VERNON, B.C. -- Three times was the charm here for Canada’s Jennifer Jones Sunday afternoon as she defeated China’s Bingyu Wang 7-4 to capture the 2008 Ford World Womens Curling Championship.

 It was the third time in a week that Canada had played China -- they also played in the round-robin and the Page Playoff 1 vs 2 game -- but the only time that Canada managed to beat the feisty Chinese squad.

 But when your only victory comes in the world final, it’s the only one that counts and the Canadian women were delerious with what was the first world title for all four members of the Winnipeg team -- Jones, third Cathy Overton-Clapham, second Jill Officer and lead Dawn Askin.

"We felt we played great from start to finish, something we hadn't done all week," Jones said afterward.

"I'm so thrilled, it's crazy...It's unbelievable. I'm speechless really."

 It was a disappointing finish to the week for a Chinese squad that surprised everyone as they finished first overall in the round-robin and then advanced straight to the final with a win over Canada in Friday night’s 1 vs 2 game.

But China still gets the consolation of a silver medal, the first ever won by an Asian team in the history of the world curling championships, men or women.

 Canada fell behind early in both their losses to China earlier in the week, but it was the opposite script here in the final. After holding China to one with the hammer in the first end, Canada cracked a three-ender in the second end when Wang jammed a hit with her last rock, leaving Canada lying two and Jones needing only to draw the full 12-foot with the last rock of the end to get the third point.

 It was a critical mistake from which China never recovered. After trading singles for the next four ends, the teams headed into the seventh end with Canada leading 4-3 and holding hammer. China was threatening to steal one, with a rock locked on to the button. But Jones played a double angle-raised takeout, to drive the Chinese counter off the button and leave Canada with a deuce when the smoke settled.

 That made the score 6-3 and China never threatened after that.

 It’s the 15th world womens curling championship for Canada, but just the third won on Canadian soil. Marilyn Bodogh’s victory’s in 1986 and 1996 are the only other two times Canadian women have won world titles in the 10 world womens championships that have been contested in this country.

It's also the second straight world women's title for Canada. B.C.'s Kelly Scott won for Canada last year in Aomori, Japan.

Switzerland won the bronze medal, defeating Japan late Saturday evening. Switzerland skip Mirjam Ott also won the Frances Brodie Award, voted by her fellow curlers to the player who best exhibits sportsmanship and ability.

Final attendance for the event was 37,255, including 3,004 for the final.

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