TEAM SCOTLAND TAKE BRONZE AT WORLD WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONSHIPS, MD DUO NARROWLY MISS OUT ON PLAY-OFFS
The Scotland team of Gregor Ewan, Hugh Nibloe, Gary Logan, Jo Butterfield, and Meggan Dawson-Farrell brought bronze back home from the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2023 in Richmond, Canada. The quintet came to form as the tournament progressed and clinched the last play-off spot on offer as sixth in the standings. Despite losing out to Canada in the semi-finals, they bounced back to beat Sweden to bronze. Meanwhile, the Scottish duo of Charlotte McKenna and David Melrose made a valiant effort and improved throughout the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Championship, held simultaneously to the teams event, but just missed out on the play-offs.
WORLD WHEELCHAIR CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Scotland did not have the brightest start to the tournament with back-to-back defeats to Korea and United States. However, the squad kept their spirits up and were rewarded with wins over Sweden and Denmark. Their journey continued as a rollercoaster ride with a loss to Latvia followed by consecutive victories over Czech Republic and Japan before the team lost out to Canada. However, Scotland’s qualification fortunes were crucially still in their own hands and it remained all to play for. They beat Norway by a single point but came up short against China. One game remained in the round robin and Scotland did all they could to triumph over Italy and take their record to five in six. Although this was not enough to see them through directly as two other teams, Norway and Czech Republic, sat on the same record, draw shot was in their favour and they claimed the last play-off spot as sixth on the table.
On to the qualification games were Scotland were up against Korea. It was all square at the break, but the Scots came out swinging at the restart. They stole singles in Ends 5 and 6, and if Lee Hyeonchul’s side had any hope left, it was obliterated when two stolen points went on the Scottish counter in End 7. With 6-2 the final score on the board, Scotland progressed to the semi-final. Facing Mark Ideson’s Canada line-up, the Scots had their work cut out for them. Once more the scores were locked at the break and the game was decided in the second half. Canada scored two and went on to tip proceedings in their favour with a two-points steal that doubled their advantage. Scotland could only respond with a single and when it became evident that they wouldn’t be able to make up their deficit in the final end, there was nothing left to do but shake hands. The match was lost, but there still was a medal up for grabs.
Sweden had the brighter start to the bronze medal game and were ahead by three after two ends. However, Scotland swiftly equalised and followed it up with a single steal that had them in the lead at the break. The teams traded singles at the restart, but what turned out to be the decisive punch followed in End 7 when the Scots stole two. Viljo Petersson-Dahl’s line-up where in serious trouble with once end to go while Scotland played it cool and arithmetically eliminated the Swedes to win the game and the bronze medal 7-4.
(Images: WCF / Cheyenne Boone)
WORLD WHEELCHAIR MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
The Scottish duo found themselves struggling for form in the early days of the competition. Four consecutive defeats to Hungary, China, Slovakia, and Norway respectively left Scotland’s record looking bleak. The numbers, however, weren’t an accurate reflection of what happened on the ice as many of the Scots’ games were tighter than the scoreline suggested and only margins tipped proceedings out of their favour.
Scotland held their own and it felt like a much deserved win was on the horizon. The first W did indeed come around in their fifth game of the tournament when they saw off Estonia by a single point. With that monkey off their backs, the Scots powered to an incredible 11-3 triumph over Switzerland and although Finland beat them by a single point, they bounced back with victory over eventual silver medallists United States.
One game remained and Scotland bowed out on a high, taking the win over Poland. They finished the group stages on a four in five record, one W short of the teams that qualified. On the bright side, with five teams on the same stats, it was a tight contest for the final standings from fourth to eighth and indeed Scotland finished best of the rest in P4, courtesy of superior draw shot numbers.
(Images: WCF / Cheyenne Boone)
