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Carey, Overton-Clapham clinch Scotties playoff spots

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 01/29/2011 5:18 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

ALTONA -- The round robin is done here at the 2011 Manitoba womens curling championship and the favourites are exactly where everyone thought they’d be at the start of this event -- in first place.

Chelsea Carey finished a perfect 7-0 with a 7-2 victory over Brandon’s Lisa Blixhavn Saturday morning, while Cathy Overton-Clapham finished at 6-1 with a thrilling 8-7 extra end win over Kerri Einarson Saturday afternoon.

The victories mean Carey and Overton-Clapham both finish first atop their respective eight-team pools and will play each other Sunday morning in the page playoff 1 vs 1 game. The winner of that game will advance straight to Sunday’s final while the loser will get a second chance in the semi-final.

Overton-Clapham needed a draw to the four-foot with the last rock of the extra end to beat Einarson -- and then needed a measure to close the deal.

"It’s been a little stress. This is new to me, obviously, skipping and being in that position," said Overton-Clapham, who played third for Jennifer Jones on the last three Canadian champions until she was fired last spring.

"We’ve been coming on stronger as it's been going," she continued. "Obviously there’s always room for improvement and we want to do that tomorrow morning."

Meanwhile, 2001 Manitoba womens champion Karen Rosser continued her unexpected run here on Saturday, defeating Michelle Montford 8-5 to finish at 6-1 and claim a playoff spot.

Rosser finished second to Carey in their pool and will now play in the 2 vs 2 page playoff game Sunday morning. The winner of that game advances to the semi-final, while the loser is eliminated.

Who Rosser plays in the 2 vs 2 game must still be determined, however, thanks to Joelle Brown.

Down 6-4 in the tenth end to Janet Harvey this afternoon, Brown executed a perfect double-takeout with the last rock of the game to score a game-winning three.

The win elevated her record to 5-2, the same record as Harvey and Einarson and forces two rounds of tiebreaker games.

In the first tiebreaker, to be played here at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Harvey will play Einarson. The winner of that game will then advance to play Brown at 7:45 p.m., with the winner of that game then advancing to face Rosser in the 2 vs 2 game on Sunday.

Brown got the bye to the second tiebreaker because she beat both Harvey and Einarson during the round-robin.

"We didn’t think we’d be in this position so we’re happy to be here," said Brown. "My legs were a little weak, but they’ve been a little weak all week. So yes, very excited and very happy."

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