Team Mouat made history by becoming the first non-Canadian outfit to secure a hat-trick of wins at Grand Slam of Curling events, with an impressive victory at the Masters in Oakville.
Team Mouat made history by becoming the first non-Canadian outfit to secure a hat-trick of wins at Grand Slam of Curling events, with an impressive victory in Oakville.
The Winter Olympic-bound squad, consisting of skip Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan, beat the world’s number one ranked side – Team Jacobs - in the final.
The result backs up previous wins at the Humpty’s Champions Cup and the Players Championship in bubble conditions in Calgary at the end of last season.
Mouat said: “It’s very exciting, we’re so glad to be back at the Slams and playing good curling. Playing in front of Canadian crowds is always a lot of fun.
“As I said when we won back-to-back Grand Slam titles at the Players Championship, being part of that group of players and being able to win something like this is really special,
“But to now be on an even shorter list of people and the only Scottish men’s team to do it means a lot to us.”
Just like at the Players Championship, Team Mouat were unbeaten, winning all of their qualifying matches en route to the knock-out stage.
There they toppled compatriots Team Whyte, who will alternates at Beijing 2022, to set up a clash with Canada’s Team Bottcher.
They edged a close match 7-5 and then won the title by the same scoreline against home favourites Team Jacobs.
McMillan added: “We played a good final. It was bit of a cagey affair from both teams, but it’s always good to come out on the right side of those battles and it’s also great to maintain a good winning record against Brad Jacobs.
“The prospect of an Olympics coming up makes this a really important season, so it’s great to keep churning out these wins and we hope we are now carrying that momentum into the rest of the season.
“It’s a pretty awesome feeling to win our third straight Slam and our fourth in total.”