Jones rallies to capture title at Red Deer event

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2009 (6135 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AT the 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts the Jennifer Jones rink struggled early and needed to rattle off eight straight wins to capture the national women’s curling championship.

The Winnipeg-based squad needed a similar comeback on Monday in the final of the Red Deer (Alta.) Curling Classic.

Calgary’s Shannon Kleibrink — the same team Jones beat to win the 2008 Scotties — built a 4-0 lead thanks to a four-spot in the second end and appeared to have the game in hand. But Jones’ foursome clawed back, eventually stealing one in the eighth end to knot the score at seven and added another steal in the extra end to score an improbable 8-7 win.

The Jones rink won $9,000 for its undefeated weekend and have now topped $40,000 in earnings this season to lead the World Curling Tour women’s money list.

In men’s action, Edmonton’s Randy Ferbey humbled hometown favourite Rob Armitage of Red Deer 8-3 in the final.

The Ferbey Four lived up to its name, stealing four in the fourth end to take a commanding 6-1 lead into the break.

The win was worth $8,500 and vaulted Ferbey’s team six spots on the money list. They now sit in seventh place with over $25,000.

Edmonton’s Kevin Martin had the largest payday of the weekend, cashing a $10,000 cheque for winning the Whites Drug Store Classic in Swan River, Man.

Martin doubled up Dave Boehmer of Petersfield, Man., 6-3 in only four ends in the championship match.

The win pushes the Team Martin earnings to more than $49,000 this year. The team maintained its third-place position on the money list behind squads skipped by Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont., and Thomas Ulsrud of Norway, who were both idle this week.

Brandon’s Lois Fowler locked up a berth in the provincial senior women’s curling championship Feb. 25-March 1 in the Wheat City by scoring a 7-5 victory Sunday over Joyce McDougall, also of Brandon.

Fowler, who has won the provincial berth three of the last four years, “and the fourth was cancelled due to not enough entries,” got past Fort Garry’s Chris Scalena 10-6 in one semifinal, while McDougall defeated Hamiota’s Sandra Cowling 8-6 in the other.

Her team of third Gwen Wooley, second Lori Manning and lead Lynn Sandercock, have been together for all four years, and Fowler says they have a mission this year.

“We won the provincials last year in Starbuck, and then won a bronze at the Canadian championships in Prince Edward Island, when we lost to B.C. It’s really nice to get this berth early, and not have to worry about qualifying (now) because I’d sure like to go back to the Canadians. We have some unfinished business there (Ottawa) in March.”

— Staff / Canwest