Ahh, the pipes… Jones gets sweet sendoff

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This article was published 09/03/2009 (6365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JENNIFER Jones and crew may be known as Team Canada, but underneath all the world titles and corporate sponsorships they still call the St. Vital Curling Club home.

Jones and her rinkmates were piped into the St. Vital rink on Sunday afternoon in a good luck gesture to the team as they prepare to head off to the world championship from March 21-29 in Gangneung, South Korea.

“I grew up at this club and last year they made us honourary life members. They’re always at the airport for us and they send e-mails. They mean so much to us and it makes you realize when you win what it means to these people and the rest of the country,” said Jones, now a three-time Canadian champ and hoping to repeat at the worlds.

Jones, along with third Cathy Overton-Clapham, second Jill Officer, lead Dawn Askin, fifth Jennifer Clark-Rouire and coach Janet Arnott, will leave for Korea on Saturday.

“Experience can’t hurt you,” offered Jones. “We’re heading over a few days early and hope to soak in some Korean culture and then be ready when the action starts.”

Winning the Canadian title and now travelling across the globe for the worlds doesn’t seem like a daunting challenge for Jones.

“It’s never a grind for us. We love to play and we love to play together. We’ve been in some pressure spots and we savour them,” said Jones. “We know what to expect and hopefully we’ll be ready for anything that comes our way.”

While the team was relaxing in a side room prior to the ceremony, a young curler snuck in to wish them good luck.

“I didn’t expect to get interviewed. I just came in for some hugs,” smiled 14-year-old Natalie Lemoine, a junior curler at St. Vital. “That’s the goal for all of us young curlers, to be like them someday.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca