Team Martin 'did the best we could' at Canadian masters curling

BY JOHN DECOSTE

The Advertiser/NovaNewsNow.com

Yvonne Martin spent the past two weeks doing what very few competitive curlers will have the chance to do – competing at two national championships back-to-back.

Moreover, it was the second time Martin has ‘done the double’ in the same season. She also skipped the Nova Scotia senior and masters champions back in 2003 – though on that occasion, “there was a week between the two, instead of them being back-to-back.”

While her Nova Scotia champions didn’t win either the Canadian senior women’s or masters women’s championship, Martin emphasized last week, “we had a good time, we did the best we could, and there were far more positives than negatives. Especially at the seniors, we were right there in every single game, right to the last rock.”

Things were a little tougher at the masters competition. Martin won three of her last four games after a 0-5 start to finish at 3-6, out of the playoffs, but, while she admitted to being tired, she wouldn’t use the fact the tournaments were back-to-back as an excuse.

“It was difficult at times (playing the second national tournament in as many weeks), but the travel really didn’t have an effect,” she said. “We finished in the middle of the pack at the masters, which was probably where we should have been.”

At the seniors, her team of Julie Morley, Andrea Saulnier and Audrey Dorey “curled very well. It was a great tournament, and I was really pleased. The two new girls on the team really enjoyed themselves, and we took in everything we could.”

She enjoyed Prince Albert, and found “the other teams all compatible and friendly.”

Martin wouldn’t say she didn’t enjoy the masters experience as much, but she did admit she and teammates Dorey, Norma Carter and Allison Weagle “definitely weren’t the best team there.

“We hadn’t played together since we won (Masters provincials) in January, and that didn’t help. We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves, but the seniors was certainly a better experience.”

Martin confirmed she will not be competing at the senior level next season – she only entered provincials this season because the competition was in Kentville – and is seriously considering not competing at the masters level in 2008-2009 either.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she said. “It’s a big expense if you win, and all the travel is a big factor,” especially when the national competitions are in western Canada.

The 2009 Canadian Masters competition is in Saskatoon.

“I may just take a year off from competition,” she said, “play at the the club level and in the Valley masters (league), which I really enjoy. Not that I’m down at all,” she added. “It was a great experience, especially in Prince Albert.”