Looking ahead to next season

When WCF President Les Harrison concluded the presentation ceremony at the inaugural World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Vierumaki (above), he tantalisingly did NOT confirm where the second event was going to be held. It was an open secret though that Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, was the venue that was being considered, and this apparently was confirmed at the WCF AGM in Grand Forks. Italy here we come!

The dates for the second World MDs, a standalone event next time, will be April 18-26, and that should mean that whoever qualifies to represent Scotland from the Scottish Mixed Doubles Championship at Murrayfield on December 19-21 will have no conflict with other international events this time! Except of course the World Seniors which are scheduled for April 24-May 3, in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Canada have again elected to send to the Mixed Doubles two of the team which wins their Mixed Championship to be played this November in Iqaluit, Nunavut, in northern Canada.

What other international dates are in the curling calendar? The European Mixed is set for Kitzbuhel, Austria, September 22-27.

The European Championships are in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, December 6-13. There is an announcement on the ECF website (here) on how the B Division will be played if more than 20 countries enter this year.

The Continental Cup is December 18-21, Camrose, Alberta.

World Junior B Qualifying Competition, is in Copenhagen, January, 3-7, 2009. A Scottish Junior Men's team will be looking for one of two qualifying places for the Junior Worlds in Vancouver.

The World University Games are in Harbin, China, February 18-28, 2009.

The World Wheelchair Championship is February 21-28, 2009, in Vancouver, BC.

The same venue will host the World Juniors, March 5-15.

The World Women's is March 21-29, Gangneung, Korea.

Moncton, New Brunswick, will host the Ford World Men's Curling Championship at the Coliseum, April 4-12.

Canada's Dean Ross and Susan O'Connor, neither of whom had played the Mixed Doubles discipline before going to Vierumaki, lost out to Anne Malmi and Jussi Uusipaavalniemi of Finland in the second qualifying round.

Sweden's Goran Carlsson sweeps a stone with the WCF's Mixed Doubles Banner in the background.

Photos by Bob.

How to pass the summer 1

For those beginning to suffer from withdrawal symptoms from the finish up of the curling season, I suggest a visit to the CurlTV website. Check the page where you can vote for what you think are the best shots of the season, and have a look at twenty great plays, as caught on camera!

It's a great way to pass a few minutes on a rainy evening. Interesting how all the shots are takeouts though. Spectacular, yes. But I'm sure there were a lot of pressure draws played this
season too.


Of course, if you have a CurlTV subscription you can watch all of the recent World Men's Championship final in the Game Vault.

Scottish Curling Awards

I note that the nomination forms for the Royal Club's 'Scottish Curling Awards' can be downloaded from the RCCC website here. The idea is that anyone can nominate a name or names for each award up to Friday May 9. Then a short list will be produced by May 14, and then we will be able to vote before the awards are presented at the Gala Dinner on June 14.

All very democratic and I think a great improvement on previous years when 'nominations' and 'votes' were considered to be the same thing.

I've noted the categories below, but the one I'd like to encourage nominations for is that sponsored by Clyde and Forth Press, the parent of the Scottish Curler magazine. It's the Ice Diamonds award. This Award is for a volunteer or group of volunteers who have contributed to the development and promotion of the sport. The winner of this award represent the 'unsung heroes' of curling who make things happen behind the scenes.

Other awards:
Curling Team of the Year - Sponsored by Star Refrigeration
This award will go to the team who is consider to have made the most significant contribution to the sport of curling during the 2007-2008 season. Supporting evidence will be considered when deciding on the winner of this award.

Coach of the Year - Sponsored by Curling Supplies
This award will go to the coach who is considered to have made the most significant contribution to a team during the 2007-2008 season.

Young Curler of the Year - sponsored by McMillan Hotels
Young players are the lifeblood of curling in Scotland. If you have spotted a young individual star or a team of them, please tell us. This award will go to the young curler who attracts the most votes and supporting evidence for his or her performances throughout the 2007-2008 season.

Ice Rink Manager of the Year
Ice rink managers of curling are involved with various aspects of the sport. This award will go to the Ice Rink Manager who attracts the most votes and supporting evidence for his or her performances through the 2007-2008 curling season.

Ice Maker of the Year (Curling Rink) - Sponsored by Kays of Scotland
The unsung hero of the ice rink is often the Ice Maker. Subject to quiet abuse when the ice is less than perfect and seldom complimented when the ice is excellent. This award will be presented to the Ice Maker who continually produces good quality ice in a rink whose main purpose is for curling over the 2007 – 2008 season.

Ice Maker of the Year (Ice Rink) - Sponsored by Kays of Scotland
This award will be presented to the ice maker who continually produces good quality ice in a rink which was used for various reasons including curling during the 2007 - 2008 season.

Writer/Journalist/Photographer of the Year
This award may be presented to the journalist/writer/enthusiast whom the members consider has provided excellent coverage either nationally or regionally, via newspapers, magazines, internet, videos or television. Alternatively, an individual who has produced a memorable piece of publicity throughout the season. This category will also consider photos as a means of conveying a message.

Margaret Withycombe and Anne Airey, who headed the team which organised the successful world wheelchair qualifying competition at Braehead last year, were the inaugural winners of the Ice Diamonds Award in 2007. The photo above by Hugh Stewart, shows Scottish Curler depute editor Christine Stewart (centre) with Anne (left) and Margaret (right).

Curling Today's first birthday

Happy birthday! Yes, it was exactly one year ago, on April 22, 2007, that the Curling Today blog first appeared. I made my first blog post then, very tentatively, it should be said. I knew that the Scottish Curler magazine needed an online presence, and a blog seemed a good way to disseminate news.

I had two questions, apart from the 'how to do it'. Would there be any items of interest to curlers in Scotland over the summer months and into the new season, and would anyone read them in the blog? As we get close to the 500 post mark (this is number 493) I can say yes, there has been lots to talk about this past year!

The blog has been predominantly factual in its content, only very occasionally does my own opinion creep in. I feel that opinion is best in the magazine, or in the Scottish Curling Forum.

There have even been attempts at humour, on occasion! It has become a team blog too, with Christine Stewart sharing the load from the World and European Championships.

Does it get read? It certainly does - the high point was when more than 1500 unique users logged on in one 24 hour period! When was that? You can probably guess. But there is a regular readership, mostly from the UK, but some 20% from other countries too. Thank you to all who read Curling Today regularly, I hope you have found the content useful!

The Scottish Curler magazine has had a good season too. Find out how to subscribe here.

Last question. How about a party? It will have to be a virtual one as I try to get the May Scottish Curler magazine off my desk today for delivery to the printers. If you are reading this on Tuesday April 22, may I ask you to pour yourself a wee something, and make a toast to 'Good Curling!'

Nearly forgot. One way to remember the 2007-2008 season is to have a look at the photos of the winners from this season's main competitions. These are here.

Registrations invited for Universiade GB curling squads

I posted recently (here) the news that Cate Brewster has been appointed coach for the GB curling teams which will compete in the World University Games, in Harbin, China, February 18-28, 2009.

British Curling is now seeking registration of interest from eligible curlers who wish to be considered for squad selection. An athlete information pack is available which covers the BC selection process, timelines and BUCS eligibility for Harbin 2009.

One problem facing those at British Curling is that the dates of the Universiade next February appear to clash with the Scottish Championship and Gold League finals which are February 16-22. The Scottish Junior Finals are February 4-8, which would seem not to be a problem, despite what I indicated in the previous post. The World Junior Championships begin in Vancouver on March 5. I think the problems in considering clashes of dates stems from the fact that the last Winter Universiade was in January 2007, but next year the event is in February.

The information packs can be obtained by contacting:
Paula Jarvie BC Admin Support
Scottish Institute of Sport
Airthrey Road Stirling FK9 5PH
Tel. 01786 460105
E-mail paula.jarvie@sisport.com

Only athletes who are eligible for the Great Britain Team and with a genuine aspiration and realistic ability to compete in the medal zone at the World University Games 2009 should return a registration of interest. The closing date for applications is April 30, 2008.

The website for the 24th Universiade is here. Be sure to check out the photos of the venues, although it is not clear which will be used for the curling events.

And say hello to Dong Dong the event mascot!

World Curling Federation: A stranger to logic

"Logic is the cement of our civilization, with which we ascend from chaos, using reason as our guide."

I've just learned that the World Curling Federation has rejoined the civilised peoples of the Universe. And I'm really happy to report that fact today.

Those of you who read my editorial in the April Scottish Curler magazine will know already that I despaired that the WCF Executive understood the concept of logic. My concerns were over how countries were ranked during a competition, and the consequencies of this towards relegation and Olympic representation. The major international curling events follow a similar format these days. There is a round robin, followed by playoffs. Who goes forward to the playoffs is determined by the ranking of the teams after everyone has played everyone else. Let’s assume that two teams are tied for the fourth place in the rankings, each having won five games and lost four. Now, one of these teams will have beaten the other. But in this case the past record is forgotten about, and a tiebreaker is played, the winner moving forward to the playoffs. Why? Because the WCF rulebook says: (8a) A team tied for a place in the playoffs is not eliminated in any way other than by losing an extra game. All well and good.

But let’s go down to the bottom of the table now where two European teams are tied for eighth spot at the World Juniors. At stake here is relegation, and being faced with competing in the European Junior Challenge to try to get back in to the top ten again. One team (team A) will have beaten the other (team B). Team B must have beaten a team which finished higher up the rankings for them to finish tied with team A, but that's not taken into consideration. No tiebreaker is played. The record between the two teams decides that one stays up, the other is relegated. Quite different from the top of the table. Illogical? Certainly. Wrong? I thought so.

It was not always so. Twenty years ago in Lausanne the International Curling Federation confirmed that no country could be eliminated without losing on the ice. But this rule was dropped from the recent WCF rulebook.

And as for the Draw Shot Challenge being used to decide ranking when three or more teams are tied on games won, and the record of who beat who does not provide a solution! That was a travesty, that you could be relegated on the basis of a pickup! Nonsense.

But wait! The World Curling Federation Annual General Meeting took place on April 9 during the 2008 World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks. After that meeting the WCF issued a press release which said, amongst other things, "Following the first full season of competition under the new WCF Rulebook, the Rulebook was revisited as per the scheduled time and with the approval of the Membership was further modified. The new WCF Rulebook will be available to Member Associations by end of June 2008, and also available via download from the WCF website."

Any intelligent curler might want to know what 'modifications' have been made to the rules which govern our sport in international competitions, but I guess the WCF wants you all to wait for a couple of months! I wonder why. What does make me happy though is to hear that WCF delegates at Grand Forks threw out the illogical rule and everyone agreed that if teams at the bottom of the table are tied, there should be a playoff before anyone is relegated.

I call that a result! Thank you to those delegates who raised the issue and who voted for the change. WCF, welcome back to the real universe!

If anyone has more details of the rule changes, and whether, for example, the re-introduced tiebreaker rule will apply at the Europeans, then perhaps these might be posted. I understand that the Draw Shot Challenge has been done away with? I suggest the Scottish Curling Forum might be the place to continue this discussion.

Have a great summer!

(The quotation is attributed, as all Star Trek fans will know, to T'Plana-Hath, Matron of Vulcan Philosophy. The T'plana-hath, the Vulcan survey ship which made official first contact with Earth in the film Star Trek: First Contact, was named in her honor.)

World Silver Medallists home

Long journey from Grand Forks, North Dakota, but the Scottish team was in good form as they got back into Edinburgh today. World silver medals prominently displayed, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith, Euan Byers and fifth Peter Loudon were nevertheless disappointed that it was not gold round their necks. Mark of true champions that second best is not good enough! I'm impressed.

Still, first in Europe, Scottish Champions, and now second in the world, is quite a season's accomplishment. Very well done to the team. Scottish curling is proud of you!

L-R: Peter Loudon, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers. Photo by Bob.

World Men's Curling Championship final: Canada wins Gold, Silver for Scotland

A beautiful day in Grand Forks, the sun is shining and the wind has disappeared, spring has arrived. And so has the final of the World Men's Curling Championship, Scotland against Canada.

Scotland had last stone and blanked the first, Canada stole one in the second when David Murdoch's double got only one. The Scots tied the game with one in the third.

The beginning of the end came in the fifth when Canada got two shots, then stole in the seventh. Scotland lay one behind cover, Kevin Martin played a great hit and roll on a side stone, he lay shot right behind the Scottish stone. David Murdoch had only one shot, an outwick, he rubbed the shot but didn't move it far enough, Scotland trailed by three.

They got two in the eight but gave up two in the ninth when Martin made a double take out and the measure went in Canada's favour.

You can guess what happened in end 10, Canada ran Scotland out of stones, Canada won gold, Scotland got silver, Norway bronze.

It's been a great championship in a fabulous arena, and the train track is farther away, the horns are quite faint.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, had an event blog here.

Above: Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert with the World Championship trophy.

Kevin Martin

David Murdoch

Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 16: Norway wins bronze

It's time for the bronze medal game and China is set up against Norway. This is the first time a men's team from China has made it to the World Championship, they were the only team to beat Canada in the round robin and they had beaten Norway in the round robin.

But this game was different, not a great game for the spectators, Norway got two in the first and China blanked the next three but got the two back in the fifth. End six was the crucial end, Thomas Ulsrud for Norway was left with a shot for three when Chinese skip Fengchun Wang's last stone wrecked.

In end six Norway stole two when Wang's last stone came up short, Norway led by five, the game was over but China battled on. In the ninth Ulsrud had a come around tap back for one and a five shot lead, China conceded, Norway won the bronze medal 8/3.

China may have lost the game but watch out for them in the run up to the Olympics.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

World Men's Curling Championship 15: Canada beats Norway in semifinal to set up rematch with Scotland for title

It's semifinal day at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota and it's set up for Canada against Norway.

Canada romped into a three shot lead after just three ends with two scores in ends one and three. The game was over, Canada were the stronger team out there on the ice, making no mistakes. Norway blanked the next three but had to take a single in the seventh and again in the ninth, Canada, with last stone advantage went into the final end two shots up.

Norway lay two when Kevin Martin for Canada came to play his last stone, he hit one, Norway got the single but Canada won the game 5/4.

Tonight Norway play China for the bronze medal, tomorrow it's Scotland v Canada in the gold medal game.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: Kevin Martin
Above: Thomas Ulsrud and Kevin Martin
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 14: Scotland beats Canada to reach final

The Page 1-2 game wasn't for the faint hearted, Scotland against Canada, the winner to the final, the loser to play Norway for the second final place.

Canada had last stone for the first end, that was blanked they got three in the second, Scotland got two in the third then gave up another three in the fourth to trail by four shots. Was this going to be a short game?

Scotland blanked the fifth and got two in the sixth, it was looking a bit better, then it got a lot better. In seven Canadian skip Kevin Martin wrecked, Scotland stole a single. Canada blanked the eighth. End nine Martin tried a tap back, it just moved the Scottish counter a few inches, Scotland stole and the game was tied going into the final end.

David Murdoch and his team kept their heads, they lay two shots after David's last stone, it was wide open. Martin elected to draw to the first shot, he was little bit wide his stone gently tapped the Scottish stone on the shoulder, Scotland stole one for the game 7/6.

David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers are into Sunday's final, they are guaranteed at least a silver medal.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: David Murdoch and Kevin Martin
Above: Team Canada
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 13: The page 3-4 game

It's Friday and we woke up to snow this morning, but by now it is thawing fast and China meet Norway in the 3 v 4 playoff.

China, in the World Men's Championship for the first time, have been the surprise package, they were the only team to beat the mighty Canada in the round robin, they beat Norway in an extra end in their final game of the championship.

They meet Norway again in the 3/4 playoff. Norway took the lead in after the first three ends, by the sixth they were three shots ahead, China had to draw against three in the seventh, Norway blanked the eighth. China tried to steal in end nine but didn't get the guard on. Norway cleared the house and ran China out of stones in the last end to win 7/5.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: Thomas Ulsrud calls line.
Above: The Chinese team in action.
Pics by Hugh Stewart.

World Men's Curling Championship 12: Scots in Page 1-2

Going into their last game against Denmark, Scotland already knew they were safe in second place and therefore in the all important 1/2 playoff. If they lost they'd be on the same record as China and Norway, if they won their game they beat them on rankings.

It wasn't an exciting game to watch but the Murdoch four were doing a competent job, it was low scoring, Scotland led by one after eight ends. The ninth was the winning end. Danish third Lars Vilandt missed with his stone, that set up a two for Scotland.

They played the rest of the end perfectly, got the two for a three shot lead and ran Denmark out of stones in the last end to win 7/4.

Canada are top of the table 10/1, Scotland 8/3, China 7/4 and Norway, thanks to an extra end win against Australia, on 7/4.

China and Norway play at 1400 local time tomorrow (Friday), Canada and Scotland at 1900.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top pic: A happier coaches' bench this week.
Above: Recognise anyone? Scottish fans in the stands.
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 11

Scotland went into their game against Germany tied with Norway in second place on a record of 6/3. Germany, China, France and Switzerland are all playing their last round robin game.

The game was close in the early ends, Germany got a two in end five for a one shot lead, Scotland bided their time blanking six and seven to score two shots in the eighth.

In end nine Scotland lay two, Andy Kapp for Germany tried a double but just got rid of one, Scotland had stolen for a two shot lead.

In the last end Scotland lay two shots behind cover, with his first stone Andy Kapp went for a draw, it was heavy all the way and ran right through the house, Germany was out of stones, Scotland won the game 5/3.

Canada with a game to play are 9/1, China beat Norway to finish the round robin on 7/4, Scotland are on 7/3, Norway on 6/4 play Australia tonight. France finished the round robin on 6/5 their best hope is a tiebreak.

The Scots, safe in the playoffs, meet Denmark tonight.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: Sco v Ger
Above: View from the ice
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 10

It's Wednesday night in Grand Forks and the Harlem Globetrotters are playing in the next door arena. Three of them gave a demonstration of sweeping a ball with corn brooms then popping it in the basket.....could be a whole new sport.

But back to Scotland against Switzerland at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on five wins Scotland need to keep winning to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot, Switzerland have won only two games and can't even make a tie break.

The Scots got off to a a great start, a raised take out in the third got them three and the lead. That disappeared when they gave up two in the fourth and a single against the head in the fifth when a double take out removed only one stone.

The second half was a bit nerve wracking, Scotland got two in the sixth, Switzerland blanked the next three ends, Scotland went into the last end two up but without last stone. They didn't get it wrong, keeping everything clear and ran Switzerland out of stones for a 6/4 win.

Canada are on a record of 8/1, Norway and Scotland 6/3, Australia, China, France and the USA are tied on 5/4.

Scotland play Germany and Denmark in their final round robin games tomorrow.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Above: The photo of Peter Smith is by Hugh Stewart.

World Men's Curling Championship 9

Going into the first draw earlier today six teams including Scotland were tied in second place on four wins, Australia and France won this morning taking them to five, Denmark and Germany both lost.

In this draw Scotland took on Australia now on five wins, the teams swopped singles for the first couple of ends, Scotland got the advanatge in end four when David Murdoch had a hit for two, Australia got one in the fifth and the Scots blanked the next two ends. They really went for it in end eight piling stones into the house. It went a bit wrong towards the end but Murdoch had a shot to skinny out an Australian stone to pick up another two.

The Aussies got a two back in the ninth when a double take out didn't work but Scotland had the last stone for the final end. Australia lay two shots but the front of the house was wide open, David Murdoch drew the button for shot and game 6/4.

Canada still lead on 9/1, yup, the shock of the day China beat them in an extra end earlier today, Australia are on 5/4, France, Norway and Scotland 5/3.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Squad to be selected for University Games

I missed this announcement recently, but I see that Cate Brewster has been appointed by British Curling to be national coach for the Great Britain team for the Winter Universiade Games in Harbin, China, in February 2009. Cate Brewster is the Assistant High Performance Curling Coach at the Scottish Institute of Sport.

To be eligible to play in the University Winter games, curlers must be students and under the age of 28. If they are involved, because of the clash of dates, they will not be able to play either the Scottish Junior Championships or the Gold League.

According to the press release, Cate is sure there is a pool of eligible players in Scotland. She's planning an off ice training camp this summer and an on ice camp at the start of the next season. The selected teams will compete in an international tournament to give them match practice.

The official website for the 2009 games is here.

The last University Winter games were held in Pinerolo, Italy, in 2007. To find the GB representatives then, five men's teams and two women's teams played off at Curl Aberdeen. Sarah Reid, Vicky Sloan, Sarah Macintyre and Laura Kirkpatrick won the women's place. John Hamilton, Andrew Craigie, Iain Chalmers and Graeme Copland won through to go to Italy and with Ross Paterson as fifth won the silver medals.

British Curling was incorporated in June 2006 and 'is responsible for the preparation, selection and performance of the British teams for events which require the entry of a British team.'

Here's a pic of Cate working with students at the successful RCCC Masterclass at Kinross at the end of 2007. Photo by Bob.

World Men's Curling Championship 8

It's Tuesday afternoon so it must be China, going into this game Scotland were tied on three wins with Denmark, Norway and the USA, both Norway and USA play in this session.

The result of this game was never in doubt, though the Chinese play well, they lack experience at this level, David Murdoch's hit for two in the fifth gave Scotland a three shot lead. It doesn't sound a lot but Scotland looked the stronger team all through the game.

Scotland were four shots up after eight and stole two in the ninth when Chinese skip Fengchun Wang was heavy with his final draw, China conceded, Scotland won the game 8/2.

Norway beat Germany 7/6, France beat USA 6/5 and Switzerland got their second win against the Czech Republic 8/7.

Canada lead the table on six wins, Germany, Australia, Norway and Scotland are tied on four wins.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

World Men's Curling Championship 7

Dropping games against the Czech Republic, USA and Canada means Scotland have to start winning games to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Sweden were next on the list, Swedish skip Anders Kraupp was alternate for Peja Lindholm for many years, the other three team members are all in their twenties with no international experience, they're one win behind Scotland.

It looked good in the first couple of ends, Scotland put four shots on the board. In the fourth David Murdoch's last stone wrecked on a front stone, Kraupp had a draw for three. In the sixth Sweden got another three when David's last stone raised take out didn't work.

Two more ends and the score was tied. But it all came good in end nine, Anders Kraupp tried to draw againt three but was a fraction heavy, David Murdoch had a draw for four shots. Sweden conceded, score 11/7 to Scotland.

China in a couple of hours.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

April's Scottish Curler

April's Scottish Curler magazine was published last week and is in the mail to subscribers. On the cover are our Junior Ladies who won the World Junior Championship in Ostersund, Sweden, last month. There's a report and a photo spread from this event as well as coverage of the inaugural World Mixed Doubles and the World Seniors at Vierumaki.

The Editorial describes how even the World Curling Federation can be completely illogical. In Behind the Glass, Copey talks about, in his own inimitable way, the use of statistics at the Scottish Championships. Christine Stewart describes her first visit to a Canadian Brier Championship and John Brown reveiws the history of the Four Nations competition. The Abbotsford Curling Society is Club of the Month. The Quality of your Stones is the title of the Historical Bit feature.

Mike Ferguson, soon to stand down as Royal Club Chairman, gets the chance to say goodbye. He reflects on the problems facing our governing body, and the significant steps being taken in response.

Plus the regular Curling World, Sweepings, Hoggie, Letters and The Extra End features. The only thing missing is any comment on what happened in Vernon. April had already gone to press when that story broke! I wonder if there might be something about it in next month's magazine, the last of the season?

And if you are not a subscriber, you can download a subscription form here.

World Men's Curling Championship 6

Scotland met Canada in their fifth game of the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Canada have looked the strongest team so far, they haven't been threatened in any of their games.

Both teams played an aggresive game, quite happy to draw round guards and have stones in the house. It was low scoring, they were tied at three all after five and you wouldn't say either team had an advanatge.

Canada got one in the seventh and stole in the eighth when David Murdoch tried a double take out but only got one away, Canada were two up. Scotland got that back in the ninth when a Murdoch double did work to score two shots.

Canada had last stone for the final end, but they didn't need it, once again Murdoch tried a double hit, he moved only one stone, Canada got the game 6/5.

Canada top the table on five wins, Germany have four, USA and Australia are tied on three.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

World Men's Curling Championship 5

Draw six at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the sun is shining and Scotland were all set to play France. The Scots had one win from three games, France two, Scotland need a win here.

The teams matched each other for scores in the first four ends, France got three shots in ends one and two, Scotland three in ends three and four, so it was start the game again. The next two were blanked but the Murdoch four managed to steal one in the seventh, France got one in eight and Scotland blanked the ninth to keep last stone for the final end.

Scotland lay one with a French stone sitting right on top of it, with his first stone Murdoch tried to close the gap through to the house, it didn't draw quite enough but the gap was narrower. French skip Thomas Dufour tried to come through it with a tap back, it hung wide and wrecked, David Murdoch didn't have to play his last stone, Scotland had their second win 5/4.

Germany are unbeaten after four games, Canada have three wins from three games, USA three from four, the Czech Republic, France, Norway and Scotland are tied on two wins from four games.

Next up? Canada tonight.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

David Murdoch's photo in the game against France is by Hugh Stewart.

World Men's Curling Championship 4

Scotland on a record of 1/1 took on home team USA on the same win/loss record in their third game. USA had been on the wrong end of the game against the Czech Republic earlier today.

Neither team could get the advantage in the early ends, they were tied at four all after six, Scotland grabbed two in the eighth and USA got just one in the ninth. It looked ideal, Scotland went into the last end one up with last stone.

USA lay two shots when David Murdoch came to play his last stone, the front was wide open, a draw to the four foot would be fine. And it looked good all the way, but just a foot or so from the front of the house the stone picked up, changed handle and ground to a halt, USA had won the game 7/6.

Germany and Canada top the table on three wins, the Czech Republic and France are tied on two wins and one loss.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

Dumfries Junior International update

Well, that's my travels over for this curling year. For most Scottish curlers too, the domestic season is complete. Hasn't it gone past quickly! But the Dumfries Junior International set a fine note on which to finish the year. I'm sure the competitors, including lots of visitors, enjoyed the event. It was fun! Well done to Graham Sloan and his organising committee.

For the record, Colin Dick, Patrick Blom, Thomas Sloan and Rhiann Macleod defeated Scott Macleod, Steven Mitchell, Kerr Drummond and Aron Bryson in the final. A tied game going in to the final end, Scott needed his final takeout to curl more than it did, and Dick's team stole the victory.

Above: Provost Jack Groom with Rhiann, Thomas, Colin and Fiona Hardie who presented the Globe trophy. Here are a few more pics.

This from the final. Thomas Sloan's stone. Colin is shouting. Rhiann is doing all the work. Where is Patrick Blom? Good question? Why is Scotland only playing with three players? No, not what you think. There was good reason, such as Patrick Blom having to catch his flight back to Denmark!

Thomas and Colin study options as Kerr Drummond looks on.

The Dick team got past James Dunn, Vicki Adams, Michael Goodfellow and Aline Hardie in the semifinal.

Jaap van Dorp's team lost to Scott Macleod in the other semi, but went on to take third place in the event.

Lindsay Doucet, Sara Spafford, Meryn Avery and Nicole Jollimore from Nova Scotia had to get past two good U-17 teams skipped by Grant Hardie and Hamilton McMillan to win the Challenge trophy. I liked the fact that they wore Police Association of Nova Scotia tee shirts! PANS are sponsors of a local tournament at home. Perhaps the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary might come in as a sponsor of next year's event at the Ice Bowl?

Chris MacRae ensured the Canadian team from Nova Scotia won the Low Road final against Anna Sloan. I'm sure he doesn't always deliver with his eyes shut, as the pic seems to show!

I mentioned before that the Canadians were without their skip Ben Parker who investigated the facilities of Dumfries Royal Infirmary for a couple of days. It was good to see him on the ice for the final games. What does he listen to on his MP3 player? Everything from ZZTop to Andrea Bocelli, apparently. (Now there's a question. What is the best music to curl to? Please don't say, 'Anything by the Rolling Stones!' There were some suggestions recently on the Scottish Curling Forum here.)

Here are the visitors from Canada, Holland, Denmark and Poland.

Pics by Bob.

World Men's Curling Championship 3

Sunday morning and it's time for Scotland's second game, against Norway. You may remember back in December the same teams met in the final of the European Championships, Scotland came out the winner of that one. Could they get over their shock defeat by the Czech Republic yesterday and win against Norway again?

First end, Norway's Thomas Ulsrud didn't quite make his two shots, David Murdoch had a draw for four, were the Scots on a roll? It looked like it, by the fifth they had a three shot lead.

Things went a little bit wrong in the seventh, David Murdoch called a double take out with the last stone of the end, just one stone went, Norway stole a single and the lead was cut to one.

The Scots took two in the eighth when Murdoch a hit on a Norweigan stone not quite frozen on a Scots' counter, they went into the ninth three up. Scotland lay one biting the one foot behind two guards, Ulsrud tried a draw to out count it but drew on to the Scottish stone, Scotland had stolen and Norway conceded the game, score 10/6.

There was just one other game in this draw, USA v The Czech Republic, and the Czechs did it again, they're unbeaten on 2/0.

In the ninth end Peter Annis, lead for the USA, limped off and alternate Kevin Kakela got his chance to throw some stones while Annis watched from the sidelines with an ice pack on his knee.

Find the linescores from the championship here. And the event website is here.

World Men's Curling Championship 2

Day one of the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Scotland, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers came up against the Czech Republic, in the World Men's Championship for the first time.

It went right for the Czechs and wrong for the Scots from the opening ends. Scotland trailed by four shots after four ends when the Czechs stole two shots in the fourth end thanks to David Murdoch's last stone running out.

The second half didn't get better as the Scots tried to fight their way back into the game, a two in end nine cut the shot difference to two shots. In the final end Murdoch's last stone again ran out, they were out of stones, final score 7/5 to the Czech Republic.

Tomorrow they meet Norway who lost their opening game to the USA.

Find the linescores from the championship here. And the event website is here.

World Men's Curling Championship 1

The World Men's Curling Championship kicks off tomorrow at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Now just a little bit of info about the arena, Ralph went to Las Vegas to work, he ended up owning most of it and spent some of his millions building this arena. It is huge, the lifts alone would comforatbly house a family of four. The floors are marble, and all the seats are leather. As well as the arena there's a smaller ice pad, currently the Broken Broom lounge, you know the eating, drinking, meeting place. And the size of this arena you need a fixed meeting spot.

But enough of the arena, what about the teams?

There are some well known teams here with a track record and some unknowns. Kevin Martin's Canadian team went through the Brier undefeated, but Kevin may have a weak spot, he's got World and Olympic silver medals, he's never quite managed to win the final games at international level.

Team Scotland must be up with the favourites, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers won the European Championships in December and between them they have handfuls of World gold medals. If they play as well as they did at the Europeans they should make to final four.

Switzerland has a a strong team, Patrick Hurliman is in at third, he got Olympic gold in 1998, he started playing with this team as a sub in the early part of the season but soon got absorbed into the team. Skip Claudio Pescia has played for both Italy and Switzerland.

Andi Kapp for Germany is without his brother Uli this year, Uli has had knee surgery so is unfit to play. But the rest of the team has been with Andi for a number of years. Andi's team got silver last year.

Thomas Ulsrud for Norway has come out from the shadow of Pal Trulsen, his team went through the Europeans undefeated to the last game when they met the Murdoch four. I think they could make the final four or at least a tie break.

The team from Denmark skipped by Johnny Frederiksen took the bronze medal at the Europeans and looked a solid foursome throughout that event, they could be fighting for a playoff spot.

Sweden would normally be tipped for the top but this is a new team this year. Skip Anders Kraupp certainly knows his way around international championships, for many years he was alternate for Peja Lindholm. This year he's got his own team, his second and third players are in their early twenties. No idea how well this team will perform.

The rest of the teams are unknown quantities, both China and the Czech Republic are making their first appearance at World Championships.

France, well what can I say, they're best known for giving the top teams, especially Scotland, a fright, I can't see them being in contention.

USA? Well skip Craig Brown comes from a well known curling family, he last won the US title in 2000 and this team has no track record, but at home who knows?

Hugh Millikin, the Australian skip, has played a number of World Championships since 1995 but never made an impact.

Sit back and enjoy.

Above Team Scotland L-R: David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers. Photo by Hugh Stewart.

Dumfries Junior International

The Dumfries Junior International got underway at the Ice Bowl today. Thirty-two teams are taking part, in a competition organised by Area Development Officer Graham Sloan and his committee. So who's the young curler in the photo above?

Well, one of the novel features which Graham has made part of the event is to have some of his young development teams taking part. Christine Swan, at just eleven, only started curling this season, a product of the RCCC Curling's Cool programme. Enthusastic? Absolutely, and so encouraging to see. Star of today's Curling Today blog, and, who knows, a star of the future!

Robert Adam piped the competitors on to the ice.

Hamilton McMillan and his team, who were runners-up in the Perth U-17 event yesterday, were on the ice again today, but came second against Ben Parker's Canadian team, skipped by Chris MacRae. Ben had taken ill on the trip over and was recovering in Dumfries Royal Infirmary. Word is that he is making a good recovery. Hope to see him at the rink before the weekend is over.

This is Sara Spafford, who plays fourth stones for Lindsay Doucet's Nova Scotia team.

Greg Drummond in full voice.

Who said curling isn't colourful? Jaap van Dorp and his team are on their third visit to Dumfries.

Pics by Bob.

Sloan wins Perth U-17

Thomas Sloan with Blair Fraser, Hannah Fleming and Rebecca Kesley won the Perth Under-17 competition at the Dewar's Centre today. The Sloan team beat Hamilton McMillan, Rori MacPherson, Andi Lock and Hamish McGeoch in the final, running out a 6-1 lead after five ends.

In the semifinals, Hamilton's team had beaten Grant Hardie, Kyle Smith, Thomas Muirhead and Cameron Smith, and Sloan's side had won through against Jennifer Dodds, Tasha Aitken, Abigail Brown and Mhairi Baird. In the 3-4 playoff, Hardie's team finished 6-2 ahead of Dodds' side.

All the results and linescores are here.

Word from Cairnie House is that twenty-three teams have so far registered for next season's U-17 Slam, of which two are mixed and seven are girls' teams. Further teams wishing to compete in the Slam have until June 30 to sign up.

Above: Sue Fitzsimons, wife of Danny, the former manager of the Dewar's Centre in whose memory the trophy was donated two years ago, presented the prizes to L-R Rebecca Kesley, Hannah Fleming, Blair Fraser and Thomas Sloan.

Below: It's heads down as the team work on Thomas' first stone in the fourth end.