Team Henderson successfully defended the women’s title at The Hardie Engineering Scottish Curling Championships when they clinched a 10-2 win over the competition’s top ranked Team Morrison in the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
Operating as a five player team this season and during this week’s campaign, Dumfries local Fay Henderson, Robyn Munro, Hailey Duff, Katie McMillan and Lisa Davie were unbeaten throughout the round robin phase of the tournament which had earned them a direct place in tonight’s final.
After a tight start with three blanked ends against Morrison’s European bronze medallists, who had come through a close semi final encounter earlier in the day when they beat Team Watt’s juniors 7-5, Henderson’s rink scored a three at the fourth end and from there were never headed. 
The team that has steadily climbed the world rankings since winning the national title in the same venue a year ago, continued to extend their lead after Morrison was kept to a single at the fifth end and when the game resumed after the break, they increased the pressure with a four at the sixth and a steal of three at the seventh which all but secured the title, after Morrison claimed their only other single of the game at the eighth end.
“We have had a good performance all week here as a team and from the start I just knew that confidence was something that we needed to have presence against a team like that, especially in a Scottish final,” said skip Fay Henderson.
“It was our first late night game of the week, so it was important to keep the energy high and confidence is a good way to do it and I said to our coach Clancy when we came off the ice I think I was just off 100% for that game, so I couldn’t really ask for much more for myself or from my team, we played well and really managed to capitalise on any mistakes and that paid off. “
With team mate Robyn Munro having won gold at the World University Games just ahead of the Scottish Championships and with Olympic gold medallist Hailey Duff also in the team, Henderson felt they were bringing great form into the flagship event of the domestic calendar.
“Robyn had a great week at the World University Games and she has come back from the mixed doubles and back into the team game perfectly and good draw weight has been great for all of us which makes a difference. Having the five of us rotating this week has possibly kept us fresh and we have proven that we can win with any line-up.
“Plus to have Clancy (Grandy) working with us this season has been great and I am really pleased that we have started to add to her coaching titles now and I am sure that they won’t stop because she has been an absolutely fantastic coach to work with.”
As double national champions, Henderson now hopes that they have done enough to catch the eye of selectors ahead of the World Championships.
“Today we wanted to come out on top and we weren’t leaving any chances out there,” she said.
“It was great winning again at the Ice Bowl and I think having a bit of extra home support for myself and Robyn being from Dumfries and Galloway certainly helped the whole team with both morale and confidence.
“We knew we would have to win this title to be in with a chance for selection to the worlds and we have done that and done so undefeated.
“So we have done all we can for now, so fingers crossed and it is now up to the selectors.”
Earlier in the day, in the men’s semi finals defending champions Team Whyte beat last year’s finalists Team Craik 8-4, while World number one Team Mouat beat Scottish Junior Champs Team Carson 8-2 in eight ends, to set up an exciting final tomorrow between this season’s Grand Slam Champions. .
Skip Bruce Mouat commended the local youngsters after his semi final win over Team Carson,”They are an unbelievable talent at the ages that they are and the amount of training and the hard work they put in outside of competitions is testament to their attitude and they will go far and we wish them all the very best at the World Juniors later this year.”
Mouat added that he is now relishing the prospect of meeting another local in defending Champion Ross Whyte and his team mates Robin Brydone, Duncan McFadzean and Euan Kyle in tomorrow’s men’s final.
“We are really looking forward to it.
“Scotland is producing a lot of really good teams just now and James (Craik) and the boys are a really good talent as well, but ourselves and Ross are the two teams that are in the top five in the world, so it is going to be exciting,”
“We will have a small chat about how we are feeling and what we are expecting tomorrow and will try and relax a bit for however many hours it is until that final.”
Watch the men’s final On BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer at 1pm on Saturday.
Watch every live streamed game from Curling Stadium Europe: https://curlingstadiumeurope.com/buy-pass
Please click here for the draw and results: https://competitions.scottishcurling.org/competitions/mens-womens-championships/