The Road to Dunedin

Twelve men’s and thirteen women’s teams will compete in the Scottish Senior Curling Championships this week at the Lanarkshire Ice Rink, Hamilton. The winners will be Scotland's representatives at the World Senior Championships in Dunedin, New Zealand, April 25 - May 2.

The World Curling Federation took a bit of a gamble in awarding the World event to New Zealand, the first time such a prestigious competition has gone 'down under'. There were fears that many countries would withdraw because of the increased costs. This has not proved to be the case as fourteen countries will send men's teams and eight women's teams, just slightly less than last year.

However, it has been a dilemma for some teams on the Scottish Senior circuit, where members felt unable to commit to time away from work or family, and the additional expense, should they win at Hamilton. These teams have not entered. Aware of the problem, the Royal Club has made available additional funding for our representative teams this season, see here.

But there is controversy looming. As recently as last week, the skip of one of the favourites for the men's senior title had not committed to travelling to Dunedin, if his team were to win the championship. A replacement is on standby. The question is really what are the teams playing for this week? Are they playing just to become National Champions, or are they competing for the right to represent Scotland at a World Championship?

I am not happy with the thought that the team which wins the title does not go on to the Worlds. I don't want to see an untried team - all of whose members did not win the right to go to New Zealand - don Scottish jerseys, and travel, partially at members expense, to the world event. I believe that if you know you cannot play at the Worlds, you should not be competing at Hamilton. I suspect I am not alone in that view.

But let's see what happens! In both the men's and women's competitions, there are two sections with the top two from each moving forward to Sunday’s semifinals. The women begin their games this afternoon, the men tomorrow morning. Find all the results on the RCCC website here.

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 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.

Thursday wscc08: Scotland v Japan

Scotland played Japan this afternoon with a good chance of reaching the semifinals by finishing in the top four.

Kirsty, Judy, Pat and Anne took a fine three at the second to go ahead 3-2, Kirsty hitting and staying with her last stone of the end.

It was tied in the sixth, but the Japanese got a well hidden counter in the penultimate end, and Kirsty was inches heavy with her draw. Down 7-6 in the eighth, Kirsty was too light with her first attempted draw, and then when Eriko Igarashi drew in to lie shot, the Scottish skip was tight with her last takeout and wrecked. Japan stole the end and the game.

Find all the Seniors' results and standings here. There are also WCF reports here.

Pic of Kirsty by Bob.

Wednesday WSCC08: Scotland v Iceland

Graeme, Ken, Stuart and Alan faced Iceland in their seventh round robin game. For this one, it was simply a case of patience, and waiting for the chance. That came in the fifth. The Scots took a five, and that was the game!

One more game now, against England. And with Finland losing tonight, there could even be tiebreakers necessary for the qualifying places!

Find all the Seniors' results and standings here.

The pic above is of the Icelandic team's unusual sweeping style. By Bob.

Wednesday WSCC08: Scotland v Ireland

It would have been nice to stay in my bed this morning! All these long days are taking their toll on the old body. But there was an 08.00 draw, so I struggled out of my pit, had a lovely breakfast (did I say that the food here at this Finnish National Sports Centre is absolutely first class?) and made it to the first end.

Alan MacLennan was on the ice for Scotland, looking much fitter than yesterday and (almost) back to his normal colour, on his way to recovery from the bug that has swept through the Seniors teams, as well as the those competing in the Mixed Doubles. Stuart Naismith, Ken Horton and Graeme Adam looked to be in top form too.

Certainly they were in the first! Cashing in on Irish errors, Graeme had a free draw for five with his last stone, and he made this. Up 5-0 in only the first end, it was going to be a short game.

The organisers are concerned about the spread of this sickness/diarrhoea that is prevalent at the events. The Norwegian team had to abandon their game against the USA this morning, and all teams have been issued with an antiseptic handwash, and the advice to consider not shaking hands!

So, if Curling Today disappears for a while, you'll know I've been struck down!

Find all the Seniors' results and standings here.

Ken Horton whips the front end! Alan MacLennan and Stuart Naismith are the sweepers. Pic by Bob.

Tuesday wscc08: Scotland v Finland

It helps if you can steal three shots in the seventh end, when you are in a tight game! That left Anne, Pat, Judy and Kirsty 7-4 ahead coming home. Kirsty cleared a Finnish counter with her first and the Finns were out of stones.

Our women have four wins having played five games of a total of nine, second equal in the standing! There are ten countries entered in the event.

Find all the Seniors' results and standings here.

Kirsty's final takeout, the red stone, removing the Finnish stone. Pic by Bob.

Tuesday WSCC08: Scotland v New Zealand

Scotland bounced back from last night's defeat against Finland to beat New Zealand in their fifth round game. They are set to play eight round robin games in total - there are two sections with nine countries in each. Scotland is sitting on four wins and one loss.

Against the New Zealanders, Graeme Adam and his team got off to a great start with a three at the first. A big four at the fourth saw them 8-2 ahead and the result was never in doubt.

That's Ken Horton in the head, with Richard Morgan and Peter Becker behind. Pic by Bob.

Our teams at the World Seniors

Anne MacDougall

Pat Orr

Judy Mackenzie

Kirsty Letton

Alan MacLennan - back on the ice today, but still suffering! Bravely done Alan.

Stuart Naismith

Ken Horton

Graeme Adam

Pics by Bob.

Tuesday wscc08: Scotland v Sweden

Kirtsy Letton, Judy Mackenzie, Pat Orr and Anne MacDougall faced Sweden in this morning's game. They gave up a couple against the head in the third to go 4-1 down when Kirsty was just too light with her takeout attempt. (Actually, Kirsty says it should have been swept harder!)

But the Scots fought back and forced the Swedish skip to draw the four foot to win, and she did this.

Find all the Seniors' results and standings here.

Kirsty with Ann-Catrin Kjerr, who skipped the Swedish team this morning. Pic by Bob.

Hello Vierumaki

Made it. It's Monday evening. Dillan Perras and Judith Carr just lost their game against France in the Mixed Doubles.

Graeme Adam and his team faced the home country Finland without Alan MacLennan, a victim of the sickness and diarrhoea bug that seems to have struck down a number of players. Jim Jamieson stepped into the breech.

Tied 6-6 coming home, Adam needed to thread a port to remove the Finnish counter, but it didn't curl, and the Finns stole the game. It was Scotland's first loss.

Our senior women lost today to Canada. You can find all the results from the two Championships here and here.

Seniors action. Pic by Bob.

Vierumaki: The Scots are coming

One hundred and sixty curlers from twenty-eight countries are headed for Vierumaki for the inaugural World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship AND the World Senior Curling Championships.

Do you think I should go? Are there any moose there?

L-R: Kirsty Letton, Judy Mackenzie, Pat Orr and Anne MacDougall. The team flew out this morning, with manager/coach/fifth player Margaret Gibb.

L-R: Graeme Adam, Ken Horton, Stuart Naismith and Alan MacLennan. Jim Jamieson is the Team Fixer, gopher and stand in if required!

Dillan Perras and Judith Carr. Congratulations on Dillan becoming a dad, and Judith a grandmother just recently!

Dillan's wife Claire (nee Robertson) has had a little boy. Can anyone update on details? Congratulations to all concerned! Hope all are well.

Scottish Seniors Championships

The first draws of this year's Seniors Championships are tomorrow (Thursday) at 08.45. The event goes ahead at a new venue (the Lanarkshire Ice Rink, Hamilton) and with a new sponsor (the House of Bruar).

There will also be a new women's champion. Carolyn Morris skipped her team to victory three years in a row, and has now returned to Canada. In the men's competition Keith Prentice and his team have qualified in their attempt to defend the title they won last year at Greenacres, and then went on to take the world title in Edmonton. This year's world championships are in Vierumaki, Finland.

The full draw for the Scottish event is here, and the results will be here. There has already been men's qualifiers, and so twelve men's teams are left to play in two sections with the top two in each to qualify for the semifinals. There are eighteen women's teams in three sections. The top two from each qualify, with the two highest up third placed teams, for quarterfinals.

Keith Prentice at last year's finals at Greenacres. Pic by Bob.

European Seniors Invitation postponed to next year

The inaugural European Seniors Invitation event at Greenacres, planned for October 10-13, has run into problems with an overcrowded domestic calendar and a clash of dates with a major Royal Club event, the Scottish Mixed Seniors at Pitlochry. The event has been postponed.

ECF President Malcolm Richardson, one of the organisers, has written to the twelve teams who have entered so far, and made the following statement:

"We are sorry to announce the postponement of the European Senior Invitation Curling Championship scheduled for Greenacres Curling Club, Scotland in October 2007. The reason for the postponement from 2007 till 2008 is due to a clash of dates in Scotland and for this reason at least, no alternative date being available. We apologise to those teams and countries who had indicated support for the event and will announce the details and scheduled dates of the 2008 event in the first half of 2008."

The event promised to be a test event for possible European Senior Championships down the line.

Greenacres has successfully hosted the Scottish Senior Championships for a number of years, and in 2005 was the venue for the World Senior Championships. An excellent set of photos from the World Seniors at Greenacres can be found on the Finnish Curling Association website here. Legacy funding from that event and the associated Women's World Championship at the Lagoon Centre, Paisley, is in place to underwrite some of the costs of staging the European Seniors Invitation for the first time.


And talking of Finland and seniors, Vierumäki will host the World Senior Curling Championships in 2008. The Sport Institute of Finland is Finland's leading training centre for top level sports and the official training and coaching centre of Finnish olympic sports. The complex, which has two ice pads, is an educational centre for sports and exercise, coaching and recreational services. The World Seniors website is now live, and has a five minute video about the venue.