As she aims to further improve on her impressive record at the Le Gruyere AOP European Curling Championships, Eve Muirhead believes that she and her team have been given an extra edge as a result of the challenging selection process they went through to earn this opportunity.
The 31-year-old skip has competed in the Euros on 12 occasions, claiming the title twice, reaching the final on five other occasions and missing out on a medal only three times.
However, as British Curling looked to maximise the chances of winning a place for Team GB in the women’s event at next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing at the forthcoming final qualifying competition in the Netherlands, she was part of an innovative nine player squad system which sought to identify the best possible combination of players on current form. 
Along with two of her teammates in that line-up, Vicky Wright and Jen Dodds, as well as newcomers Hailey Duff and Mili Smith, she is consequently now ready to set aside the disappointment of missing out on one of the six Olympic places that were available at the World Championships in the Calgary bubble last season.
“It is the first major international since Calgary earlier this year so I think all of us who were in Calgary want to put that to the backs of our minds and focus on what is ahead,” she said.
“I think the experience has made me a stronger athlete and made me sit back and realise how tough that was and how strong I have had to be to come out the other side fighting for a place on the team.”
She believes the process has honed the quintet, who won the only event they have played together since their selection was announced at The Tallinn Challenger earlier this month.
“It has been a tough couple of months and it has been the same for all of us,” said Muirhead.
“For each of us that were there in Calgary it has made us all stronger athletes moving forward and made us better teammates as well as we were so isolated there it is nice to now come back together.
“Getting the Scotland kit back on for the first time in a while always feels great and you always feel very proud to represent Scotland, especially this year with the squad process and the nine players getting cut to five.
“It has been a fight to get that spot and everyone has gone through a lot of highs and lows. Of course, there are four disappointed girls and five happy girls but that is what happens in a squad process.”
As her team gets ready to meet Russia in Saturday’s opening match, Muirhead’s focus is now fully on what is one of her favourite events and while she is seeking to ensure that Duff and Smith enjoy their debut at the Euros, the venue makes part of the experience a first for the skip too.
“Last year with the Euros being cancelled was disappointing,” she admitted.
“It is an event that means a lot to me. I enjoy every single time I play at this event and this will be my 13th appearance – which makes me sound very, very old but with each appearance I have learned more. I’ve not been to Lillehammer before, but I’ve heard the venue is great and I am sure we will come away with some special memories.
“It is an event where the boys and girls mix and you get a lot of fans appearing at the Euros as it is not a long flight, so my mum and dad have been to the majority of them. I think this time around all of our parents are coming out to this event which will be a great support to all of us in Lillehammer.
“Winning silver at my last appearance at the Euros was great. I think it was my ninth medal, however I won’t dwell on that because I take each championship at a time.
“Of course, the round robin is stage one and play-offs stage two so every time you have success you need to enjoy it. 
“It will be Mili’s and Hailey’s first Euros so of course I will help them adjust to what it is like out there. Our coaches Dave (Murdoch) and Kristian (Lindstrom) as well can also offer them a wealth of experience of competing at the Europeans which I think will help. We have a fantastic support team with us who I am sure will be sharing a lot of insight going into this Championship.
“Having two young players with us this time, I want to do them proud and I want them to come away with happy memories from their Euro debuts. I want to do well for them and I am really looking forward to this event. I want to do them proud and I want to come away enjoying the experience and knowing they have many more to come.”
As important as the Euros are in themselves, Muirhead is also aware of the importance of this event towards longer term goals.
“Number one at the Euros is to qualify Scotland for the World Championships. That is an important part of every time we play.
“The Europeans is our focus just now and is a big event and we have an even bigger event immediately after at the Olympic Qualifying Event so in my eyes we need to use this as a good learning point and stepping-stone moving on. It is the perfect preparation for that, playing a lot of the teams we will meet there in similar arena conditions, so we can learn a lot from this week.
“Of course, some teams have already qualified for the Games in Beijing, so they will all be keen to put down a marker and show they are here to play.”
Ten teams will compete in the A division at the European Championships with the top seven qualifying for the World Championships later in the season.
The BKT Tires & OK Tire World Women’s Curling Championship 2022 will be staged in Prince George, Canada, from 19–27 March 2022.
Results and Schedule
#curling #ECC2021
Scotland Team
Eve Muirhead
Vicky Wright
Jen Dodds
Hailey Duff
Mili Smith
