Grant Hardie, Alina Patz win AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic titles

It didn't take long for Grant Hardie to win a significant event with his new rink.

The Scottish skip downed John Epping's Manitoba team 6-4 to capture the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic men's title on Sunday in Cornwall, Ont.

Hardie formed his own rink after spending almost an entire decade with Bruce Mouat, winning two Olympic silver medals and a pair of world championship gold medals.

Hardie, Ross Whyte, Craig Waddell and Euan Kyle went 8-0 at the Shorty Jenkins.

Epping's new Winnipeg rink, meanwhile, gets a spot in the Grand Slam of Curling Co-op Invitational next month in Victoria as the highest-finishing rink at the Shorty Jenkins not already in the field.

In the women's Shorty Jenkins event, Switzerland's Alina Patz captured her third title in as many events with a 4-3 win over fellow Swiss skip and reigning world champ Xenia Schwaller.

Patz also is returning to skipping this season after spending the past two Olympic cycles with Silvana Tirinzoni.

Patz also beat Schwaller in the Euro Super Series final and the Stu Sells Tankard championship game in Oakville, Ont.