Ulsrud beats Laycock at The National; Olympic champs Jacobs and Jones also win

OSHAWA, Ont. – World silver medallist Thomas Ulsrud of Norway edged Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 5-4 at The National on Thursday afternoon while reigning Olympic champ Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., held off Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher 5-3.

In other Draw 8 action, Tracy Fleury of Sudbury, Ont., scored seven points in the fourth end of a 9-1 laugher over Julie Hastings of Thornhill, Ont.

Edmonton’s Val Sweeting topped Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni 4-3 and Olympic champ Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg needed an extra end to beat Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., 7-6.

In evening play, Calgary’s Pat Simmons hammered Switzerland’s Sven Michel 7-3, Glen Howard, from Penetanguishene, Ont., used an extra end to edge Toornto’s John Epping 4-3 and Brad Gushue of St. John’s N.L., toppled Jean-Michel Menard of Quebec City 7-3.

Also, Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson came from behind to defeat Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg 7-6 in an extra end while Stefanie Lawton slipped past American Jamie Sinclair 4-3.

The National is the second major event on the Grand Slam of Curling schedule.

The playoffs begin Saturday afternoon and the finals are set for Sunday.