B.C. prior to facing Northern Ontario.
"We had a good talk [about the loss to Ontario] and just chalked it up to a big choke," he said. "You can go two ways after a loss like that — you can grind back or you can fold and we're not the type of people to fold.
"There have been great curling teams thrown together over the years that on paper, at least, should win any championship. But without the chemistry, it often doesn't work.
"You could take the four best curlers in the world and if they don't have chemistry they won't come close to winning anything," said Gushue, the 2006 Olympic gold medallist.
Action continues with three draws on Monday. The morning session features Martin taking on Territories skip Jamie Koe (1-2) and Stoughton facing Ménard.
