Following an extensive selection process, British Curling has named the athletes who will participate in its world class programme at both Olympic and Performance Foundation (PF) level for the 2024/24 season.
In total 17 curlers have been selected to the Olympic programme, nine women and eight men, while a further 23 athletes – 14 men and 9 women – have been selected to the PF programme.
There are six newcomers to the squad, with this year’s Youth Olympic Games gold medallists Tia Laurie and Holly Burke brought into the women’s PF programme, along with Cara Davidson, Tamzin Smith and Robyn Mitchell, while Kaleb Johnston, a member of the team that made the final of the last two Scottish Junior Curling Championships has been brought into the men’s PF programme.
Also graduating to that PF level are the two other members of the Youth Olympic Champion team, Logan Carson and Archie Hyslop and their team mates Orrin Carson and Charlie Gibb, as well as Kirsty Gallacher, all of whom received Performance Foundation Support last season.
“We are refining the athlete pool, alongside ensuring that we make the best of coaching, ice and other resources,” said Olympic Head Coach Greg Drummond.
“Our judicious and streamlining approach midway through this Olympiad focuses on the contenders for places at the Milan-Cortina Games in 2026, as well as those who are seen as having the potential to compete for selection at future Olympic Games and World Championships.”
In all nine players are leaving the programme, including five time Scottish Mixed Doubles Champion Gina Aitken who has represented her country in both the women’s and mixed doubles disciplines at eight world championships.
Selected to Olympic Programme (Men): Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan, Ross Whyte, Robin Brydone, Duncan McFadzean, Euan Kyle.
Selected to Olympic Programme (Women): Rebecca Morrison, Jen Dodds, Sophie Sinclair, Sophie Jackson, Fay Henderson, Robyn Munro, Hailey Duff, Katie McMillan, Lisa Davie.
Selected to Performance Foundation (Men): James Craik, Mark Watt, Angus Bryce, Blair Haswell, Kyle Waddell, Craig Waddell, Mark Taylor, Gavin Barr, Orrin Carson, Logan Carson, Archie Hyslop, Charlie Gibb, Kaleb Johnston*, Scott Hyslop.
Selected to Performance Foundation (Women): Laura Watt, Holly Wilkie-Milne, Amy Mitchell, Robyn Mitchell*, Tia Laurie*, Holly Burke*, Kirsty Gallacher, Cara Davidson* and Tamzin Smith.*
*New to the programme
Athletes not returning for 2024-25: Gina Aitken, Amy MacDonald, Susie Smith, Ross Craik, Lucy Blair, Karlyn Lyon, Jack Carrick, Struan Carson and Hannah Farries.
Programme athletes will return to ice at the National Curling Academy from week commencing 8 July 2024.
Images: Team GB-Sam Mellish, GSOC-Anil Mungal, Scottish Curling.
