EMCC Title for Switzerland

From the European Mixed Curling Championship in Taarnby, Leslie Ingram-Brown reports that in the end it was the strength and ability of the Swiss quartet of Thomas Lips, Manuela Siegrist, Martin Rios and Manuela Netzer-Kormann which carried them through in the final 9-3 over Germany in only seven ends.

The Bronze Medal game between Mikael Qvist's Denmark and the Czech Republic's Krystoff Chaloupek was won by the Czechs at an extra end, 7-6.

All the scores are here.

The team with coach. L-R: Thomas Lips, Manuela Siegrist, Martin Rios, Manuela Netzer-Kormann and Christoph Marki. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Scotland Loses EMCC Quarterfinal

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports from Taarnby.

"Switzerland's Thomas Lips, Manuella Siegrist, Martin Rios and Manuela Netzer-Kormann beat Scotland tonight in the quarterfinal of the European Mixed Curling Championship. Thomas Lips especially came in for exalted praise, and rightfully so, on this performance where his play in the second and fourth ends when Edwards thought the end was closed in the Scots favour suddenly threw a black cloud over proceedings. Not that the Edwards team of Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards played badly, far from it. They had just walked into a wall of near excellence.

In the first end Lips tapped back for a two and the second was blanked. In the third, Edwards was forced to draw for one. In the fourth, with the Scots stone lying on tee and guarded, the smallest of ports existed for a draw tap back on the Scottish stone with the chance of a count of two. Lips took the ice, sat in the hack, threw the stone and with little encouragement it passed cleanly through the port to make the score 4-1 Switzerland.

In the fifth Team Edwards fought hard for at least two shots to get back into the game. Switzerland had five reds to a lonely yellow in the house as Edwards threw to try and disturb two stones on the tee to lie shot but, on a measure, Switzerland increased their lead to 5-1.

In the sixth, Edwards got a shot back with a raise takeout but it was all too late. There will be a new name on the trophy tomorrow night."

Other results:
Switzerland 7 Scotland 2,
Germany 6 Finland 3,
Czech Republic 11 Austria 5,
Denmark 7 Italy 5.

Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Scotland in Quarterfinals

It was a frustrating afternoon, with the EMCC results website (here) not responding. However, Leslie Ingram-Brown, who is in Taarnby, got in touch to say that Team Scotland won 8-7 at the last stone in their match against Romania. This means that David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards qualify for the quarterfinals from the Red section.

Leslie has the story now, "It may not have been pretty, in fact it was very nerve racking for those supporters watching, but in the end David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards kept alive their hopes of defending the title won last year at Greenacres.

To be totally fair, the Romanian skip Allen Coliban is relishing playing on the good ice conditions and has progressively got better even although his lowly points total fails to reveal this fact. Romania opened the game with a three after David's last stone draw virtually turned square in the house and lay open for a tapback. In the second end, Edwards came back with a pair which should have been three shots but his final stone draw came up inches short. Third end and Coliban drew shot against three but in the fourth, when he hit and went against three, Edwards jumped on the chance to draw for a three and a 5-4 lead into the break.

A measure in the fifth made it Romania 5-5. Sixth and again Edwards lay two going to play his last stone draw, and the Scots collected three shots. The Scots then forced Romania to draw for one before keeping it clear in the final end. The Scottish skip had an open hit to win the game 8-7.

Afterwards Edwards was full of praise for the Romanian team and said of the skip, "His drawing game was exceptional given the length of time he has been curling. This was their final in playing Scotland and he has really learnt from the experience." "

Now, the problem in the past for organisers of competitions like the EMCC has been how to get quarterfinalists from just three sections. Taking the top two teams from each gives us six, and this year an innovative 'Post Round Robin Challenge' will be held to get two more from the three teams which finished in third place in each section.

There's no point in going to look in the WCF Rulebook. This rule is not there, yet. Simply, each player in the third placed teams in each of the sections throws two draws. This all takes place on adjacent sheets at the same time, all controlled by an umpire. The total distance for each team is then calculated. The winner becomes the seventh team for the quarterfinal draw, the second becomes the eighth, and the third placed team is out.

In the past there would have to have been two rounds of qualifying games, so this benefits the organisation of the event and keeping things to a fixed schedule, which suits organisers, umpires and fans.

The results are on the image below, and saw the Netherlands eliminated. The quarterfinal draw matches Finland v Germany, Switzerland v Scotland, Austria v Czech Republic and Denmark v Italy. These games are taking place as I write this on Friday evening.

Wales was eliminated having lost their round robin game to the Netherlands. England finished on four wins in their group along with France who they will be ranked above due to the round robin result, and Ireland were seventh in the green section.

Top: Louise and Kerry working hard.
Above: The results of the PRRC.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Taarnby Friday

It was a rough one for Scotland at the European Mixed Championship in Taarnby this morning, going down at an extra end to Norway.

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports, "Ole Hauge's Norwegian team took David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards to an extra end and won with a last stone double takeout, 5-4.

Norway drew shot against two in the opening end. In the second there was a chance for two shots for Edwards with a final stone draw but he came up about a foot short. Score tied 1-1.

In the third, Scotland lay 3 but Moe, throwing last stones, drew the shot and in the fourth David Edwards drew the tee to tie the game 2-2. Fifth and after Edwards froze to a Norwegian stone; the attempted tap for two by Norway failed and Edwards had a steal of a single shot to lead 3-2.

Scotland failed to hide their last stone in the sixth. Norway had an open hit for three shots but the shooter rolled out. Relief for the Scots but they were down 3-4 with two ends to go. The seventh end was blanked and in the eighth Edwards saved the day by playing a long double raise take-out for shot to take us into an extra end.

It came down to skips' stones. Edwards drew and Norway took off the guard. Edwards replaced guard but is two feet too far and leaves a double takeout for Norway to attempt. Without sweeping the stone is played perfectly, takes the double, rolls and lies. Game Norway 5-4.

Team Edwards now lies in second place in the Red Section with Austria ahead by one point having beaten Wales this morning 6-3. Edwards has to play Romania in the last round robin games whilst Austria must play Russia. Should Russia beat Austria and the Scots win then Scotland will top the table on the round robin result.

After the game David commented on their ranking position should they win their last round robin game. "First or second is fine by us as we will be in the quarterfinals. The way it works we have no idea who we will play." "

All the results are here.

Top: Team Norway
Above: David Edwards delivers, attended by Louise Edwards and Scott Macleod.

Photos © Skip Cottage

Thursday in Taarnby 2

Another win for Scotland today, against Spain!

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports from Denmark, "The focus of David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott MacLeod and Louise Edwards was totally on Antonio de Mollinedo's Spanish quartet, with only a win the result expected.

The Spanish came out the traps much the greedier and indeed over the first two ends played the better of the two teams but true grit meant the Edwards foursome were holding their own, just, at 1-1. In the third end Mollinedo could only make second shot against three stones but in the fourth levelled the score 2-2 with a good draw for one.

In the fifth end Spain stole when Edwards ticked a guard with his draw and finished up second shot. Going for three shots in the sixth, Edwards split on his own stone at the back of the house and collected only two shots. Importantly, Scotland lead 4-3.

In the seventh end, Scotland lay one shot. Spain went for a tap round a guard but after the hog line Ana Arce touched the running stone. Before it could be stopped the shooter touched a stone in the house and ended up splitting out the Spanish stone and running out the back. After discussion, and in a very sporting move, the Edwards team replaced all stones but for the Spanish shooter. Edwards drew to lie two. Spain's attempted draw is short.

So it was a three shot lead into the eighth end. No problems, back to basics, and the clinical removal of any Spanish stones until the dreaded 'not enough stones' and the hands were offered in congratulation.

After the game David said, "We played OK and steadily. Spain played really well and barely missed over the first and second ends. We give all the teams the same respect but at the same time try to play our own game." "

Wales continued their good results with a comfortable 9-4 win over Romania to be ranked third in the Red Section behind Scotland and Austria. Scotland top the rankings having defeated Austria 7-2 in their round robin encounter.

Ireland lost to Italy at an extra end 8-7.

All the results are here.

Top: Kerry and David discuss options
Above: Scott Macleod

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Thursday in Taarnby 1

Well done to David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards on beating Russia 5-4 this morning at the European Mixed Championship in Taarnby. Scotland has now won four of five games. Three more to play.

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports, "Scotland climbed back to the top of the Red Section along with Austria in defeating Russia's Alexander Kirikov 5-4 with the final stone of the game.

The first end belonged to Russia when Edwards, trying a difficult angled raise take-out, chipped out his own stone and left Kirikov a free draw for a three, but the Russian skip dumped up short and it was a let off for the Scots. In the second end Edwards tapped back for a three after Kirikov had played a quiet tap back on the Scottish first shot to lie. A solid end and things were looking better.

The third end saw an unusual, and illegal, move by Russia when they tried to exchange a played stone for one still to be played. Kerry Barr immediately pointed out the error of the move and after intervention by the Chief Umpire the played stone was returned to the away end and the game continued. (WCF Rule R11(b) referring to the playing of ALL stones for an end to be completed.) Ice Technician Mark Callan checked the stone and no action was taken. In the final count the third was a blank and in the fourth Kirikov hit and lay against two for one to tie the game 3-3 at the break.

Fifth and Edwards had to settle for a single with the last stone after Kirikov played almost a freeze draw to the first shot. Russia blanked the sixth before drawing for a single against three in the seventh.

In the eighth, for once the simplicity of clearing short stones just was not working and Russia lay a single shot behind two guards. Edwards first stone was an attempt to clear the front AND make the takeout on the shot stone. It worked and suddenly the Scottish Parental Support Team were cheering not only at the great shot but one feels also in relief. Kirikov went to draw the house behind the long guard still in place and finished in the hack. Edwards had twelve feet to play with for the win and popped it on the tee as if it was just another day at the office. A well practiced routine.

Well done team. It's Spain in this afternoon's session with Romania and Norway to-morrow."

In other games Wales beat Sweden 9-4 whilst Alan MacDougall's England lost to Slovakia 4-3.

All the results can be found here.

Top: The Scots in action
Above: Kerry and David in the head.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Wednesday EMCC: Another Win for Scotland

Scotland beat Sweden today at the European Mixed Curling Championship in Taarnby, to move to three wins from four games in the Red section.

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports from Denmark, "Edwards, with the hammer, drew for two in the first end and Swedish skip Goran Carlsson drew for a single against three in the second.

Sweden lay shot in the third. There is a small port available for a controlled hit. David split the middle and picked up a second pair, something he had stressed yesterday that the team had to do with last stone.

Sweden blanked the fourth and in the fifth the Scots were lying three shots when Carlsson threw a strike with his last stone which hit and rolled just too far giving up a steal of one shot and a 5-2 lead.

In the sixth. Sweden lay two shots in the four foot. Edwards hit, removed one but lay just in front of the Swedish stone. Carlsson played a draw for two but caught the Scots counter to count only only. Seventh, with the last stone and two against, Edwards hit for the single to go into the final end 6-2, a cushion too much for the Swedish team as Louise Edwards, Scott Macleod and Kerry Barr mopped up for the win."

After the game Edwards said, "We found two 'cutters' in our stones. One during practice and the second in the first end. We had come out fighting to-day after yesterday's poor display. Being 4-1 ahead at the interval allowed us to play our clearing game and do the simple tasks well."

England defeated Italy 6-2 and share top spot in the Green Section on three wins with France, Germany and Italy, whilst Ireland lost to Slovakia and Wales outstayed Spain.

All the results can be found here.

Top: Kerry Barr in charge.
Above: The Scottish alternative tops when playing the light coloured stones.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Tuesday in Taarnby

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports from Taarnby.

"David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards got off to the worst possible start against the Netherlands at the European Mixed Curling Championship in Denmark. Facing four shots the skip was forced to make a perfect draw. In the second, a poor last stone by the Scottish skip and Mark Neeleman drew for two which was immediately countered by a two for Scotland as Edwards drew to the four foot.

Facing four shots in the fourth, Neeleman hit with his last to collect a single shot and tie the game 3-3 at the break.

Fifth and Edwards drew for two. Facing two shots Neeleman drew for a single in the sixth before stealing a single in the seventh as Edwards last stone raise take-out just failed. The game was tied 5-5 coming home.

With the house open but the Scots lying two shots Neeleman almost froze his last stone draw in the four foot, forcing the hit from Edwards. But the running stone hit the angle wrong and it was to be a 5-6 loss for the Scots.

After the game Edwards said, "I threw the last stone slightly tight. Perhaps we should have left it alone (without sweeping) and hit the target stone squarer. We struggled with the ice early on as it was quicker then before. We have to covert the last stone into twos which we failed to do today as the two we scored were thanks to opposition mistakes."

In other games England downed Ireland 6-4 whilst Wales had a 6-4 win over Russia. Other results can be found here.

Top photo: Kerry Barr and Scott Macleod work on their skip's stone. Note that this pic is of Scott 'The Destroyer' Macleod, and not of a Scott with any other name. Apologies to Scott for getting his name wrong yesterday, and only now corrected. (So much for the proofreading abilities of my blogallies! I don't mind if you point out errors. Really I don't.) Of course I should have picked up Leslie's blooper myself, but you all know by now how name dyslexic I am. But no excuses. Mea Culpa. Macleod, Macleod, Macleod... x a hundred.

Above: Louise Edwards.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Monday in Taarnby

Scotland played Wales this afternoon at the European Mixed Curling Championship in Taarnby.

Leslie Ingram-Brown reports, "Those of us who were around several years ago when Adrian Meikle skipped Wales at numerous major championships with some success would appreciate that this game was going to be no pushover for the David Edwards team at the European Mixed Championship.

Without the hammmer, Edwards stole a single in the first which was countered by Meikle's draw in the second. Third end and Edwards jumped at the chance with a fine draw for two whilst Wales coud only muster a single shot in the fourth when the possibility of a pair was there but Meikle hit and rolled out with the final stone.

Edwards blanked the fifth but in the sixth came round the guard to lie. Meikle tried to follow, ticked the guard and David Edwards made short work of the draw for two and a three shot advanage.

In the seventh Meikle had to settle for a draw for a single and in the last end it was mopping up time especially with Scott Macleod (nicknamed 'the destroyer' by Meikle) doing just that to anything out front. When Meikle was heavy with his last stone draw in the eighth it was all over, 5-3 for Scotland, and Edwards did not have to throw his last stone."

And here is the Welsh team. L-R: Adrian Meikle, Lindsay McKenna, Andrew Tanner and Lesley Carrol.

L-R: David Smith (skip), Claire Darragh, James Russell and Mel Porter beat Serbia this morning, bouncing back from an opening loss against Finland in the Green Section.

Here is Team England. Alan McDougall, Lana Watson, Andrew Woolston and Suzie Law lost to Germany in their first game, and were against France today and finished 7-3 ahead.

Find all the results here.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

Scotland Opens With Win In Denmark

The European Mixed Curling Championship is underway at the Taarnby Club. Scotland was in action in a first game on Saturday evening.

Leslie Ingram-Brown writes, "It was a fairly comfortable win for David Edward's team of Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards in the opening round. Edwards drew for a single in the first and Austrian fourth Christian Roth drew for a single in the second. Scotland blanked the third and when David drew round a guard for a two in the fourth, the control of the game came the Scots way.

In the fifth David hit to lie three shots with both his stones and on both occasions Roth drew a single shot. In the sixth the Scots picked up another single to again extend their lead to two shots. Then, in the seventh, with a near 100% from the front three players David played two perfect guards to lie three. There was no way in for Austria and it was time to go home."

Thanks Leslie for the above, and for the photos above and below.

The official website for results and standings is here.

David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards.

The Scots at the Opening Ceremony!

All photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

The week ahead

I've already mentioned that the Swiss Cup Basel begins tomorrow in Arlesheim. The Scottish teams taking part are skipped by David Murdoch, Tom Brewster and Logan Gray. The matchup for the first games in the thirty-two team triple knockout is here. It looks as if there will again be webcasts from Laola1.tv, see here.

Nearer home, the second of the Scottish Curling Tour events, the Cardwell Garden Centre Braehead Open, begins tomorrow evening. The draw is on this page. Thirty-two teams are taking part - and they are a real cross section of Scottish curling! In addition teams from Russia, Finland, Netherlands, Ireland and Wales are taking part.

After three preliminary rounds, the teams ranked 1-8 in each section will progress to the High Road Knockout. This will be played on Saturday evening, with quarterfinals, semis and finals on Sunday. There will be a 3rd-4th playoff in the High Road.

Teams ranked 9-14 in each section, twelve teams in total, progress to the Middle Road Schenkel, carrying forward their first three game results. They will play two further games – making five in total, except the 11th and 12th ranked teams after the fourth game, who will be eliminated.

Teams ranked 15 and 16 in each division will progress to the Low Road semifinal, which will be played on Sunday morning at 8.30am, with the final at 2pm on the Sunday. There's certainly something for everyone at the Braehead Open.

At Stranraer the Ladies' Branch Unders and Overs Competition is at the North West Castle rink on Saturday and Sunday. Twelve teams are in the draw for this, see here.

At the Taarnby Curling Club in Denmark, David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Scott Macleod and Louise Edwards will carry Scotland's colours in the European Mixed Championship. On Saturday, the Scots play Austria in their first game in the Red Section which has nine teams, including Russia, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Netherlands, Wales and Romania, as well as Austria, already mentioned. Eight countries compete in each of the other two sections. The website for the event is here if you want to follow how our team does in the week ahead.

Although the competition does not involve Scotland, the European Championship C Group Qualifiers will be played alongside the Euro Mixed.

L-R: Louise Edwards, Scott Macleod, Kerry Barr and David Edwards, Scotland's representatives at the European Mixed Championship in Taarnby. Photo © Skip Cottage.

European Mixed Wrap

For those who have never visited the Greenacres Rink, it has the most picturesque of settings in the Renfrewshire countryside. It was a beautiful day outside, as well as inside, yesterday! And a big 'Well Done' to the organising committee, and all the staff at the rink. Given how little time they had to organise the event, the 2010 Euro Mixed can indeed go down as a success.

This is the final of the European Mixed Curling Championship. Scotland v Switzerland. Gioia Oeschle is in the head, with Kerry Barr and David Edwards behind.

Alina Patz encourages Sven Michel and Gioia Oeschle

David Edwards and Claudio Patz, the two skips

David and Kerry in conference!

Kerry Barr has a 'How did I get here' moment!

Claudio Patz discusses options with Sven Michel

Dillan Perras, Louise Wood and Kerry Barr look after their skip's stone

Bronze medal game now. Lana Watson in the head for England, with Germany's Rainer Schoepp and Andrea Schoepp behind

The German front end, Imogen Lethmann and Florian Zahler, pass the Championship banner

Alan encourages Andrew Reed and Suzie Law

The walk of the winners!

Winners Podium

Fifth, and fifth and a half, team member Claire Perras, plus chief supporter Luke Perras, join the team for this one!

Silver for Team Switzerland

Bronze Medalists - Team Germany

Missing out on a medal by the narrowest of margins - Team England

The Turkish curlers, new to international curling, have been a big hit since they arrived in Scotland, training at the Waterfront mostly, but also at Braehead as well as Greenacres, under the guidance of Scottish expat Brian Gray (back right in the pic above of the Euro Mixed squad). Brian has helped me with the names, which I promised I would get.

Here they are. Back (l-r): Burcu Pehlivan (alternate), Ilhan Osmanagaoglu (alternate), Didem Deniz (assistant coach, translator), Brian Gray (coach). Front (l-r): Ali Osman Sahin (2nd), Aysun Ergin (3rd), Kadir Cakir (4th), Oznur Polat (lead). 

All pics © Skip Cottage, except the last which is courtesy of Brian Gray

Champions

Here they are L-R: David Edwards (skip), Kerry Barr (3rd), Louise Wood (lead) and Dillan Perras (2nd), the European Mixed Curling Champions 2010. I've not seen all of the games this week, but by all accounts the four Scots have played superbly, and today in the semifinals and final they were on fire. Well done!

I'll get down the road from Greenacres soon, once I've seen a little of the European Championship C Group on the ice, but it will probably be tomorrow (pm?) before I have more pics from the final session here on the blog. Please check back then.

Photo © Skip Cottage

Scotland wins Euro Mixed

David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Dillan Perras and Louise Wood are Mixed Champpions of Europe. The Scots beat Claudio Patz's Swiss side in seven ends of the final, a three at the third being decisive.

Germany won the bronze. In a game tied at 4-4 in the eighth, England's skip Alan MacDougall was just a fraction short trying to hide his last and Rainer Schoepp and his team had no need to play their final stone.

More later!

EMCC semi pics

Concentration is the name of the game! Andrea and Rainer Schoepp (Germany), and Kerry Barr and David Edwards (Scotland) behind. We're in the semifinal of the EMCC at Greenacres.

Scotland's skip David Edwards

Florian Zahler has delivered. Imogen Lethmann and Andrea Schoepp sweep.

Louise Wood and Dillan Perras, the hardworking Scottish front end.

Third Kerry Barr

Dillan delivers, Louise and Kerry on the brushes.

German skip Rainer Schoepp

England v Switzerland, the other side of the draw. That's Lana Watson and Gioia Oeschle running out of room!

Andrew Reed and Lana

Alan MacDougall and Claudio Patz

The Swiss in action - Sven Michel, Alina Patz and Gioia Oeschle.

It's Scotland v Switzerland in the final this afternoon. England will play Germany for the bronze.

Photos © Skip Cottage