Scotland’ s women back and ‘in at the deep end’

After Scotland’s men’s champions demonstrated how well they have come through lockdown by winning a World Championship silver medal last weekend, their female counterparts will join them in action in the first Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event of 2021 in Calgary this week.

Eve Muirhead and her team-mates Vicky Wright, Jen Dodds and Lauren Gray start their first international competition of the season with several Canadian teams, as well as the cream of the global game, in action.

They open their account tomorrow in a clash with Sweden’s current Olympic and European champions Team Hasselborg at the Humpty’s Champions Cup and, vastly experienced as she is, Muirhead knows she is heading into the unknown.

“This is feeling slightly different in terms of preparations and also it is going to be different when we step on the ice this year, too, with no crowds,” she observed.

“It looks like we will wear masks during games and there will be no handshakes with opponents. You can’t go and speak to your best pal so it is going to be very different, but the bubble organisation for the grand slams has been fantastic and the communication has been top-notch.

“They get in touch even if there is nothing to communicate, so in that aspect we have been very reassured, so are ready to go ahead. After a spell in isolation in our individual rooms, bubble life is better now that we can congregate as a team now, which is great.”

Playing at grand slam level in a first international event of the year is unheard of and Muirhead admits to some trepidation since they will be in the bubble for two Grand Slam events ahead of the Women’s World Championship which, as was the case for the men last week, has the added pressure this year of doubling as a qualifying competition for next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“I am really excited about our first international event but, as always, slightly apprehensive to know how we are in comparison to these international teams because it is the world’s best at the slams and if you want to do well you have to beat the best ,” she said.

“Those are just the facts so it is a little bit nerve wracking to be starting out at this event.

“We have a very tough schedule with Hasselborg, Jones, Tirinzoni and Fleury. It definitely feels like we are in at the deep end.”

EXCITED: Scotland’s Eve Muirhead is thrilled curling is back in action and looking forward to competing at Calgary.