The 1971 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, the Canadian women's curling championship was held February 22 to 26, 1971 at Memorial Stadium, in St. John's, Newfoundland.
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.
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 .
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).
Teams The teams were as follows: British ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland Granite CC, Edmonton Skip: 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, Brandon Skip: Mabel Mitchell Third: Mildred Murray Second: Evelyn Bird Lead: June Clark Bathurst Ladies CC, Bathurst Skip: Shirley Pilson Third: Anne Orser Second: Patricia Maher Lead: Geraldine Lenihan Carol CC, Labrador City Skip: Sue-Anne Bartlett Third: Ann Bright Second: Frances Hiscock Lead: Mavis Pike Nova ScotiaOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewan Stellar CC, Stellarton Skip: Clare Purdy Third: Florence Ives Second: Joan MacLeod Lead: Betty Rann Thunder Bay CC, Thunder Bay Skip: Helen Sillman Third: Norma Knudson Second: Elaine Tetley Lead: Marilyn Walker Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Marie Toole Third: Jennie Boomhower Second: Cathy Dillon Lead: Pauline Johnston Port Alfred CC, Port-Alfred Skip: Nicole Janelle Third: Paulette Janelle Second: Doris LaPointe Lead: Denise Cote Sutherland Ladies CC, Saskatoon Skip: Vera Pezer Third: Sheila Rowan Second: Joyce McKee Lead: Lee Morrison
Map of teams
Round Robin standings Final Round Robin standings KeyTeams to Tiebreaker ProvinceSkipWLPFPA Ina Hansen 6 3 75 66 Kay Baldwin 6 3 89 62 Vera Pezer 6 3 71 56 Mabel Mitchell 5 4 77 72 Nicole Janelle 5 4 84 61 Marie Toole 5 4 66 72 Helen Sillman 5 4 62 66 Sue Anne Bartlett 4 5 71 66 Shirley Pilson 3 6 67 72 Clare Purdy 0 9 43 112
Round Robin results All times are listed in Newfoundland Standard Time (UTC-03:30).
Draw 1 Monday, February 22, 2:30 pm
Draw 2 Monday, February 22, 8:00 pm
Draw 3 Tuesday, February 23, 2:30 pm
Draw 4 Tuesday, February 23, 8:00 pm
Draw 5 Wednesday, February 24, 9:30 am
Draw 6 Wednesday, February 24, 2:30 pm
Draw 7 Wednesday, February 24, 8:00 pm
Draw 8 Thursday, February 25, 2:30 pm
Draw 9 Thursday, February 25, 8:00 pm
Tiebreakers
Semifinal Friday, February 26, 9:30 am
Final Friday, February 26, 2:30 pm
References