In less than two weeks the top female curlers in the world will converge on North Bay.

The 2018 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship goes March 17th to the 25th at Memorial Gardens.

The host team is skipped by Canada’s Jennifer Jones who will be looking for her second world championship title.

Jones says it’s going to be a competitive event.

“The international field is definitely strong and we’ve been saying that for a long time. We know that we’re going to have to play our best in order to have a chance to make the playoffs. That’s all you really want-make the playoffs and take it from there,” she says.

Jones is fresh off her sixth Scotties win.

That ties her with Colleen Jones for the most national women’s curling titles.

Jennifer says she doesn’t play for records but she realizes it’s a significant accomplishment for her and her team.

“It’s a tough record to achieve and to go in the record books in the sport that you love is really special and to do it with Jill (Officer), who I’ve played with for a long time means a lot to me,” Jones says.

Team Jones’ longtime second, Jill Officer announced last week she’ll be stepping back from competitive curling next season and will become the team’s alternate.

Rounding out Team Canada are third Kaitlyn Lawes who won gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics in mixed doubles, lead Dawn McEwen and alternate Shannon Birchard.

Team Canada’s first draw at the Worlds goes at 2 pm on March 17th at Memorial Gardens against the Czech Republic.

Here is the full interview:

 

PHOTO: Manitoba, left to right, Jennifer Jones, Shannon Birchard, Jill Officer and Dawn McEwen pose with the trophy after their win over the Wild Card team at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Penticton, B.C., on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick