Smith aims to cultivate medal delight

FOUR years ago Canada’s ‘Buff Boys’ struck Olympic curling gold, this time it’s Team GB’s Tractor Boys hoping to plough through the field.

Kyle Smith and brother Cammy are taking time off their family dairy farm in Scotland, while Muirhead brothers Glen and Tom are skipping lambing to make their Olympic debuts.

Curling is a family affair – five members of the ten-strong British team come from the same family, two are going out.

“We combine our farming work with curling but you have to put in the time with our sport and it’s tough to make both things work,” Smith said.

He is cautiously optimistic about his chances in South Korea, having succeeded threetime Olympian and Sochi silver medallist David Murdoch – another from farming stock – as Scotland’s top skip.

He admits he’s happy to fly under the radar, with all the focus on Eve Muirhead’s women’s team, bronze medallists in Sochi four years ago and tipped for an upgrade this time.

Meanwhile, Aimee Fuller feared for her safety as the gusty weather continued to play havoc with the programme in Pyeongchang.

Fuller finished 17th in the women’s snowboard slopestyle as wild weather meant none of the 25 riders completed two cleans run.

Watch Eve Muirhead’s first match against Olympic athletes from Russia on Eurosport Player tomorrow. Don’t miss a moment of the Olympic Winter Games on Eurosport and Eurosport Player. Go to www. Eurosport.co.uk