Jan Betker
Encyclopedia
Janice "Jan" Betker (born July 19, 1960 in Regina, Saskatchewan
) is a Canadian
curler. Betker is best known for playing third on the Sandra Schmirler
rink that won three world championships and an Olympic gold medal in the 1990s. Following Schmirler's death from cancer in 2000, Betker has replaced her as the team's skip.
As part of the Schmirler team Betker won 3 Canadian curling
championships in 1993, 1994, and 1997. As well the team also won 3 world championships in 1993, 1994, and 1997. In 1998 the team won the Gold Medal
for curling at the Nagano Olympics
. Betker also won a Canadian Mixed Curling Championship
in 1984 as the lead for Randy Woytowich.
At first Betker refused to skip the team following the death of her longtime skip Schmirler. However, in 2003 Betker took over as skip and took her team to the Canadian Championship. The team finished fourth overall.
In 2005, at the Canada Cup of Curling, Betker and her team placed second. However this showing was still enough to win them a spot at the 2005 Canadian Olympic Trials in Halifax as the winner of the event, Shannon Kleibrink
already had won an Olympic Trial berth.
Betker finished 4-5 at the event with Kleibrink the eventual winner.
Betker returned to the national championships in 2007
. Joan McCusker
, who had played second for both Schmirler and Betker took the season off and was replaced by her sister, Nancy Inglis. Sherry Linton, former third, joined Jolene McIvor's rink for the 2006-2007 season and was replaced by newcomer, Lana Vey. Betker's team made it all the way to the final before losing to Kelly Scott
.
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
curler. Betker is best known for playing third on the Sandra Schmirler
Sandra Schmirler
Sandra Marie Schmirler, SOM , was a Canadian curler, who captured three Canadian Curling Championships and three World Curling Championships. Schmirler skipped her Canadian team to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first year curling was a medal sport...
rink that won three world championships and an Olympic gold medal in the 1990s. Following Schmirler's death from cancer in 2000, Betker has replaced her as the team's skip.
As part of the Schmirler team Betker won 3 Canadian curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
championships in 1993, 1994, and 1997. As well the team also won 3 world championships in 1993, 1994, and 1997. In 1998 the team won the Gold Medal
Gold Medal
Gold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
for curling at the Nagano Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
. Betker also won a Canadian Mixed Curling Championship
Canadian Mixed Curling Championship
The Canadian Mixed Curling Championship is the national curling championship for mixed curling in Canada. It is considered as the highest level of mixed curling in the world, with the absence of a World Championships. However, a...
in 1984 as the lead for Randy Woytowich.
At first Betker refused to skip the team following the death of her longtime skip Schmirler. However, in 2003 Betker took over as skip and took her team to the Canadian Championship. The team finished fourth overall.
In 2005, at the Canada Cup of Curling, Betker and her team placed second. However this showing was still enough to win them a spot at the 2005 Canadian Olympic Trials in Halifax as the winner of the event, Shannon Kleibrink
Shannon Kleibrink
Shannon Kleibrink is a Canadian curler from Okotoks, Alberta. She and her team of third Amy Nixon, second Glenys Bakker, lead Christine Keshen and alternate Sandra Jenkins represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy...
already had won an Olympic Trial berth.
Betker finished 4-5 at the event with Kleibrink the eventual winner.
Betker returned to the national championships in 2007
2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's women's curling championship, was held February 17-25 at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. It marks the first year under the Scotties brand name. The winner was the defending champions Team Canada, under skip Kelly Scott...
. Joan McCusker
Joan McCusker
Joan McCusker , grew up in Saltcoats. She is a Canadian curler who played second on the team of Sandra Schmirler at the provincial, national and international level. As part of the Schmirler rink, McCusker won a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics...
, who had played second for both Schmirler and Betker took the season off and was replaced by her sister, Nancy Inglis. Sherry Linton, former third, joined Jolene McIvor's rink for the 2006-2007 season and was replaced by newcomer, Lana Vey. Betker's team made it all the way to the final before losing to Kelly Scott
Kelly Scott
Kelly Scott is a Canadian curler from Kelowna, British Columbia.-1995-2005:...
.