Joey Payeur
Kathie Jackson isn’t going to let a change at front end throw her off kilter.
The Fort Frances skip said her revamped team is coming together nicely in anticipation of their appearance at The Travelers Curling Club Championships national playdowns in Ottawa, which starts Monday and runs through Nov. 28.
“We’re playing Wednesday night in the men’s league and doing very well,” noted Jackson, who will be joined in Ottawa by third Teresa McFayden, second Leanne Eluik, and lead Jackie McCormick.
“We seem to be clicking already.”
Jackson and McFayden, along with Eluik at lead and Jacquee Loerzel at second, qualified for the nationals by winning the provincial title back in March.
But in May, it was learned Loerzel was pregnant, with her due date right around next week’s event.
That left Jackson to make some roster moves on the fly—moving Eluik up a spot in the order and adding McCormick to the mix.
“On one hand, it’s bad timing for [Loerzel] and on the other, it’s wonderful she’s having a baby,” reasoned Jackson.
“The rules state that if you have to change a member of your team, that new member has to play lead,” she explained.
“It’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment for Jackie, as she usually skips her teams, but she’s fitting into the position perfectly.”
Jackson last made it to the event—when it was known as The Dominion Curling Club Championship—in 2013 with McFayden, second Lisa Penner, and lead Kris Sinclair, finishing with a 1-5 record.
Jackson said her and McFayden having walked this road before is not a huge advantage, though she does have a better read on the quality of teams that will be on hand in Ottawa.
“Those that can’t win at the provincial level are going to this event now, so the teams are getting better and better,” she remarked.
“I’ve curled at a number of Scotties’ provincials and the kind of competition at the Travelers’ nationals is comparable to that.”
Ottawa holds some happy memories for Jackson, who, along with husband, Lorne, and two others, previously won the Ontario college mixed provincials there, then went on to do the same at the nationals in Medicine Hat, Alta.
“We won’t say what year,” laughed Jackson, who is taking a simple perspective about her prospects this time around at the club nationals.
“You hope you curl well and what happens, happens,” she said.
“You just try and make the most of it.”
“It happens so early in the season, you have to make the most of the seven weeks beforehand, but that’s the same for everyone,” she stressed.
Draws will be streamed live at www.curling.ca/travelerscurls
