(by Allen Cameron, Postmedia News)
LEDUC, Alta. – For Geri-Lynn Ramsay, it started last February with the simple desire to move to Calgary to be with her boyfriend.
That meant she would have to leave her home in Prince Edward Island – her family, her friends and, not insignificantly, her curling teammates.
Not just any team, mind you, but one of the most beloved teams in P.E.I. curling history – the Kathy O’Rourke-skipped foursome that nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Canadian curling history before falling short in an extra end to Jennifer Jones in the final of the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Also on that team was third (and last-rock thrower) Erin Carmody, with whom Ramsay had played seemingly forever.
Both 23, they were at a curling crossroads.
In planning her move to Calgary, Ramsay sent an email to the Canadian Curling Association Calgary-based national development coach Paul Webster, wondering if there might be any openings with any women’s teams in the area.
Why, yes, Webster soon replied. His wife Crystal might be looking for two new players, and wouldn’t you know it? She was en route to Charlottetown soon to be the fifth player for Shannon Kleibrink’s Alberta champs at the 2011 Scotties.
So Ramsay talked to Carmody, and they met with Crystal Webster for coffee. A few days later, Ramsay and Carmody confirmed their intent to join forces with Webster and lead Sam Preston.
And less than a year later, they find themselves in Leduc, battling at the Scotties Alberta women’s championship for the right to wear the unfamiliar blue and yellow Alberta jacket at the national Scotties after chasing P.E.I. colours for their entire young lives.
“Everything really came together in a hurry,” said Carmody, who skipped three P.E.I. junior women’s championships with Ramsay as her third. “I had always kind of planned on moving away from the Island, ever since I finished high school. The only reason I kind of stuck around was that we had a good junior team, so I decided to stay. But this opportunity came up to move away and try something new, so I decided to do it.”
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