Scotland’s top curlers have made a surprise decision to look for a new coach less than two years out from the next Winter Olympics in Korea.
In a major overhaul Team Muirhead are also to replace lead Sarah Reid who was brought in after Claire Hamilton departed following their bronze medal success at Sochi in 2014.
The decisions, coming in the wake of a late season surge that saw them claim victories in the inaugural City of Perth Ladies International on their home ice at the Dewar’s Centre and in one of the prestigious Grand Slam events in Canada, look all the more dramatic because skip Eve Muirhead indicated yesterday that no replacements have so far been lined up.
““We have made no decisions about replacements as yet and will consider our options over the next month,” she said.
“We are excited about the challenge and moving forward as a team to the Pyeongchang Olympics and beyond.”
Muirhead thanked both Hay and Reid for their contributions to their on-going domination of the domestic game.
“We must say a heartfelt thank you to both Sarah and Dave who have given so much of themselves to the team and we take that contribution with us,” she said.
“It’s been a total pleasure working with Sarah for the last two seasons and she has brought a lot to the team. We consider her a great friend and a great curler and wish her the very best for whatever she decides to do next.
“No longer working with Dave is going to be a real shake-up for us as a team as he has been our coach for the last four years. He is a fantastic coach and has been an inspiring and committed member of our team for the last four years.”
Hay, a world champion curler in his own right, said he had enjoyed working with Muirhead, her second in command Anna Sloan, who is facing a major battle to regain fitnesss after suffering a serious knee injury late in the season and Vicki Adams as well as Reid and Hamilton in wishing them continued success.
“Eve, Anna, Vicki, Sarah and Claire (not forgetting our outstanding 5th's Lauren Gray and Rachel Hannan) are totally professional, very committed and talented athletes who have been a pleasure to work with both on and off the ice,” said Hay.
“I wish all the girls the very best for the future and hope they have continued success and go onto obtain the ultimate goal of Gold at the 2018 Olympics.”
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