The World Curling Federation (WCF) and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club announced that the Scottish town of Dumfries will host the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and World Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships in 2014.
All three world championships will take place at the Dumfries Ice Bowl between April 22-29, 2014. Over 30 senior teams from around the world are expected to compete, along with a similar number of mixed doubles teams.
“We are delighted to be heading to Dumfries for the World Mixed Doubles and Senior Curling Championships in 2014,” said World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness. “The South-West of Scotland has a long tradition with curling and it is very fitting that these World Curling Federation championship events will be hosted in a region which has produced so many fine curlers.”
It marks the first time that Scotland will host the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, which began in 2008 in Vierumäki, Finland. However, Scotland has previously staged the World Seniors - in 2005 at Greenacres.
Dumfries and Galloway Councillor, Finlay Carson, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for Dumfries and Galloway to be selected to stage such a prestigious event. The investment our Council has put into the Dumfries Ice Bowl now allows us to stage World Championship events. Great credit must go to all the Council staff involved in making this possible over the years. Financial support in attracting the event will be well invested and assist the Council in delivering one of its key priorities: to support and stimulate our local economy by maximising the tourism potential, economic benefit and legacy from major events.”
Dumfries and Galloway Council officials have been successful in gaining financial support for the staging of the event through Nithsdale Area Committee and through the Homecoming Scotland 2014 Events fund which aims to showcase hundreds of events across the country - from mass participation to small community activity.
Caroline Packman, Homecoming Scotland 2014 Director, said: “2014 promises to be a very exciting year for Scotland where we can celebrate all that’s great about our country and place the spotlight on our greatest assets. We are delighted to have the World Curling Federation Mixed Doubles and Senior World Championships as part of the ever-extending Homecoming Scotland 2014 programme. It presents a fantastic opportunity for both visitors and locals to enjoy what’s set to be a great event.”
The 2013 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Championships are due to begin on April 13 in Fredericton, Canada. Previous World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships have been held in Vierumäki, Finland in 2008; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 2009; Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2010, St Paul, USA in 2011 and in Erzurum, Turkey in 2012.
Both the World Seniors and World Mixed Doubles are played over eight ends instead of 10 ends. While the World Seniors competition follows the rules of traditional team curling, the Mixed Doubles format brings together one male and one female curler. Teams have only six stones each (instead of eight) and one of those stones, from each team, is prepositioned on the centre line before each end of play. Player one delivers the first and last stones and player two plays the second, third and fourth stones. If they choose to, the two players may swap positions from one end to the next. Both team members are also allowed to sweep.
The local organising committee are well underway in developing a comprehensive plan to deliver this event and show off the region and Scotland to the visiting curlers from around the World.
The committee will be looking for volunteers and helpers to assist with the event and would very much like to hear from you if you are interested. The event website is currently being developed and will be launched later this year. Anyone interested in being involved please get in contact via info [at] dumfriescurling.co.uk (info[at]dumfriescurling[dot]co[dot]uk) to register your interest.