Mixed Doubles

Here they are! Scotland's first Mixed Doubles Curling Champions. Logan Gray and Kelly Wood beat Dillan Perras and his mother Judith Carr at Murrayfield today in the final of the Scottish Mixed Doubles Championship, and they will now represent Scotland in the first World Mixed Doubles Championship at Vierumaki, Finland, March 9-15.

All the scores from Murrayfield are on the Royal Club website here.

So what's the verdict on Mixed Doubles? Those who took part (friends, partners, mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives) in the eighteen team competition enjoyed the experience, and their enthusiasm for the event would seem to ensure that the format is here to stay. Most of those competing had played pairs, and mixed doubles is 'advanced pairs' in a lot of ways. "It was fun," was the comment heard most often.

Even more important for the discipline's future was that it was interesting to watch. The games fairly skipped along, with lots of stones in play and interesting situations developing. The players themselves set up the stationary stones every end, keeping umpires' intervention to a minimum. The ice at Murrayfield was great, with more than enough curl to be able to bury stones behind the front guard.

All in all I would say it was a success! Well done to all involved. Roll on the World Championship! And best wishes to Kelly and Logan in that event.

Here are a few photos from the final.

Kelly Wood

Logan Gray

Judith and Dillan

So who said there would be no sweeping in mixed doubles!

Ho hum!

AND NOW TWO PHOTOS OF SOMETHING NEVER BEFORE SEEN ON CURLING TODAY: SKIPS SWEEPING! Enjoy.

The above two pics are dedicated to the Front End Union! All the photos are by Bob.

Scottish Mixed Doubles

So, who's going to Vierumäki? Scotland's representatives for the first World Mixed Doubles Championship in Finland in March will be decided this weekend at the Murrayfield rink. Eighteen teams are taking part in four sections, starting today (Friday) at 12.30 with the playoffs on Sunday. The results will be here.

The World event now has its own website here. Twenty-nine countries are down to take part, including Brazil, the first time that a country from South America has competed in a WCF event! Scotland is in the Green group with Brazil as well as Australia, Russia, Czech Republic, Spain, Norway, Germany and Latvia.

The draw can be downloaded here.

So what to look forward to at the World Mixed Doubles? The special events page states: 'At Vierumäki you can participate in exotic adventures, do a variety of sports or just relax amidst a range of recreational activities. Vierumäki is also known for its wide culinary offering: you can enjoy sumptuous meals at our wilderness lodges or fine restaurants, or just treat yourself to some refreshing pastries at one of our cafés.' This description accompanies a pic of a sausage barbeque in the snow!