Jones/Laing into A qualifier in Rocky Mountain Classic

By Staff · Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:27:22 +0000
Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing (Barrie) (photo: Curling Canada) defeated Kadriana Lott/Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 7-4 in the A side to advance to the qualifying match at the Rocky Mountain Classic - Canadian Mixed Doubles Olympic Trials Qualifier.

By Connor Simms,

Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing continue to look for a playoff spot as they prepare for the Olympic Trials in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, at the end of December.

Jones/Laing was one of five teams that earned spots in the Olympic trials before the season due to their Canadian Mixed Doubles Rankings (CMDR). The other four teams include Lott/Lott, Laura Walker/Kirk Muyres (Edmonton/Humboldt), Jocelyn Peterman/Brett Gallant (Chestermere), and Nancy Martin/Steve Laycock (Martensville).

Two more teams grabbed their spots, winning the previous two events. Brittany Tran/Rylan Kleiter(Calgary/Saskatoon) and Rachel Homan/Brendan Bottcher (Edmonton).

The winner of this event will also grab a spot in the Mixed Doubles Curling Trials. However, if a team wins the event already qualified, the spot will be given to the next highest-placed team in this event.

Jones/Laing, who has previously gone to the Olympics with their respective four-person teams, can add another Olympic appearance in a different format of mixed doubles.

They took on Lott/Lott, losing the opening draw to the button for the hammer.

Jones/Laing opened the scoring, stealing one in the first end and adding another steal in the second end. Lott/Lott scored a single in the third, and Jones/Laing responded in the fourth, scoring two.

Lott/Lott scored two in the fifth end, then added a steal in the sixth. Jones/Laing scored two in the seventh end, then added a steal in the eighth for the 7-4 win.

Jones/Laing defeated Zoe Cinnamon/Johnson Tao (Edmonton) 10-3 in their opening game, then won 7-6 against Homan/Bottcher.

They will face Walker/Muyres for a bye to the quarterfinals today at 6:30 pm Eastern Time (ET).

All the action will continue through Sunday, with the Round of 12 happening Saturday evening and the rest of the playoffs finishing Sunday evening.