Another curling review with Features Writer Craig Kyle:
The dog barks but Team Whyte keeps on rolling.
Perth Masters
Team Whyte hold form as they are crowned Perth Masters. Twenty men’s teams and ten women’s teams descended on the dewars centre last Thursday and begun their campaigns for their shot at the title in Perth.
Eight Scottish men’s team, more than that are entered in the Scottish championships, were out in the field. Team Whyte and Waddell both ‘fresh’ from Canada, Bryce, Carson, and Craik back out fielding a team, were joined by some of the local Olympians, Team Muirhead were back on the ice as well as Kyle Smith with his own team.
Four of the Scottish sides made the cut off through to the play offs on Saturday evening. Team Bryce finishing 2nd in the rankings, Whyte in 4th, Carson and Muirhead in 7 and 8.
Carson would play Bryce in the quarters and win 5-3. Ross Whyte faced Japanese side, Maeda in a close game, scoring 2 in the 8th end to win 6-5 and Team Muirhead faced top ranking team Harstad of Norway and finished off the game with a 3-point lead, final score 8-5.
Sunday morning and into the semi-finals. Our junior champs were up against the young Italian side Spiller. By the 6th end Orrin was 2 points clear having stolen a single. The Italians would respond with a 4 to leapfrog the young lads and take a two-point lead. Team Carson managed to get themselves a 2 in return to take the game to and extra end without the hammer. Spiller gets their 1 and head to the final.
On the other side two Scottish teams meet, Team Whyte and Team Muirhead. Team Whyte not messing around a threw a 4 up on the board first end. Glen responded with a 2, but another two for Whyte, followed up with a steal of 2, closed that game off, and after 4 ends it was 8-2 final score.
The final was Ross Whyte verse Team Spiller of Italy. Not holding back, Ross came flying out the gates again with a 3 in the first end. Spiller would take singles in the following two ends and Team Whyte with their single in 4, scores after four ends was 4-2 Whyte. The game looking in Ross favour, Spiller manages only a single in six. Ross extended the lead in the seventh end getting a 2 making it 6 -3 heading into the final end, Spiller with hammer.
A well-controlled end from team Whyte ran the Italians out of stones and secure the Perth Masters Title.
Congratulations on successful back-to-back titles over the last couple of weeks for team Whyte.
On the women’s side, Team Morrison made it through to the quarter finals, coming up against a familiar face in Stefania Constantini. The Italians opened the scoring with a 3 and would take charge of the game, stealing a single in the second end. Morrison responded with a deuce to keep them in the game and forcing Constantini to a single in the fourth, Rebecca would close the gap with another 2 in the 5th end.
Being forced to another single the Italians were two up with 2 ends to go. Rebecca with hammer, blanked the 7thend to try get at least a two to take it to the extra end. Only managing a single, it was the end of the road for Team Morrison, the game finishing 6-5 Constantini.
A great experience for the young Scottish juniors, Soutar and Lauire, playing against Fujisawa, Constantini and Team Lauire even beating eventual runners up Bjoernstad.
For full results and some photos from the weekend, you can visit the Perth Masters website or their social media pages:.
A quieter week ahead for our tour teams. Team Bryce the only one in action, they are heading across to Karlstad, Sweden, to play in the Sun City cup. Starting Thursday 22nd through to the 25th.
For line scores across the weekend keep an eye on Curlingzone and the team socials.
GoFibre Scottish Seniors
Déjà vu 2025 – Aberdeen Teams claim the GoFibre Scottish senior titles once again.
Tom Brewster and Jackie Lockhart are on top of the podium for the second year running.
It was all gone at Forfar ice rink last week for this year’s senior championships. 8 men’s teams had come through the qualifiers in the autumn and 5 teams on the women’s side.
The top four mens teams qualified for the play offs. Duff qualifying through the round robin in 1st place, played 4th place Robertson and Brewster would face Joss.
A strong performance from Team Duff of Forfar, made light work of Ian Robertson, also of Forfar. Their game was wrapped up after 6 ends, John Duff winning 7-2.
The second semi-final would go the full 8 ends, Brewster taking an early lead they were 3-0 up after 3 ends. Joss responded with his only 2 of the game. A trade of singles in 5 and 6 it was 4-3 to Brewster with two ends to go. Brewster blanked the 7th and had hammer coming home, 1 up. Tom secured the win with another 2 points.
A slightly different set up for the women’s event. Team Lockhart would progress straight to the final, winning all four of their games. Kennedy and Agnew coming in second and third would play of in a semi-final to grab their spot against Jackie.
A close game began to unfurl and after 4 ends it was 4-3 to Kennedy. The game flipped and tipped on its end finished after the 5th end when Agnew scored a 7 and took the score to 10-4.
It was Agnew to face current world champions Team Lockhart in the final of the GoFibre Scottish Seniors ladies.
Agnew opened the scoring with a steal of 2 and then forced Jackie to a single reply. After 4 ends it was all square at 3 all. Team Lockhart turned the burners on and stole back a 2 and then a steal of 1 to take a commanding lead. It was 6-3, Agnew going into the 7th end with hammer came away with a single point, 2 down without hammer the game was a little out of reach. A steal of 1 wasn’t enough to get the game to an extra end and Jackie Lockhart would be Scottish senior champion for a sixth time.
Brewster would face home side team Duff in the final. Duff starting with hammer, it wasn’t until the third end before opening the scoring, being forced to a single. Brewster making solid use of the hammer replied with a 3 to take a lead at the 4th end.
Another blank from Duff, they were then forced to another single. Brewster keeping his lead managed another multiple in the 7th end, 2 points on the board and 3 points clear of Team Duff. Even with hammer in the 8th end it was too much to ask of Team Duff to salvage the game and scored a single in the final end, 5-3 Brewster final score.
Congratulations to both teams on retaining their Scottish titles and good luck in Switzerland in April. Jackie hoping to retain her world title and Tom looking to go one better this year and take the top spot as well!
For the full results and some photos from across the weekend check out the Scottish curling website and social media pages or Forfar indoor sports social media pages.
https://competitions.scottishcurling.org/competitions/scottish-curling-senior-championships-7/
Juniors
Brewster played Team Thomson in the final at Curl Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon, Team Thomson 2 points behind Team Brewster in the leader board meant winner takes all in the high stakes game.
Brewster with hammer started the scoring being forced to a single in the first end but swiftly returned with a steal of 4 to go 5-0 up after 2 ends. Thomson replied with his 2 and then stole singles in the following 2 ends. Thomson had closed the gap to 5-4 after 5 ends. The game went only one way from there, Ethan grabbing a single point then stealing a 2, to see out the game and secured the U21s title. Final score 8-4 Brewster.
Team Laurie topped the table on the girl’s side with the Scottish Junior champions; Team Archibald 8 points behind. Laurie and her squad were competing at Perth Masters at the weekend so a third-place finish or better for Archibald would clinch the title.
The girls were not to be put aside and won Aberdeen beating Trotter in the final 8 points to 4. Leap frogging Team Laurie and securing the U21s title.
For the full results from the weekend, check out the Scottish curling website for the event and the social media pages for photos.
https://competitions.scottishcurling.org/competitions/asham-u21-slam-curl-aberdeen/
This weekend the junior teams will all be pairing up for the junior mixed doubles qualifiers down in Dumfries. Starting Thursday 22nd and running through to the Sunday 25th.
For the full team list and draw schedule, head to the Scottish curling website.
Wheelchair
Team GB wheelchair curlers were across in Canada last week, playing in the Leduc Mixed event.
A good start to the week they were 4-1 with two remining games. Losing their first of two games to eventual champions Canada Red.
GBR had one game left against Team Calgary and a win would place them in the playoff games but a steal in the last end from the opposition closed the door on the wheelchair curlers competition.
Not a bad week for our Olympians and some good game time ahead of their trip to Italy in March.
For full results from the tournament, check out Curlingzone.
Four Nations
This year’s Four Nations will be held at the Border Ice Rink in Kelso. Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland will play each other in 3 disciplines across the weekend, men’s, women’s and mixed. Games begin on Friday evening, Scotland taking on the auld enemy, England first and Ireland V Wales.
For the full draw and participants from Scotland, head to the Scottish curling website.
https://competitions.scottishcurling.org/competitions/four-nations-13/
Good News
A couple good news stories this weekend…
The National Curling academy rolled out the blue carpet as our future king and Queen stepped foot on the ice and gave their best slide ahead of the winter games. William and Kate were in Stirling meeting all our Team GB athletes before they head to Italy. Both got their Teflon slider on and had a brief lesson from some of the nations best. A little helping hand from the pros and they played some great shots, even while in a suit and full-length skirt.
No doubt a surreal moment for all the athletes and staff. William and Kate both sharing that they will be watching the games and looking forward to seeing our teams in action.
Across the pond in Canada, way up in the Yukon, Kerr Drummond has qualified with his team for this year’s Montana’s Brier. They will head to St. Johns, Newfoundland at the end of February for a chance to represent Canada at this year’s worlds in April. Good luck Kerr!
To all those curling this weekend, in your clubs or across the water, good luck and good curling!
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