Glen edged out in curling contest

Glen Muirhead’s all-Perthshire team were edged out in the final of the men’s Scottish Curling Championships.

The 2018 Olympians were in strong form during the week and went through the group stage with a record of five wins and two defeats.

They booked their place in the Dewars Centre final courtesy of a nail-biting 8-7 Friday afternoon play-off win against Team Mouat.

But Bruce Mouat, who took his second chance to reach the showdown by defeating Team Paterson, proved too strong in the final.

The Edinburgh skip completed a hat-trick of Scottish national title wins with a 6-3 triumph on Perth ice.

His squad, which includes Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan, will now represent Scotland on the world stage in Glasgow.

“It’s hard to put it into words,”Mouat said.“The first one was really special, getting to go to our first World Championships.

“Then the second one was special because we got to go to Canada and play there, which is always something you aspire to. And then getting to play a home one is the cherry on top.

“I think we’ve been the top ranked team for a couple of years now and it really gives you the belief that you’re going to do it.”

Coach of Team Mouat, Alan Hannah, praised the performance.

“Three feels brilliant and thoroughly deserved after a high class, really quality performance all week,”he said.

“We had a wee blip, but we dug deep and that’s what these guys have got.

“They’ve shown that two or three years ago in the World Championship bronze medal play-off when we needed to bounce back there.

“It was a strong performance and, I have to say, by the best team this week.”

Hannah added:“I’m really thrilled about being involved in a home World Championship.

“Bruce is from Edinburgh, but everybody else is Glasgow-based, so it really is our home Worlds.

“Glasgow is a fantastic city that will do a great job of hosting the World Championship, so we’re looking forward to seeing everybody there.”

Perth curlers Duncan McFadzean and Robin Brydone took to the ice with Team Whyte at the Scottish Championships. But they narrowly missed out on a spot in the playoffs after a group stage record of four wins and three losses.