CUR-TAIN RAISER 

Team GB and Canada meeting in curling final embroiled in cheat storm as Brits seek to end 102-year Winter Olympics wait

THE EYES of the nation will once again be focused on the curling rink as Britain sweeps for gold in Cortina.

And the eyes of World Curling officials will be fixed firmly on the Canadians to ensure the showpiece occasion is not overshadowed by any cheat claims.

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Canada were embroiled in a cheat storm after being accused of double touching a stone against SwedenCredit: TNT Sports
 

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Captain Marc Kennedy raged at the allegations and told his opponent to ‘f*** off’Credit: SVT
 

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Sweden were not happy but could do nothing about the incidentCredit: SVT
Bruce Mouat, 31, is trying to become the first British male skip to win an Olympic curling title since William K. Jackson at the inaugural Winters of 1924.

Though he has a great relationship with Canada’s opposite number Brad Jacobs, the Sochi Olympic champion, there will be no friendship on the ice over ten ends.

And those who organise this sport will be praying that the medals are not decided by a dodgy stone.

There is no VAR in curling – ice chiefs prefer not to use video replays to re-umpire game decisions.

Yet the tournament was marred by an unsavoury incident last week when Sweden accused the Canadians of ‘double-touching’, an illegal move, before they had released one of their stones.

Images of the incident went viral online and caused an almighty storm but Canada denied any wrongdoing.

When confronted mid-game by the Swedes with these allegations, North American star Marc Kennedy, 44, raged “F*** off!” and said he didn’t “give a s***” about reviewing the footage.

World Curling responded by increasing surveillance of the stones – which have to be released before the hog line – and for a few days two officials actively moved between all four sheets.

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This time, if either of the sides complain about the other one apparently double-touching, then “umpires, when requested, will monitor deliveries for a minimum of three ends”.

Britain were dragged into the controversy when one of their stones was wiped out for an alleged double-touch during a 9-4 win over Germany.

Scottish curler Bobby Lammie, 29, was accused of touching a stone after releasing it down the ice, which is against the rules.

Those watching said it appeared to be a case of a lingering finger accidentally brushing the granite after releasing the handle, rather than an active prod.

Millions are expected to watch Saturday night’s final as a curling craze sweeps the country once again.

Up to six million people stayed up through the night when Rhona Martin’s gaggle of housewives threw a Stone of Destiny for glory at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Proud Scotsmen Mouat, Lammie, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan Jnr and reserve Kyle Waddell will hope to improve on the silver won in Beijing four years ago.

Plenty of Scottish pals and fans have jumped on flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh and headed for the Italian mountains in the hope of witnessing glory.

Mouat, who has played on 17 out of 18 days, saw his lads squeeze into the semi-finals by virtue of results elsewhere and now they could cap an epic trip to the Dolomites.

He said: “There’s so much history in our sport and a lot of it goes back to Scotland versus Canada.

“Our first ever World Championship final, we played Canada in Canada.

“Now, getting to play an Olympic gold medal game against Canada is pretty special. It’s really good for our sport.

“I’ve looked up to Brad for a long time. He’s taught me a lot about the game. It feels like a pretty special moment for us to go out and battle on Saturday.”

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Team GB are going for gold against Canada in the finalCredit: Getty

Champion backs Team GB for gold

By Rob Maul

RHONA MARTIN is backing ice cool Bruce Mouat to bring back Olympic curling gold.

Saturday represents the 24th anniversary of Martin, 59, skippering a British quintet to gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Martin, now known as Rhona Howie, threw down the Stone of Destiny in a dramatic curling final against Switzerland to prevail 4-3 in the 10th end.

It was Team GB’s first Winter Olympic title since Torvill & Dean’s Bolero in 1984.

Up to six million people stayed up throughout the night to watch the transatlantic exploits of the Scottish housewives as they swept to glory.

Only three Brits skips – William K Jackson (1924), Martin and Eve Muirhead (2022) – have won gold over the past 102 years.

World champion Mouat, 31, would be the fourth if he can outsmart Canadian captain Brad Jacobs on Saturday night in Cortina.

It is a chance to do better than the Olympic silver medal won four years ago when they lost to Sweden.

Martin said: “Bruce has been here so many times in big championships and we have seen it often where he raises his level when the stakes are highest.

“Brad Jacobs will be tough to beat but Bruce can bring back the gold. They are world champions for a reason.

“I have known Bruce for years and years. I must have met him 15 years ago when he was a boy. I was coaching and he was coming through the juniors.

“You never know how they will develop but he has done brilliantly.

“As a young lad he was always quiet, quite shy, not a shouter. He just got on with it and look how he has done.

“I was there as a spectator last night (for the semi-finals) and I was so nervous.

“I’ll have to try to not be biased when I’m working at the final but that will be hard.

“Having that experience of winning the world championships in Canada will be huge for them and they have played in an Olympic final before.

“They will know what to expect and that helps.

“What we have seen is them improving at the right time. They had their losses, no disasters, and the only thing that mattered was getting through.

“The round-robin and the knock-outs are like separate tournaments and now they are in the final, the rest doesn’t matter. Bruce has the experience to know that.

“If he’s standing there with a shot to win, he won’t be thinking of ‘Stone of Destiny’ or anything like that.

“He will have laser focus and won’t freeze. Just a clear thought on what he needs to do. It’s why he is so good.”

Reflecting on the aggro from earlier competition, Kennedy – who had semi-retired in 2020 – said: “I’m really proud of my team. It’s been a harder week than most people could ever imagine.

“So to be that resilient and come out the other side and have this opportunity, it’s a pretty extraordinary group of people.

“People don’t really have an idea what the guys had to go through and myself had to go through this week.”

Britain’s chances this weekend could be undermined by a Scotsman lurking in the Canadian ranks.

David Murdoch, 47, is top performance boss at Curling Canada but is known by many for winning Olympic silver for Team GB 12 years ago in Sochi.

Kennedy laughed: “Dave has a big job. He’s done incredible this first year.

“He’s done incredible things for our program. He was the right choice for the job.

“I’m not quite sure who he’s cheering for – I’m not even gonna ask him!”