Four-time national champion Jennifer Jones will be representing Canada at the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Swift Current on March 20-28 after a thrilling 8-7 extra end win over Kathy O'Rourke's PEI foursome in Sunday's championship final of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie.
In a classic championship final, the lead changed hands or was tied seven times, with Jones capturing her fourth Canadian championship with a take-out in the 11th end.
Many had written Jones off after O'Rourke had taken a 6-3 lead after a steal of a pair in the sixth end. But Jones and Team Canada came roaring back with a single in the seventh, a steal of one in the eight, and a steal of two in the ninth to open a 7-6 lead.
In the tenth end, Jones had a tap back attempt with her last rock which could have given her shot stone, but she was light and that left the window open for O'Rourke with a chance for the win. O'Rourke was wide on what would have been a game-winning double take out and instead settled for the single and a 7-7 tie after 10 ends.
Team Canada, curling out of the St. Vital Curling Club in Winnipeg, features lead Dawn Askin, second Jill Officer, third Cathy Overton-Clapham, and Jones at skip.
Jones is looking for redemption on the world stage, as Team Canada dropped the bronze medal final at the 2009 worlds in South Korea, marking just the fifth time in 31 years at the world women's championship that Canada finished out of the medals. During the Roar of the Rings Canadian Olympic Trials, Jones and Team Canada finished with a disappointing 2-5 record.
Jones has won the 2008 world women's championship, and has won a quartet of Canadian champions with wins in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
O'Rourke's rink and the Jones foursome both topped the Scotties round robin standings at 8-3. During draw 14 of the round robin, O'Rourke posted two-point ends in the final three ends to earn a 9-5 win over Jones.
In the Page Playoff one versus two showdown to decide who advance straight to the championship final, Jones earned an 8-5 win.
O'Rourke earned a rematch with Jones by scoring a 10-6 win over Ontario's McCarville in the semi-finals.
