Kelowna’s Bob Ursel is flirting with a three-peat at the $60,000 Twin Anchors Curling Classic. And he’s doing it amongst some of the best competition available.

Ursel, backed by Vernon’s Jim Cotter (third), and Kelowna’s Kevin Folk (second) and Rick Sawatsky (lead) improved to 3-0 after shading Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen 5-4 in extra ends Friday afternoon to advance to today’s noon semifinal. The championship game goes at 3 p.m.

After icing Sexsmith, Alta.’s Ron Chrenek 5-2 Thursday night at the Vernon Curling Club, Ursel, who is hoping to three-peat here, stole five points over the final four ends to ground 2007 world champion Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont. 8-3 Friday morning.

“We’re off to a good start, and hopefully we can keep it going for a bit,” said Cotter, who throws skip’s stones for Ursel.

“They (Howard rink) had a couple funny rocks that didn’t help them out a whole lot. There were a couple shots that Glenn had thrown that looked pretty good and just didn’t quite get the result, and we were fortunate to get a couple steals.

“They’re obviously the world’s best... but we’ve played them and (Kevin) Martin and all those guys lots. So maybe the first few times (you’re nervous), but after that you don’t really get them as much. We’ve still got a huge respect for them though.”

Cotter was recently awarded with Curl B.C.’s Male Athlete of the Year.

“It’s an honour to get it, there’s a lot of guys in the province that deserve it,” said Cotter, adding wins at Canada Cup West in Edmonton and Karuizawa International Curling Championship in Japan, probably helped put him in the spotlight.

“Another thing with that award is I couldn’t do it without my teammates. From my eyes, it’s the team’s award – we all earned it.”

Joked Ursel: “It’s just pure luck.”

More seriously, Ursel added: “He brings a lot to the team. He’s always dialing it up when he needs to. Off and on the ice he’s a real gentleman too. That’s part of the whole award, too. It’s not just being a great athlete, it’s being a good person.”

Winnipeg’s Kerry Burtnyk, another Canadian curling heavyweight, opened with a pair of wins, only to fall 8-5 to Edmonton’s Kevin Koe Friday. Koe (3-0) gained the other automatic berth to Sunday’s semi.

Burtnyk, a former world champion (1995), held off a late charge by Kelowna’s Brendan Willis to win 6-5 Thursday night, then orchestrated a four-point sixth end to brush back New Westminster’s Jay Peachey Friday morning.

“We seem to be catching on to the ice, but we’ve got a long way to go yet,” smiled Burtnyk, who arrived in town early to get in a round at Predator Ridge.

“The ice here is really good for a curling club, so that’s great, and the hospitality has been really good so far.”

The Burtnyk rink (2-1) opened their season two weeks ago by bowing out to Ursel at the Saville Shootout in Edmonton. Ursel stopped former world champion Randy Ferbey of Edmonton 5-2 in the final to pocket $4,500.

The Vernon cashspiel is an Asham World Curling Tour event so offers valuable points towards entry into the 2009 Road to the Roar (Olympic Pre-Trials) in Prince George, Nov. 10-14.

“This season is a little different because we’re focussed on the pre-Olympic trials in November,” said Burtnyk. “So basically, instead of worrying about results and points and stuff like that, all we’re really worried about is getting some time in and starting the season to build a little momentum.

“It’s a little different mind set than we normally have at the start of the year... it’s a little more relaxed actually.”

While other Twin Anchors teams are busy ramping up for Olympic pre-trials and trials, the young Russian men’s foursome is using cashspiels like this as a development tool. Their focus will be the 2014 Winter Games, hosted in Sochi, Russia.

Anton Kalalb, 21, curls lead for Russia, who represent their country at both the junior and senior level. Kalalb, with some help from team host/interpreter Jerry Waselenkoff, explains there is a major difference between the ice in Canada and the ice in Russia.

“It’s fast, it curls. We play on hockey ice,” grinned Kalalb.

“These Canadian tournaments are very good for us. Canadian curlers are very good in the world. We are very happy to play with the best Canadian teams... Ferbey, (Calgary’s Kevin) Koe...”

The young Russians plan to attend other spiels in New Westminster, Medicine Hat and Kamloops.

Meanwhile, in women’s Twin Anchors action, Crystal Webster and Cheryl Bernard, both of Calgary, remain undefeated at 3-0. Kelowna’s Kelly Scott is the top local rink at 2-1.

The semis go at noon today, followed by the final at 3 p.m.

Visit www.worldcurlingtour.com for up-to-date line scores.