Ladies still got the edge in capital win Perth curlers claim Edinburgh International title
It was the first time they had entered a competitive event together at senior level.
But that proved to be no stumbling block for new Edinburgh International Ladies Seniors Curling champions Team Lockhart.
While skip Jackie Lockhart hails from Stonehaven, Edith Hazard (formerly Loudon), Mairi Milne and Katie Loudon all have strong links to Perth.
Competing in the over 50s competition, held at Murrayfield Ice Rink, an opening group stage draw was backed up by a string of fine performances.
The semi-final witnessed a 9-1 triumph over Barbara Watt and that sent the determined quartet into the showdown match against Kate Adams.
Despite falling behind in the opening exchanges, Team Lockhart bounced back in style to eventually claim a well-deserved 9-6 triumph.
Every member of the squad is no stranger to the international scene, with Olympic and World Championships appearances on the CV.
But this triumph was special in its own right, with Perth-based Katie saying: “We’ve all curled in various formats over the years.
“For Mairi and I, it is the first year we’ve been eligible for the seniors.
“We thought we would try and put a team together that has a chance of going a bit further.
“Our first game together was on the Friday night, which we drew. Some of the teams have been playing together for years.
“But it was like going back through the years for us in terms of getting to know each other on the ice.
“We went on to win the semi-final quite convincingly and then played the final. That was a bit to and fro.
“We were actually 5-2 down but managed to take a five and then kept it clear from there to get the win.
“It was really surprising and lovely to see everyone congratulating us.
“A lot of people we’d curled against over the years were quick to pass on their congratulations.”
Team Lockhart will play their next competition in Kinross before the Scottish Seniors at Hamilton in February.
On the line there will be a place at the World Senior Championships which, in 2020, will be held in British Columbia.
Katie added: “My sister now lives in California so she came over for last weekend and is hoping to come over again at the start of next year.
“We’ll look to play regularly to keep the hand in. There is the world seniors in British Columbia in April and getting there is the long term target.
“We shall see how we get on. Anybody that knows us will know that we still have the competitive edge.
“I’ve hardly curled the last five or six years, but the sport is one where you never really lose it.
“Jackie is a very experienced skip, playing three Olympics, so we all slotted back in together and have been enjoying it.”
Perhaps more than anything, the team were quick to thank their sponsors for the season.
“We’re very fortunate to get support from Loch Leven’s Larder, James McEwan and Son and British Curling Supplies,” Katie concluded.