THE CANADIAN PRESS
Cathy Overton-Clapham has been cut from Jennifer Jones’ Winnipeg curling rink after six years with the team.
Jones, third Overton-Clapham, second Jill Officer and lead Dawn Askin were the class of Canadian women’s curling, with four national championships and a world title in 2008.
For Overton-Clapham, the news came as a complete shock.
"I was totally blindsided," Overton-Clapham said Friday in a telephone interview. "I had no idea."
Jones did not immediately return phone or email messages.
According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the skip issued a statement late Thursday, saying that the move was designed to boost her slumping team. The quartet missed out on an Olympic berth, and settled for bronze at the most recent world championships in Swift Current, Sask.
"Our goal is to represent Canada at the World Women’s Curling Championship and the Olympics," the Free Press quoted Jones as saying in the statement. "To do that, we need to take steps now to ensure we will have a complete set of skills and strengths come 2014."
Overton-Clapham says that Officer suggested the team get together for a meeting after they returned to Winnipeg following last week’s Grey Power Players’ Championship. Overton-Clapham didn’t know what to expect, but she had a bad vibe almost immediately.
"No one made eye contact," she said. "So I knew something was up."
According to Overton-Clapham, Jones said during the meeting that the team was moving forward without her, severing one of the most successful unions in Canadian women’s curling history.
Overton-Clapham said she didn’t think there was anything wrong with her skills.
"I think I’ve been a pretty consistent player," she said. "Obviously in some games, I didn’t perform to my potential. Neither did anyone else on the team. Nobody stood on their head this year."
The 40-year-old, who also won a national title in 1995 under skip Connie Laliberte, wasn’t buying the assertion that the team needed more energy.
"I’ve got a million emails from competitors," said Overton-Clapham. "I’m a pretty excitable, pretty bubbly person.
"If that’s the case, that’s what they see. I don’t know. Maybe I wasn’t putting my part in."
Overton-Clapham paused repeatedly to compose herself during Friday’s interview, saying she felt betrayed by Jones, with whom she shared a strong bond.
"We were very good friends," said Overton-Clapham. "I talk to Jen two, three times a day. We room together. So I thought there was a great relationship.
"I saw beyond what she saw, and that’s really unfortunate. There was never any tension, at least that I saw. I’m just extremely hurt."
Overton-Clapham says she has plenty to lose.
"It’s the end of April," she said. "Teams are already made (for next season). It’s taking away a chance for me to represent Canada (at upcoming events), and there are financial issues I’m losing out on, as well.
"There’s never a right time for this sort of thing, but out of respect, I would have expected more. I’ve played with them a long time. It’s hurtful, really."