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Wonderful Worlds

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By Abbey Morton
Dumfries and West
Wonderful Worlds

CANADA is calling on Team Fleming to make their World Championships debut.

Hannah Fleming and Alice Spence’s place in the top rank curling competition comes after two solid wins in a play-off against Olympians Team Muirhead.

Fleming, of Hightae, and Spence, of Lockerbie, won the Scottish Curling Championships in Perth last month and normally it would mean automatic entry to the Worlds.

However, with the Winter Olympics running alongside the Scottish event, Team Muirhead was given the chance to vie for the place.

Speaking this week a delighted Hannah said: “To beat the Olympic team in two games to qualify for the World Championships in Canada is a dream come true.

“We have worked so hard for so long and to finally get the breakthrough that we have hoped for is brilliant.”

The games took place at the Dewars Centre in Perth and was a best of three, with Fleming winning 9-6 and 9-7.

It is the first time the Fleming quartet will represent Scotland at a major senior championships.

Hannah said: “We leave on Monday so it’s a really tight turnaround but we are so excited to get going and to experience a world championship in Canada will be unforgettable.”

As Team Fleming celebrated their success Team Muirhead, featuring Lockerbie’s Anna Sloan were commiserating.

Fresh from losing out on a medal at PyeongChang, the team took to the ice less than a week after returning from the other side of the world.

Anna said: “I think coming back from the Games and having a play-off so soon after was

always going to be a tough ask.

“Having said that, we wanted the chance as we didn’t get to play in the national championships and this was the only weekend that was offered.

“I don’t think I quite realised until now how much jet leg and fatigue effects our concentration.

“However, I’m taking absolutely nothing away from Team Fleming.

“They played so solid and clinical for both games and totally deserve to be going to the World Championships.

“Will look forward to cheering them on from home.”

The Women’s Worlds begin on March 17 in North Bay, Canada.

Meanwhile in the Men’s event, the Olympic representatives Team Smith were knocked out by Team Mouat which features Grant Hardie and Bobby Lammie of Dumfries and Hammy McMillan Jr from Stranraer.

They will play in Las Vegas from March 31.