David Aitken at FISU Winter World University Games

C&B's own David Aitken is now a full-time coach with Scottish Curling and recently found himself out at Lake Placid, coaching Great Britain's men's team in the FISU Winter World University Games. As many readers will know, the men had a sterling competition and brought back Gold Medals from the USA. Here is a report of their progress through the competition, lifted from the Scottish Curling website. Team Craik went into the Games on great form and hit the ground running, winning their first five round robin games against Korea, Brazil, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Norway. Their first slip arrived in the next game when they narrowly missed out to Japan - the team, however, made sure it was the first and last defeat of the tournament. They went on to secure comprehensive victories over USA, Sweden, Sweden and Canada to finish the round robin top of the table. The standings meant that team Craik met Owen Purcell's Canadian side for the second time on the same day in the semi-finals. The occasion may have been a different one, but the outcome was the same. Once more the Scots in GBR colours emerged victorious with the final score reading 6-4. Up against local heroes USA, skipped by Daniel Casper, they delivered an outstanding performance. Team Craik were in control throughout and played some brilliant shots to clinch the Gold by five points to one.

Pictured (from left) James Craik, Mark Watt, Angus Bryce, Blair Haswell, Jack Carrick, Iain Watt & C&B's David Aitken.