Perth curlers are reflecting on the “fantastic experience” of representing Scotland on the grandest of stages.
Mairi Milne, Katie Loudon and Wendy Johnston teamed up with Jackie Lockhart at the World Senior Championships in Gangneung, Korea, which concluded on Saturday.
They would return home with special silver medals - adding to last year’s bronze - after an impressive performance throughout the competition.
The Scots, despite an 8-4 defeat to Canada in the final, were proud with their tournament run which included an unbeaten round robin before a semi-final win over Japan.
Dewars Centre curler Milne told the PA: “We were really pleased with our play in the round robin and semi final.
“Our initial reaction after the final was of course disappointment but we’ve had time to reflect and we are proud of the achievement.
“We loved the arena, the ice was great, a good weight and swingy. We felt pretty comfortable and in control of most of the games."
She continued: “There is huge pride in representing Scotland and wearing the team kit.
“The trip was a fantastic experience, Korea is a beautiful country and everyone was so friendly.”
On the final itself, Milne recalled: “When we lost the three in the second end, we all knew we were going to have to fight hard to get back in the game.
“We played great in the third, fourth and fifth ends to get back to one up.
“At this point we felt we had the momentum and were confident we could finish it off. Unfortunately a loose end in the sixth saw us lose another three.
“Then the loss of the two in the seventh gave us too much to do in the eighth, although we were lying four when the Canadian skip came to play her first stone. She took a double and the game was over.”
Playing on the next sheet of ice, in the men’s final, was the Scottish team skipped by Perth’s Graeme Connal and including Mark Brass, Alistair Scott and Mark Fraser.
They too returned with the silver medal after losing out 7-2 against Canada in the showdown.
Milne added: “It was really special to have the men’s team playing their final on the sheet next to us.
“Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds, who were out playing in the mixed doubles, came in to support us which was lovely too.”
With a bronze and a silver now tucked away in the trophy cabinet, of course there remains a hunger to achieve gold.
Milne said: “That’s the goal but we’ll have to win the Scottish Championships first which is no easy feat.”
