Cathy Gauthier wasn't about to let a problem ear drum stop her from representing Canada at the World Women's Curling Championship.

The lead of the Jennifer Jones rink visited Winnipeg ear, nose and throat specialist Mark Barker yesterday to have a myringotomy on her left ear. The procedure, an incision in the ear drum, opened it up enough to allow her to fly to Scotland for the world championship without fear of it bursting again, like it did when she landed in Toronto en route home from last month's Canadian championship in St. John's.

Gauthier had to take a train from Toronto to Winnipeg and her doctor was worried she might find herself in the same situation when she flew to Europe, but yesterday's operation calmed those concerns.

"I have not been nearly as happy as everyone else on the team because I figured if I hadn't been able to go it's a long stinking boat ride over to Scotland," Gauthier said yesterday.

Jones said she was never worried Gauthier wouldn't make it.

"We didn't really talk about it a whole lot because we were never concerned she wouldn't play," said Jones.

Had Gauthier not been able to go, fifth Trisha Eck would have had to step in.

"I had the utmost confidence that she was going to be OK," said Eck. "I practised lots just in case, but I never thought I'd have to play.

"It's more of a relief than a disappointment."