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Jones headlines draw for Canadian Seniors Curling Championships

With the Canadian Seniors Curling Championship set to hit Abbotsford in two weeks' time, organizers are thrilled the high-profile skips.

With the Canadian Seniors Curling Championship set to hit Abbotsford in two weeks' time, organizers are thrilled with the number of high-profile skips who are emerging from the provincial playdowns.

"We're gratified, because the quality of skips is indicative of a great championship," said Soren Jensen, chair of the organizing committee. "Particularly on the women's side, we've got great respresentatives."

The championships run March 17-25 at Abbotsford Recreation Centre, and headlining the women's draw is Colleen Jones, one of the greatest female curlers of all time. The Nova Scotian is a six-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts winner, including an unprecedented four national titles in a row between 2001 and 2004, and is a two-time World Champion (2001 and 2004).

Cathy King of Alberta is another former Scotties champ – she won the Canadian women's title in 1998, and went on to win bronze at the Worlds.

Also in the field is defending Canadian senior champ Heidi Hanlon, an 11-time Scotties participant from New Brunswick.

On the men's side, Quebec's Pierre Charette is the highest-profile skip. He's a seven-time participant at the Brier, and is the only curler to have played every position (including alternate) at the Canadian championship tourney. He's a two-time Brier runner-up, playing third for Guy Hemmings in 1998 and 1999.

B.C. will be represented on the men's side by a Prince George rink skipped by Dennis Graber, with Brian Windsor throwing last rocks. The home province's rep on the women's side will be Nanaimo's Penny Shantz.

For more information on the event, visit www.canadianseniors2012.com.