British Curling’s wheelchair squad is preparing for a run of three back-to-back events which mark the start of the 2024-25 competitive season as they work towards the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina.
Two teams, representing Scotland and England will head to Switzerland this weekend to contest the 12-team Wetzikon International Wheelchair Curling Tournament (October 11-13).
They then head home to take part in the Stirling Wheelchair International at The Peak (October 15-18), before moving next door to their training base at The National Curling Academy (NCA) for the British Curling Wheelchair Mixed Doubles (October 18-20). 
With the squad larger than it has ever been previously, the intensity of the schedule has provided an opportunity try out different combinations as competition for places increases.
“It is a different team and different line-up to what I am used to, so a great test at the start of the season – so it is going to be a great experience for some of our newer squad members to get more time on ice in that competition environment,” said three-time Paralympian Gregor Ewan, who is skipping the Scotland line-up in Wetzikon.
“It is great to have fresh eyes, fresh blood because sometimes they pick up on things you haven’t seen, so this international is going to be really interesting.
“Wetzikon is a great venue, it is a short push from the hotel to the venue, the facility is very accessible and ice is always really good with plenty of eateries nearby, so it makes it a great competition environment for us and we like playing there.”
With Milan-Cortina now looming, Ewan is looking forward to seeing how potential rivals are shaping up, but is also aware of the domestic competition that is being generated.
“It is interesting what we might see this weekend,” he observed.
“There are no guarantees that the line-ups will be the same as we played against last year, but that makes it interesting for all of us, testing us all I guess. 
“We don’t see teams after world champs until the start of the next season, so there can be a lot of unknowns and the next week will help us to see what we are up against for the season ahead.
“With the international teams sometimes it is four new players or sometimes just one player changes in a line up and that can make a really big difference, so we are looking forward to this and what this opportunity brings.
“Obviously we have seen England playing here on ice in the NCA, too and they are doing really well.
“I think we may see a couple of players there working their way into selection for the GB team leading up to the Paralympics which should make us stronger, so it will be good to see how they go this weekend.”
He reckons that the British Curling teams are heading to Wetzikon well prepared having played host to the Swiss for a recent warm-up match.
“Having the friendly here against Switzerland the other weekend was really helpful for us ahead of this weekend and also next week as we go straight into the Stirling International and then the Britidsh Curling Mixed Doubles, so it is pretty full on for us after waiting to get started this season.
“Hopefully that friendly helped iron out some issues and we have worked on some of those in training since then.” 
For Paralympic Head Coach Sheila Swan this series of events represent an important opportunity to assess form in both the full wheelchair game and mixed doubles.
“Our increasing strength in depth in the last couple of seasons in particular, is generating ever more competition within the squad that we believe is vital to giving us an edge on the international stage,” she said.
“These events will consequently give us a chance to look at how ready players are to perform in that environment.
“We are sending a mix which contains some of our most experienced players and some of our most promising newcomers to the first of these events, but the combination of competitions will let every member of our squad test themselves in the next couple of weeks.”
Team Scotland
Gregor Ewan - skip
Gary Smith - vice-skip
Keith Gray - second
Charlotte McKenna - lead
Austin McKenzie - alternate
Team England
Stewart Pimblett - skip
George Potts - vice skip
Julian Mattison/Jason Kean – second
Karen Aspey – lead
Please click here for results from Wetzikon.
Wetzikon International Wheelchair Curling Tournament –– 11-13 October – 12 teams: Korea, Scotland, Slovakia, Italy, Switzerland 1, Poland, England, Switzerland 2, USA, CC St Gallen, CC Wetzikon, CC Trentino Italy.
Stirling Wheelchair International – The Peak, Stirling – 15-18 October
British Curling Wheelchair Mixed Doubles – The NCA, Stirling -18-20 October
Images: PPA / Graeme Hart
