Inspired by their surroundings and the occasion, Team GB’s curlers made the ideal start to their Winter Youth Olympics campaign in Korea when they edged out Denmark 7-6 to get a win on the board on the opening day of competition.
Playing in the Gangneung Arena that hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, Logan Carson, Tia Laurie – who was Team GB’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony - Archie Hyslop and Holly Burke held the upper hand for most of the game, after starting with the hammer and registering their two at the opening end.
They were put under pressure when the Danes scored their third two of the match to move ahead for the first time at the penultimate end, but found the response they needed, claiming a two at the last to secure the win. 
“It was a really close game,” said Carson.
“I thought Denmark were a really strong team, but they missed more important chances than we did, which let us come away with the win and winning our first game against a really tough opponent is a great confidence booster for the team, so hopefully we can continue that form into our next game.”
Carson and Hyslop had played together in the Scotland team which won a bronze medal in Fussen, Germany last year at the World Junior Champs and the 16-year-old skip felt there were parallels with that experience as they got their campaign underway.
“It is pretty similar to Fussen, albeit with maybe slightly more people here than there were in Germany, but personally I love playing in front of a crowd because the energy that they give off is brilliant and I think our team can feed off that,” said Carson.
“I feel like we’ve settled in really well. There were maybe a couple of nerves to start off with, but once the game got going we were playing well.”
He noted, too, that the knowledge that many greats of the game, including reigning Olympic champion Eve Muirhead, who is Team GB’s chef de mission at these Games, had played in this arena is enhancing their experience.
“It definitely feels a bit more special to know that our biggest idols have curled where we’re curling, looking to do the same job that we’re trying to do this week,” he said.
“That only adds to the excitement and makes it feel like a much bigger event.”
The second day of action will see them face Germany, who lost their opening match to Switzerland 11-2.
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Image: WCF
