Forfar curlers heading for world championships

Alternate Robert Anderson, lead Mike Ferguson, second John Dowell, third John Davie and skip Keith Prentice. Pic by Louise Ferguson

Hailey Duff and Vicky Wright were not the only Forfar curlers picking up silverware this week.

Mike Ferguson and John Dowell were part of a rink of Scots which beat other seniors on Sunday in Hamilton to win an opportunity to represent Scotland at April’s World Senior Championships in Switzerland.

Prentice first tasted over-50s world success back in 2007 and has a rich seam of career experience to draw on.

However, he was “especially pleased” about this triumph because three members of the squad would have their first chance to represent their country on the world stage.

Previous world championship bids following Scottish success were thwarted by Covid-19 and, in 2010, the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

Davie, Dowell and Ferguson will be teaming up for their first World Championships in Geneva from April 23-30, with past campaigners Prentice and Anderson.

“We are quite confident – there’s no point in going if you’re not confident,” said Prentice.

“We will go there and perform as well as we can. I certainly have past experience so I know what it is like – the other guys will be fine. We are playing against loads of countries in the world so we’re looking forward to it. I am confident but there’s no point in saying we are going to win, because anything can happen.”

Prentice had previously coached two members of the silver-winning Team GB men’s squad and he knew the players from the all-conquering women’s team. He said their triumph was good for the sport in general.