The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Brotherly love proving to be a success story
CURLING: Muirheads and Smiths eager to follow Canadian win
Skipping the new-look curling team of two sets of Perthshire brothers is a “pleasure” for Glen Muirhead.
The Muirheads – Glen and Thomas – and Smiths – Kyle and Cammy – have combined to great effect in the early weeks of the season, culminating in their first World Tour win in Canada at the weekend.
In an all-Scottish final, they beat Team Paterson 5-4 after an extra end at the Ashley HomeStore Classic in Penticton.
Glen, who made the transition to skip at the start of the 2018-19 season, said: “It feels pretty good and I am grinning from ear to ear following that result after being away in Canada for three weeks.
“The standard was pretty incredible and it was really pleasing to win the title in that company and great to get two Scottish teams in the final.
“Our aim was to be relaxed and to enjoy the event as when we are in the right place we play well and the familiarity of having another Scottish team in the final didn’t count against us.
“There were excellent shots played by both teams with a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing and a lot of forcing. However, we felt in control.
“They had a shot for two in the eighth end which they missed and we were able to keep the focus to get the result.”
He added: “In previous years we probably went over to Canada and played one or two events, With the travel and time difference, the Canadian teams definitely had the advantage.
“We certainly benefitted by being out for longer. By the second or third week it was easier for us to play better. In fact, the whole team played exceptionally well and that makes skipping a pleasure.
“Getting that exposure and playing the Canadian teams at Slams makes it less daunting.
“Previously, I think a lot of European teams went in feeling like the underdog, which gave the Canadians the edge. That has changed, the gap is closing and the mindset has changed.
“British curling teams are getting higher up the rankings and reaching the final stages of tournaments, putting themselves in the place to win and getting noticed more, so the benefits are really starting to show, with more experience of the top playing opportunities.”
Last weekend will go down as one of the most memorable for men’s curling in Scotland in many years, with Team Mouat claiming the European Championship title on its debut at that event, ending the four-year reign of Sweden’s Team Edin.