Tuesday, 8th of February 2022

Olympic Mixed Doubles – Fourth for Jen and Bruce in Beijing

Despite an excellent display on Olympic ice, Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat will leave Beijing without mixed doubles silverware. The duo played some beautiful curling, but after six wins in the round robin, they had to surrender first to Norway in the semi-final and Sweden in the game for Bronze. Although both Dodds and Mouat held their own, the Scandinavians brought unbeatable form to the crucial games.

DEFEAT TO SWEDEN MEANS TEAM GB MISS MIXED DOUBLES MEDAL (SWE 9 – 3 GBR)

Team GB fell to an agonising defeat to Sweden in the bronze medal game and leave Beijing without mixed doubles silverware. Dodds and Mouat were outplayed by their counterparts Almida de Val and Oskar Eriksson who led by seven points at half time and continued a flawless display that GB could not answer for a 9-3 win after only six ends.

Sweden could not have got off to a better start; de Val played an inch-perfect hit and roll that got rid of two reds and scored a commanding four in End 2. Matters got worse for GB in the third end when exceptional angle play from the Swedes forced Dodds to a big weight shot that sailed past and gave away a three-points steal.

Leading by seven points to one after three ends, de Val and Eriksson outplayed their counterparts on 100 and 82 per cent accuracy compared to Dodds and Mouat’s 70 and 81 per cent respectively. De Val would hold her stats for the rest of the game and finish on the perfect percentage.

GB gradually looked better in End 4, but a beautiful double take-out from Eriksson eradicated the set up work and another steal went on Sweden’s tally. Although Dodds and Mouat’s play improved, Sweden kept finding all the answers in an error-free display. Despite finally securing a multi-score in End 6, GB conceded at 9-3.

TEAM GB WILL GO FOR BRONZE AFTER SEMI-FINAL DEFEAT TO NORWAY (NOR 6 – 5 GBR)

In what truly was a game of two halves, Team GB eventually came up short against the Norwegian duo of Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten. Dodds and Mouat were comfortable before the break, but the pendulum swung the other way after a three-points power play and Norway edged out a 6-5 win in the final end.

Mouat firmly swung the first end in GB’s favour with a beautiful hit and roll to lie two on the button and, throwing the final stone, Skaslien’s shot was heavy and gave away a steal of one. Norway were playing solidly and without major errors, but the British duo had the edge in the opening ends and controlled the set ups. Dodds recorded the first multi-score in the third end with an excellent hit and roll that replaced a red on back four and lay two. GB kept finding the right answers in a high-level encounter and although the one-point difference at the break did not suggest it, Dodds and Mouat had played the first half comfortably.

GB dictated the best part of the fifth end, but Norway got themselves back into play and reduced GB to a single point. Still, sitting on a two-points deficit the Norwegians subsequently released their power play and utilised it perfectly. Both Mouat and Dodds played their first scrappy shots of the game with their respective last stones and Skaslien was served an open draw for three and took the lead.

In response, GB triggered their power play, but the end set up against them and they bagged only a single point. The scores were tied going into the final end with Norway holding hammer. Mouat repeatedly guarded and Nedgregotten peeled, building up to GB narrowly lying shot on the edge of the four foot. Dodds final stone did not quite find its target, opening an open draw to the button for Skaslien which she executed nicely.

OUTSTANDING STATS BAG TEAM GB A FINAL ROUND ROBIN WIN OVER UNITED STATES (GBR 8 – 4 USA)

Having already booked their semi-final spot on head-to-head record, Team GB went into their final round robin game swinging. A fluent and, for the best part, flawless display against the United States duo of Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys had the British duo navigate to an 8-4 win ahead of their play-off match.

Dodds and Mouat got off to an excellent start with nice stone positioning that the Americans struggled to bail out of. Throwing last stone, Persinger hit the yellow on top 12 at the wrong angle and a big steal of three went on GB’s tally. The teams traded single scores, but Dodds and Mouat were comfortably outplaying their counterparts with accuracy percentages in the 90s compared to the US’ 60s.

Trailing by four at half time, United States triggered their power play in End 5. Two close together on the side edge of the 12 foot plus another counter had the Americans in a promising position, but a phenomenal raise triple take-out from Mouat eliminated the set up and limited the damage to two points for Team USA.

Some half shots from GB and improved numbers from United States brought the latter back into the game, prompting the British power play in End 7. Positions looked bright as great set up work lay three, but Persinger stuck the shooter with an exceptional hit and roll for a double take-out and kept Dodds’ opportunities to a draw for one. An error-free eighth end from GB forced Persinger to attempt a big weight run-back against two, but the yellows would not spin in her favour, bagging a steal of two and the win for Dodds and Mouat.

TOUGH DEFEAT TO ON-FORM NORWAY HAS TEAM GB IN UNCERTAINTY (NOR 6 – 2 GBR)

Team GB could not stop the terrific Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten who brought their A game to the ice. An exceptional display from the Norwegians and a few scrappy shots from Dodds and Mouat culminated in a 6-2 result and GB’s third defeat.

A less than ideal start to the fixture saw GB give away two steals and the duo found themselves in trouble again in End 3. Having played the drawing game all end, a Norwegian stone lay shot on the button and Skaslien, seeing a chance for another steal, threw the centre guard perfectly. Dodds, however, responded with an excellent shot as she ran the guard back at an angle and secured a point.

The Norwegian pair were having a sensational game and at a four-points disadvantage, GB released their power play in the sixth end. Norway kept them at bay, but a nicely executed hit and roll from Mouat set up a chance for two. An open draw on the four foot was served, but Dodds’ throw came up shy and GB bagged only a single point.

Norway, in contrast, used their power play well to add another two points to their tally. Trailing by four points, End 8 was a mission impossible for GB and although Dodds and Mouat gave it a good shot, they had nothing to offer against the Norwegians.

TROUBLE FOR GB AGAINST CHINA BUT DODDS AND MOUAT RUN OUT VICTORIOUS (GBR 6 – 5 PRC)

Dodds and Mouat had to dig deep against hosts China but ground out an eventual 6-5 win. Fan SuYuan and Ling Zhi led by three at half time before GB capitalised on their power play and fought back against the excellent Chinese duo.

China came out swinging and caused GB trouble early on; a sensational big weight double run from Ling with his last stone enabled Fan to tap for two in the second end and take the lead. Great accuracy from the hosts subtly built the next two ends up against GB whose saving grace was limiting the steals to one point. Nevertheless, China held a three-points advantage at the break.

GB responded by opting for their power play in End 5 and set the stones up nicely to lie three. Fan threw a spectacular stone that hit all of the counters but only took out one, allowing Dodds to throw a beautiful draw for three and lock the scores. Subsequently, China released their power play, but a few inaccuracies from Ling and a slight error from Fan gave away a one-point steal for GB who now led for the first time in the game.

Regaining some form, Dodds and Mouat played a solid End 7 that left Fan with difficult stone positions. She ran the guard back to shuffle the house promisingly but could not score more than one. The teams sat level going into the final end with GB having hammer. A double take-out from Mouat with his last stone proved decisive as Fan’s hit rolled too far and ensured a score for GB.

SECOND ROUND ROBIN DEFEAT AT HANDS OF UNBEATEN ITALY (GBR 5 – 7 ITA)

Team GB put up a great fight but became the next victims of unbeaten Italian duo Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner. The game was tight for the better part, but a big power play score for Italy in End 7 proved decisive.

The first few ends came and went without anything too spectacular as both teams threw solid shots throughout. GB outplayed their opponents on draw accuracy but with Italy more effective on take-outs, the sides largely balanced each other out. Italy missed a chance for three in the fourth end when Constantini caught the red too thick, spinning all but two yellows out of count. Nevertheless, Italy recorded the game’s first multi-score and led at half time.

Giving away a steal in End 5, GB opted to use their power play in the sixth end. A few half shots from Mosaner assisted the British mission, but a beautiful draw against four on back four from Constantini put the pressure back on. Dodds directed her stone well for the hit and roll, but the yellow did not slide quite enough and only two points went on the scoreboard.

Italy subsequently triggered their power play. A tight end built up to an excellent draw on top eight from Dodds that was answered by an even more excellent hit and stick from Constantini to score three, missing four by a breath. GB went into the final end with hammer but had a mountain to climb on a three-points disadvantage. Constantini threw a big weight with her final stone to open up the house and seeing no option for three, GB went straight for the handshake.

COMFORTABLE WIN FOR TEAM GB AS CZECH REPUBLIC CONCEDE AFTER SEVEN ENDS (GBR 8 – 3 CZE)

A big steal in the third end set Team GB on course for an 8-3 victory over the Czech Republic’s pair of Zuzana Paulova and Tomas Paul. Once having taken the advantage, Dodds and Mouat did not look back and comfortably navigated towards their fourth win in the round robin.

The game swung in GB’s favour in the third end where immaculate accuracy from Mouat and precise line calling from Dodds set the latter up for a curling draw to the button that lay three. Paulova attempted the big weight run back, but her stone sailed past its target, giving up the steal.

Czech Republic responded by triggering their power play in End 4 and for the better part, it was going their way. A few flaws in GB’s play had Mouat facing four with his last stone, but he executed the double take-out and an off shot from Paul left Dodds an open hit to limit the Czech score to a single point.

After trading one scores, GB opted for their power play in the seventh end. Early errors from GB put them on the back foot and turned the game into a case of guard and peel, but Mouat and Dodds held their nerves and brought themselves back into the end. Dodds was left with a chance for a hit and roll for two and pushed the red just far enough, prompting the Czechs to concede with an end to spare.

EXCELLENT SHOTS AND GREAT PRESSURE FROM OLYMPIC NOVICES AUSTRALIA BUT GB WIN AFTER EXTRA END (GBR 9 – 8 AUS)

It took an extra end to settle the encounter between GB and Australia, but Dodds and Mouat walked out the eventual winners with nine points to eight. Excellent shots from both sides brought the game down to tiny margins and Olympic debutants Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt pushed the Scottish duo to the very end.

A shaky start from the Aussies opened an opportunity to kill the game early when Mouat drew the four foot to lie two with a chance for four. A nicely placed guard from Gill, however, limited the damage and only the two points went on the scoreboard. GB looked on top of their game from the get-go and as Australia started to find their rhythm, the finest margins proved decisive. Both Mouat and Hewitt sat on more than 90 per cent accuracy on draws after three ends, the scores dictated by efficiency on take-outs and last stones.

Dodds swung the game firmly in GB’s favour in End 4 with an immaculate throw that feathered off a red on front four and tapped it onto the button for three. Australia responded by opting for their power play in the fifth end that culminated in an open hit for three after a flawless display from the newcomers.

The momentum changed in the sixth end when another round of great shots had Dodds drawing against two on the button with last stone. Her counter-clockwise throw did not curl quite enough, hitting the yellow at the wrong angle and giving away a steal of two that levelled the scores. GB subsequently triggered their power play and, under intense pressure, Dodds drew back eight for two, taking the lead back for GB.

Another series of excellent shots on both sides in End 8 culminated in Gill judging the line for the last throw perfectly to push the reds out of count, score two and take the game to an extra end. Mouat executed a big weight run-back for a multi take-out that left a red on back eight the only counter in play and when Gill’s hit did not come off, the team shook hands.

GREAT FIGHT BUT THE COMEBACK DOESN’T COME OFF AS GB LOSE TO SWITZERLAND (SUI 8 – 7 GBR)

Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat fell to their first defeat on Olympic ice at the hand of Swiss duo Jenny Perret and Martin Rios. Two big ends from Switzerland had GB trailing for most of the game and although they fought back to lock the scores, a single point in End 8 proved decisive.

Switzerland went into the fixture under pressure, having lost both their opening games and desperately needing a win. Despite some scrappy play from both sides, the Swiss recorded a big score already in End 2 when a heavy weight throw into a crowded house from Dodds missed its target and left a draw for four. Perret too, however, missed her shot and only bagged three points.

Comfortable with her draw weight, Dodds levelled the scores in End 3 with a well-judged throw to the button, but Switzerland fought back immediately. Rios brought his A game to the fourth end and followed a beautiful double run-back up with another excellent hit that had Switzerland lying four. Dodds limited the damage with a double run that moved two out of score but couldn’t stop Perret from drawing for three.

GB were running out of time and triggered their power play in the seventh end. Error-free play from Mouat and two mistakes from the Swiss served an open draw for three for Dodds who executed it without trouble. The scores were even going into the final end, but Switzerland had hammer and power play. A tight encounter culminated in Dodds’ last draw coming up slightly short, securing the Swiss a vital point and victory.

TEAM GB START DAY 2 WITH GREAT WIN OVER TITLE DEFENDERS CANADA (GBR 6 – 4 CAN)

Team GB brought their top form to the ice and took a fulminant 6-4 win over title defenders Rachel Homan and John Morris from Canada. The sides were tightly matched and it was not until the final end that Dodds and Mouat edged out their opponents.

Mouat outplayed Morris quite comfortably at 79 to 43 per cent accuracy after three ends while Dodds and Homan were fairly equally matched, meaning the opening ends came down to individual shots with last stone as the teams traded single scores.

The first multi-score of the game came in End 6 where Canada utilised their power play, although GB managed to limit their opponents to two. Mouat executed a spectacular angled run-back against three to set up a double-take out for his next shot while Dodds played the hit perfectly to lie two well separated. With Canada holding third shot, Homan opted for the riskier heavy weight double take-out for two over the draw for one and made no mistake.

GB’s power play followed in the seventh end. Mouat placed first shot nicely covered on the button with his last stone and as Homan failed with the run-back on the guard, Dodds was served an open draw anywhere on the rings for two. It was now Dodds outplaying her Canadian counterpart at 77 per cent accuracy to 58 while Morris raised his game and matched Mouat.

Going into End 8, GB led by a point, but Canada had hammer. A tightly matched affair culminated in a beautifully-judged draw from Dodds to lie two, both on the button. Homan was forced to take a risk with a heavy weight, but the shot would not work out for her, meaning GB stole a point and secured victory.

SHAKY START BUT OPENING WIN OVER SWEDEN (GBR 9 – 5 SWE)

Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat opened their Olympic campaign with a 9-5 victory over the Swedish duo of Almida de Val and Oskar Eriksson. Both teams struggled to read the ice with the surface seemingly not swinging as much as the athletes expected, leading to a number of missed shots and inaccuracies on either side.

GB fell behind early in the encounter, but Dodds turned the game around in End 3 with a perfectly judged run-back that tapped a yellow into the four foot for a score of three. The Swedes, however, got the better grip of the game and were back in front after the fifth end when Dodds feathered the guard and allowed her opponents to steal two.

Responding to the pressure, GB used their power play in End 6 but remained in trouble. De Val lay four with a double take-out, forcing Dodds to draw on back eight for only a single point that levelled the scores. Despite triggering their power play, Sweden had a catastrophic seventh end where Eriksson had nothing on Mouat during set up play. Throwing the final stone, de Val hit the guard, gifting GB a steal of three.

Going into End 8 with a three-points advantage, GB looked on course for victory, but an immaculate display from Sweden had them lying second and third shot with an open hit and roll for three. De Val attempted the throw, but her stone sailed past the yellow on front four, resulting in a steal of one and victory for Dodds and Mouat.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF THE OLYMPIC MIXED DOUBLES COMPETITION

The mixed doubles format goes into its second round of Olympic competition in Beijing, having become part of the programme four years ago at PyeongChang. After missing out on qualifying in 2018, Team GB will make its debut in the competition with on-form duo Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat.

Olympic action is only days away with Team GB taking to the ice for their first game on February 2 – and it’s a big one against Sweden! Dodds and Mouat have a tough competition ahead of them, but it’s all to play for in Beijing.

The Scots

Childhood friends Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat will become the first mixed doubles pair to represent Team GB at the Winter Games in Beijing.

Having met for the first time in the early 2000s at their mutual home club of Gogar Park, Edinburgh, it took almost another two decades for Dodds and Mouat to compete together. They hit the ground running when they started their joint mixed doubles career at the 2020 Nationals and straight away took the title.

Since then, the duo went from strength to strength and booked their ticket to the Olympics at the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Championships in Aberdeen. Beating the Norwegian pair of Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten, Dodds and Mouat secured gold and put themselves firmly among the medal favourites for the Games.

In their latest international outing at the Gothenburg Mixed Doubles in late December, they finished third by overcoming Switzerland’s 2018 Olympic silver medallists Jenny Perrett and Martin Rios, proving they are in great shape heading to Beijing.

The Defending Champions

The Canadian mixed doubled campaign had to overcome a tough route to the Olympics. With the national competition cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic, the onus to decide who will fly the flag in Beijing was on Curling Canada in conjunction with the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Proceedings were further complicated by Curling Canada’s own rule that prohibits athletes from contesting in both the mixed doubles and the four-players competitions. This meant the two top ranked duos in Canada, Peterman/Gallant and Jones/Laing, were rendered ineligible for selection.

The decision eventually fell on Rachel Homan and John Morris – Morris of course having been part of the 2018 gold medal duo and Homan too having Olympic experience. The pair was in fact set to contest together at the 2018 Games had Homan’s four-players rink not won the national trials and thereby earned Olympic selection.

Homan and Morris have been doubling up for a few years now and their past successes include a national silver medal in 2017 and most recently a bonspiel victory. They are sure to be going for gold in Beijing.

The Favourites

After taking the silver medal in 2018, Jenny Perret and Martin Rios of Switzerland are heading to Beijing to go one better this year.

Known for their rather harsh on-ice communication tone, it is easy to read a certain disharmony into the duo. But the former world champions thrive on their quarrels. When competing, there is a fierce energy between Perret and Rios that made them one of the world’s best mixed doubles pairs and gold favourites for Beijing.

The Dark Horse

Having played mixed doubles together since 2013 and with six world championships under their belts, Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten are the veterans of the Olympic field.

The Norwegians have been knocking on the door of success over the years but are yet without gold in a major international competition. Skaslien and Nedregotten were retrospectively awarded the bronze medal at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, having originally lost out to the Olympic Athletes of Russia duo who were later disqualified due to a doping offense.

Partners on the ice and married off it, the pair know each other exceptionally well and, over the years, found the right balance to get the best out of their partnership. Heading to their second joint Olympics, they are looking to win a medal game on the ice.

The Newcomers

Becoming the first-ever Australian representatives in competitive Olympic curling, Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt will make history in Beijing regardless of their result.

The duo booked their ticket to the Games at the Olympic Qualification Event in early December where they impressed with seven wins from seven games and played their way into the hearts of curling fans around the world.

Gill and Hewitt got together at the start of the Olympic cycle and put their sole focus on getting to Beijing. They reached the knock-out stages at the 2019 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships and braved the struggles of restricted overseas travelling during the covid-19 pandemic that limited opportunities to train and compete.

Their Olympic dream will come true in Beijing and continue a family storyline – Hewitt’s father Steve was part of the Australian team that contested at the Albertville Olympics in 1992, back when curling was merely a demonstration sport.