After topsy-turvy experiences at last season’s global championships, Fay Henderson feels she and her new team are well prepared for what they will encounter as they represent Scotland at the World Junior B Championships in Finland this week (15-19 December).
The 20-year-old skip was at the airport last January preparing to set off for the same event at the same venue in Lohja when it was called off due to COVID, generating massive disappointment because it also denied them the chance to qualify for the World A Championships later in the season. 
However, that was turned on its head a few months later when they were subsequently called in as last ditch replacements after it was decided that Russia could not take up their place at the World Junior A Championships, so while there have been changes to their line-up in the interim as she and Holly Wilkie-Milne are joined by Robyn Munro, Laura Watt and fifth player Amy Mitchell, who replace Katie McMillan, Lisa Davie and fifth Robyn Mitchell, she feels her team has benefited from coming through that.
“Last year we were supposed to be at the World Bs with a slightly different team, but after getting to the airport before finding out it was cancelled due to COVID it was quite tough to take, so it’s nice to have made it over here this time around,” said Henderson.
“That would have been mine and Holly’s first World Championship experience, which was taken away from us, but we were fortunate to get a last minute call up to the World As, so we were really grateful to get that experience.
“We got a couple of World Championship wins under our belts and I think we can bring that experience to this year to help us when we’re under pressure or feeling nerves.
“Robyn’s been to the World Mixed Curling Championships as well, so she’s competed on the world stage which means that across the team we do have quite a bit of experience.
“The challenges we faced last year set a tone for the level and we know exactly how we need to play.
“We just need to perform and meet the numbers.”
They know they must be ready for the unknown at this event, but can draw confidence from tournament successes on the European Junior Curling Tour both this season and last. 
“With it being the World Bs there are slightly different teams here and we’ve not played against some of them before, so that brings new challenges,” Henderson noted.
“Our line-up is different from last year too, but we’ve played a lot of events this year and we’re well prepared as this has been our main goal for the season and we’ve been around Europe, had a few really good tournaments and claimed a couple of wins, so hopefully that’s helped us develop as a team.
“So hopefully we can put that all out onto the ice and have a really good week.”
Scotland face Ukraine in their opening game tomorrow.
Please click here for more details and results.
Team Henderson
Fay Henderson
Robyn Munro
Holly Wlkie-Milne
Laura Watt
Amy Mitchell
Schedule & Results:
Thursday 15 December – Session 2
Scotland v Ukraine
Friday 16 December – Session 4
Scotland v New Zealand
Session 6
Scotland v Mongolia
Saturday 17 December – Session 8
Scotland v Hungary
Sunday 18 December – Session 10
Scotland v Austria
Session 11
Women’s Quarter Finals
Monday 19 December – Session 12
Women’s Semi Finals
Session 13
Women’s Finals
