Kelly Wood (above) is Scotland's alternate at the Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Lethbridge, Alberta, which begins today. Kelly practised with Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams and Claire Hamilton yesterday.Kelly's been resident in Canada for eighteen months or so, and, let's face it, she was a controversial call as Scotland's fifth player. Whatever the rights and wrongs of it - and who knows what goes on in the collective minds of our sport's performance director and national coaches - I personally think it's great to see Kelly back wearing Scottish colours.
Kelly's job will be to support the team in every way possible. Her 'local knowledge' may well prove useful. In late night sessions at the Enmax arena she will be helping team coach Gordon Muirhead match stones. She will warm up with the team, and join them in pre-game practices. She's unlikely to be used as any sort of 'tactical substitute', as Eve's four are a well established team, with, of course, a European Championship title to their credit already this season. The test will come should illness or accident affect any of the four. Vicki has already been warned to take extra care around stairs! (She missed the final games at the World Juniors after a fall some four years back.) It can happen. Let's hope it doesn't.
First game is against Russia. Look for the results here. To see when Scotland features on Eurosport or the Eurosport Player go here.
Coach Gordon Muirhead with Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton and Kelly Wood.Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown
