Muirhead and Smith eye Euro gold in Switzerland

Courier columnist Eve Muirhead will go for gold at the European Championships in Switzerland today after dashing Swiss hopes in yesterday’s women’s semi-finals.

The 2011 champion emulated men’s finalist Kyle Smith as she avenged Wednesday’s 9-7 defeat to Silvana Tirinzoni when it mattered most.

Muirhead conceded three stones at the fourth end and trailed 4-2 after six, but she counted a three of her own at the ninth end and held on to win 7-5.

“We knew it was going to be a battle, so we’re absolutely delighted!” she said.

“It’s been a few years (two) since we’ve been in the final. We’ve medalled for the last seven years, but a lot of them haven’t been the right colour.”

Tactical Coach Glenn Howard said after his team booked their place in the final: “It was a little bit dodgy to start off with, it was not their best game but they delivered when they had to and I am really impressed with the way that they finished that match and they never gave up and I am proud of them for that.

“The Swedish rink are one of the best teams in the world right now so we will have our hands full, but we are totally up for the challenge.”

Muirhead now plays the unbeaten Swede Anna Hasselborg in this morning’s final, and the Scot admitted: “We know they’re going to be tough. We’ll have to play one of the games of our lives to beat them.”

Smith faces defending champion Niklas Edin in this afternoon’s men’s final. The Swede edged Tuesday’s round robin meeting 5-4, but Smith has already upset the odds this week after stunning Switzerland’s Peter De Cruz in Thursday night’s semis.

Eve Muirhead and Kyle Smith have their sights set on European gold.