The Winnipeg Sun du lieu suivant : Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • 37

1 Um A chance to make amends Stories by JIM BENDER Sun Staff Writer Kathie Allardyce is determined to make amends. Her Deer Lodge team captured the Manitoba Scott Tournament of Hearts crown the provincial women's curling championship yesterday and this year's Queen of Hearts already has the national title on her mind. Allardyce, who was rewarded with Smarties for good shots, was runner-up to B.C.'s Pat Sanders in the 1987 Canadian playdown. "That just makes me want to go back there and see if I can go all the way," she said. A real steal Allardyce stole her way to a 6-4 triumph over Connie Laliberte of Fort Rouge in the A-B final at the Wildewood Curling Club to earn her second trip to the Canadians.

The national Tournament of Hearts will be played in Saskatoon Feb. 23-March 2. "And yes, the Worlds (curling championships) in Winnipeg are in the back of my mind," said Allardyce, who is supported by third Cathy Overton, twin sister Laurie Ellwood at second and Jill Proctor. Allardyce stole a pair in the opening end, then got a break in the fifth. With Laliberte building a possible three-ender, Allardyce made a fluke cross-house double takeout to get out of trouble.

A Laliberte miss then allowed her to steal another single for a 4-1 lead. "Sure it was (a fluke). But you make CHAMPIONS KATHIE ALLARDYCE Skip (Deer Lodge). 29 years of age. Computer analyst.

1987 provincial winner with Cathy Treloar at third, twin sister Laurie Elwood at second and Sandi Asham at lead. Was runner-up in nationals, where she was named the all-star skip. Has been a contender in the provincials every year since, losing two finals and a semifinal. Second trip to nationals. Likes Smarties.

CATHY OVERTON Third. 21. Accountancy clerk. First year with team. Skipped her own Junior Women's team to the 1989 national title.

She was named the all-star skip at nationals. Won the bronze medal at the 1990 Junior Women's world championship, where she was also named all-star skip. Played third for Janet Harvey's 1986 Junior Women's provincial winner. First year in Women's play. LAURIE ELLWOOD Second.

29. Employment counsellor. Played second for twin sister Kathie Allardyce in 1987 nationals. JILL PROCTOR Lead. 27.

Court reporter. Joined team in 1988. Lead for Howie Restall's 1990 Manitoba Mixed championship team. KIM OVERTON Fifth. Sister to Cathy.

Kim played lead for Harvey's 1990 provincial championship team. Played lead for Harvey's 1986 Manitoba Junior Women's winning team. JOHN ALLARDYCE Coach. Kathie's spouse. John spent a number of years curling on the front end for Assiniboine Memorial's Kerry Burtnyk.

Award-winning author. THE WINNIPEG SUN Monday, February 4, 1991 OF HEARTS Manitoba champion Kathie Allardyce shares winning hugs with lead Jill Proctor (left), twin sister Laurie Ellwood. your own breaks," she said. "I thought that I was going to be splitting the house on that end. But the shot was there and she did make it," said Laliberte, without complaint.

After Allardyce stole another single in the sixth, Laliberte crept back into the picture, scoring one in the seventh and stealing singles in the eighth and ninth. Allardyce was forced to make a takeout with the hammer in the 10th for the victory. "I was very, very calm throwing that last takeout. Unbelievably calm," she said. "There was no way that I thought that I was going to miss it." In fact, Allardyce preferred that shot to a draw because she had been struggling with her draw weight.

"Connie wasn't as sharp as she had been," Allardyce said. "It's disappointing but I'm not going to give up," said Laliberte, a former World Women's champion. "We had a really good season and I'm certainly not going to give up the game." Laliberte had advanced by whipping former teammate Chris More of Fort Rouge 9-3 in eight ends in the B-side final. Meanwhile, Allardyce is encouraged by her team's chances in the Nationals. "We've all got National experience and Cathy (Overton) has international experience," she said.

"Going into the Canadians, we're going in thinking we've got a job to do. I hope we can bring the Canadian title back to Winnipeg." IN THE HACK Kim Overton, Cathy's sister, has been named the team's fifth. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Scott Paper's sponsorship of Women's curling in Canada. It's worth the trir Cathy likely left the rink humming the Guess Who tune Runnin' Back to Saskatoon yesterday afternoon. As third for Kathie Allardyce's provincial championship team, Cathy Overton will finally make a trip beyond the Manitoba borders to curl in either a national or international competition.

The Canadian Scott Tournament of Hearts will be played in Saskatoon later this month. "Yes, I'm finally getting out of the province and it should be exciting from the things I've heard about what they're doing in Saskatoon," said Overton. As the 1989 Manitoba Junior Women's champ, Overton played the Nationals at her home club, the Heather. As the Canadian Junior Women's champ, Overton played for the 1990 World title in Portage la Prairie. Although her luggage has been living the lonely life, Overton readily admitted it has been an exciting three years.

"And this year just tops it off. Getting a championship in my first year in the Women's, I couldn't have asked for any- 37 Photo by Gerard Kwiatkowski go along with it." Overton played no small part in the Allardyce championship, a fact that was appreciated by coach John Allardyce. "Thanks for making that call," he told her between congratulatory hugs. "It was the best telephone call you ever made." Overton had approached Allardyce about playing with her this year before she headed to the Junior World championships last year. "I had played her quite a bit and could never beat her and I always felt that she was one of the greatest shotmakers around," she said.

"She's very, very good," Kathie Allardyce said. "She makes all the shots I ask her to make and she's a great team player actually everyone on my team is. She's just coming out of Juniors and she's very, very coachable. That really helps on the ice." Many believe that Overton, who will also be playing in the Mixed provincial playdowns this month, is quickly developing into one of the most dominating curlers in the province. It likely won't be long before she is skipping her own contender in the provincial playdowns.

CATHY OVERTON: Runnin' to Saskatoon. thing better," she said. Should the Deer Lodge team go on to win the Canadian title, Overton will return home to play in the Canada Safeway World Curling Championships next month. "I couldn't think of any place I'd rather play than in the Worlds in Winnipeg in March," Overton said. "And there's a trip to the Olympics that would.