The 1979 Macdonald Lassies Championship, the Canadian women's curling championship was held February 25 to March 2, 1979, at the Town of Mount Royal Arena in Mount Royal, Quebec. This was the last women's championship to be sponsored by Macdonald Tobacco and also the first event to feature a playoff.

Team British Columbia, who was skipped by Lindsay Sparkes won the event by defeating Manitoba 7–4 in the final after also finishing first in the round robin with an 8–2 record. This was BC's fourth championship overall and the second skipped by Sparkes, who also won in 1976. The Sparkes rink also went on to represent Canada in the inaugural Women's World Curling Championship, the 1979 Royal Bank of Scotland World Women's Curling Championship which they lost in the semifinal to eventual champion Switzerland.

Event Summary

Through the first eight draws of the tournament, British Columbia was sitting at the top of the standings with an unbeaten record of 7–0, Nova Scotia and Quebec were tied for second with 6–2 records, while Newfoundland sat at 5–2, Alberta right behind at 5–3, and Manitoba (who started 1–3) and Saskatchewan both sitting at 4–3.

Draw 9 saw the playoff situation become clearer. Manitoba handed BC their first loss of the tournament 5–4, Quebec defeated Newfoundland 5–4, both Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia cruised to victory in their matchups while Alberta drew a bye. With two draws remaining, there was a good chance that at least one tiebreaker would be required but also a chance that tiebreakers wouldn't be needed to determine playoff spots.

Unknown at the time, the penultimate draw (Draw 10) early on Friday would be the beginning of a long day for several teams. Newfoundland would defeat BC 9–8 while Saskatchewan and Manitoba were both victorious as well. Alberta defeated Nova Scotia 9–1 in only six ends and Quebec drew a bye. Alberta's victory guaranteed that a tiebreaker playoff would be required as Nova Scotia drew a bye in the final draw. Heading into the final draw of round robin play, two very important matchups were on the horizon with the BC/Quebec matchup winner getting a direct bye into the final and the loser joining Nova Scotia and the Alberta/Saskatchewan winner in the tiebreakers with the loser of Alberta/Saskatchewan being eliminated. Newfoundland and Manitoba would both need to win in order to be in the tiebreaker playoff as well.

The final draw would see BC would clinch a spot in the final with a 6–3 win over Quebec while Saskatchewan eliminated Alberta from contention with a back-and-forth 11–9 victory. With both Newfoundland and Manitoba cruising to victories, this meant that Manitoba, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan were all tied for second place with 7–3 records requiring three tiebreaker games to determine two semifinal berths.

The tiebreaker matchups would feature Newfoundland vs. Quebec and Nova Scotia vs. Manitoba. The Nova Scotia/Manitoba winner received one semifinal spot while Saskatchewan would play the Newfoundland/Quebec winner for the other semifinal berth.

In the first round of tiebreakers Thursday evening, Newfoundland jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two ends in their game against Quebec and never looked back for a commanding 9–3 victory in nine ends while Manitoba scored three in the fifth to take command in an 8–5 victory over Nova Scotia to advance to the semifinal. The second round of tiebreakers late Thursday night saw a high-scoring affair between Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. Despite playing their fourth game of the day and trailing 10-8 after eight ends, Newfoundland scored three in the ninth to take the lead and stole one in the tenth for good measure and advance to the semifinal with a 12–10 victory.

The four games the previous day would end up taking a toll on Newfoundland in their semifinal matchup with Manitoba as Manitoba controlled the game early and dominated the tired Newfoundland rink 10–2 and meet BC in the final for their eighth win in a row after starting 1–3. The final would see BC dominate Manitoba for a 7–4 victory in nine ends as BC led 5–1 after the halfway point and 7–2 after seven ends. The victory gave Sparkes her second title and a spot in the inaugural women's world curling championships.

Teams

The teams are listed as follows:

AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew Brunswick
Lethbridge CC, Lethbridge Skip: Myrna McQuarrie Third: Barb Davis Second: Gayle Pilling Lead: Diane SmummachNorth Shore WC, North Vancouver Skip: Lindsay Sparkes Third: Dawn Knowles Second: Robin Wilson Lead: Lorraine BowlesStony Mountain CC, Stony Mountain Skip: Chris Pidzarko Third: Rose Tanasichuk Second: Iris Armstrong Lead: Patti VandeBathurst CC, Bathurst Skip: Anne Orser Third: Pat Maher Second: Elvera Kennah Lead: Shirley Gammon
NewfoundlandNova ScotiaOntarioPrince Edward Island
Carol CC, Labrador City Skip: Sue Anne Bartlett Third: Patricia Dwyer Second: Joyce Narduzzi Lead: Mavis PikeCFB Halifax CC, Halifax Skip: Penny LaRocque Third: Brenda Shutt Second: Colleen Jones Lead: Charmaine Murray Alternate: Barbara JonesBoulevard CC, Toronto Skip: Pat Reid Third: Sandi Norton Second: Carmel O'Malley Lead: Lynda StoykaCrapaud Community CC, Crapaud Skip: Elayne Thompson Third: Ruth Cutcliffe Second: Louise Thompson Lead: Julie Robinson
QuebecSaskatchewanNorthwest Territories/Yukon
Baie-D'Urfé CC, Baie-D'Urfé Skip: Lorraine Bowes Third: Faye Gardiner Second: Joan Brown Lead: Barbara DonnellyGranite CC, Saskatoon Skip: Barb Despins Third: Lynne Fuller Second: Elaine Farkas Lead: Diane LynnHay River CC, Hay River Skip: Margaret Whitlock Third: Marion Clifford Second: Delaine Kardash Lead: Amber Schroter

Map of teams

1979 Macdonald Lassies Championship is located in Canada
Provincial Winners

Round Robin standings

Final Round Robin standings

Key
Teams to Playoffs
Teams to Tiebreakers
TeamSkipWLPFPA
British ColumbiaLindsay Sparkes828043
Nova ScotiaPenny LaRocque737158
SaskatchewanBarb Despins737763
ManitobaChris Pidzarko737353
QuebecLorraine Bowes737758
NewfoundlandSue Anne Bartlett738156
AlbertaMyrna McQuarrie647963
OntarioPat Reid374965
New BrunswickAnne Orser194589
Northwest Territories/YukonMargaret Whitlock194486
Prince Edward IslandElayne Thompson194890

Round Robin results

Source:

Draw 1

Sunday, February 25

Team12345678910Final
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)03001110107
Quebec (Bowes)20120002018
Team12345678910Final
Ontario (Reid)201020000X5
Manitoba (Pidzarko)040201101X9
Team12345678910Final
Alberta (McQuarrie)401101010X8
New Brunswick (Orser)000010102X4
Team12345678910Final
Saskatchewan (Despins)010000200X3
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)301111011X9
Team12345678910Final
Newfoundland (Bartlett)10202102019
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)03010010308

Draw 2

Sunday, February 25

Team12345678910Final
New Brunswick (Orser)010100201X5
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)303011020X10
Team12345678910Final
Newfoundland (Bartlett)13001113XX10
Ontario (Reid)00200000XX2
Team12345678910Final
Quebec (Bowes)3410202XXX12
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)0001020XXX3
Team12345678910Final
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)0100000XXX1
British Columbia (Sparkes)2021231XXX11
Team12345678910Final
Alberta (McQuarrie)20003011029
Manitoba (Pidzarko)00040200208

Draw 3

Monday, February 26

Team12345678910Final
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)00000010XX1
British Columbia (Sparkes)01211102XX8
Team12345678910Final
Alberta (McQuarrie)002000210X5
Newfoundland (Bartlett)210121000X7
Team12345678910Final
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)010301110X7
Manitoba (Pidzarko)002010001X4
Team12345678910Final
New Brunswick (Orser)000101XXXX2
Saskatchewan (Despins)124040XXXX11
Team12345678910Final
Quebec (Bowes)01004301XX9
Ontario (Reid)00110010XX3

Draw 4

Monday, February 26

Team12345678910Final
Manitoba (Pidzarko)20001011005
Saskatchewan (Despins)02110100117
Team12345678910Final
Quebec (Bowes)00100202207
Alberta (McQuarrie)30001010016
Team12345678910Final
British Columbia (Sparkes)00100032006
Ontario (Reid)20001100015
Team12345678910Final
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)00100002104
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)02021110018
Team12345678910Final
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)000002101X4
Newfoundland (Bartlett)011140010X8

Draw 5

Tuesday, February 27

Team12345678910Final
Ontario (Reid)000221302X10
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)101000010X3
Team12345678910Final
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)101210300X8
Quebec (Bowes)020001012X6
Team12345678910Final
Saskatchewan (Despins)10310201019
Newfoundland (Bartlett)02002020107
Team12345678910Final
Manitoba (Pidzarko)002020202X8
New Brunswick (Orser)100102010X5
Team12345678910Final
British Columbia (Sparkes)000410302111
Alberta (McQuarrie)02100303009

Draw 6

Tuesday, February 27

Team12345678910Final
Newfoundland (Bartlett)40030211XX11
New Brunswick (Orser)03001000XX4
Team12345678910Final
British Columbia (Sparkes)102012102X9
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)010100020X4
Team12345678910Final
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)102101000X5
Alberta (McQuarrie)030010232X11
Team12345678910Final
Ontario (Reid)020211102X9
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)001000030X4
Team12345678910Final
Saskatchewan (Despins)02010110XX5
Quebec (Bowes)20504002XX13

Draw 7

Tuesday, February 27

Team12345678910Final
Alberta (McQuarrie)20003100039
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)01120002006
Team12345678910Final
Saskatchewan (Despins)010010101X4
British Columbia (Sparkes)000302010X6
Team12345678910Final
New Brunswick (Orser)02001022007
Quebec (Bowes)101201004110
Team12345678910Final
Newfoundland (Bartlett)001003020X6
Manitoba (Pidzarko)050110101X9
Team12345678910Final
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)100002030X6
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)001310304X12

Draw 8

Wednesday, February 28

Team12345678910Final
Quebec (Bowes)102000010X4
Manitoba (Pidzarko)010022103X9
Team12345678910Final
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)00200101XX4
Saskatchewan (Despins)12003030XX9
Team12345678910Final
Alberta (McQuarrie)00020100014
Ontario (Reid)10000010103
Team12345678910Final
New Brunswick (Orser)00101000XX2
British Columbia (Sparkes)21030212XX11
Team12345678910Final
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)00032000005
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)01000101227

Draw 9

Wednesday, February 28

Team12345678910Final
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)03103101XX9
Ontario (Reid)00020010XX3
Team12345678910Final
New Brunswick (Orser)010101102X6
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)101010010X4
Team12345678910Final
Manitoba (Pidzarko)00010210015
British Columbia (Sparkes)10002001004
Team1234567891011Final
Quebec (Bowes)000100030015
Newfoundland (Bartlett)010010001104
Team12345678910Final
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)001001110X4
Saskatchewan (Despins)200340002X11

Draw 10

Thursday, March 1

Team12345678910Final
British Columbia (Sparkes)01003201108
Newfoundland (Bartlett)30040010019
Team12345678910Final
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)024010022X11
New Brunswick (Orser)200102100X6
Team12345678910Final
Ontario (Reid)200002000X4
Saskatchewan (Despins)001110121X7
Team12345678910Final
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)100000XXXX1
Alberta (McQuarrie)021231XXXX9
Team12345678910Final
Manitoba (Pidzarko)01011002005
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)10100000114

Draw 11

Thursday, March 1

Team12345678910Final
Saskatchewan (Despins)100330210111
Alberta (McQuarrie)02300300109
Team12345678910Final
Manitoba (Pidzarko)310601XXXX11
Prince Edward Island (Thompson)001010XXXX2
Team12345678910Final
Newfoundland (Bartlett)3012013XXX10
Northwest Territories/Yukon (Whitlock)0100100XXX2
Team12345678910Final
British Columbia (Sparkes)003101001X6
Quebec (Bowes)010010010X3
Team12345678910Final
Ontario (Reid)010110110X5
New Brunswick (Orser)101001001X4

Tiebreakers

Five teams were tied for second, therefore there were three tiebreakers. The two remaining teams advanced to the semifinal.

Winners to Semifinal
Saskatchewan10
Newfoundland12
Newfoundland9
Quebec3
Nova Scotia5
Manitoba8

Round 1

Thursday, March 1, 6:30 pm

Team12345678910Final
Newfoundland (Bartlett)120101103X9
Quebec (Bowes)001010010X3
Team12345678910Final
Nova Scotia (LaRocque)100102001X5
Manitoba (Pidzarko)021030200X8

Round 2

Thursday, March 1, 10:00 pm

Team12345678910Final
Saskatchewan (Despins)020203030010
Newfoundland (Bartlett)301020203112

Playoffs

SemifinalFinal
1British Columbia7
2Manitoba102Manitoba4
3Newfoundland2

Semifinal

Friday, March 2, 9:00 am

Team12345678910Final
Manitoba (Pidzarko)10220212XX10
Newfoundland (Bartlett)01001000XX2

Final

Friday, March 2, 2:00 pm

Team12345678910Final
British Columbia (Sparkes)020120200X7
Manitoba (Pidzarko)100001011X4