Several Jones rivals already on the ropes

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This article was published 24/10/2015 (3933 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some of the possible contenders for Jennifer Jones’ buffalo jacket are clinging to life at the Canad Inns Women’s Curling Classic, with a fat prize purse on the line.

Elimination games start today at the triple-knockout bonspiel in Portage la Prairie, and some of Manitoba’s leading women’s teams are already looking to trek the long road out of the C-event: including Michelle Montford, Darcy Robertson, Jill Thurston and Cathy Overton-Clapham.

Now, they’ll look to claw their way back up to clinch a spot in the playoffs, which run all day Sunday at Portage Curling Club.

Overton-Clapham landed there after she lost the second two of her three tilts thus far. This morning her rink, which is filled out with a young vice and front end, will face Thurston in the first round of the C-event. Montford and Robertson will also square off in an elimination match at that time.

Also on the bubble is Sherry Anderson, the beloved Saskatchewan veteran and longtime Stefanie Lawton vice.

Meanwhile, Jones’ foursome — far and away the favourites to win this contest — opened their Women’s Classic with a quick march to the cusp of the A-event qualifying match. There, they met Saskatchewan’s Michelle Englot in a battle for a playoff berth, which was set to end after press time Friday.

The season, so far, hasn’t been a red-hot one for Team Jones. Of their previous four events, they missed the playoffs in two, and the highest they climbed was a semifinal in the Stockholm Ladies Cup. Still, they already know they’re heading back to the national Scotties as the reigning Canadian champs.

Meanwhile, the cast in Portage la Prairie this week includes most of the contenders for the 2015-16 Manitoba championship.

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By Friday night, Kristy McDonald was just just two wins away from qualifying after she sent Robertson packing in B-event play; McDonald will pick up that quest this afternoon.