Scots Paralympic curler eyes up hat-trick of wins as they build up to Milan-Cortina 2026

British Curling’s wheelchair squad is preparing for a run of three back-to-back events which mark the start of the 2024-25 competitive season as they work towards the 2026 Winter Paralympics.

Two teams, representing Scotland and England will head to Switzerland this weekend to contest the 12-team Wetzikon International Wheelchair Curling Tournament.

They then head home to take part in the Stirling Wheelchair International, being held at The PEAK from October 15-18, before moving next door to their training base at The National Curling Academy (NCA) for the British Curling Wheelchair Mixed Doubles from October 18-20.

With the squad larger than it has ever been previously, the intensity of the schedule has provided an opportunity to try out different combinations as competition for places increases.

“It is a different team and different line-up to what I am used to, so a great test at the start of the season – so it is going to be a great experience for some of our newer squad members to get more time on ice in that competition environment,” said three-time Paralympian Gregor Ewan, who is skipping the Scotland line-up in Wetzikon.

“It’s great to have fresh eyes, fresh blood because sometimes they pick up on things you haven’t seen, so this international is going to be really interesting.

“Wetzikon is a great venue, it is a short push from the hotel to the venue, the facility is very accessible and ice is always really good with plenty of eateries nearby, so it makes it a great competition environment for us and we like playing there.”

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For Paralympic Head Coach Sheila Swan this series of events represent an important opportunity to assess form in both the full wheelchair game and mixed doubles.

“Our increasing strength in depth in the last couple of seasons in particular, is generating ever more competition within the squad that we believe is vital to giving us an edge on the international stage,” she said.

“These events will consequently give us a chance to look at how ready players are to perform in that environment.

“We are sending a mix which contains some of our most experienced players and some of our most promising newcomers to the first of these events, but the combination of competitions will let every member of our squad test themselves in the next couple of weeks.”

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