The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
All-English British Curling team a first
New ground with no Scots in squad for programme
British Curling has broken new ice by selecting an English team for their national programme for the first time.
Brother and sister duo Ben and Anna Fowler, winners of the English Mixed Doubles Championships from 2016 to 2018, are two of the last eight athletes chosen for the funded programme.
Anna is fully aware of the significance of the selection in a sport dominated in Britain by Scots down the years.
She said: “I’m extremely proud to have been selected to be part of the British Curling programme alongside a squad of such talented athletes.
“It feels like a real achievement to be the first English team on the programme. I hope this demonstrates the growing talent pool across the whole of the UK and goes some way to accelerate the growth of the sport in England.
“A lot of credit and thanks must go to those who have coached and supported us to get to this point.
“I’m looking forward to getting the season started and excited to see what we can achieve with the support of British Curling and of course, it’s particularly special to be able to share the experience with my brother Ben.”
Also in the mixed doubles squad is Olympic silver medallist Scott Andrews, who was a member of the GB team that reached the final at the Sochi Winter Games in 2014.
Andrews, who won silver at the World Championships in 2011 and 2012, as well as bronze in 2013, brings a wealth of experience to the game as he teams up with Gina Aitken, one of the most experienced mixed doubles curlers on the programme.
He is excited about the prospects of Team Aitken-Andrews, as he switches to the discipline included in the Winter Olympic programme in South Korea for the first time.
The part-time development officer who hails from Ayrshire is passionate about the game that has become his career both on and off the ice.
“I love the sport and I would dearly love another Olympic medal so for me it is unfinished business not making it to the last games,” he said.
“Mixed doubles has presented a brand new opportunity for me and a whole new challenge adapting to the discipline which is attracting big names from curling around the world, to what is a faster format and a dynamic and exciting game.
“Gina has been helping me as I am making the necessary adjustments and we have been working very well together and I am keen to put our practice into action and get some competitive experience under my belt now.
“It will be important to experience the big game pressure to be ready for our targets this year and I cannot wait.”
Current Scottish Mixed Doubles champions Fraser Kingan and Jayne Stirling, who represented Scotland at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships this year, finishing ninth, complete the mixed doubles squad.
Two individual athletes have also been selected to the programme following their impressive performances last year.
Perth’s Robin Brydone and Ross Whyte who were both members of the Scottish Junior Championship winning team who went on to secure silver for Scotland at the World Junior Championships this year will receive programme support for 2018-19.
British Curling performance director Graeme Thompson said: “It is an exciting time for our British Curling mixed doubles squad as the new Olympic discipline gains global profile showing the growing interest in the game as we seek to capitalise on the growing talent pool from across the UK.
“Congratulations to all of them and also to our two individual athletes who have demonstrated both their talent and potential in the game and we look forward to supporting them in their endeavours as we start this Olympiad building towards Beijing 2022.”