The Sasky legend did it all by age 22.
Dorenda Bailey did it all by age 22.
Growing up in Moose Jaw, a provincial high school championship was followed by multiple collegiate victories representing the University of Saskatchewan.
Junior curling was limited to regional events in the 1960s but the women’s ranks offered the chance to become a national champion. When Dorenda’s sister Cheryl moved to Saskatoon in 1969, they were joined by Linda Burnham and Joan Andersen at front end and everything fell into place.
The first step was beating defending Canadian champion Joyce McKee to win northern Saskatchewan. Next, the squad rebounded from a first game loss to win the best of three against Pauline Klaudeman from the south.
Recently married and six months pregnant, Dorenda (now Schoenhals) was headed to the 1970 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship in Calgary. Beginning with long slides which were considered “un-ladylike” at the local club, to practice and fitness training, their team blazed a trail for young women in curling.
Dorenda explains what to do with free beer when your team drinks milk and orange juice, how to find uniforms for a teammate who wears jeans, and how to balance your delivery while pregnant.
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