The Lauren Jenkyns rink is shooting to deliver a sweet repeat at the Dominion Curling Club Championships.
The winner at next weekend’s provincials advances to nationals at the Mayflower Curling Club in Halifax, scheduled for Nov. 24 to 29.
“Obviously we’re excited. We would really love to go back,” Jenkyns said. “We enjoyed the experience last year and we do want to repeat so we’re trying to stay calm and focused.”
The Dominions is an annual event for the winning men’s and women’s rinks at their respective club championships. A playdown format produces champions from all 10 provinces and three territories, plus a separate entry for northern Ontario, for nationals.
Last year, Jenkyns, third Kathy Piper, second Laurie Schreiner and lead Diana Backer swept away the competition in four games at Fort St. John, B.C., and at the fifth annual nationals they finished 3-3 in the seven-team grey pool at the Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay, Ont.
In the last round robin game, and with Alberta needing a win to force a tiebreaker, Jenkyns’ last shot wrecked on a guard and the Manitoba skip didn’t have to play her final stone in the 9-7 victory by the Brandon Curling Club rink.
“There were a couple of shots in a couple of games we still think about. I know for me personally I had one rough game at nationals (Northwest Territories stole the winning point in eight after Jenkyns’ last shot didn’t go according to plan) that I think about every now and again because I don’t want to repeat it,” Jenkyns said. “It’s all about the importance of keeping your head in the game and just taking that extra second in the hack, line up, let it go and throw it like you can.”
In March, with Cindy Bobowik at lead – Backer is skipping a Granite rink at provincials – the Jenkyns’ foursome finished 4-1 at Northerns at the Ottewell as one of two B-side qualifiers for provincials.
“Cindy wasn’t with us last year (at nationals) so obviously we would like to give her the same experience as well. It’s a tremendous feeling and environment going to the next level,” Jenkyns said.
Bobowik was on the rink during its run as winners of the 2014 President’s Cup playoffs at the St. Albert Curling Club (4-0 record), and the Edmonton and area Tournament of Champions (4-0 as the third women’s rink from St. Albert to win the city banner since 1993).
The St. Albert club championship was the eighth in a row for Piper and Schreiner, the third for Jenkyns and Bobowik’s first with the rink.
“Cindy was a great addition,” said Jenkyns, the youngest curler on the veteran lineup at age 26. “We all get along really well. Kathy and Laurie have been friends forever so they have a great chemistry together and it kind of bridges from front end to back end as well.
“We just like to have fun and do the best we can.”
Provincials start Friday at 1 p.m. at the Edmonton Garrison Memorial Golf and Curling Club. The eight-rink draw will be finalized at the meeting of all the rinks at 11:30 a.m. and the double knockout competition includes a Page playoff format.
“They are just putting in their ice right now, I think, so we haven’t had a chance to get out there yet. But, Thursday they have practice ice so we’ll go and throw rocks and try and get a feel for it,” Jenkyns said. “Obviously it’s nice, it’s so close to home. We will have a big cheering section because we have a lot of family and friends that are interested in coming down to show their support.”
The defending champs have curled in only two St. Albert Wednesday night league games and won both of them.
“We’re off to a good start so far,” Jenkyns said. “We’re getting back into the rhythm of things. It’s tough with (provincials) being so close to the beginning of the year but everybody is in the same boat.”
