GB suffered another defeat to opposition from the host nation in the third round of matches at the Euro Super League in Jonkoping, but the event continued to serve its principal purpose as British Curling’s Paralympics Head Coach Sheila Swan continued to ring the changes.
With the Winter Paralympics little more than two months away, this competition has been identified as crucial in terms of final selection, allowing for experimentation with personnel and playing order that can widen options ahead of that trip to Beijing.
As he had done for both matches on the opening day, Gregor Ewan, who was vice skip at the recent World Championships, was once again given the chance to lead the team, but this time played along with David Melrose, Meggan Dawson Farrell and Charlotte McKenna. 
A tight game with Sweden 2 was tied after the scheduled eight ends and while their extra end loss means they have lost to both teams being fielded by the hosts, either side of their solitary win over Korea, Swan expressed some satisfaction with what she has seen.
“I felt that one of our downfalls was that we were just not sharp enough at the World Championships earlier in the season, so we have done quite a lot of work in the last five weeks,” she said.
“It is encouraging that as a result of that, we are seeing more consistency around our deliveries and shot making so I guess that is the first part of the goal this weekend.
“This weekend is also about just trying to win some games and get more competition time under our belts.
“We are seeing progress from everyone but there are still improvements we can make as it is under 90 days to the Paralympics in Beijing, which does not seem a lot of time in performance sport but as a football manager that is probably considered a lifetime.
“So there is still quite a lot of time for us to tighten up and make some more adjustments to what we are doing and what I am seeing is a gradual improvement, so if we keep on that trajectory all the way through to March and the Games then we have a really good chance of getting to the knock-out stages.”
Swan noted that there has been a bonus this weekend in getting the opportunity to work on developing strength in depth by seeing how Englishman Stuart Pimblett, who was brought into the British Curling wheelchair squad at transition level earlier this year, adjusts to the elite competitive environment.
“This is a really good opportunity to see Stuart in an environment where we have had a flight and travelled and see how he adjusts to an overseas and different environment as that is always a bit of a challenge when everything is unfamiliar, so it is good to have him out here with us to see how that transition is going,” she observed.
He will get a chance to play today as advantage is taken of the absence of the Russian team that had entered the competition, allowing a combined GB/Korea team to fill the breach.
“It gives a really great chance to see everybody on the ice at one time,” said Swan.
“Russia had some logistical issues getting here on Thursday so unfortunately they are not here this weekend, but what it does do, because we have six players here in Sweden, is give everybody the opportunity to throw stones and get games under their belt. So it is an opportunity to watch all six players at the one time and get some numbers on them and see how we go.
“It is also lovely to see the camaraderie between all of the teams in the Euro Super League and Korea has been a great addition to the competition here in Sweden.”
GB’s six player squad is being rotated at this event.
One game per draw is being live streamed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lq8iGAYigk
Their full schedule is:
Friday December 10:
0800 GB v Sweden 1 – 8-9
1300 GB v Korea 7-6
Saturday December 11
0800 GB v Sweden 2 – 5-7
1300 GB v GB/Korea 4 -7
Sunday December 12
0800 GB v Norway 4-7
1300 Play-Offs - GB v Korea
Team
Hugh Nibloe
Gregor Ewan
Meggan Dawson-Farrell
David Melrose
Charlotte McKenna
Stuart Pimblett
