Murrayfield curler Bruce Mouat claims bronze at World Championships

Scotland skip Bruce Mouat celebrates after defeating South Korea in a bronze medal game

The Napier student and his colleagues Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie and Grant Hardie won 11 of their 12 round robin-matches but saw their title hopes dashed when Canadian holder Brad Gushue beat them in the semi-finals.

The Scottish champions still had an opportunity to salvage a set of bronze medals, and they did precisely that after continuing their excellent record against Kim, whom they defeated in three finals in Canada this season and also in last Wednesday’s round-robin encounter.

Kim lost his semi-final to Swede Niklas Edin at the first extra end, but he led Mouat and company 2-1 before the Scots produced a dramatic burst of scoring. They counted three stones at the third end, two at the next and four more at the fifth to go 10-2 up at the halfway stage. Mouat enjoyed a 92 per cent success rate, but Lammie was up at 97 per cent as he celebrated his inclusion in the Team of the Tournament.

Coach David Murdoch had secured Scotland’s last men’s medal in 2013, adding a bronze to his two previous golds, and his charges opened their own medal account after Kim conceded defeat when trailing 11-4.

“We had a really good week and we stuck in after a tough semi-final loss, so it feels really good to come away with a medal. It feels right,” said Mouat, who won the world junior title two years ago.

“The Canada loss was  difficult to take, but we knew we still had a good chance for a medal. At the third end, we just had to play the right weight and both of the boys had a great sweep, so it was a brilliant end for us. Joining all the other Scottish medallists is class, so I’m very proud of my team and it’s really special for me. I’m happy with a bronze in my first World Championship.”