Curling: Scottish stars in action at Dewars

Jan 29 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH is back in the spotlight in Olympic year as the Dewars Centre hosts the round-robin phase of the Bruadar Scottish Men’s Curling Championship and the Columba Cream Women’s Championship.

The action got under way for the men on Wednesday and yesterday for the top eight ladies rinks.

The top four finishers in each event will go on to the knock-out sections of the championships, which will also be staged in Perth over the first weekend of March. World championship invitations are at stake

That follows hard on the heels of the Winter Olympics, and hopefully the GB teams will be among the medals in Vancouver.

Canadian contenders David Murdoch and Eve Muirhead are both in action in the Fair City as they countdown to Canada. It’s a great chance to view them on ice before they make for the Olympic training camp.

The round-robin continues through to Sunday and there is strong local interest with Warwick Smith, Pete Loudon and Glen Muirhead all taking part hard on the heels of a successful Ramada Perth Masters won by Tom Brewster, with input from Big County pair Duncan Fernie and Ron Brewster

The national championships are again being supported by the Bankfoot-based Scottish Liqueur Centre brands Bruadar and Columba Cream.

Centre managing director Kenny MacKay said: “We are really happy to continue our sponsorship in this an Olympic year.

“It’s especially nice as a local company to see Eve Muirhead from Blair Atholl about to lead Great Britain in Vancouver. And Pete Loudon is a key man in the men’s team. We wish the players every success and hope this weekend will be the ideal preparation.”

The winners of the Bruadar Scottish Men's Championship will represent Scotland at the 2010 World Men's Curling Championship in Cortina, Italy from April 3-11.

The winners of the Columba Cream Scottish Ladies Championship will fly the flag the World Women's Curling Championships in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada from March 20-28.

Dewar’s Centre

RESULTS (January 25): The Love Trophy – H McLaren 8, A Sinclair 3; M Donaldson 9, M Ballantine 14; A Lyburn 3, K Cameron 13.

Forteviot A – Kinfauns 12, Perth Teachers 5; Perth 6, PRI 7; Shiehallion Ladies 2, Kilgraston and Moncrieff 14; Airleywight 8, Forteviot 5; Dunning 7, Scone and Perth 3.

Forteviot B – Findogask 0, Glendoick 12; Fingask 3, General Accident 18; Perth Ladies 6, Errol 6; Airleywight Ladies 9, Craigiehill 7; Bank of Scotland 10, Perth Medical 3.

January 26: The Cox Trophy – Bank of Scotland 27, Coupar Angus 4; Dunsinane 19, Scone and Perth 11; Craigiehill 9, St Martins 14.

Mixed Open Pairs – S McLaren 9, J Fairfield 3.

Carse League – Balruddery 2, General Accident 18; Glendoick 15, Panmure 4; Dundee University 6, Fingask 6; Dundee 7, PRI 9; Errol 14, Dunning 8; Rossie 14, Craigiehill 8.