Major title win for Moray wheelchair curling rink



Wheelchair curling in Moray took a huge boost when the local rink emerged victorious in Lanarkshire.

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Moray’s wheelchair curling team have rounded off the season in some style by emerging victorious at the Tunnock’s Trophy event in Lanarkshire.

The team, led by Elgin-based curler Gregor Ewan and including Jim Gault, Mike McKenzie and Jackie Cayton, emerged undefeated from their eight games.

Their victory came against eight other rinks including Stirling, Wales, Lockerbie and the eventual runners-up, South Lanarkshire.

Gregor and Jim, who is from Lossiemouth, are members of the national World Class Wheelchair Performance Programme squad that is coached in Aberdeen by Albert Middler.
They were part of the Scotland squad in this year’s World Wheelchair Curling Championships in South Korea where they finished in eighth place.

The pair only took up the sport less than five years ago following industrial accidents – but it did not take long for them to become hooked. Jim said: “I’ve always loved competition and taking up curling has allowed me to travel to places I’d never been to and make some wonderful friends.

“We must enjoy it as we travelled around 24,000 miles in the car in the last nine months for training and competitions.”

Former stonemason Greg is just as enthusiastic about the sport, adding: “It’s a marvelously strategic game involving move and counter-move - after my accident is really has given me a new focus in life when it would have been easy just to feel sorry for myself.”

The trip to the world championships was funded by Scottish Disability Sport while Sportscotland support ice and coaching time, however, the pair are always seeking out much needed private sector sponsorship. Jim explained: “We travel the length and breadth of the country and would be absolutely delighted to promote a business as we are doing so!”

Founded 12 years ago, Wheelchair Curling has grown enormously in popularity and will always welcome newcomers to the sport.

Anyone interested in learning more and where they can participate in a ‘come and try’ sessions are invited to visit the Try Curling website.