Colleen Jones has nothing left to prove in her curling career.
The Canadian Curling Hall of Famer has earned six Canadian championships and two world titles. On Wednesday, she’ll join forces with three teammates with which she’s won all but one of those titles as they gun for another provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts trophy at the Halifax Curling Club.
Jones savours the exhilaration of victory but insists it isn’t an obsession. Priority No. 1 is playing well, peaking when the pressures on.
“We’ve played a lot of games where we’ve played absolutely brilliantly and not won,” she said.
If there’s any truth in something being in one’s blood curling would certainly apply to Jones, she said.
“I love the energy, that win or lose moment when you need to perform right now. I love the nervous energy, the tension. “
This time around she’s relinquishing her natural role of skip over to Mary-Anne Arsenault. She’ll be the team’s second along with lead Jen Baxter, third Kim Kelly and fifth Nancy Delahunt.
The squad is aiming for an Olympic birth – and a first place finish in the five-day tournament that runs until Sunday is a must.
Seven other teams stand in their way including back-to-back provincial champions Heather Smith-Dacey of Mayflower. The tournament features a round-robin format with the top three teams qualifying for the playoffs.
Jones said on Tuesday she has no problems about changing up her role with the team; she made the call.
“I’ve always approached this as a sacred team connection. I knew that at the youngest of ages. That it’s the foursome; it is the group; there can be no ego.”
Arsenault said everyone is on the same page and prepared to give it their all in search of yet another title.
“This is the key. We just know each other so well. We lived so many amazing experiences that there really is no option but to do it together,” said Arsenault.
For complete tournament information visit halifaxcurlingclub.com.
By: Philip Croucher - Metro Halifax
