8 years ago

Scotland bid to retain their world crown when the World Wheelchair Curling Championships get underway in Braehead, Glagsow on Monday (17th January).

The Scots have been nominated as the home nation to score points towards Great Britain’s qualification for the Torino 2006 Winter Paralympic Games, when wheelchair curling makes its Paralympic debut.

And they did Britain’s campaign no harm at all by winning the first of two qualification events – the 2004 World Championships in Switzerland.

The Scottish team of skip Frank Duffy, Michael McCreadie, Tom Killin, Angie Malone and Ken Dickson can expect to face some stiff competition from the likes of Switzerland, runners-up last year, and Canada, who were third last time around.

Denmark are also expected to be strong, with Japan and South Korea the unknown quantities in Braehead, at what is the second qualification event for Torino.

England and Wales will also be in action in Braehead, although their finishing positions will not count towards GB qualification for Torino.

England, fourth in Switzerland last year, are skipped by George Windram, with Ian Wakenshaw, Dave Quarrie, Valerie Robertson and Garry Robson completing the squad.

Michael Preston, Clarke Sheils, Ian Jones, Marion Harrison and Peter Knapper represent Wales.

A 10-strong Great Britain will be picked next month in the build-up to Torino, subject to Scotland achieving the BPA’s qualification criteria. The final team of five would be selected from that 10 towards the end of the year.

Sixteen nations compete in two pools at Braehead, with a series of round-robin matches getting underway on Monday, when Scotland take-on Japan and England play Wales.

The pool stages conclude on Thursdays, with tie-breakers and ranking matches on Friday. The competition reaches its climax on Saturday, with semi-finals, the bronze medal play-off and final.

Great Britain had another outstandingly successful Games at Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, finishing second in the overall medals table behind China and winning 94 medals – 35 golds, 30 silvers and 29 bronzes.

The British Paralympic Association is sponsored by Aggregate Industries, Visa, easynet, Cyprus Airways, Skandia and Premier Rugby, and is also supported by lottery funding through UK Sport.

For further information contact: The British Paralympic Association's Press Office at Matchtight Ltd on (01225) 383518 or by email at comms@matchtight.co.uk, or see the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk