| 1971 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship | |
| Host City: | St. John's, Newfoundland |
| Arena: | Memorial Stadium |
| Dates: | February 22–26 |
| Winner: | |
| Curling Club: | Sutherland Ladies CC, Saskatoon |
| Skip: | Vera Pezer |
| Third: | Sheila Rowan |
| Second: | Joyce McKee |
| Lead: | Lee Morrison |
| Finalist: | (Kay Baldwin) (Ina Hansen) |
The 1971 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, the Canadian women's curling championship was held February 22 to 26, 1971[1] at Memorial Stadium, in St. John's, Newfoundland.[2]
For the second consecutive year, there would be a three-way tiebreaker playoff to determine the championship as Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan all finished round robin play with 6–3 records. Team Saskatchewan, who was skipped by Vera Pezer captured the championship by defeating both British Columbia 10–7 in the semifinal and Alberta 9–2 in the final. This was Saskatchewan's fourth championship and third in a row. This would be the first of three straight titles for Pezer. Pezer's second, Joyce McKee became the first player to have won three Canadian women's championships as McKee previously won as a skip in and .
The event had particularly good ice conditions for the time, due in part to cool weather and small crowds. The small crowds were blamed on a lack of a middle class in Newfoundland, and the small numbers of curlers in the province.[3]
British Columbia's 3–2 victory over Saskatchewan in Draw 5 set two tournament records for the fewest combined points scored between two teams in one game (5) and the most blank ends in one game (5). The lowest combined score would be matched four more times (and twice in). The blank ends record was matched in and eventually was broken in .[4]
The Nova Scotia rink ended up becoming the third team to finish round robin play winless. At the time, the team set tournament records for most points allowed (112), fewest points scored (43), and worst point differential (-69).
The teams were as follows:[5] [6]
| British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | Newfoundland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite CC, EdmontonSkip: Kay Baldwin Third: Joyce Bucholz Second: Shriley Mitchell Lead: Gladys Tainish | Kimberley Ladies CC, Kimberley Skip: Ina Hansen Third: Ada Calles Second: Carol Klinck Lead: Gilberte Bailey | Brandon CC, BrandonSkip: Mabel Mitchell Third: Mildred Murray Second: Evelyn Bird Lead: June Clark | Bathurst Ladies CC, BathurstSkip: Shirley Pilson Third: Anne Orser Second: Patricia Maher Lead: Geraldine Lenihan | Carol CC, Labrador CitySkip: Sue-Anne Bartlett Third: Ann Bright Second: Frances Hiscock Lead: Mavis Pike | |
| Nova Scotia | Ontario | Prince Edward Island | Quebec | Saskatchewan | |
| Stellar CC, StellartonSkip: Clare Purdy Third: Florence Ives Second: Joan MacLeod Lead: Betty Rann | Thunder Bay CC, Thunder BaySkip: Helen Sillman Third: Norma Knudson Second: Elaine Tetley Lead: Marilyn Walker | Charlottetown CC, CharlottetownSkip: Marie Toole Third: Jennie Boomhower Second: Cathy Dillon Lead: Pauline Johnston | Port Alfred CC, Port-AlfredSkip: Nicole Janelle Third: Paulette Janelle Second: Doris LaPointe Lead: Denise Cote | Sutherland Ladies CC, SaskatoonSkip: Vera Pezer Third: Sheila Rowan Second: Joyce McKee Lead: Lee Morrison |
Final Round Robin standings
| Province | Skip | W | L | PF | PA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 75 | 66 | |||
| 6 | 3 | 89 | 62 | |||
| 6 | 3 | 71 | 56 | |||
| 5 | 4 | 77 | 72 | |||
| 5 | 4 | 84 | 61 | |||
| 5 | 4 | 66 | 72 | |||
| 5 | 4 | 62 | 66 | |||
| 4 | 5 | 71 | 66 | |||
| 3 | 6 | 67 | 72 | |||
| 0 | 9 | 43 | 112 |
All times are listed in Newfoundland Standard Time .[7]
Monday, February 22, 2:30 pm
Monday, February 22, 8:00 pm
Tuesday, February 23, 2:30 pm
Tuesday, February 23, 8:00 pm
Wednesday, February 24, 9:30 am
Wednesday, February 24, 2:30 pm
Wednesday, February 24, 8:00 pm
Thursday, February 25, 2:30 pm
Thursday, February 25, 8:00 pm
Friday, February 26, 9:30 am
Friday, February 26, 2:30 pm