Day 6 in Östersund

The Irish teams in Östersund at the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles on the last day of the round robin games.

Photo: @WCF / Richard Gray

The Senior men played Russia in a tense, closely fought game, but a steal of 2 in the final end saw an end to their progression prospects.

Bill Gray commented “Didn’t do enough to put away the challenge of a spirited Russian team. This leaves us at the mercy of the Draw Shot Challenge which isn’t good enough to rank us above Finland. Looks like the dream is over for this year. ☹”

They finish 4th place in group C with 3 wins and 3 losses.

Photo: @WCF / Richard Gray

The Senior Women took on Latvia in their last game of the competition.

Ireland lost their last game to Latvia

They finish 6th place in group B with 2 wins and 5 losses.

Photo: @WCF / Richard Gray

The Mixed Doubles duo played Brazil in their last round robin game of the competition. This was one of their best performances of the competition so far and a very closely fought game.

They finished in 8th place in group E with no wins.

Day 5 in Östersund

The Irish teams in Östersund at the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles day 5 of the round robin games.

The Senior Women had a tough game against the Finnish team.

Tomorrow they have another early start, playing their final round robin game against Latvia at 08:00.

The Senior men played in a crucial game against USA. Bill Gray commented “Massive result from the competition perspective. Still haven’t played our best but one more win tomorrow morning should see us into the playoffs. Great support from our fellow Irish Athletes!”

They are currently third in group C – all to play for as they play their final round robin game against Russia at 08:00 tomorrow with a chance to qualify for the playoffs.

Seniors support from the Mixed Doubles team – John Furey and Eoin McCrossan Photo: @WCF / Tom Rowland

The Mixed Double duo played Austria. Tomorrow they meet Brazil at 17:45 in their final round robin match.

Day 5 in Ostersund – women’s view

Ireland 2 Finland 9

Ireland and Finland ladies teams after their game this morning

Another defeat here in Ostersund this morning against a very accomplished Finnish team. The Irish once more won the draw shot challenge, thanks to Christina and Clare, but, apart from a good second end were out-curled by the opposition. Two of them live on a small island called Aland, half way between Finland and Sweden, where there is a curling rink! One more game to go against Latvia tomorrow.

After the curling and before supporting the men in their crucial game against the USA, the women walked to the nearby ICA Supermarket! There we found a cafe with coffee and cakes at reasonable prices!

The name tickled us so much we had to get our coach Gerry to take a photo of us outside.

Day 4 in Östersund

The Irish teams in Östersund at the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles day 4 of the round robin games.

The Senior Women had a tough game against the undefeated Scottish group leaders in the first session of day 4. The team concluded “We were outplayed by a very classy Scottish team.” Tomorrow they have another early start, playing Finland at 08:00.

The Senior men played Croatia in the evening and got one step closer – only two more games to go. They commented “Not particularly impressive for the first four ends but ran out comfortable winners against Croatia“. They are currently fourth in their group – all to play for as they meet team USA at 12:00 tomorrow.

The Mixed Double duo had a two match day. They played Germany in the morning and Guyana in the late evening. Tomorrow they meet Austria at 17:45.

Photo: @WCF / Richard Gray

Photo: @WCF / Richard Gray

Day 4 in Ostersund – Women’s viewpoint

Ireland 1 Scotland 11

The Irish and Scottish ladies

After winning the DSC and taking a one in the first end, the Irish ladies were blown away by a very classy Scottish ladies team who took a game-changing  four in the second end, when a Irish tap up to lie two drew too far, opening up Ireland’s shot in the four foot for the Scots to hit out.

The Irish plugged on trying to draw behind cover, but the Scottish women snuffed out every opportunity with accurate hits and after the obligatory six ends were over the Irish conceded the game.

Two early morning games now for the Irish at 8am tomorrow against Finland that the same time on Thursday against Latvia.

Day 3 in Östersund

No wins for the Irish teams in Östersund at the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles day 3 of the round robin games.

The Senior men played Norway in the afternoon and after a close match Norway managed to steal one in the last two ends to take the match.

Bill Gray commented “Always singled out as a tough assignment and so it proved although we were in control for large parts of the game. Losing a steal of 1 in the 7th when we were shaping up for at least a two was a bad break but lying 1 with hammer in the last when the Norwegian skip played a tremendous draw with his last to lie shot. JJ’s run back for the game stayed high and we gave up 1 and the game. Three to go and all must win games if we are to reach Goal 1 – the qualification stage. Thanks to all the supporters- esp Scots who added to the noise level” .Tomorrow Ireland play Croatia at 20:00.

The Senior Womens team played Switzerland.See their overview here. Tomorrow they play Scotland at 08:00.

The Mixed Double duo had another difficult match against a top Korean team. Team member, Eoin McCrossan commented “In today’s game against the Korea, the Irish MD team completed their tough start which saw them play 3 of the world’s top teams (Canada and Czech Republic). A solid DSC saw Ireland win the hammer and showed early promise with untaken opportunities the hallmark of the first half. A poor fifth end saw the game slip away and the team made sure they bowed out on a score in the sixth. Thoughts now to turn to two-game Tuesday where Germany and Guyana lie in wait.

They play Germany at 11:15am and Guyana at 9pm tomorrow.

Day 3 in Ostersund – women’s view

Ireland 7 Switzerland 12

Louise on the ice against Switzerland this afternoon @ WCF / Tom Rowland

The Swiss and Irish women

Despite the obvious blot on the copybook – losing a five in the seventh end – the Irish women played their best game of curling so far against Switzerland here in Ostersund at the World Seniors.

The front end of Clare and Christina locked onto the speed of the ice, and skip Marie brought a round of applause and shouts of “great shot” in the second end with a superb draw to the bite the button out-counting the guarded Swiss shot by a couple of inches.

The Swiss were not having their best game it must be said, but the Irish outplayed them for much of the contest, and when their skip came up short with her last stone against three in the sixth end, Marie coolly drew to the four foot to tie the game up at five all. But trying the keep things clear in the seventh undid the team with crucial missed take outs leaving Switzerland lying four. Marie trying to get a wick of a stone in behind cover but when it over-curled and sailed through the Swiss took a five.

Irish ladies skip Marie O’Kane at the World Senior Curling Championships 2018, Oestersund, Sweden – WCF / Tom Rowland

The Irish played on in the eighth until they were run out of stones.

 

Day 2 in Östersund

Busy Irish teams in Östersund at the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles day 2 of the round robin games.

The Senior Women win two games in one day (read all about it here) .Tomorrow they play Switzerland at 4pm.


The Senior men were also successful against  Latvia with Bill Gray commenting “Usual game vs Latvia!. Right down to the wire. Glad to come out on top thanks to a belter from the big man, Johnjo, with his first in the last end to set up the 2 for the win.” They play Norway at 8pm tomorrow.

“The Big Man” @ WCF / Tom Rowland

The Mixed Double duo had another difficult match against the top Czech Republic team. They play another top team, Korea, at 8am tomorrow.

Day two in Östersund – women win two in one day

With the Italian team

The Irish senior women had a busy day here in Östersund starting at 8am this morning against Italy, a game they won 7-6.

With the New Zealand team

Then it was back on the ice 12 hours later for their second game of the day against New Zealand. The Kiwi ladies managed to steal the shot over a succession of ends but thankfully the momentum swung back in Ireland’s favour with a four at the seventh end to level the scores at 5 all.

In the last end the Irish managed to get two draws into the four foot behind a wall of stones and the New Zealand skip couldn’t get near them. Ireland therefore took their second win of the day by a score of 7-5.

Day 1 in Östersund

Opening Ceremony

Challenging games for the Irish in Östersund at the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles opening day of the round robin games.

The Senior Men commented “Tough loss 7-6 to a good Finnish outfit. Tight game esp when we got our noses in front with a 4 in the 7th end. Went for the steal in the last but he drew for 2 and the win.” They play Latvia at 8am tomorrow.


The Senior Ladies met neighbouring England and despite a tight start, lost 11-4. They play Italy at 8:30am and New Zealand at 8pm tomorrow.

Ireland and England ladies teams.

Louise Kerr commented “After a steady start over the first few ends the change to a hitting game undid the Irish women and resulted in the loss of a four in the third. But the team bounced back with a two in the next end to level the scores after a perfect draw from skip Marie O’Kane. After the fourth end break, the speed of the ice caught the Irish women off guard and resulted in the loss of a big end. The English women played better than we did and deserved the victory.”

The Mixed Doubles duo played top Canadian side and where unable to score, closing at 12-0. They play Czech Republic tomorrow at 14:30.