CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — It’s the kind of shot Jennifer Jones has carved a career out of.
But this time, the Winnipeg skip’s final-rock spectacle wasn’t to be, and it cost the 36-year-old a place in the history books.
Jones was an angle double-raise takeout away in last night’s Hearts final from becoming just the second skip to win four consecutive national women’s championships.
“I had a shot to win, and I missed it,” a stunned Jones said.
Her teammates couldn’t believe it either.
“I always think she’s going to make it,” third Jill Officer, fighting back tears, said after her team fell 8-7 to Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland. “She threw it exactly the way she wanted to, and it was looking great coming down. I thought we had it when it made contact.”
They didn’t, and Jones will no longer wear the Maple Leaf at the world championship.
“They’re pretty emotional,” Officer said of such a tough loss. “Obviously we’re disappointed.”
“I’m really proud of our team and how we did this week,” first-year player and third Kaitlyn Lawes said. “It hurts, but obviously Amber’s team was very talented and played very well all week.”
BITERS: Holland won the Sandra Schmirler Award as the most valuable curler in the playoffs. She outplayed Jones 83% to 68% in the final.
Holland also won the shot-of-the-week award, for the delicate tap-back that scored three and tied the game, 6-6, in the sixth end ... A crowd of 2,828 took in the final, about 400 short of a sellout. Combined attendance for the event was 48,473, slightly up on the ’99 event, here, albeit with two more games ... Nova Scotia defeated Ontario, 9-7, in the bronze medal game.
