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Winning Students curlers reign supreme at Scottish Champs

Five Winning Students curling scholars booked their tickets to World Championships next month after winning the women’s and men’s Scottish titles at the weekend.

Team Jackson, including skip Sophie Jackson, Mili Smith (both University of Stirling), Sophie Sinclair (Edinburgh Napier University) and Naomi Brown (Edinburgh College) defeated Team Muirhead, led by Olympic medallist Eve Muirhead, in the women’s final to win their first national crown. Meanwhile, Bobby Lammie (University of Stirling) added to his growing list of accolades with Team Mouat, skipped by WS graduate Bruce Mouat, as they defeated another Team Muirhead – led by Eve’s brother, Glen – in the men’s final.

Having already beaten their more experienced opponents twice in the round-robin stage, Team Jackson went into the final full of confidence and Jackson, who skipped the team to a 11-7 victory, feels they benefitted from their underdog status. She said: “We are all super happy to finish a great week on a high.

“I think all the pressure was on Team Muirhead today: we were able to settle in and play how we wanted to. Getting a two in the fourth end really settled our nerves.

“We are delighted to have won the Scottish championships, after a brilliant final. When we took the five, it felt a bit surreal, but we knew then we had a great chance”

Team Jackson (l-r): Sophie Jackson, Naomi Brown, Mili Smith and Sophie Sinclair.

In the men’s final, it was a nip and tuck affair as Team Mouat ran out 7-5 winners against Team Muirhead, which included a number of Olympians, to defend their Scottish crown and continue an incredible 12 months of success which included bronze at last year’s World Curling Championship and gold at the prestigious Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championship.

Team Mouat (l-r): Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie, Grant Hardie, Bruce Mouat and coach Alan Hannah.

Team Jackson will now prepare for the World University Winter Games in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, at the start of March before moving on to their first Women’s World Curling Championship, in Denmark. Meanwhile, Lammie and his teammates will look to improve on their bronze medal from 2018 as they head to Canada for the Men’s World Championship at the end of next month.