Scotland and England wheelchair curlers return to Scotland following their first taste of overseas competitive action in Switzerland and head straight back into action as they contest the Stirling International at The Peak tomorrow (October 15-18).
For both teams the week ahead provides perfect preparation for their respective World Championships this season, with Scotland focusing on the home World Championships hosted at Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in North Ayrshire next March, whilst England are targeting the World B’s next month in the hope of qualifying for that event. 
This week’s line-up for the ninth staging of the event sponsored this year by Allanwater Homes, features reigning World champions Norway, along with Canada, Korea, Italy and Switzerland.
England skip Stewart Pimblett, who previously lifted the trophy in 2022 as part of a British Curling line-up, is looking forward to the week ahead.
“It is a tight turnaround from Wetzikon at the weekend and back on ice on Tuesday, but for me that is a great opportunity to put in place a lot of things from our first event of the season,” he said, following England’s10th placed finish at the Swiss event.
“My team mates played really well, I just felt I had a bit of dip in form which was disappointing as I was raring to go, so this is a great week to bounce back.
“My team played well and built great ends and we have a great dynamic on the ice. I just need to iron out a few tactical things and I hope we can get some wins under our belts early on and then carry that momentum through the week. 
“With plenty international teams in the mix, this event really will give us the perfect preparation for the World B’s in three weeks time, so I really can’t wait to get back on home ice.”
The eight team event concludes on Friday morning, before the back–to-back action transfers to the facility next door for the British Curling Mixed Doubles event hosted at the National Curling Academy, which gets underway on Friday afternoon (18-20 October).
“It will be a bit of a gear change for most at the end of the week with the switch to the mixed doubles discipline,” said Pimblett, who was one of England’s representatives at last year’s World Mixed Doubles Championships.
“But with Milan Cortina not far away and mixed doubles included in the Paralympics for the first time, it certainly focuses the mind.”
Scotland will field two teams at this event, both skipped by Paralympians in Gregor Ewan and Hugh Nibloe.
Team Scotland 1
Gregor Ewan - skip
Gary Smith - vice-skip
Keith Gray - second
Charlotte McKenna - lead
Gordon Alexander - alternate
Team Scotland 2
Hugh Nibloe – skip
Austin McKenzie – vice-skip
Robert McPherson - second
Jo Butterfield - lead
Graeme Stewart / Rich Osborne - alternate
Team England
Stewart Pimblett - skip
George Potts - vice skip
Julian Mattison - second
Karen Aspey – lead
Jason Kean - alternate
Please click here for the 2024 Stirling International Draw.
Please click here for results from the Stirling International – The Peak, Stirling – 15-18 October
British Curling Wheelchair Mixed Doubles – The NCA, Stirling -18-20 October
Images: PPA/Graeme Hart
