Smith wins Scottish Mixed

Thanks to Christine for all the blogging from Vernon, and Hugh for his pics from the Ford World Women's Championship. Well done team!

With the baton back (temporarily) in my hands for a few days, I can report that Curl Aberdeen was the venue for the Scottish Mixed Championship at the weekend, and a great event it was too. The four sections each produced two qualifiers, although a couple of tiebreakers were needed on Saturday night, and quarters, semis and final were contested yesterday. You can find all the results here.

The holders, Glen Muirhead (4th), Eve Muirhead, Gordon Muirhead (skip) and Anna Sloan, got past Tom Brewster, Kim Brewster, Duncan Ferrie and Kay Gibb in the semifinal, but only after an extra end. On the other side of the draw Alan Smith, Gillian Howard, David Mundell and Karen Strang made it to the final, after a last end measure, against Moray Combe, Sharon Stewart, Sandy Christie and Lorna Smith.

In the final Smith pulled back from 1-3 down after four, taking a single inadvertently when trying to blank the sixth and then stealing the seventh and the eighth. With last play of the game, Glen just overthrew his last draw to the four foot.

Kitzbuhel here we come! The website for the European Mixed Curling Championship, September 22-27, is here.

Above: Curl Aberdeen Chairman Edward Johnston presents the trophy to Alan Smith, Karen Strang, Gillian Howard and David Mundell. Below: Some pics from yesterday.

Gordon Muirhead and Alan Smith in the final.

Karen and David sweep an Alan Smith stone.

Gillian Howard

David Mundell

Anna Sloan

Glen Muirhead

Karen Strang. A long time supporter of the Mixed Championship, the winning team was entered under her name!

Who are these two Canadians? Eve and Glen Muirhead, sporting their trophy shirts from Ostersund in the semifinal!

Alan Smith

Pics by Bob

Ford World Women's Curling Championship final

Yes folks, this is my last blog from the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, British Columbia.

Canada and China faced each other for the third time this Championship. The score so far was 2/0 to China, Canada had plenty of support, 3,004 people had jammed into the stadium including 200 standing fans.

Canada didn't want to lose in front of such a crowd, Chinese skip Bingyu Wang was forced to take a single in the first end then gave up three in the second. China were going to have to work hard to get back into the game. They got back to within one shot after five ends, Canada blanked the sixth and scored two in the seventh with a raised takeout from skip Jennifer Jones.

Canada still led by three going into the final end, they ran China out of stones to win the title 7/4.

It was a great championship for China, it's the first time a Pacific region country has got medals, the crowd loved them, watch out for China in the next few years.

Mirjam Ott from Switzerland had got the bronze medal and she won the Frances Brodie sportsmanship award.

So it's over and out from Vernon, it's been a difficult week at times but overall a great championship.

It's goodbye from Jennifer Jones.

It's goodbye from Bingyu Wang.

And it's goodbye from Vernon.

Pics by Hugh Stewart

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 19

Japan had made the final four at a World Championship for the first time, a few hours ago they lost a tight game to Canada, now they meet Switzerland in the bronze medal game. Japan had beaten Switzerland in the three/four playoff game could they do it again?

For six ends the answer was definitely no, five shots to Switzerland over ends three, four and five gave them a six shot lead, it looked as if the game was over.

But Japan had other ideas, after eight they had cut the lead to one shot. Switzerland tried to make two in the ninth but got only one, going into the final end two up without last stone.

Moe Meguro with her first stone attempted a draw, it barely touched a guard so rolled into the open, Mirjam Ott had a hit to run the Japanese out of stones, Switzerland won the bronze medal 9/7.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Coverage of the final is available on CurlTV and Eurosport.

Mirjam Ott's photo is by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 18

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club has updated its statement about the situation with the Scottish team at the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in British Columbia making three points.

1. The Scottish skip was dropped for performance reasons.

2. The national coach decided to play with three players.

3. The national coach did not ask the Scottish skip to return to the ice.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 17

Canada met Japan in the semi final of the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon British Columbia. Is an all Asian final possible?

This was one of the best games I have ever seen in my life. The shot making was unbelievable from both teams. Japan grabbed the lead in the sixth end with a hit for three shots but Canada got two back in the seventh, Japan still led by one. Japan got another two in the eighth, Canada had a raised take out for two in the ninth going into the last end one down.

In the tenth Canada lay two shots, skip Moe Meguro took one out, the game was going into an extra end. Canada lay one fully on the four foot, Meguro opted to draw but was light, Canada stole a single and the game.

Canada will meet China for the third time in the final, Japan play Switzerland for the bronze medal.

They say curling fans are getting older and they could be right, one lady in today's audience proudly announced she would be 101 in June!

You can find all the linescores and statistics here. Playoff games are available on CurlTV. And Eurosport has coverage of the final games at Vernon.

Photo of Moe Meguro, and of Jennifer Jones saying a wee prayer, is by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 16

China made their first appearance at a World Championship in 2005, since then they've come on by leaps and bounds. Here in Vernon they finished top of the table giving Canada their first defeat of the Championship along the way.

In the 1 v 2 playoff the met Canada again, the winner would go straight to the final, the loser would play Japan for the second final spot.

China had the game from the opening ends, they had a four shot lead after three ends, that lead had gone to five after five ends. It was going to be an uphill struggle for Canada. They did put some shots on the board including a steal in the ninth but they went into the last end without last stone.

China kept the front of the house clear, Jennifer Jones for Canada drew with her first stone but it lay open, China hit, Canada couldn't make two to tie the game and conceded. China were in the final 7/5.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Playoff games are available on CurlTV. And Eurosport has coverage of the final games at Vernon.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 15

Switzerland took on Japan in the 3/4 playoff at the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, British Columbia, this is the first time Japan has made the last four in 17 World Championships.

This is a page playoff system but there's a change to the rules this year, now pay attention, in recent years the loser of the 3/4 was out, the winner guaranteed at least a bronze. But this year there will be a bronze medal game. Got that?

My money and I suspect I suspect most people's money was on Switzerland, they won the round robin tie 9/6. But the Japanese came out firing on all cylinders, Switzerland was forced to take one with last stone in the first, Japan got two in the second when Swiss skip Mirjam Ott hit and rolled too far with her last stone, Japan drew for two. And it got worse for the Swiss, Japan stole three shots over the next three ends for a five shot lead after six. They wobbled a bit in ends eight and nine giving up three shots, Japan went into the last end one up with last stone. Once again they were making mistakes, Switzerland lay one but Miriam Ott's last stone to guard didn't draw enough, Moe Meguro for Japan had a hit and stick for one shot to win the game 6/4.

Tomorrow, or perhaps today GMT they will play the loser of the China Canada game. Switzerland can only wait to find out who they play in the bronze medal game.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Playoff games are available on CurlTV. And Eurosport has coverage of the final games at Vernon.

The RCCC have a new statement on their website about the situation with the women's team. It says a full investigation about the circumstances and actions that led to three players being on the ice will be held next week. The investigation will be led by an independent lawyer who will advise the board on any action which should be taken.

You can read the full statement at here.

Scottish Mixed Championship

Scotland's representatives for the European Mixed Curling Championship will be decided this weekend at Curl Aberdeen. Twenty-two teams are involved in the Scottish Mixed Championship, playing in four sections.

Play begins at 11.00 today (Friday).

The results can be found on the Royal Club website here.

The winning team will have the opportunity of playing in the European Mixed, September 22-27. The event website can be found here.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 14

Once again Karen Addison, Lynn Cameron and Anne Laird took to the ice in Vernon, British Columbia. This was their last game of the round robin, the opposition was the Czech Republic on no wins. At stake for Scotland? Pride and Olympic qualifying points.

Once again knowing they had to win this game the team kept the game simple, made the shots, put the scores on the board and kept the opposition count as low as possible.

And once again it worked, they bided their time and took three in the fifth, the Czechs got two in the sixth but Scotland still had the lead, three in the seventh and a steal in the eighth stretched their lead to five shots. The Czechs conceded after scoring one in the ninth, final score 8/4 to Scotland.

Well done to Karen, Lynn and Anne.

Oh, you might want to know who will be in the playoffs, China, Canada and Switzerland finished the round robin on nine wins, thanks to the draw shot challenge China finished in top spot, then Canada, then Switzerland. China will play Canada in the 1/2 game, in the 3/4 game Switzerland will play the winner of a tiebreak between Japan and Denmark.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Playoff games are available on CurlTV. And Eurosport has coverage of the final games at Vernon.

Top photo: Karen Addison in the head against the Czech Republic.

Lynn Cameron

Anne Laird. Photos by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 13

Scotland fielded three players, Karen Addison, Lynn Cameron and Anne Laird for their game against Italy. Gail Munro and Lyndsay Wilson sat this one out watching from the stands.

At stake in this game and the next are Olympic qualifying points, Scotland need to win games to get more points.

It was a low scoring game with the teams scoring singles and blanking ends, Scotland stole a single in the ninth to go one ahead, but in the final end with last stone Karen pushed an Italian stone into the house, Italy drew to tie the game. But Scotland had the all important last stone, Karen drew for shot and game 5/4. The Scots are now on a record of two wins eight losses.

China, Canada and Switzerland are safe in the top four. Japan beat China and Sweden beat Denmark so there will be at least one tie break game, if Sweden beat Canada tonight there will be two.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here. The webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada is listed at: http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php. This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 12

It's Thursday afternoon at 1.30p.m here in Vernon, British Columbia and I'm not sure what to say in this blog so I'll stick with the facts.

Karen Addison, Lynn Cameron and Anne Laird are on sheet A playing Italy, third end as I write. Now you can all count, that makes just three players right? And you're wondering what is going on.

After seven games with Scotland on a record of one win and six losses the team changed, Karen Addison move up to third, Lyndsay Wilson played second stones, but the team went on to lose another game. So it was decided Gail should sit out, Karen would skip and fifth player Lynn Cameron come into the team, so far so good, Gail wasn't happy as you can understand but she was going to sit this one out. Then Lyndsay decided if Gail wasn't playing, she wasn't playing.

And there you have it, make of it what you will, that's why I'm watching three players out there.

By the way the score is 1/1 after three.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 11

Well, what can you say, in their eighth game Scotland went out on to the ice against Japan on a record of four wins and four losses to Scotland's one win.

It just wasn't working, the team may well be down after what has happened this week, who can tell? But the scoreline tells the story, Japan stole singles in ends three, six and seven, Scotland could put only two singles on the board.

Japan got two in the ninth and Scotland had had enough, they shook hands on a scoreline of 7/2 to Japan.

There's always tomorrow, Italy and the Czech Republic.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

The webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada is listed at: http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php. This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship Extra 2

Earlier in the week I told you about young Mark Munro and his appearance with the local junior pipe band in the arena. Well, Mark didn't bring his pipes to Canada for nothing.

Yesterday he took his pipes outside the arena and set up a busking stand with the pipe case open for donations. He played for 20 minutes and in that time made a remarkable £76.

So what did he do with the money? Donated it to the local junior curling club of course!

Well done Mark!

And he plays from the stands to enourage Gail and her team.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 9

Game eight at the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, British Columbia and Team Scotland met Canada, the home team with the crowd right behind them and on a record of seven wins and one loss.

Scotland had last stone and blanked the opening end, picking up two in end two. In the third Canada lay three, Gail Munro was heavy with her draw, Canada had a shot for a four score. The Scots stuck with it, they were unlucky in the fifth, they looked like stealing but Jennifer Jones barely scraped by a guard to get the shot. End six they had a hit and stick for two to tie the score.

One down going down the ninth they were forced to take a single to go into the final end without last stone, Canada lay two, Gail tried a very difficult hit but just rubbed off the shot stones, Canada won the game 8/6

Tonight the Scots take on Japan.

And in this afternoon's draw China suffered their first defeat at the hands of Switzerland.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here. The webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada is listed at: http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php. This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Pic of Gail Munro and Jennifer Jones is by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 8

In their seventh game Team Scotland faced Denmark and had changed the line up, Karen Addison was playing third stones, Lyndsay second stones and taking the head for Gail Munro's shots.

And for the first half of the game the new line up seemed to be working, the team were making more shots than in previous games and they led by one shot after five ends. They held on to that lead till end eight, Gail elected for a tap back on her own stone rather than hitting a Danish stone. She didn't lie shot and Denmark had a draw for two.

Scotland took a shot in the ninth to tie the game but went into the final end without last stone, Gail had to draw with her last stone it ran a couple of inches too far, Denmark won the game 7/6.

Team Scotland may have to think again.

And the Chinese wagon keeps rolling on they got their seventh win beating the USA 10/1.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

The webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada is listed at: http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php.

This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 7

This morning the alarm went off at 5.30a.m as the sound of a lonely train horn penetrated the room, it's the best alarm in the world, I just wish I could set it to my time.

But to the game, Gail, Lyndsay, Karen and Anne faced Switzerland this time. The Swiss dropped their opening game to Canada but have been winning ever since, don't forget skip Mirjam Ott has two Olympic silver medals in her trophy cabinet.

Switzerland roared into the lead with a three in end one, the Scots got one in the second and stole in the third but they were being outplayed throughout the game. Another three to Swizterland in end seven effectively ended the game but the Scots played on, running out of stones in the last end, Switzerland won the game 8/4.

In other games China gave Canada the fright of their lives. The game was tied after nine, Canada had last stone, China lay three but the front was open, Jennifer Jones overthrew her last stone China got two for the game 9/7 and are now the only unbeaten team.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

The webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada is listed at: http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php.

This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

The photo is of Bingyu Wang, skip of China, surrounded by Canadian media after her team beat Jennifer Jones' home side, the favourites! Pic by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 6

Scotland won their opening game at the Ford World Curling Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, British Columbia, against Russia and the future looked bright. But after that they lost out to China, Sweden and USA. On one win and three losses things didn't look quite so bright.

In draw eight they met Germany on the same win/loss record. Now some of you might just remember Andrea Schopp and Monica Wagner winning the World Championship in the Summit Centre in 1988. Andrea has a young front end now, would experience and youth count?

The answer to that one is yes, Germany blanked the first and scored two in the second and that turned out to be the beginning of the end for the Scots, they could put only singles on the board. A steal of one in end eight let them tie the score. Germany got one in the ninth and stole one in the tenth to win the game when Gail Munro's last stone didn't draw quite enough to get shot to force an extra, the final score 6/4 to Germany.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day and that means Switzerland and Denmark.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here. Want to watch the action? Then check out the webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada at:http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php. This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 5

Got the early morning wake up call this morning as a train thundered past our hotel at 5.30 a.m.! But Scotland had an 8.30 draw against USA so I was up in time, USA had won two games from three, Scotland one win from three so it was an important game for the Scots.

And they got off to a flying start, a two in the first end and a single steal in th fourth gave them a three shot lead, but that evaporated when USA skip Debbie McCormick had a tap shot in end five to lie three to tie the game. Scotland gave up a single in end six when Gail Munro was heavy with her final draw.

The Scots struggled over the next few ends but managed to tie the game in end nine but went into the last end without last stone. USA lay two on the front eight, Gail tried a draw to the four but was heavy again, USA took the game 9-7. Tonight, tomorrow for those in Scotland, they take on Germany.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here. Want to watch the action? Then check out the webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada at:http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php. This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Debbie McCormick's pic is by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship Extra

Gail wasn't the only member of the Munro family to take to the ice in Vernon. Young Mark Munro had his five minutes of fame before the fourth draw.

Gail had told him he had to take his bagpipes to Canada, he plays with Merchiston School pipe band and has been playing for just a year.

Taking his pipes to Vernon proved a winner, Gail had heard the local junior pipe band was struggling to find people to play before draw four, so offered Mark's services. And he proudly marched down the centre walkway wearing a Munro tartan kilt as the band led the teams into the arena.

A great experience for young Mark.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 4

In their third game of the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, British Columbia, Gail Munro's team came up against the team from China, unbeatean in two games.

In the second end all the Scottish stones were behind the eight foot, Gail rubbed a guard with her last stone, China got four shots. It was uphill for Scotland from there on and the Chinese weren't going to let them back into the game, they conceded on a score of 8/4 to China after nine ends.

On Monday they face USA and Germany, on a record of one win from three games, they need to win.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Want to watch the action? Then check out the webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada at:http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php. This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345.

Photo of Scotland in action is by Hugh Stewart. Lyndsay Wilson has delivered the stone, Karen Addison and Anne Laird are the sweepers.

Scottish Wheelchair Championship

It was well worth braving the snow to be at Curl Aberdeen this afternoon for one of the finest games of wheelchair curling that I've seen! The opponents in the final were the teams skipped by Angie Malone with Ian Donaldson, Gill Keith and Jim Taylor, and Aileen Neilson with Michael McCreadie, Bill Masterton and Gerald Pocock. All are members of the Braehead Wheelchair CC.

Malone counted three in the fifth to be 5-3 up coming home. She looked to have the game won, keeping the Neilson team to a single. But Aileen played a delicate takeout, squeezing past the guard to get the inside edge she wanted to wick into the four foot, for the second of the two shots she needed to force the extra end.

And when it came to the last stone of the game, Angie played a hit through a port to take out the Nielson counter for the Championship win. Who needs sweepers? Great stuff. Good ice, good curling, and it seemed that the unanimous view was that a return to Aberdeen for next season's championship would be a popular decision.

A full report in the May Scottish Curler. All the results are here.

Top: Angie delivers with Gill Keith her buddy.
Above: L-R Ian Donaldson, Angie Malone, Jim Taylor and Gill Keith. Pics by Bob.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 3

Team Scotland went into their second game at the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, British Columbia, with a good win against Russia in the bank.

Today they meet Sweden who suffered a bad loss against China yesterday, with just two games in this draw the arena is quieter but the Scottish contingent is out in force to cheer on the team.

The game started well for Scotland with a two score in the first end. But Sweden worked away over the next few ends and tied the game at four all after six. Things went horribly wrong for Team Munro in end seven, facing two Swedish counters Gail opted for a hit, her stone swung too far wrecking on a guard, they lost two. In the eighth Gail had a chance for two but her last stone draw ran too far. A two score to Sweden in the ninth killed the game, Sweden had a three shot lead going into the final end and kept the house clear. Needing three to tie the game Scotland ran out of stones, final score 9/5.

Now here's a thing, at the European Championships unfinished ends were not scored, but in this Championship they are.

Russia looked to be running away with their game against China scoring four in end two, but a burnt Russian stone in the fourth allowed China back into the game with a three score. Russia looked the stronger team but the Chinese kept working away at the game. In the final end China lay two for game, Russia had last stone, skip Liudmila Privivkova went for a tap back but the stone slipped past, China had their second win.

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Want to watch the action? Then check out the webstreaming coverage of the WWCC2008 that is available to viewers in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada at:
http://www.curltv.com/events/wcf/2008-womens-worlds-broadcast.php

This, of course, is in addition to the TV coverage available, some of which (Eurosport and NHK Japan) is listed here: http://www.worldcurling.org/content/view/345

Photo of Lyndsay Wilson by Hugh Stewart.

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 2

It's day one of the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, BC. For the teams that meant nearly an hour on the ice for the opening ceremony, featuring a pipe band, the Okanagan Band and a ceremonial prayer from elders Pauline Arachachan and Mary Louis, that left the teams just a short time before practice, the draw shot distance and their opening games.

For team Scotland, Gail Munro, Lyndsay Wilson, Karen Addison and Anne Laird, that meant facing the might of Russia. There was nothing between the teams for the first five ends but one bad end from Scotland in the sixth gave Russia a four score and a three shot lead. But the Scots fought their way right back into the game with a three in the seventh. From there on in it was Scotland's game, stealing two in the ninth. Russia's Ludmilla Privivkova had a chance to tie the game in the last end but her last stone hit the shot but rolled out, Russia scored one but Scotland had the game.

A great way to start the Championship and a win that delighted their support, Stranraer must be empty, all dressed in blue and white jackets.

In the other games Denmark beat USA, Japan beat Italy with a come around tap back with last stone, China beat Sweden in nine ends.

Scotland face Sweden and China tomorrow, or is it today GMT?

You can find all the linescores and statistics here.

Top: Liudmila Privivkova and Gail Munro
Above: Scotch Corner
Pics by Hugh Stewart

Ford World Women's Curling Championship 1

It's Friday 21st March 2008 so it must be Vernon, BC and the Ford World Women's Curling Championship. That means 12 women's teams from all over the world competing for the glory of the title World Champions and of course the all important Olympic Qualifying points.

The team line up looks a bit different this year, there are a number of well known teams but some of the usual suspects are missing, I'll start with the home team, Canada, skipped by Jennifer Jones. You may remember Jennifer, third Cathy Overton-Clapham and second Jill Officer from Paisley in 2005, they didn't feature in the medals so are determined to do better this year. Lead Dawn Askin is a recent addition to this team.

Switzerland must be in with the favourites for the title, the Swiss team is skipped by Miriam Ott, she's played in everything and has two Olympic silver medals in her trophy cupboard, on her game she's difficult to beat. The rest of the team Carmen Schafer, Valeria Spalty, Janine Greiner all have their share of medals too and plenty of experience on the world stage.

Denmark's Angelina Jensen, Madeleine Dupont, Denise Dupont and Camilla Jensen got the World silver medal in Japan last year, the team's best result so far. The Dupont sisters played in 2005 in Paisley, and between them this team has experience of Juniors, Worlds, Europeans and the Continental Cup.

Germany, what can you say about Andrea Schopp? Including this year she's played in 15 World Championships winning in Glasgow in 1988. With third player Monica Wagner she got a gold medal at the demonstration Olympics in 1992, the two of them have travelled the world representing Germany. Second Anna Hartelt and lead Marie-Therese Rotter are just 20, this is their third year in the team.

Debbie McCormick skipped the USA team which won the World title in 2003, this is her fifth World Championship and that's not counting the World Juniors, including Glasgow in 1991, she's played in. Third Allison Pottinger has six world appearances to her name, second Nicole Joraanstad has played three Worlds, lead Natalie Nicholson has the experience of five. They were disappointing last year in Japan but don't write them off.

Ludmilla Privivkova, the Russian skip is just 21, she's been curling for nine years, but in that short time she's won a World Junior Gold and a European Gold, that's quite a record. The rest of her team have lots of international experience, third Olga Jarkova has played in everything in just about every position from alternate to skip. Nkeiruka Ezekh at second has much the same record, lead Ekaterina Galinka has been in the team since 2005, they could cause an upset.

There was a bit of an upset in Sweden this year, everyone assumed Anette Norberg would make it to the Wold Championships, she was right back on form in December winning the Europeans, but it wasn't to be. It's a new team skipped by Stina Viktorsson, at 22 she's just out of juniors and that's where all her experience comes from. Third Maria Prytz has played in the Norberg team and for a number of other skips. Second Maria Wennerstrom has been in the Viktorsson team for four years. At lead Margaretha Sigfridsson has played in World Juniors and World Women's but has been off the international scene for a few years.

There are two teams from the Pacific region here, China and Japan.
Curling is very young in China, all four players have been in the sport for just eight years but in that time have played three World Championships, their first in Paisley in 2005. Skip Bingyu Wang, Yin Liu, Qingshuang Yue and Yan Zhou have a solid record in their short time in the game.

Curling has a longer history in Japan, but a Japanese team has never made a big impression on World Championships. Moe Meguro, Mari Motohashi, Mayo Yamaura, Kotomi Ishizaki will hope to change that this year.

Italy, well they keep turning up at both European and World Championships, in 2006 Diana Gaspari skipped her team to silver at the Europeans but Italy has never made an impression on World Championships, with Diana this year are Giorgia Apollonio, Elettra de Col and Violetta Caldart.

The Czech Republic, Katerina Urbanova, Lenka Cernovska, Jana Safarikova and Sara Jahadova all played at the European Championships in December, qualifying the Czech Republic for the Worlds by beating off a challenge from England.

No I haven't forgotten the home team, Scotland, one of the more interesting teams in the event. Gail Munro, Lynsday Wilson, Karen Addison, Karen Addison, Anne Laird have had a great season at home, apart from Lyndsay all have been there, done it and got the Tshirt, Europeans, Worlds, Anne Laird has a gold medal from 2002, Karen's got her share of medals from Juniors and Worlds. They've been playing well, have a good attitude and should at least hold their own.

Who will be in the medal zone? Ask me again on the 30th of March.

Blog baton passing

Right, the old Editor is recovering from his travels to the World Juniors in Sweden and the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles in Finland. Interesting experiences, and if you have been following the blog, you'll know what happened to our teams out there.

Now, it's back in harness at the computer to put the April Scottish Curler magazine together!

On the ice, what's to look forward to as the season draws to a close? This weekend the Scottish Pairs Championship is at Stranraer, and you can find the results here. And the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Championship moves to the Curl Aberdeen rink for the first time. Results are here. Both events begin tomorrow.

The Ford World Women's Championship begins in Vernon, British Columbia, this weekend. First games are on Saturday. Christine Stewart takes over the blog for this. Check back here to read her reports on the event, particularly the Scottish games, once it all gets underway.

Scottish Schools Championship

This report by Robin Copland:

The final of the Scottish Schools Championship at Murrayfield between Stewart’s Melville (skipped by Colin Dick) and Fortrose Academy (skipped by Peter Macintyre) was a cat and mouse game, tight and hard fought through the first three ends. I believe the turning point in the game was the fourth end. With skips' last stones to come, Fortrose were looking good to score a three or even a four. Peter attempted a promote, but his stone held wide and ended up pushing his shot into the open.

Colin’s attempted run-back double failed but crucially he nosed, forcing Pete to try the out-turn draw for his two. His draw caught a guard. A score of one went up on the scoreboard when a three had looked more likely.

The momentum swung in Stewart’s Melville’s favour. The team capitalised on this turn in the all-important sixth end, when a wrecked guard left Colin with a draw for three and, effectively, the game.

Fortrose Academy’s Peter McIntyre, Scott Fraser, Jamie Fraser and Neil Paul just failed in their quest to win the title for the first time in the school’s history. The winners were Colin Dick, Struan Wood, Douglas Burns, Jonathan Irwin and Neil Anderson (fifth).

World Junior Champion Kerry Barr presented the prizes to the winners and runners-up in front of a large and appreciative gallery.

An expanded report will be in the April Scottish Curler.

Photo above by Robin Copland. Back row: Tommy Hinnigan (RCCC President), Colin Dick (skip), Kerry Barr, Struan Wood (third), Front: Douglas Burns (second), Jonathan Irwin (lead) and Neil Anderson (fifth).

World Mixed Doubles update

As promised here is the presentation pic of the winners of the first World Mixed Doubles Championship, held in Vierumaki, Finland, last week.

Switzerland's Irene Schori and Toni Mueller. A well deserved victory too! They played like champions all week.

Anne Malmi is in the head, and the Swiss behind. Is that not Alan Stephen in the pic too?

Jussi Uusipaavalniemi sweeping. Where will the banner be raised next? We will hear officially after the WCF meeting next week.

So, who are Katja's friends watching the Mixed Doubles Final?

World Seniors: The final games

Kirsty Letton, Judy Mackenzie, Pat Orr and Anne MacDougall faced Diane Foster, Shirley McPherson, Shirley Kohuch and Chris Wilson in the Gold Medal game in the World Seniors Curling Championship in Vierumaki this afternoon.

No need really for details, and you can find the linescore here, but the Canadians always looked the stronger and are the champions. It's Silver Scotland! Well done to our girls.

Switzerland won the bronze in the women's event, by an inch in the last end against Finland.

In the men's final, it was Canada all the way and Sweden did not get on the scoreboard! Per Lindeman had the chance of a three in the fifth, but in going for it he gave the Canadians the shot, and that was the game. Pat Ryan, Marv Wirth, Ken McLean and Millard Evans are the champions.

But what about Graeme Adam, Ken Horton, Stuart Naismith and Alan MacLennan in the Bronze medal game? They fought all the game, after losing a three at the third, to be 5-4 down playing the last without the hammer. They lay the two shots needed for a win, but Graeme's final stone had to curl a little more than it did to make Bill Rhyme's last stone more difficult.

Still, Bill had to hit and stay, and this the US skip did. The USA had the bronze.

To have curled so hard and so well to reach the semis, but to be going home without a medal of any colour, must be so disappointing for the team. Me too, I have to add.

Top: The Scottish women march in to receive their silver medals. Above: The Gold Champions from Canada. Pics by Bob.

World Mixed Doubles: Swiss win Gold

Switzerland took on Finland in the final of the inaugural Mixed Doubles Curling Championship at Vierumaki today.

Toni Mueller and Irene Schori had been impressive all week. Against the home side of Jussi Uusipaavalniemi and Anne Malmi, the Swiss began well, making a two and stealing a single. That was the difference in an entertaining game. Mueller and Schori were two up coming home with the last stone. Switzerland was the first winner of the World Mixed Doubles.

I'M SHOUTING THIS. MIXED DOUBLES IS THE BEST THING TO HIT CURLING THIS CENTURY!

The event website is here with the link to all the results.

Presentation pics later.

Saturday WSCC08 and wscc08: Semifinals day

Kirsty Letton, Judy Mackenzie, Pat Orr and Anne MacDougall are in the final of the World Senior Curling Championships here in Vierumaki, Finland. In the semi they were up against Helena Timonen's Finland, a team they had beaten 10-4 when they met in the round robin. This time around it was a closely fought match. Tied in the eighth the Scots had last stone. Finnish fourth Mimmi Koivula put her last in the four foot behind cover.

Kirsty had a difficult final stone. She played it perfectly, nudging off the Scottish second stone, on to the button for the win. It will be a Scotland-Canada final!

Canada beat Switzerland in the other semi, the Swiss having got past the USA in a tiebreaker for the fourth semifinal place.

This is Kirsty's last stone being looked after by Judy, Pat and Anne. It flopped off the Scottish stone in the four foot on to the tee.

On the men's side, Graeme Adam, Ken Horton, Stuart Naismith and Alan MacLennan faced the might of the Ryan team from Canada. Ryan with Marv Wirth, Ken McLean and Millard Evans had finished top of their section, undefeated.

The boys kept it close for a while, but in the fifth end, despite an amazing shot from Ken Horton which left the Scots lying two behind cover, Ryan had a hit to count a big five and the game was as good as over.

The USA team has two friends from my days at the Madison Curling Club, Dave Russell and Bill Rhyme, and they faced Per Lindeman's Swedish side. The US forced an extra end, but the Sedish skip drew for his place in the final. So Scotland will play USA for the bronze medals!

The event website is here, with all the links to results.

Pics by Bob.

Friday Mixed Doubles: The Semifinals

There was jubilation for the home nation today in World Mixed Doubles curling as Anne Malmi and Jussi Uusipaavalniemi eliminated the Canadians in the second qualifying round in Vierumaki.

Perhaps a quick explanation is in order about how the event was organised. There were three sections with eight teams in each. The top qualifiers in each section went into the semis, and the idea was that the three second placed teams in each section would fight it out for the fourth semifinal spot. In two of the sections there was no problem. Norway and Switzerland were the top teams, with Finland and the Czech Republic in second place. In the third section, three teams were tied. Sweden went through on ranking using the Draw Shot Challenge.

Canada's Dean Ross and Susan O'Connor, neither of whom had played this discipline before coming to Vierumaki, survived a tiebreaker against Hungary, to be placed second in the group. It was now three teams fighting for the reamining semifinal place. The two with the worse DSC distances played off first, and Canada won this against the Czech Republic.

But the second game against the Finns was a thriller which went to an extra end, with Malmi and Uusipaavalniemi stealing the win.

So Norway's pair of Tormod Andreassen and Linn Githmark, a father-daughter combo known to many Scots fans of the sport, lined up against Toni Mueller and Irene Schori, who had looked really good all week. It was no contest. After two ends the Norwegians were 6-0 down. In Mixed Doubles large deficits can be overcome, but in this case the Swiss pair were too strong and ran out well ahead.

Sweden's Goran Carlsson and Marie Persson faced the Finns. The local favourites ran out to a 5-0 lead by the break, and although the teams played out the full eight ends in front of an excited crowd, it is a Finland v Switzerland match for the Gold tomorrow.

You can find all the linescores here, and also the WCF reports here.

Jussi Uusipaavalniemi

Tormod Andreassen and Linn Githmark

Irene Schori

Anne Malmi, with Goran Carlsson and Marie Persson behind, and a raft of Swedish supporters.

Pics by Bob.

Friday WSCC08: Scotland v Finland tiebreaker

Never mind the preamble, all you need to know is that Grame Adam drew the four foot in an extra end to beat Finland in a tiebreaker!

This means that Scotland's men are in the semifinal of the World Seniors here in Vierumaki (as are the girls, see previous post) and will play Canada tomorrow morning. USA will play Sweden in the other semi.

How did it happen? The Scots fought back after losing two against the head and going down 3-1 in the fifth. They got their two back in the sixth and then were gifted an extra shot when the Finnish fourth, Mauno Nummila, pushed a Scottish stone forward in the seventh. Two up playing the eighth, the Finns got their tying pair, after Graeme's first takeout failed to come enough and the teams traded hits on a second counter.

Extra end. The Scots lay two. Nummila played a delicate hit and roll behing the cover. But the four foot was clear, and without any fuss, the Scottish skip put it on the button with some great sweeping by the team.

Photo is of the Scottish team in action. Stuart Naismith has delivered and Alan MacLennan and Ken Horton are ready to sweep. Graeme Adam is in the head. By Bob.

Friday wscc08: Scotland v Ireland

With four teams tied on 5-3 win-loss records, Scotland needed to win this one.

In the fourth end, Kirsty was short with her tap back, a dreadful shot it must be said. But when Fiona Turnbull failed to guard, the Scottish skip made up for her first with a cracker of a takeout, through the port, to count three shots and go ahead.

The Irish countered with a three of their own in the next end, the Scots a tying single in the sixth. The seventh was when the game was won and lost. Scotland lay three, bunched in the four foot. Fiona Turnbull's last stone caught a guard and Kirsty, Judy, Pat and Anne stole three.

It almost went wrong in the final end! Up 9-6 in the eighth without the hammer, the Scots were soon facing three. Kirsty switched to the draw game, played two match winning shots herself, and the game was won.

You can find the linescores and standings here.

So what happens now? Well, Canada topped the round robin with seven wins. Scotland, Switzerland, Finland and USA were all on six wins. The holders, Sweden, were out of the hunt this year, finishing on five wins.

Scotland was ranked second because the girls had beaten Finland, Switzerland and the USA, and is in the semifinal! The Draw Shot Challenge was used to rank the other three teams. Finland had the best DSC and is ranked third. USA has to play Switzerland in a tiebreaker to find the fourth semifinalist.

In tomorrow morning's semis, Canada plays the winner of the tiebreak, Scotland will face Finland.

Photo is of the final end, by Bob.

Thursday WSCC08: Scotland v England

It was the Scottish men's turn to face England in this evening's last round robin game. USA, Finland and Scotland were all on one loss going into this round.

Graeme Adam and John Brown, who plays last stones for Michael Sutherland's English side, were together as Scottish Schools Champions, a looooooooooooooooong time ago. Here they were against each other now, in the World Seniors.

It was the Adam team which appeared to pick up on the swingy ice the better and in the third end engineered a good three shots. Another three at the fifth saw them safely on their way, and three more at the sixth meant that Scotland was still in the hunt for a semifinal place.

Now, what follows has not been confirmed yet, but this is the way I see it. USA and Finland also won their games, so that has meant a three way tie for the top spot in the section. All had beaten each other (if you know what I mean) so the team with the best Draw Shot Challenge (USA) goes through as top qualifier, and Scotland has to play Finland in a tiebreaker tomorrow. The winner of that one will play Canada in the semi.

The red section is already completed. Canada were undefeated in eight games - Pat Ryan's side look strong. Sweden lost only one game, to the Canadians.

All the results and standings are here.

The pic of John and Graeme is by Bob.

March Scottish Curler magazine

The March Scottish Curler was published at the end of last week and I would hope that all subscribers have received their copy, and have enjoyed what's inside.

That's David Kelly on the front cover, competing in the House of Bruar Scottish Senior Championship at Hamilton. This was Richard Gray's pic of course, and there's lots more of Richard's pics from the Seniors, the Juniors, the Scottish and the Gold League in the magazine. Plus all the usual features.

If you are not a subscriber, then we need you! Go here.

I'm still in Finland of course, but I hear news from home that Rhona Martin has been appointed to take over from Nancy Murdoch as the RCCC's Performance Development Coach. Nancy is moving on to become one of British Curling's Olympic coaches. Rhona's appointment is for two years.

Rhona is currently employed as West Area Institute Curling Coach. Her new role will see her take on lead responsibility for both the National and Regional Academy programmes as well as the role of National Junior Coach. Rhona will take up her new post on April 1, on her return from the Ford World Women's Championships in Vernon where she is coaching Gail Munro’s Scottish team.

Rhona says, “I am delighted to get the chance to lead these already successful programmes and work with a great group of talented curlers to help them reach the highest levels in the sport.”

Thanks to Copey for the cover scan! The pic of Rhona is courtesy of the RCCC.