Local curlers in with a big shout at championships

Feb 15 2008

CURLING’S premier competition will unfold at Dewars next week, writes Gordon Bannerman.

Scotland’s finest curlers come to Perth to compete at the Bruadar Scottish Mens Championship and the Columba Cream Ladies Gold League from February 18-24.

The country’s elite rinks do battle for the national titles and the honour of representing Scotland at the men’s and women’s World Championships.

Lockerbie-based skip David Murdoch will start favourite for the men’s competition. Having won gold at the European Championships in December, David and his Perth-flavoured team of Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers are hoping to win the title and give themselves a shot a regaining the world title won by Murdoch’s men in America in 2006.

But serious challenges are likely to come from 2007 Scottish champions Warwick Smith (Perth) and the 2007 runner-up Tom Brewster (Aberdeen).

Stirling’s Kelly Wood and her team are favourites to win the Columba Cream Ladies Gold league after taking the silver at the European Championships in December and a bronze medal at the World Curling Championships. Kelly will be looking to make this year her fourth win at the Scottish, giving her a chance to return to the World Championships in pursuit of gold.

The Perth championships promise to be a great event not only on the ice, but also off it, with a host of activities lined-up.

Colin Grahamslaw, CEO the Royal Caledonian Curling Club said: “The championships will once again see some of the world’s top curlers compete for the Scottish title and the right to represent Scotland at the World Championships.

“We have been working hard with our sponsors, the Scottish Liqueur Centre at Bankfoot, to raise the profile of the event and add new features to the week. These include a demonstration of visually impaired curling next Saturday lunchtime, which we hope will help open the sport to a new group of people.”

Kenny Mackay, of the Scottish Liqueur Centre, said: “We are delighted to be associated with the national curling championships. Scottish curling has a fantastic reputation worldwide and it is a great fit with our brands, which are going from strength to strength in markets at home and abroad. The fact that the championships are being held on our own doorstep is an added bonus.”