Official Newspaper of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Sunday, March 1, 2009

Sponsor of the Day

TODAY 5 p.m.

BRITISH COLUMBIA:Marla Mallett

DAY8

CANADA:Jennifer Jones

Sunday, March 1, 2009 2

INTRODUCTION TOCURLING

You’ve seen it…nowcome try it!!

Pre-register$10 per person

Sunday March 8, 200912 noon-2 p.m.

Presented by theVictoria Curling Club

1952 Quadra St.&

The Victoria CurlingPerformance

Centre

TM

www.2010LegaciesNow.com/hosting_bc/

Hosting BCTM is proud to support the 2009 Scotties

Tournament of HeartsHosting BC is a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and 2010 Legacies Now. Since 2004, Hosting BC has invested over $2.6 million in 34 communities, helping them host 189 national and international sport events.

Hosting BCTM helps BC communities bring sport events home.

hggnH nniiitttsssoooHH

ioB i

S9002htduorpsiMMTTCCBB

h

slanoitanretnidnaseitinummoc43ni

CBgnitsoH,4002aibmuloChsitirBfo

apasiCBgnitsoH

manruoTTottroppus

0Leg10.2www

s

.stnevetropslanoitan981tsohmehtgnipleh,

n oillim6.2$revodetsevnisahecniS.owNseicageL0102dnaae cniovrPehtneewtebpihsrentr

straeHfotnemseeiittttttttooccSS99000022eh

.com/hosting_bc/wsNogacie

l

CBsplehMTCBgnitsoH

mohstneevtropsgnirbseitinummoc

TM

.em

Mallett ready for the ‘right time’

Considering the manner in whichB.C. skip Marla Mallett has com-ported herself on the Save-On-

Foods Memorial Centre ice lanes thisweek, there’s a suspicion the blood run-ning through her veins is frozen.

Or maybe her nerves have been dead-ened, if she indeed has any.

“We are so well planned and scheduledI don’t have any time to think about any-thing else because this (Scotties Tourna-ment Of Hearts) keeps my mind going,”she was saying when asked about nervesor lack of them.

“This keeps me focused on the rightthings at the right time.”

There’s only one “right time” remainingfor Mallett. That’s 5 p.m. today.

She has racked up nine wins this weekand a 10th victory late this afternoonwould punch tickets for a junket to theWorld Women’s Curling Championship in

beautiful Gangneung on South Korea’seastern coast.

Something else. Mallett and her team ofGrace MacInnes, Diane Gushulak and Ja-calyn Brown would become a first-timewinner at the Scotties.

“I’m not easily distracted,” Mallett saidon the eve of the Scotties final day.

“If there’s a task at hand I can lock in onthat task at hand. When I’m curling I canplay an end and when it’s done I can put itin the corner and move on to the next one.

“I certainly do like to be planned, I liketo be scheduled, I like to be fairly regi-mented.

“We’ve done a lot of planning and a lotof work on this (quest) over the last two-and-a-half years and we’ve developedsome different systems for planning andscheduling to meet everybody’s needs sothat we’re getting what we need as indi-viduals and the team is getting what itneeds as a team.”

Throughout this gauntlet, the 38-year-old Mallett with the Pixie coiffure hasbeen a determined woman on a mission.

Turns out she’s a determined woman, pe-riod. Also a tidy freak.

“I’m regimented in life. I definitelydon’t like stuff lying around. Put a lid onit. Everything’s got a place so put it in itsplace, I say. Junk left lying around? Does-n’t happen. Dust bugs me. I have a dish-washer and they don’t go in the sink, theygo in the dishwasher. It’s just the way Iam. Nothing lying around. Ask my hus-band. I’m sure I drive him crazy.”

So hubby isn’t into the spic and span?“He’s getting much better,” said Mallett

with a smirk. “We’ve been married for 10years now or something? Actually he’spretty good. We’re very, very similar. He’ssuper, super supportive and I appreciatethat. I spend a lot of time at the club andhe’s there with me and taking care of mydaughter and putting the dishes in thedishwasher when I’m not there. So hekeeps me happy.”

Wow! Sounds like domestic bliss!

By LARRY WOODHeart Chart Editor

Marla Mallett hasnʼt had to battle nerves. PLEASE SEE MALLETT 15

The script is beginning to appear more fa-miliar with every rock that’s dispatchedat the Scotties Tournament Of Hearts in

the Save-On-Memorial Memorial Centre.Jennifer Jones and her defending champs

moved into today’s championship final againstB.C. Marla Mallett with a wild 12-8 semi-finalvictory over Quebec’s Marie-France Laroucheon Saturday night.

Jones and Co., have now won four in a row,reminiscent of their eight-game charge to thethrone room a year ago in Regina.

“It feels a bit like last year,” agreed Jones af-terward. “I think we’ve stepped it up a little bitin the playoffs.

“Obviously we had a couple of bad endsthere, the ice changed on us a little bit. But thisis the best we’ve played as a team all week soit’s a good feeling going into the final game.”

That showdown goes today at 5 p.m.The semi had all the makings of a cakewalk

early when Jones stole four in a second-endfour-foot cluster. Larouche was short on a drawto cut down the big end.

But the Quebeckers gutted it out with fivepoints over the next two ends. Actually, theyshould have scored back-to-back three-endersbut Larouche missed a last shot for three in thethird, then Jones erratically raised a Quebecstone in for a stolen trio in the fourth.

“The ice was just a little different,” saidJones. “It was curling a bit more and bothteams failed to catch on to it quickly enough.You start questioning yourself.

“But the back half of the game the ice re-turned to normal and that’s just what wewanted.

“We just don’t let adversity get us down.When I miss a bad shot like that (fourth end) Iknow I’m going to make the next few becauseI’m mad at myself for missing a bad one and Ifeel I’ve let the rest of the girls down and Iwant to make it up.”

The teams traded deuces in the fifth andsixth on the strength of precise last rocks, thenJones claimed another deuce in the seventh andmanaged to hold Quebec to one in the eighth

when Larouche was a foot heavy on a difficultdouble-raise to the centre ring.

Jones and her team of Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer and Dawn Askin decidedthe issue in the ninth with three-ender.

“Honestly, no, I didn’t think we’d be able tocome back from that first two ends,” saidLarouche. “That we did was great for us butright now I’m disappointed.

“When we came back I thought, ‘let’s go,maybe this is our chance and maybe we haveluck on our side’.

“But I didn’t play well. I was here to playmy best curling and it didn’t happen. I didn’tplay my best curling, for sure.

“I know it’s not the end. We have CanadaCup and Players and I hope I can be better. Iwasn’t in this ’spiel and I’m disappointed bythat.”

Larouche admitted Friday that she’s had anup-and-down week which she felt wasn’t re-flective of her team’s usual performance.

Meanwhile some experts suggested Joneswould be overwhelming favourite today.

“I don’t know about that,” she said.“They’ve played well all week. We’ve turned itup a little bit here and I’m sure it will be close,I’m sure it will come down to last rock and wewant to have it.”

Team Canada defeated B.C. in the finalround of preliminary play on Thursday night.

“We’re going to have to play well, we’replaying a team that has been playing well allweek,” said Jones.

“But this is what we worked all year for,playing in the final game, and no matter whathappens we’ve had a great week and it’s goingto be fun tomorrow. And if we don’t win, noregrets.”

She doesn’t expect a woolly, high-scoring af-fair life the semi-final.

“I doubt it,” she said. “We’ll try to mix it up,I think that’s the way curling should be playedbut everybody’s different and we’ll just dowhat we have to do. She (Mallett) has hammerto start so she’ll have to dictate a little bit of theplay but we’ll see what we can do.

“We love playing in these big games. We’renot scared of them. We love them. And we lovebeing out there together and enjoying the mo-ment together. No matter what anybody saysabout our team we support each other 150 percent.

“We all have experience. I don’t know if ex-perience is an advantage but I know it isn’t adisadvantage.”

3 Saturday, March 1, 2009

Deja-vu all over again?By LARRY WOOD

Heart Chart Editor

Jones following familiar script to Scotties final

Jennifer Jones has found her game just in time.

SEMI-FINAL

Teams skipped by John Shuster of Du-luth and Debbie McCormick of Madison,Wis., will reepresent the U.S.A. at the2010 Vancouver Olympic curling tourna-ment.

Shuster won the men’s berth Saturday atDenver with a wild 10-9 victory over TylerGeorge of Duluth in the qualifying final.Directing Jason Smith, Jeff Isaacson andJohn Benton, Shuster scored a four-enderand a three-ender en route.

McCormick, with Allison Pottinger,Nicole Joraanstad and Natalie Nicholson,

defeated veteran Patti Lank of Lewiston,N.Y. 8-5 in the women’s final.

McCormick was 10 wins, one loss inthe qualifying tournament, losing onlyto Erika Brown of Madison. She de-feated Amy Wright of Duluth 9-4 in thePage One-Two match leading to thefinal.

Shuster lost the men’s One-Two toGeorge, then bounced back to win two in arow including a 10-4 semi-final conquestof Todd Birr, the 2007 U.S. champ fromMankato, Minn.

Shuster, McCormick Oly-bound

Making a differencein the community where we work and play.

Home Autoplan Life Investments Group Business Farm Travel

We’re proud to support initiatives that help make our community a better, safer place for everyone.

Norm Moore Insurance and Financial Services IncNorm Moore, Agent

101-2455 Millstream RdVictoria BC V9B 3R5

Ph: (250) 478-5644Norm_Moore@cooperators.ca

DOWNTOWN VIC TORIA, BC

www.daltonhotel.ca

1.800.663.6101

759 Yates Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1L6 Direct: (250) 384-4136 www.DaltonHotel.ca

FREE

Continental

Breakfast

FREE

Nightly

Dinner VoucherExcluding Beverages & Gratuity

15% OFF15% OFF

An historic landmark Hotel

built in 1876,The Dalton

is Victoria’s oldest hotel.

An historic landmark Hotel

built in 1876,The Dalton

is Victoria’s oldest hotel.

TVICWNOWNTDO ORIA, BCT

1.800.6.dalwww

663.6101a.celonhotlt

Are Your Documents aDrain on Your Revenue?

IKON can help you turn that revenue drain

into a source of business savings. With our

consultative approach, IKON first seeks to

understand your needs, then applies and

integrates the hardware, software and

services that will best address your

document management requirements.

Ready to boost profits and productivity?

Set up an appointment with an IKON

representative today.

Call 1-888-ASK IKON or visit www.ikon.ca.

© 2008 IKON Office Solutions, Inc. IKON Office Solutions® and IKON: Document

Efficiency At Work® are trademarks of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. All other trade-

marks are the property of their respective owners.

On the button!

waterfront restaurant + patio

Floor-to-ceiling views of Victoria’s sparkling Inner Harbour West Coast Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine Sunday brunch

Large waterfront patio Gold medal chefs

680 MONTREAL STREET VICTORIA BC CANADA V8V 1Z8 T 250.414.6739 TF 1.800.663.7667 WWW.AURARESTAURANT.CA

Sunday, March 1, 2009 5

2009 VictoriaWho can beat this location? The hotel. The

arena. The weather. Great curling with closegames and an exciting finish. Ol’ Englishcharm. Horse-drawn buggies in the middle ofwinter. Yay!

1998 ReginaSandra Schmirler wins gold at Nagano and

returns on the day before the opening to playin the Scotties and defend her title as TeamCanada. The opening ceremonies were out-standing and, as the teams marched into thearena, the standing ovation went on for 10minutes. Total attendance outdrew the Brierthat year. Record still stands!

1999 CharlottetownPacked Arena. Incredible 50/50 draws. A

Heartstop that never stopped with fabulousentertainment. Wonderful food. A lobsterstarter at the Victory Banquet that was a mealin itself. Historic Charlottetown rolled outthe red carpet like no other.

1987 LethbridgeA cavalcade through downtown. 70-degree

plus weather. Ice melting much to ShortyJenkins’s chagrin. (It didn’t stop Shorty fromdancing at all the parties at the LethbridgeCurling Club.)

2002 SudburyThe 20th Anniversary.

Bill, the Tim Horton’sdriver wanted to know“how fast this suckercan go” (he wastalking about hisbus). Freezing rain.Ice storms. Delayedflights. Great cele-bration with pastchampions. Shan-non England had thehouse in tears talk-ing about Sandra andintroducing the newSandra SchmirlerFoundation.

1983 Prince GeorgeChurch parade — ser-

mon on circumcision.(Obviously forgettingwho was in the con-gregation). Our firstaccident on the ice(a broken arm).Guest speaker atthe Victory Banquetwho sat next to the

church minister used the “F” word (and itwasn’t “faith”) throughout his speech. Mayorfell asleep at the head table. Still, outstandingwarm northern hospitality.

1996 Thunder BayCold. Cold. Cold. Four teams lost in 10-

foot-high snow banks. The championshiptrophy went missing. It was Vic Rauter’s firsttime covering curling. First-ever male host-committee chair. First time for male teamdrivers. Wonderful gifts from local artists forall to take home.

2005 St. John’sGeorge Street. Hospitality unparalleled any-

where in Canada. Good crowds. “Atta boygirl”. The scenery. The people. The food. Theentertainment. Premier Danny Williams say-ing: “It takes a lot to get you here but onceyou’re here you always come back.”

2006 LondonThe 25th Anniversary.

Randy Bachman inconcert. Return ofthe old guard.Bob Stewart —one of thegreatest sup-porters of

Canadian women’s curling. An outdoor curl-ing rink across the street. Celebrating Shan-non Kleibrink’s return from the Olympics.

2003 BrandonWestern theme. Crazy games and cos-

tumes. Horses and riders storming the Heart-Stop Lounge. Host committee chair steppedaside to skip Team Manitoba. Two teamsfrom Manitoba facing off for the champi-onship. Packed house. The wave. Prairiegourmet feast featuring Buffalo tenderloin,wild boar and walleye.

FootnoteWhen I really think about it, every cham-

pionship was “the best ever”. Each one hadits own distinguishing memories. Every onecan make the Top-10 list because each wasunique and special. The common threadthroughout are the volunteers who continue28 years later to work so hard to showcasetheir city and to welcome all of us — curlers,sponsors and fans — from across Canadawith open arms and hearts. Friends from

coast to coast to coast. Forever family.

(Robin Wilson is the executivedirector of the Scotties Tournament

of Hearts)

Canadian women’s (Scotties)curling championships of all time

These top-10 Scottieschoices are totally in ran-dom order and are based

not on the calibre ofcurling or the results but

rather on my personalexperience. Itʼs been an

incredible ride andsometimes the bad timesare most memorable but

in the end they are allreally good times — all

memories that I cherish.

Shannon Kleibrinkʼsreturn from theOlympics wascelebrated in 2006

t h e b a y c e n t r e . c a

Let us help you hit thatfinancial target.

The aim of KPMG business advisors is to turnunderstanding of risk, industries and businesstrends into value for our clients—helping themmanage the challengeswhich change can bring.For more information, contact us at (250) 480-3500.

www.kpmg.ca

CIMCO Refrigerationwelcomes all participants

and fans to the2009 Scotties

Tournament of Hearts

1095 - Cliveden Avenue, Annacis Island,Delta B.C. V3M 6G9 (604) 525-8899

Interior & Vancouver Island 1-800-709-3369www.CIMCOrefrigeration.com

With over 4,500 ice surfaces installed worldwide,CIMCO is proud to be recognized as the worldleader in the design, engineering, manufacture,

installation and servicing of artificial ice rink systems.

HOUSE TO HOUSE INVESTMENT ADVICEWellington West Capital Inc.730 View StreetSuite 240Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3Y7Direct: 250.418.8829Toll Free: 1.866.418.8829

Wellington West Capital Inc. a member of CIPF C2429

A week to rememberEach year the Scotties Tournament of

Hearts brings together curlers, offi-cials, sponsors, volunteers and specta-

tors from across the country. Friendships arerenewed and the new ones that have beencreated will last a lifetime.

For those who think the Scotties are allabout curling have likely missed out on thetrue experience of such an amazing event.Don’t get me wrong, the curling was fantasticbut so was everything else.

Remember the Ford Hot Shots, whereTeam B.C. took a bye from the competition(first time in the history of the Scotties) andCheryl Bernard from Alberta, took the car?The banquet a week ago Friday night and theopening ceremonies on Saturday gave every-one an opportunity to honour the past cham-pions of this great game — allowing us tore-unite with our old teammates. Sunday wasa great day, too, as more than $140,000 wasraised for Sandra Schmirler Foundation, notincluding the more recent semi-final crowd

sweep! After the first stone was thrown on Satur-

day, the stage was set and the official grindwas off and running. The next few days werefull of fun and excitement as the teams werebattling for positioning in the standings,knowing that every win and loss would makea difference at the end of the week. Gameafter game, we saw many magnificent shots,

some unfortunate misses and some phenome-nal sweeping. Of course, no one will ever for-get Tuesday, and especially Kerry Galusha asher team from the Yukon/Northwest Territo-ries defeated Team Canada 10–8. It was onlythe second time in the history of the Scottiesthe Polars have beaten the defending champs.There are not many times you will see two100-per-cent games curled in a week (con-grats to Diane Gushulak from B.C. and Car-olyn Darbyshire from Alberta).

I will admit my week here was hectic.After meeting my “bosses” from the HeartChart, I settled my self into the media bench,rarely to leave until the column was writtenfor the next day. Then and only then could Igo over to the Heart Stop Lounge to makesure there was fun being had. After some in-vestigation, I can safely say that was theplace to be!

PLEASE SEE SOLIGO P15

More to Scotties than curling

MelissaSOLIGO

We would like tothank the

Friend Sponsors ofthe 2009 Scotties

Tournament of Hearts

BC Transit

DowntownVictoria Business

Association

Greater VictoriaChamber

of Commerce

Jet Ice Limited

FRIENDSPONSORS

7 Sunday, March 1, 2009

TODAY’S QUIZ

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Name the one B.C,- based skip with themost victories in Canadian women's curl-ing championship play.1. How many victories?2. In terms of playoff victories, where doesB.C. rank in Scotties annals, and what isthe province’s playoff won-lost record?3. Name the skip and hometown of thefirst British Columbia champ to competefor the Canadian women’s title when theevent was sponsored by Macdonald To-bacco.4. Name three British Columbia curlerswho won cars in the Ford Hot Shots com-petition that has prefaced the Scottiesevery year since 1995. (Hint: One of thesehas turned the trick twice).5. In which years did they win the cars?6. Name the curlers they defeated in theHotshots finals, and their home provinces.7. One other B.C.-based curler finished

runnerup to a car winner in the Hot Shots.Name her and the year she finished sec-ond.8 Since a sportsmanship award was insti-tuted at the Scotties in 1982, only one B.C.curler ever has been selected. Name herand the year.9. Kelly Scott last gave B.C. a nationalwomen’s title in 2006. Name the home-town and the skip she defeated in theprovincial championship final in order toqualify for the Scotties that year.10. Who skipped B.C. in the first Canadianwomen’s championship back in 1961? Ohyes, and she was from?11. Since Scotties all-star teams were firstchosen in 1982, B.C.-based skips havebeen named first-team on four occasions.Can you name the skips and the yearsthey starred?12. This one’s even tougher. B.C.-basedplayers have been named to all-starteams at third, second and lead positionson 12 occasions. Never mind the years,just name the 12 Brier stars and their posi-tions.

(Answers)

QofD: Julie (Sutton) Skinner.1. 34 victories.2. Third-best at 16-14 (.533)3. Ina Hansen, Kimberley.4. Sherry Fraser, Kelley Law (twice),Kristy Lewis.5. Fraser 1997, Law 2000 and 2001,Lewis 2002.6. Fraser beat Jan Betker ofSaskatchewan; Law beat ColleenJones of Team Canada and GeorginaWheatcroft of Team Canada.

7. (See above) Wheatcroft in 2001.8. Kelly Scott, 20069. Toni Welles of Maple Ridge.10. Margaret Fuller of Nanaimo.11. Juliie (Sutton) Skinner (1991), LisaWalker (1992), Kelly Scott (2006 and2007).12. Third — Lindsay Sparkes, CindyTucker, Jeanna Schraeder (twice); sec-ond — Donna Cunliffe, Debbie Jones(Walker), Georgina (Hawkes) Wheat-croft (twice); lead — Laurie Carney(twice), Kari Willms, Georgina Wheat-croft.

Hearts Trivia

You know The UPS Store for shipping, but did you also know thatThe UPS Store is Canada’s largest franchised network of smallbusiness resource centres?

The UPS Store is also Canada’s largest chain of copy & print cen-tres. Servicing the growing small/home office market, The UPSStore offers the convenience of a one-stop shop for small businessservices such as photocopying and digital printing, offset printing,worldwide courier services, packaging supplies and services, mail-box rentals, fax services, document finishing, and more.

With over 330 locations in Canada, there is one in your neigh-bourhood. Find yours at theupsstore.ca.

Proud supporter of The Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Be sure tocheck page 14for HeartStop

Lounge information!

Another Scotties, anothergreat show, and it’s not overyet. Curling buffs old and newturned out for this year’s edi-tion of the Canadian women’scurling championship at Victo-ria’s Save-On-Foods Centre.

After eight days of action,today we’re down to twoteams. And if the first week isany indication, we’re in for agreat final between British Co-lumbia’s Marla Mallett andTeam Canada’s Jennifer Jones.

2009 SCOTTIES COMING TO A CLOSEFans at this yearʼs Scotties came in all ages.

Brette Richards gave it her all for Team Manitoba.

Guys love their headgear at the Scotties —

even if itʼs pink! Albertaʼs Cori Bartel had a big booster.Alberta skip Cheryl Bernard got off on the right foot at the beginning

of the event by winning the Ford Hot Shots.

PHOTOSBY

ANDREWKLAVERand

DUNCMALCOLM

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is com-ing to the Soo, and while there are alwaysvariables involved, host chairman Sandra

Randa can promise visitors this much: the area’shospitality will blow them away.

“Everybody brags about their own city, andwe’re no different,” says Randa, who is in Vic-toria this week with five of her co-chairmen.“But when you talk about the Soo, the wordshospitality and friendliness always come up. Atthe Brier in 1990, people couldn’t believe thehospitality and how our citizens went out of theirway to welcome visitors. That’s just Sault Ste.Marie. When they talk about the friendly townof the north, that’s us. We will do everything wecan to make the players and fans happy.”

The event will be held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7,2010, just days before the opening of the 2010Olympic Games in Vancouver. The last time theScotties was held in Sault Ste. Marie was 1978,when it was called the Lassie.

The Soo also has plenty of other things thatwill make it a great experience for curlers andout-of-town spectators. You can start with theESSAR Centre, a three-year-old facility thatseats about 4,800, which is just about ideal forthe Scotties.

The facility is right downtown, with plenty ofhotels within walking distance. There are alsoother fine hotels within a 10-minute drive.

Randa also says out-of-town fans will love therestaurant scene in the city.

“The Soo is famous for its restaurants, espe-cially Italian restaurants,” she says. “They’refamily owned — not chains. The Italian cultureis predominant there.”

About 350 ticket packages have been sold sofar but the big push hasn’t yet begun.

The HeartStop Lounge, however, remains aquestion mark.

“They’re lucky they have a curling rink out theback door here,” she says. “We don’t have thatluxury. We’re still searching out answers, includ-ing a bubble structure.”

But she assures patrons will be well taken careof no matter where the party centre is located.

The entertainment package is likewise up in

the air, but it’s expected the stage acts will be amixture of good local talent and some Scottiesfavourites from out of town.

The volunteer drive will begin in about amonth and Randa doesn’t anticipate any prob-lems rounding up the 400 and 450 or so helpersshe’ll need.

“I already have a list 300 people who want tovolunteer, so I don’t see that being a problem,”she says.

Randa says the week in Victoria has been areal eye-opener for her committee members asthey try to find out what went right and whatwent wrong.

“Basically, we’ll take away a lot of ideas thatthis committee implemented and made work,”she says. “We’ve met with their counterparts,and I’ve met with Chris (chairman Atchison) andthey’ve all been great. They’ve shared a lot ofinformation.

“Now we have to take it all back home andmade sure people have a great Scotties.”

By DAVE KOMOSKYHeart Chart Associate Editor

Soo promisesfriendly faces

2010 SCOTTIES

Sandra Randa promotes The Soo.

Sunday, March 1, 2009 10

Adair, LanceAdamek, AngelaAdams, JoyceAinscough, BobAlexander, JackAllen, GlenAnderson, GlendaAnguish, ElsieAnthony, LornaArmbruster, MargArmour, TerryArmstrong, LenoreAtchison, ChrisAuger, MartyAustin, GailBailey, BobBaird, RonBall, LindaBarnabe, DennisBarwick, WayneBauer, JoanBeattie, JoanBeaulieu, PaulBeck, HansBecvar, RichardBeggs, MyrnaBeggs, SteveBeggs, WendyBell, JudyBembridge, WayneBenedict, FrancesBerry, GlendaBindernagel, DavidBindernagel,PamelaBishop, VickiBlackwell, MikeBlake, MeganBland, GeriBland, JackBlevins, CarolBoden, DarrenBombezin,GeorgesBonin, TerryBorrowman, AnneBoudreau, DenisBowers, ErinBroughton,HeatherBrown, LindaBryan, MatthewBurki, HeinzBurow, MarianBurrows, JeanBuzash, SheilaByers, AlisonByers, JuneCaird, BeverleyCameron, IrisCameron, Saman-thaCampbell, BeverleyCampbell, BillCampbell, NancyCanning, GlenCarne, NormCarter, JohnCarter, RosieCarter, SherryCato, LorrieCauvin, GaleCawley, SueCessford, WayneChester, BillChilibeck, LenChin, FloraClarke, DeborahClarke, JasonClosson, DonClosson, Sherri-LeeCoell, CharlesCoell, ChrisCole, BarryConroy, KarenCook, KristinaCooke, MarieCopley, Barbara

Coutts, RayCoyle, GeorgeCozens, HeatherCozens, RussCraig, RoselynCrisp, NelsonCrossley, ElaineCrozier, PatriciaCruwys, MarjorieCyr, EleanorDallin, BerniceDangerfield, NeilDavies, DaveDavies, LeiDavis, LindaDecksheimer,BrendaDecksheimer,RandyDeFoe, EileenDel Bel Belluz,PaulaDeMerchant,ChristopherDevlin, JohnDonison, KellyDonison, TammiDriemel, DarylDubas, TheresaDuff, MarieDuffus, LorraineDuke, DavidDunn, SusanEarnshaw, AmyEng, RaymondEnnis, SheilaFedoration, WillyFilleul, RickFitzsimmons, TaniaFletcher, JasonForbes, JohnForster, KarenFoster, BrendaFournier, BrianFournier, SueFowler, IrisFox, FrankFrame, IanFrancis, RobertFraser, ElaineFrost, KarenFuller, KenFuller, MarilynGagnon, LorraineGardner, LorraineGault, RobertaGelling, EricGerlach, RaymondGermain, DeannaGiles, BrendaGiles, GeorgeGiles, JanGordon, DianaGowler, JackGraham, JacquelineGrant, DouglasGray, LoriGray, ShirleyGreig, JimGrelson, ChrisGriffin-Howard,JudyGuthrie, LeeanneHackett, BronwynHackett, BruceHall, CathyHall, CherylHall, HeatherHall, JackHall, JoanHall, KevanHall, Mike

Hall, PeterHall, WayneHalpenny, LanaHamilton, MarionHansen, DarleneHansen, JimmyHanson, DonnaHarbidge, BudHarman, JulieHarrison, JeannineHarrison, PatriciaHartwig, BettyHauptman, MarkHaynee, MichaelHaynes, ShaunnaHennig, CarolHerlinveaux,LouiseHerr, RobertHicke, KelHodge, LorreenHoefling, ShelleyHogg, C. DavidHoneyman, KareenHoule, TaraHouston, DeborahHoward, GrahamHoward, RayHower, RobertaHowes, AliceHowie, MarlaHubic, PhyllisHummel, ChristineIbaraki, TonyInget, JillIuvale, GeraneJakubowski, AnniJakubowski,George (Jake)James, KeithJones, DavidJones, ToddKampman, JosephKeddle, CarolynKenney, DanielleKenney, EricKerpan, MarliesKing, Georgina(Jean)King, LoriKing, William (Bill)Kinney, GlendaKovach, JaneKraeker, MarilynKraft, JaniceKrieger, AndreaKrismer, MarniLaidlaw, JaniceLangdon, EllenLangdon, PaulLaRoy, RonLarusson, KeithLarusson, SharronLauder, BarbaraLauder, JimLazenby, JuneLeach, ArnettaLeask, BrendaLeBlanc, GillesLehmann, QuentonLenton, JoyLeonard, CorrineLevasseur, TomLister, GerryLowe, BrianLowe, MelodyLum, WallyLunan, ShirleyMacdonald, Chris-tineMacDonald,Sharon

MacKay, IrmaMacKenzie, Kath-leenMackey, MarciaMackie, BarbMacKinnon,NatashaMacLennan,ColleenMagee, GloriaMalins, DonMalnarich, PaulManick, SharronManifold, RickMarsh, PhilMarshall, RhondaMatkin, SuzetteMawdsley, AllanMcCalder, JanetMcCalder, Kim-berlyMcconachie,ChantalMcConnell, BillMcCormick, RoddMcDowell, DonnaMcDowell, RonaldMckay, BrianMckay, MarieMcKenzie, LouiseMcLennan, NancyMcNeill, HaroldMcNeill, LynnMcPherson, DaveMcQuarrie, PatrickMichaelMeckbach, TracyMelin, DaleMetcalfe, RonMillar, JamesMills, LindaMilton, DonMilton, IreneMinns, CherylMitchell, JeanetteMiyoshi, KenMochnacz, TomMochnacz, WarrenMollison, DavidMoroz, EvelynMorrison, PatMorriss, SusanMorson, GloriaMorson, WayneMoss, RoseMueller, DavidMylymok, JoyceNeilson, LuNeilson, PeteNeufeld, WaltNicholls, ChristineNishimura, DianeNoble, CherylNoble, GeneNoordhof, YvonneNorris, J GaryNott, MichelleNovak, Peni-LeeNoyes, ValerieNygaard, JimNygaard, JudyO'Brien, ChrisO'Brien, JudithO'Brien, JudyO'Brien, RachelleO'Leary, HeatherO'Malia, BerniceOates, GordonOates, SharonOdo, JimOlson, NinaOrdze, John

Ordze, JudyOrton, AlOslund, JoyceOswell, MichaelOvans, SuePage, RickPajunen, MargoPajunen, RonaldPalinkas, DebbieParker, GilPaterson, Loretta Pauhl, Lou AnnePawlinsky, RobbiePearce, RobPedneault,MichaelPelletier, ChristinePerry, RachellePetersen, GordonPick, GertiePick, RogerPillar, MavisPinfold, RonPrentice, MarilynPreston, AngiePreston, CarolinePreston, JonPrice, JuneProkopow, TomPross-Laseur, LudaQuast, NevaRainey, BarbaraReader, LouiseRedwood, RyanReedhead, ElaineRhodes, HarleneRiley, TerryRimer, MaryLynneRivers, BryanRoberts, SharonRoberts, ShirleyRobertson, ColinRobertson, Mered-ithRoche, LauriRoche, StuartRoss, JaciRozon, JosephRozon, SandraRussell, ColeenSandercock, BrianSanders, PatSandwith, HeatherSandwith, TomSauer, JudiSaxon, RayScherr, AnneSchiedel, DougSchiedel, HeatherSchmidt, JaneSchofield, LeoSchumacher, EvelynSchyf, AlanSchyf, Eduard (Ed)Schyf, HeatherServais, ShelleySheppit, BillShortill, DavidSilver, B. WayneSilver, MarjorySime, JanetSimmons, NormSimpson, BrendaSkillings, JoySkinner, CarolSkinner, JulieSkrypnick, BillSmigel, SusanSmith, DaveSmith, DougSmith, LynanneSmith, Sheila

MarieSmith, SusanSoligo, MelissaSomer, DonnaSpeed, NadeneSpiers, SueSpiers, WayneSteer, RuthStefanson, MarkStefanson, ShirleyStevenson, GwenStrandlund, PaulStratton, DianeStreifel, NeelaTaylor, JaniceTaylor, R (Bud)Tedesco, SherylTedesco, StelioThame, JackieThomas, MurrayThompson, BobThompson, DougThompson, FayeThompson, Mar-garetThompson, WilliamThomson, AnnTomick, Audrey S.Tomlinson, ToniTrevor, PatriciaTrick, AnneTroyer, TeresaTroyer, ToddTucker, CindyTurner, BarryTurner, TomTurner, ValVan Schagen, BillVasilash, RonVerhulst, LorneVincent, DonnaVink, SylviaVogelsang, ChrisWagg, DeloresWagner, PaulWallace, FranWalraven, KasperWalter, AvaWard, JimWard, SharonWarnock, BarbaraWarren, BobWatson, JacquieWatson, RobWenzel, KirkWest, LenaWest, MikeWheelhouse,SheilaWhittal, MartineWickens, PaulWilde, Allan F.Wilde, ElmaWilkie, PatWilliams, GailWilliams, J. DavidWills, JohnWills, NoreenWilson, DonnamaeWilson, HeatherWolters, TedWood, AlWood, MichaelWood, NancyWood, TeresaWoodcock, DonnaWoodcock, Nor-manWright, BeaYip, KenYip, MaureenYoung, JoanYoung, RandyZacek, FredZacek, LoriZiegler, TroyZorn, BernieZorn, LorieZupanc, John

Special thanks to all volunteers for your enthusiasmand dedication in making the 2009 Scotties Tourna-

ment of Hearts an event to remember!

It wasn’t an easy defeat to swallow forSaskatchewan’s Stefanie Lawton, whohad erased the drastic effects of a three-

loss start by winning seven of her last eightin the Scotties preliminaries at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

The subsequent 7-4 record, equalled bythree other teams, shipped the Saskatoonteam into Saturday morning’s sudden-deathPage Three-Four playoff against defendingchampion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg.

But Lawton and her team had been sittingaround for more than 24 hours waiting. Jonesqualified for the game by surviving a hair-raiser against Prince Edward Island’s Re-becca Jean MacPhee in a Friday tiebreaker.

Lawton drew the bye due to her improvedrecord in matches against the others.Saskatchewan had defeated both Team Canadaand the Islanders during the round robin.

“We played hard,” said Lawton, an 8-6playoff loser to the Jones juggernaut.

“We're disappointed, definitely, but theymade some great shots and we just couldn’tfollow them up.”

Down one without the hammer, Lawton hada rock biting the back of the four-foot besidea Jones stone and she drew her last in-turn tobite the top of the four behind a guard. But, as

it developed, Lawton need another foot in thetop four to make Jones’s last shot tougher.

The defending champ tossed an out-turndown to her own backing and remained count-ing by inches for the win.

“If we had brought that last one of mine atouch further she’d have needed the full fourcold,” said Lawton.

“Her rock hit the slide and then it stopped.”Jones took control with a second-end deuce

on an open hit after Lawton had papered aguard to take one in the opening exchange.Then Jones stole singles in the third andfourth ends for a 4-1 advantage. But the meanGreens outscored Jones 5-3 over the next fivepanels to make it close at the finish.

“I knew I had backing and I wasn’t in doubt,I was pretty confident watching it go down thesheet,” said Jones, directing Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer and Dawn Askin. “Butwe like to keep the crowd excited. Our gameshave been pretty close. Most of those quarter-inches were going against us for the first partof week and now they’re going in our favour.”

Lawton, who is still in the thick of con-tention for Olympic trials berths — Jones al-ready has clinched a berth — now moves onto defend the Canada Cup title at Yorkton inmid-March. The Saskatchewan lineup in-cludes Lawton’s sister Marliese Kasner atthird, Sherri Singler at second and Lana Veyat lead.

“We struggled a little bit at the start,” admit-ted Lawton. “They were putting pressure onus and we just weren’t getting the double peelswe needed. We did come on strong in the lasthalf but it wasn’t quite enough.”

Lawton exits,with head high

By LARRY WOODHeart Chart Editor

3-4 GAME

There’s something you should know about thisestimable news sheet to which you’ve sub-scribed the past nine days.

It never gets the final story. Sorry about that.The Heart Chart, you see, does not publish on

the post-Scotties Monday. Hence, we set uptoday’s championship final match in this last edi-tion. Hereafter, you’re on your own. The name ofthe winner of the 2009 Scotties will not berecorded for posterity in the Heart Chart. At least,not before the initial issue of the 2010 competitionin beautiful downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

Meantime, it has been a slice , folks. We’d liketo thank all the competitors for their time and

courtesy. We’d like to thank our supporters fortheirs. And we’d especially, also specifically, liketo thank our columnist-for-the-week MelissaSoligo and the gang at the Times Colonist for thejobs they’ve performed on our behalf.

Then there are some great people who kept uscompany in the media work room where theebullient Ken Yip held court daily. Including DuncMalcolm and Julie Skinner. Then there was thatalways friendly gang of drivers.

What else is there to say? Have a good finalday and don’t forget to reserve early for the 2010bash at The Soo.

Cheers.

This issue, and that’s all, folks!

Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour728 Humboldt Street, VictoriaHotel: 250-480-3800

To us, you’re all champions.

We are proud to be a sponsor of the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Good luck to all participants, and welcome to all spectators. We hope you enjoy Victoria.

Your Trusted Advisor

Proud Supporter of the

Scotties Tournament of Hearts

PENINSULA

Moving Ahead by Giving Back

www.peninsulaco-op.com

In 2008 Co-op members received an

on gas & home heating purchases

c

8.0 /litre rebate

Great Hotel

Perfect Location

In the heart of downtown. Half a block fromthe Victoria Conference Centre

665 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8V 2P9

1-800-663-7007 www.qvhotel.com

~ Standard, one and two bedroom suites, all with balconies~ Kitchens available at a nominal fee~ Samuel’s By The Park restaurant~ Indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and fitness centre~ Business centre and free wireless internet

9 Locations to Serve youin the Lower Mainland

1-800-387-9500

“Helping You Communicate.”

Because...

kidsportvictoria.caIt’s not a game. Please help.

Kids deserve to be kids.

proud sponsor

saveonfoods.com

12 Sunday, March 1, 2009

The Wood file

So, here we are, putting the wraps onanother Scotties, a Tournament OfHearts renewal that hasn’t been too

shabby.And this one gets an A1-plus grade for

winter weather.Like, quick now, anybody here want to

leave any time soon? Or, how about ever? Right. Well, lessee. The top two teams

have been determined and it’s time for theannual Scott Tournament Hearts andHeartaches Awards as chosen by yourfavourite daily journal (with input from sev-eral and sundry spies and assorted insiders. . . also outsiders . . . and a proviso that noneof them should be taken too seriously).

And the envelopes, please . . .Most under-rated — Is there any doubt

about this one? Marla Mallett and Co., musthave ferried across the Strait by submarine. . . that’s how far under the radar they wereupon arrival here. How’d you have enjoyedholding a ducat on this team in a Calcutta?

Most disappointing — Had to be On-tario . . . or, maybe, also arguably, Alberta.Krista McCarville arrived in the wake ofdemolishing her provincial field for thethird time in four years. And for the thirdtime in four years, her Thunder Bay bunchfailed to live up to great expectations.

Safe drivers — The total complement ofsteering-wheel volunteers. What an effort?

Most cerebral interview — T’wouldhave to be Heather Strong who alwaysmakes total sense. Her third, Cathy Cun-ningham, rates right in there, too.

Most humourous interview — Tie:Marla Mallett and Cheryl Bernard.

Most over-used cliche: One more men-tion of “the wrong side of the inch” willdrive us all bananas!

Most intimidating: When Jill Officer

unleashed her high, hard one.Who’s-on-first?: The so-called official

all-star balloting and the subsequent an-nouncement may have been the foul-up ofthe week. First team? Second team? Whichwas which? The printed announcement saidone thing, the official introduction was thesame, and it all turned out to be backwards.And the opinion of only two, that’s rightTWO, selectors. Come on, people!

Most p’d off: Most of the legitimatewretches on the media bench who are won-dering why they didn’t get an all-star votewhen it has been the practice for years thatthe vote represents a consensus of “all avail-able media reps occupying the plywoodpedestal. How can they call an all-star teamlegit on the basis of two votes?

Unofficial all-stars (which should beofficial, of course) as chosen by yourfavourite daily journal: Skip: Marla Mal-lett, B.C. (no contest). Third: Cathy O,Canada (complete with wonky knee). Sec-ond: Sherri Sengler, Saskatchewan (the per-centage leader all week). Lead: Lana Vey,Saskatchewan (Vey all the way).

OK, we’ll throw in a backup — SkipHeather Strong, third Grace MacInnes, secondCarolyn Darbyshire, lead Joelle Sabourin.

Teehead gamblers — The MacPheesfrom Spud Island waste no time launchingthe offence and, commendably, they playedthat way all game, all week.

Shooter, pound-for-pound — GraceMacneils of B.C.

Most deserving — Kerry Galushamatched her best-ever record and probablyshould have improved upon it. But we’ll al-ways remember her modest assessmentafter her big win of the week . . . her firstover a defending champion .

Toughest week — Tie: Nova Scotia and

Manitoba — It was to be expected forNancy McConnery with a team of rookiesbehind her, but for the former Kirkness sis-ters, long No. 2 in a competitive curlingprovince? Go figure.

Most luckless back-to-back misses —Robyn MacPhee had Team Canada on thehook in the 10th and 11th ends of Friday’stiebreaker and narrowly missed both lastrocks. Albeit tough weight-precise taps,MacPhee threw them both perfectly andprobably deserved to get something out ofone or the oßther.

Good sports — The Island girls took Fri-day’s defeat on the chinny-chin-chin withthe greatest of aplomb.

Eldest and fittest — Lorraine Lang, 51,and 84 per cent on the week. Hubby says:“She works hard at her conditioning yearround. She hasn’t a doubt in her mind thatshe can handle it. She says she loves thegame as much as she ever did.”

Sure to be seen again — Statuesque An-drea Kelly of Fredericton, but she requiresmuch stronger support.

Ms. Cool — Ms. Mallett.Determination personified — The same

Ms. MallettRock-solid courage — The Miller sis-

ters, Stef Lawton and Marliese Kasner,dealing with more than a curling tourna-ment.

Heart-stopping smile — Tara Georgestill flashes the real heartstopper.

Another big wide smile — JoelleSabourin.

Heart-warming laugh — CherylBernard’s is genuine.

Screaming Mimi Award — StefanieLawton allowed in mid-week she was los-ing her voice and advised to consult RussHoward.

The biggest loser — What’s the People’snetwork doing for curling excitement thesedays? But they sure love those eight-endgames.

Best team colours — Always Quebec.

EDITOR Larry WoodASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave KomoskyPHOTOGRAPHER Andrew KlaverPUBLISHED BY The Victoria Times Colonist

LarryWOOD

Marla Mallett (above) wasmost under-rated. AndreaKelly is an up-and-comer.

PLEASE SEE SCOTTIES P15

official wine supplier of the 2009

Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Bring this ad to a public

skating session at the

Save-On-Foods Memorial

Centre and receive a 2 for 1

family admission. Valid until

March 31, 2009.

The City of Victoria is proud

to offer residents and visitors

outstanding recreation

opportunities to enhance the

quality of life in Victoria.

Next timebring your skates.Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

For further information call 250.361.0732, or visit us at www.victoria.ca/arena

Second to none.Voted "Best Liqueur in the World" in 2007 andawarded "Best In Class" and a Gold Medal in 2008(International Wine and Spirits Competition)

Amarula is a rare find. Please enjoy responsibly

Represented by PMA Canada Ltd. www.pmacanada.com • www.amarula.com

Amarula Cream is a decadent and natural cream liqueur with unmatched flavour and smoothness. It offers a well-rounded taste with lingering flavours of vanilla, caramel and chocolate.

Amarula comes from the fruit of Africa’s unique Marula tree. The Marula juice is distilled, matured for 2 years in oak casksand then blended with the freshest cream.

The result is pure indulgence.

Sunday, March 1, 2009 14

LOUNGE

SUNDAY, MARCH 12:00 p.m. The Chevelles8:15 p.m. The Chevelles

Schedule subject to change.

A daily draw ticket is required for admis-sion to the HeartStop Lounge, convenientlylocated in the Victoria Curling Club.

HeartStop LoungeVictoria Curling Club

Two Menus to Choose From

7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Breakfast Burger (served daily 7:30am-10:30am)

Pulled Pork on a BunChar Broiled Burger

Chili & BunClam Chowder & Bun

Assort. Cold Sandwiches (egg salad, salmon,ham)

Daily SoupFries

Caesar SaladVeggies & Dip

Pizza by the Slice

Food For Thought Menu10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Choice of West Coast Seafood Chowderor Soup of the Day

Entrees:Chicken or Beef Pot Pies

Moroccan Chicken Peppers,Onions & Sweet Spices

Balsamic Chicken with choice of sidesIndian Curry (Chicken or Beef) yogurt East Indian

spicesBeef Dip with au jus

Wraps

Choice of sides and salads:Rice

NoodlesRoasted potatoes

Caesar SaladBaby Mixed Greens

California Pasta olives, sundried tomatoes,artichokes

Apple & Fennel Slaw Green and red cabbage,carrot

Chicken & Rice Indian Curry, rice, Caesar saladBalsamic Chicken roast potatoes, apple & fennel

slawBeef Dip ciabatta bun, Caesar salad

(For any above meals substitute soup for saladfor an extra $2.00)

Food For Thought ComboBuild your own combination 1 entrée and 2 sides

What’s onthe menu

We’ve got all the angles covered.Daily sports, commentary and the latest results.

15 Sunday, March 1, 2009

W LTeam Canada (Jones) 10 4B.C. (Mallett) 9 3Saskatchewan (Lawton) 7 5Quebec (Larouche) 7 6PEI (MacPhee) 7 5

———Ontario (McCarville) 6 5Alberta (Bernard) 6 5N.B. (Kelly) 5 6Nfld/Lab (Strong) 5 6Y/NWT (Galusha) 4 7Manitoba (Spencer) 2 9N.S. (McConnery) 2 9

SATURDAY3-4 GAME

1 p.m.

Sask. (Lawton) 100 010 202 0 — 6Team Canada (Jones) 021 101 020 1 — 8

SASK. S P % Canada S P %Vey 20 65 81 Askin 20 69 86Singler 20 64 80 Officer 20 74 93Kasner 20 65 81 O-Clapham 20 69 86Lawton 20 61 76 Jones 20 64 80TEAM 80 255 80 TEAM 80 276 86

SEMI-FINAL6:30 a.m.

Team Canada (Jones) 140 020 203 x — 12B.C. (Marlett) 002 302 010 x — 8

Canada S P % QUE. S P %Askin 18 53 74 Sabourin 20 65 81Officer 20 60 75 Lemay 20 60 75O-Clapham 20 69 86 Belanger 19 54 71Jones 76 51 71 Larouche 18 46 64TEAM 76 233 77 TEAM 77 225 73

STANDINGS

LINESCORES

MallettFrom Page 2

Marla Mallett and family live in Langley,an hour’s drive from the home VancouverCurling Club which is near downtown in thebig city.

“It’s not a long drive but you’re sitting intraffic for most of it,” said Mallett. “But mostof our practices are set up for me to comeright from work because I work right down-town, a 10-minute drive from the club.”

There was a rumour floating around thatMallett was, this week, wearing the slacks ofher former junior skip, Julie Skinner. Turnsout there was a mixup in rumours.

“I do not have her pants on,” Mallett ex-claimed with a laugh. “Diane (Gushulak) hasJulie’s pants on! I would not get my butt intothose pants, they’re about six sizes smallerthan what I got on!”

Is this team into good-luck charms?“I’m not superstitious,” Mallett barks.

“It’s all planned. All scheduled. No luck, noblack cats, I do not read my horoscope.”

EnvelopeFrom Page 12

Most notable missing colours — Still rose, teal, tangerine,peach, terracotta, burgundy and mauve. Is anybody listening?

Best tattoo — They all were well hidden.Fair hair – Kari MacLean’s is neat and tidy.Scare hair — Dawn Askin could use a revamp.Best former skip now playing another position — Tie: Re-

becca Jean and Cathy Cunningham.Soft touch holiday — Not one alternate player in the Scotties

threw as much as a rock this year.On-ice rookie-of-the-year — Grace MacInnes by an eyelash

over Brette Richards.Media rookie-of-the-year — Melissa Soligo, in a stiff breeze.Wonderful host — Julie Skinner and her volunteer crew.All-star stay-at-home team — It’s a three-woman unit:

Cheryl Bernard, Denise Nowlan and Diane Gushulak.All-star nurses team — Another trio: Rebecca Jean

MacPhee, Jacalyn Brown and Tammi Lowther.All-star teachers’ team — We got six: Barb Spencer, Krista

McCarville, Kari MacLean, Marie-France Larouche, Nancy Be-langer, Marliese Kasner.

Mom-to-be — Kerry Galusha.Coaching award — Looks like B.C.’s Ken MacDonald has

some real smarts.Best pub — 1. Irish Times, 2. HeartStop, 3. Sticky Wicket.Best eatery — Blue Crab (best crab in the whole wide world).Best pizza — Undiscovered.Best ancillary news — The Continental Cup event is not, re-

peat not, dead in the water.Ms. Congeniality — Cheryl Bernard of Calgary.Hard-luck Harriet Award — Robyn MacPhee, as men-

tioned.Commentator — Vic Rauter, with kudos to the fast-improv-

ing R. Howard.The arena — One of the best available. THE best in the coun-

try, in fact, without a top-flight shinny tenant.The attendance — Disappointing but no record (154,688)

here. With luck, they’ll fit in around eighth — or ninth-best.Maybe there’s just too much else to do in this balmy climate.

The parking — Where? Maybe this is the reason for thelousy attendance.

The volunteers — You never get volunteers that aren’t top-notch. If they weren’t top-notch, they wouldn’t be volunteers.And, oh, how the Scott Tournament of Hearts is dependent uponthem, as everyone knows.

Weather — It doesn’t get any better in this country at thistime of year.

Song —The best tunes still emanate from Down East —Newfoundland, P.E.I. or Nova Scotia.

Wish — 1. Let’s go back to Newfoundland and/or P.E.I.and/or Nova Scotia. 2. Plant the event right here.

SoligoFrom Page 6

I also managed to maintain my social-butterfly status at the arena asI spent countless hours getting re-acquainted with teams, CCA dele-gates, officials and spectators from everywhere. Throw in a few hoursof babysitting Ashley Mallett as she cheered on her mom from B.C.and my week was complete.

I truly enjoyed myself. I never thought this writing thing would beso difficult, but through sheer determination and absolute focus (yeah,right), I managed to persevere. And without my buddy ‘Pindawg’ (hisreal name is Dave) I would still be sitting here in the weeks to cometrying to finish the next column.

To Woody and Komo, thank you for all the support during the week.I can see that being a reporter/media personal/journalist is a challeng-ing job at best. Although I feel I am one of you now (again yeah,right), I leave it to you to carry us forward in the future. My writingdays are over.

The end of the Scotties leaves me with a heavy heart. I cannot putinto words what I felt this week, seeing so many people and being partof this special celebration. I may miss my playing days and being apart of such an awesome competition, but I am also so fortunate to beable to stay very involved in the most amazing sport ever. I will missall the hellos, the hugs and the smiles that seem to go hand on handwith this event.

To all the teams, I say goodbye and good luck as you continue to dous proud. To the host committee, I say congratulations on a remarkablejob. To the CCA and Robin Wilson, I say thank you for this opportu-nity and keep up the incredible work as you continue to showcasespectacular women’s curling everywhere. To all the volunteers, yourefforts do not go unnoticed, and we thank you for the countless hoursof your time.

As we approach the final stone of the 2009 STOH, carry your spirit,like the Olympic torch, from Victoria onward to Sault Ste Marie,where we may all meet again next year (if only by watching it onTSN). I hope all of you have had the opportunity to create as manyfond memories as I have.

I can’t believe this is my last column. It has been such a phenome-nal week, and I only complained once (a day) the whole week abouthow hard (yet rewarding) writing for the Heart Chart would be. To allmy new media friends, thank you for welcoming me into your worldand making me feel at ease.

All the best to our two finalists and to the champions, good luck inKorea!

Victoria native Dr. Jim Arm-strong skipped his Canadianteam Saturday to the worldwheelchair curling champi-onship in Vancouver.

Monsanto and the vine symbol are trademarks of Monsanto Technology, LLC © 2008 Monsanto Company.

Monsanto is proud to be the official team sponsor of Team Jennifer Jones, the 2008 Canadian and World Women’s Curling Champions. We are also pleased to lend our support as a Diamond sponsor to the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

As a company committed to creating a better future for our customers, employees and consumers, we are proud to support the passion, camaraderie and competitive spirit that an event like the Scotties Tournament of Hearts inspires in communities across the country. Whether as Team Canada or as provincial representatives, all participants have shown great commitment and dedication. We have enjoyed the entertainment every step of the way and wish all competitors the best of luck.

Learn more at monsanto.ca