MONTREAL -- All things considered, Chelsea Carey would rather be in Sochi, Russia. cheap nfl jerseys from china . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. And Carey is making the most of it, taking her record to 7-1 after an 8-4 victory over New Brunswicks Andrea Crawford (5-4) on Wednesday night. Earlier, the Carey rink trounced Quebecs Allison Ross (1-8) by 15-3. The 15 points tied the Scotties record set in 1989, when Alberta beat Newfoundland 15-6. Carey reached the Manitoba finals twice, losing in 2011 to Cathy Overton-Clapham and in 2012 to Jennifer Jones, the four-time Scotties champion who will represent Canada at the 2014 Winter Games. "We wanted to be here badly and lost a couple of heartbreakers and thats no fun, but it wasnt the only thing for us," said Carey. "The (Olympic) trials was our first goal and this was our second goal." Her only loss so far was an 8-3 setback this week to defending champion Rachel Homans seemingly unstoppable Canada team. Homans Ottawa foursome extended its unbeaten string to eight games with a 9-4 victory over Prince Edward Islands Kim Dolan. They have outscored their opponents 62-26 and have yet to play a full 10 ends. Saskatchewans Stefanie Lawton (7-1) posted an 8-6 win over Nova Scotia (3-6) and Ontarios Allison Flaxey (3-5) completed a sweep of her sides two games on Wednesday with a 12-2 victory over the Yukons Sarah Koltun (1-8). Flaxey had the upset of the day in the afternoon draw with a 6-5 win over Albertas Val Sweeting (6-3). Carey put together her team with lead Lindsay Titheridge, second Kristen Foster and third Kristy McDonald specifically to take a shot at the Olympics. The rink has been among Canadas best for a few years, winning often in national and regional events, and did well enough to earn an invitation to the Canadian Olympic trials in Winnipeg. When that dream died with a fourth-place finish, Carey admits it was tough to find the energy to go to last months provincial championship, let alone win it. "I took a week off and didnt throw," she said. "I forced myself to go back, but I wanted no part of it. "I was just going through the motions. It took a long time to get our heads back there, but wed played in a lot of provincials before and we knew going into the trials that it was something wed have to transition to. It wasnt easy, but we did a good enough job to pull off the win there." Once she got her Manitoba team jacket and got to Montreal, she was thrilled to finally have a chance to represent her province at the Scotties. On the team website, Carey describes herself as "Unemployed, AKA Starving Curler." She worked as a sales representative for a mattress company for six years, but was finally told to choose between curling and her job. "It was the year of the trials and Im not going to pick that job over curling," she said. "My initial thought was to get a new job, but with trials in December its hard to start a new job and say I need six weeks of holidays. "Ive been unemployed since then. It will have to change after this because I cant pay my bills." Manitobas win over Quebec had some wondering if curling needs a mercy rule. It was Quebecs worst beating since a 13-1 setback to Alberta in 1991. A rule obliges teams to play at least eight ends no matter how badly theyre trailing. "Im not so sure I believe in the eight-end rule," said Manitobas McDonald. "If things arent going well, the other team should be able to get out when they feel its time. "Theyre a good team. Theyre much better than that. But theyre just having a tough go. When things go sour, they go sour." Ross had plenty of support among the 1,790 spectators at the Maurice Richard Arena, but her squad has been off the target consistently all week. She was also missing second Brittany ORourke to the flu bug that has sidelined several players and officials during the week. "Todays game was tough for sure," said Ross, whose team also lost 6-5 to B.C. in the morning draw. "We didnt play well at all." Flaxey turned around what had been a dismal week with her win over Alberta. Ontario held off a charge that saw Alberta score two in the ninth end. She took out Sweetings stone on the button in the 10th to prevent a steal and secure the victory. "We havent been playing as well as we could have all week," said Flaxey, the 2001 Manitoba junior champion now based out of Listowel, Ont. "To show that we are a good, solid team and that we belong with the favourites and can play with the favourites, it shows people why were here." Ontario is all but eliminated from playoff contention, but can still play the role of spoiler with three round-robin games remaining, including a match Thursday afternoon with Manitoba. "Its all we have left so youve got to love doing it," said Flaxey. "Weve got a couple of tough ones left and hopefully we can at least shake things up." The afternoon draw saw Homan put up a 7-3 victory over British Columbia (5-4). Homan has a shot at being the first skip to go undefeated in the tournament since B.C.s Linda Moore in 1985. Jennifer Jones went undefeated in the round robin last year but lost to Homan in the final. "Im confident we can win the rest of our games," said Homan. "You have to be confident in your abilities. "You put in the practice and the hours and the work. I believe 100 per cent in our team. Were in a good spot now and we have to keep playing the way were playing." Lawton downed Newfoundlands Heather Strong (4-4) by 7-3. Other early matches saw Alberta top Newfoundland 9-5, New Brunswick beat P.E.I. 9-6 and Nova Scotia down Yukon 7-3. cheap wholesale jerseys . Bab**** has one year left on his contract, and told reporters on Tuesday that getting a new deal this off-season is not a priority. cheap nfl jerseys . The 29-year-old German, the 2011 overall World Cup champion, says she has decided "to end my career now.WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Cristie Kerr watched her short winning par putt fall on the second hole of a playoff against Suzann Pettersen, hugged her caddie, a few players who stayed around to watch and had one more hug she had waited a long time to give. "Wheres my dad?" Kerr said during the celebration Sunday on the 18th hole at Kingsmills River Course. Her dad, Michael Kerr, was on his way -- as fast as his motorized cart would take him. "I rarely get nervous when she plays," he said. "Ive seen the good, the bad and the ugly. This was the most nervous I have been. It wasnt just the playoff. It was the last three holes. Honestly, I was in the bar drinking, which I dont normally do." Kerrs victory in the Kingsmill Championship, the 16th of her career and third in the event, was the first one with her dad present. A Vietnam veteran and career school teacher who has had both knees replaced, he stayed with her throughout her round, then took the cart to the bar, figuring he couldnt manoeuvr well enough to keep up in the big crowd. "For the last 17 years, Ive been dreaming of watching her win a professional tournament," he said. "It was a dream come true. If I never see anything else in my life, this was it and this was the best thing thats ever happened to me." His daughter made it so with a refusal to lose, even when she failed to cash in on her best shot of the day, an approach on the first extra hole that left her with a 6-foot putt to win. It never even touched the cup, sliding by on the right. "I wasnt going to lose, not today, not with my dad here," Kerr said. She almost let the prospect of having the moment take it away. "I thought about it a little bit more like before I hit that first putt in the playoff," Kerr said of her desire to win with her father watching. "I thought about it a little more and I got a little emotional. Maybe thats why I pushed it and didnt make it. "The second time, I was going to make sure, OK, I can think about that after. Lets take care of what weve got to take care of right now," Kerr said she told herself. "Emotions are good, though. We need emotions to play good." Kerr closed with a 2-under 69, and Pettersen had a 67 to finish at 12-under 272 on the River Course. The final pairing had a Solheim Cup feel to it, but Kerr was pleased with the way she stayed within herself. "I was really just proud of the way I tried to tend and take care of my own game today, especially with Suzann," she said. "She likes to try and intimidate people out there, but Im not really easily intimidated so I just took care of my own game." Pettersen, whose first career victory came in a playoff at Kingsmill in 2007, had won at Hawaiii in a playoff a few weeks ago, and lost for only the third time in eight career playoffs.dddddddddddd She didnt stick around for the celebration. "I had a chance to win outright on 18 in regulation and I hit a good putt," Pettersen told LPGA officials when reached by telephone. "Obviously, its disappointing to lose in the playoff, but there was a lot of good to take from it." It was the second year in the row the tournament ended in a playoff. Last year, Paula Creamer and Jiyai Shin played the longest two-player playoff in tour history -- nine holes -- before Shin won. The victory came Monday morning, after the two played the 18th hole eight times in a row Sunday night. The playoff format was changed for this year, with the plan to play No. 18 three times, then move to the par-4 16th, where Shin finally won last year, but Kerr made sure the huge gallery that lined the closing fairway got to see it end. The finish turned into a two-player battle after looking like it might get wild. Ariya Jutanugarn, the Thai 17-year-old who led after the first two rounds, made five birdies on the back nine in a 66 to surge into a tie for third with Ilhee Lee, who closed with a career-best 67. Angela Stanford also had a share of third until the final hole, when she lipped out a short par putt for her first bogey in a closing 69. She shared fifth place with Stacy Lewis, who closed with a 70. At one point, Pettersen led by a shot, with Kerr, Jutanugarn, Lee and Stanford all one back. Kerr led most of the day, but when she missed the 14th green to the right, Pettersen hit her approach close. Kerrs sidehill chip left her a long two-putt, and Pettersens birdie created a two-shot swing and put her in front at -11. Just as they walked off the green, Lees third consecutive birdie moved her to 10 under, and Jutanugarns fifth birdie in six holes also got her to minus 10. Moments later, Stanford rolled in an eagle putt on the par-5 15th to also get to minus 10. The former champions wasted no time separating themselves again. Kerr had a chance to regain a share of the lead at No. 15, but her makeable eagle putt slid just by on the left, and she and Pettersen both had short birdie putts, giving the leaders some breathing room. Kerr, who made several tester putts to save par during her round, pulled even on the par-4 16th, rolling in another from inside 10 feet for birdie after Pettersens longer birdie attempt missed. Both parred in, with Pettersens long birdie try at No. 18 missing right by half an inch, and Kerr having to make yet another tester, this one from about 6 feet, to force the sudden death playoff. Torontos Rebecca Lee-Bentham closed with a 73 and finished at 12-over 296. Charlottetowns Lorie Kane carded a 75, to wind up at 297. ' ' '
