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Local curlers abound at provincial championships

Elite curlers across both Saskatchewan and Alberta have local connections.
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Val Sweeting, Dana Ferguson, Joanne Courtney, Rachelle Pidherny, and coach Taina Smiley celebrate their win at the Jiffy Lube Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts making them Team Alberta going into the 2014 Scotties Tournament of Hearts to be held in Montreal.

Elite curlers across both Saskatchewan and Alberta have local connections.

Competing at the Viterra Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts for a chance to become representatives of Team Saskatchewan at the 2014 Scotties Tournament of Hearts included Amber Holland (Kent and Myrna Holland's daughter), Candace Chisholm from Maryfield, Kristy Johnson of Wawota, Brooklyn Lemon of Maryfield, Natalie Bloomfield of Carlyle, and Kristin Mitchell of Kenosee. Team Alberta will be represented by Maryfield's own Val Sweeting after the Jiffy Lube Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The Viterra Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts was held in Tisdale, SK, where teams competed for a chance to become representatives of Saskatchewan at the national competition to be held in Montreal between Feb. 1 and Feb. 9.

Holland skipped a team with Brooklyn Lemon playing for her. Holland's team performed well, but was stopped by Trish Paulsen's team before being able to advance to the finals.

Other local curlers working hard during the tournament included Bloomfield who played for Lana Vey, who was unable to make playoffs. While Kristen Mitchell played with Mandy Selzer's team who went onto playoffs, but were edged out by Paulsen's team in a 5 to 3 showing. Paulsen would go on to play against Michelle Englot's team in the semi-final, but Team Englot found the win.

Chisholm and Johnson competed together on Englot's team, which had made it to the final. Team Englot fought hard and found themselves in the final against Team Lawton, but they were unable to overcome the difference. Lawton won in a score of 5 to 2.

With all of the games close it was anybody's guess as to who the favourites were going into the competition. Although no locals will be playing on Team Saskatchewan as represented by those on Team Lawton excitement courses through many people as curling is a very popular sport in the area.

Despite wanting to cheer for Team Saskatchewan, however, a problem arises with Team Alberta being represented by Sweeting who was raised at Fairlight.

During the Jiffy Lube Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Team Sweeting performed well as they made pressure shots and hurried hard. This dedication and skill to the sport helped Team Sweeting overcome Olympic silver-medalist Cheryl Bernard in the final game earning a score of 8 to 4.

Team Sweeting went undefeated during the tournament and is heavily favoured going into the Canadian championship with a record of 39 wins and 18 losses, a solid record for a season when the difference of winning and losing comes in the way of a few points.

Despite being the number two contender for the Olympic team, Sweeting explained that going to the Scotties is an honour just the same.

"It's an honour to represent Alberta at the Scotties," Sweeting told the Calgary Herald. "After we had a good start at the trials and went out the way we did, we really wanted to get back to the nationals and we're looking forward to Montreal."