Pinkney ready to rock
Truro foursome seeking provincial senior women’s title on home ice
TRURO, N.S. – Slipping and sliding all over the ice was how Colleen Pinkney began her curling career, at 26 years old.
“I probably was a disaster on the ice but there was one person – Dave Valentine – at the open house who said I had so much potential,” said Pinkney.
Thirty-six years later, Pinkney is a curling pro, ready to play before the hometown crowd this week and next at the Nova Scotia senior women’s championship at Truro Curling Club.
She said Valentine, who has since passed away, was the person who truly drew her in to curling.
“Something he said hit a chord and I went back,” said Pinkney.
Today, Pinkney has a trophy case full of medals – including three provincial senior women’s gold (2009, 2013, 2014) – and is thrilled with the opportunity win another on home ice.
“It’s very exciting to be curling in front of your hometown and in your home club, however, there’s not a lot of advantages other than that side of it,” she said.
Todd Burgess coaches the Pinkney foursome, which also includes lead Susan Creelman, second Marion Macauley and third Shelley Macnutt. Burgess said Pinkney has a real shot at winning provincials and earning a spot at the Canadian championship in Portage la Prairie, Man., March 16 to 22.
“I would not be surprised if they win, put it that way,” said Burgess. “They’ll be one of the favourites to be sure, even though there are other big names.”
Another factor in any tournament is luck, or as Pinkney says, “the curling gods – you’ve gotta have some of that.”
The ‘curling gods’ have come through for Pinkney in past years.
In 2010 she won world senior gold in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Four years later, she earned silver in Scotland, the ancestral home of curling.