But Jenn had her confidence that game, smiling, relaxed, making two excellent doubles to keep that confidence up. Jill played really well and ultimately they just nipped Quebec. On Sheet C, Newfoundland fell behind but fought back and actually had a chance to score 4 in the 10th for the win. Georgina Wheatcroft, Lori Armitstead and others stood and watched but Heather missed the raise take-out and Manitoba won. Then all attention turned to the near sheet where there was an outstanding exhibition by Ontario and NS. Scharf played excellently, as did Colleen, and she scored 2 in the 10th to send it to an extra end. An awesome double take-out by the Ontario second had the arena in a roar and Lori pumping her fist in the air on their behalf. But ultimately Colleen was cool and Krista missed a relatively easy draw by sliding it through the house, giving NS the steal and the win. The crowd was extremely supportive of both teams.
I noticed that Colleen has a very forceful personality—in a very quiet way—and also very decisive. On her team, Kim Kelly is the comedian, talking all the time to the rocks, to the other sweepers, to herself. Very funny. She said quietly to her teammates as they held off sweeping her rock: “Don’t let it trick you….”
Colleen saunters down to the far end of the sheet for her shots, as if there is all day to get there, slowly pushing her way along, looking down, introspective. Once there, she steps over the bumper, takes a drink, steps back over, gets in the hack, cleans her stone with her broom, adjusts her glasses, then pushes off. Smooth as silk. I pointed this routine out to Charles beside me: “You watch too much curling” was the reply.
There was a older guy in the crowd with a beret who called “On-taaar-iooooooo” to the delight of the crowd. Later in the week he brought a giant Ontario flag which he waved while calling out. He was a crowd favourite.
I left the arena with my heart pounding: what a display of curling! And then I faced the long walk home.
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