Scottish Champs success for Stirling curlers

Three University of Stirling curling scholars will represent Scotland at World Championships next month after winning their respective Scottish titles at the weekend.

As part of Team Jackson, Sophie Jackson and Mili Smith defeated Team Muirhead, led by Olympic medallist and University of Stirling honorary graduate Eve Muirhead, in the women’s final to win their first national crown. Meanwhile, Bobby Lammie added to his growing list of accolades with Team 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 Masters student 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 championship, after a brilliant final. When we took the five, it felt a bit surreal, but we knew then we had a great chance”

Sophie Jackson (far left) and Mili Smith (2nd right) with their first Scottish title.

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.

Stirling student, Bobby Lammie (2nd left), has enjoyed great success as part of Team Mouat.

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.