Fierce competition did not stop Hope curlers Debbie McKinney, Rosalee Floyd and Pattie Desjardins from bringing Team Jones to victory last weekend.
The team, featuring both Hope and Chilliwack players in the 50 plus age group, were one of four teams from the Jan. 26 to 28 playdown at Tunnel Town Curling Club in Delta to qualify for the BC Senior Curling Championships. If the team plays as they did this weekend, Skip Kelly Jones of Chilliwack said the self-declared underdogs have a good chance at the tournament later this month.
“We’re kind of the underdog and the unknowns, because going into the seniors a lot of the women are 55 and over. We’re relatively on the younger side of that,” she said.
“Maybe we’ve got a little more stamina than the rest, so that’s in our favour.”
Skip Jones was joined by lead Desjardins, second Floyd and third McKinney. The team played five draws, winning four.
Jones said the team came together exceptionally well, remarking on Floyd’s performance in the qualifying game.
“Rosalee made a couple of pistols that got the other team in trouble. In our last game, when we played Lisa Deputan, that was the game that qualified us, Rosalee just played outstanding,” she said.
“I’m just really proud of how everyone pulled together. On a whole we all played really, really well.”
Jones built the team five years ago, this year was the first time the team went to the zones to compete. Jones’ health kept them out of the circuit last year, which was the first time they could have entered.
Jones and McKinney have curled together for sixteen years, it was a waiting game to curl together at the seniors level as the team had to wait for Debbie to turn 50.
The players on the team have known each other and have curled together for years, which makes a huge difference on the ice.
“We all just get along so well and we’re all in the same headspace. We think so much alike when we’re on the ice. There’s no bickering,” she said.
“We just really become one as a team and we work really, really well together.”
Lead Desjardins can’t make it to provincials. Who will take her place has yet to be determined, Jones said.
The senior women’s provincial championship will go ahead Feb. 20 to 25 at Enderby Curling Club. It is the first year the BC Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championship will be held separately, with the men playing at the Duncan Curling Club.
Is there more to this story?
emelie.peacock@hopestandard.com
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