Friday, November 30, 2001
King hopes to wear Canada's curling crown
By COM GRIWKOWSKY -- Edmonton Sun
Can Cathy King measure up this time?
That's a question that's been on the former Scott Tournament of Hearts champion's mind for the last four years.
King's run for a Brandon 1997 Olympic Trials playoff spot fell short when she lost Game 8 on a measure to Ontario's Allison Goring.
When the stars didn't line up right in the final round-robin game, King was denied a chance to get into a tiebreaker. It also marked the only time she hadn't made the playoff round after scrapping her way into a major championship.
"The attitude going is we have a shot at it just like anybody else,'' said King. "I don't know if there's any clear-cut front-runners. If you look at what's going on since September, of the 10 teams that are going to the trials, eight of them have won a bonspiel.
"What does that tell you? Everyone's up. Everyone's hot.''
WESTERN FLAVOUR
There's a definite western hoedown flavour to this year's women's trials, with nine of the 10 teams based west of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border.
The death of defending Olympic gold medallist Sandra Schmirler has added a sombre overtone to the event, especially since it's being held in the home city of the greatest female curler Canada has ever produced.
Still, life goes on and a new representative will be decided to carry on her legacy.
"Sandra was the front-runner after winning a couple of World championships,'' said King, one of two teams to beat Schmirler in 1997. "It's hard to say who's going to be the team to beat. They all look good. And that's a good thing.
"Last time we went, the teams we really thought we'd have to be focused for, we did well against. The teams we thought we should beat, that's the teams we lost to. We're going in with the attitude that there's no easy team out there. We have to play well every game.''
This year's approach to the trials has been much different after King qualified for the last available spot when she won the Players' Tournament in Okotoks.
"It was a real emotional win in Okotoks,'' said King. "It was like - oh, we finally made it.''
There's been more focus on off-ice preparation and more reliance on coach Darryl Horne to set the stage.
"It's important to get a good start because it's a short week,'' said King. "You don't get the same number of games as the Scott's, so you can't afford the same number of losses - three might not even get you in.''
After winning the Autumn Gold in Calgary this fall, King's results have been reasonably competitive in a shortened schedule.
"We cut back this year because we were too burnt out last year,'' said King. "We're only going every other weekend. We're doing a lot of throwing and a lot of technical work. I feel that's better for us.''
EXPERIENCED FRONT END
With lead Kate Horne and second Brenda Bohmer back with her this time, King's team can boast an experienced and solid front end. If third Lawnie MacDonald can continue to improve at the same pace she's shown since joining the team last year, King can take another legitimate run at a playoff spot.
"Darryl already has our schedule planned out for the week,'' said King, with a chuckle. "He's plotted out when we can eat, when we can sleep, when we can visit with family. We're well prepared.''
All they have to worry about now is making sure they throw their rocks straight.
"We're ready to go,'' said King. "Everybody's throwing better than I've seen them throw in two years. That's because of all the technical work we've been doing. I just hope that shows up on the ice.''
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