Muirhead excited for special European Champs alongside brothers

It’s set to be a family affair for the Muirheads at the forthcoming European Curling Championships and Olympic bronze medallist Eve – and skip of the Scotland women’s team – admits she has her eyes on more silverware.

Eve will be one of three Muirheads who take to the ice in Esbjerg, Denmark, for the European Championships which get underway on Friday.

Perhaps the most recognisable of the siblings, the 25-year-old skip has a world title and no fewer than five European medals to go alongside the third-place finish she achieved at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

But she will not be alone in flying the flag for her family this time around with brothers Thomas, 20 and Glen, 26, in Scotland men’s team.

Younger brother Thomas is vice skip in Kyle Smith’s team with Glen the alternate – and all three will be supported by mum Lynn in Denmark.

However dad Gordon, himself a world and European gold medallist in the 1990s, will be keeping a keen eye on things from back home where he will hold the fort in their absence.

"It feels weird going to a major championships along with my two brothers but, at the same time, it's really special," Eve told BBC Scotland.

"Thomas has had a great season with Kyle Smith's team and they've had such a successful junior career.

"Mum is going to come out and support us but poor dad has to stay at home and feed the animals [at the family farm].

"It will be great to have us all there cheering each other on, if we don't all fall out!"

Scotland women will open their campaign against Denmark on Friday with the men taking on Norway the following day.

Eve will arrive at the Championships having led her rink to five consecutive medal finishes at the tournament, including bronze last year, while her previous win came in 2011.

And she admits a return to the top spot of the medal rostrum is high on the agenda this time around.

"It's about time we made our way up that podium again and there's nothing stopping us this year," she added.

"There's a lot of great teams there, every game will be really tough, but I know when we play well it's tough to beat us.

"So far, we've had a really good season and I'm really excited about these championships."

Sportsbeat 2015