[ritchiebaby]

A total of 27 countries will take part across the men’s and women’s “A” and “B” divisions with medals, promotion, world championship qualification and crucial Olympic momentum all at stake. Play starts on Saturday 18th November with round-robin play continuing throughout the week at St. Gallen’s Eissportzentrum Lerchenfield, with semi-finals scheduled for Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th November. The world challenge games and showpiece finals will conclude the event on Saturday 25th November.

The ten “A” Division men’s teams that will compete are: Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. The top 7 teams will automatically qualify their nations for the 2018 World Curling Championships in Las Vegas, USA with the 8th placed team facing a best of 3 play-off against the winner of the B Division for the last place.

For Scotland, Kyle Smith's team return to the European Championships for the second time after their debut in 2015 in Esbjerg, Denmark. The team features skip Kyle Smith, and his brother Cameron at lead, while alternate Glen Muirhead joins his brother Thomas, who plays at third, in the line-up. Kyle Waddell is second player for the Scots, who are coached by Viktor Kjäll.



The teams in the women’s “A” Division are: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
Scotland is represented by Eve Muirhead, third Anna Sloan, second player Vicki Adams, lead Lauren Gray along with alternate Kelly Schafer and coach Glenn Howard. The Scottish women are no stranger to European medals. A bronze medal at last season’s European Championships was the seventh consecutive medal won by both Eve and Anna and a sixth in a row for the rest of the team. With a sole European title coming in 2011, Eve's team will be looking for improvement.

From these Championships, the eight women’s teams for the World Women’s Curling Championship in Thunder Bay, Canada next March will be decided in the same fashion as the Men's teams.

Saturday
MEN - Scotland v Italy and Austria v Scotland
WOMEN - Sweden v Scotland
Sunday
MEN - Russia v Scotland
WOMEN - Russia v Scotland and Scotland v Denmark

Featured in the B Division are England Women comprising of Lisa Farnell (skip), third Sara Jahodova (vice-skip), second Victoria Kyle and lead Niamh Fenton. They are coached by Jamie Farnell.


The English Men's team is Andrew Woolston (skip), third Ben Fowler (vice-skip), second Scott Gibson and lead Fraser Clark backed up by alternate James Whittle. Their coach is Ken Horton.


The Men are joined by Wales who are represented by James Pougher (skip), third Rhys Phillips (vice-skip), second Garry Coombs and lead Andrew Tanner with alternate Simon Pougher.


Saturday
MEN - Wales v Poland and Hungary v England
WOMEN - England v Latvia
Sunday
MEN - France v Wales, Wales v Czech Republic and England v Belgium
WOMEN - England v Estonia and Poland v England

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I've just discovered that there will be live coverage of some games on Eurosport 1 and 2.

Sat 18 Nov 0900-1200 Men - Norway v Russia (EUROSPORT 2)
Sun 19 Nov 0900-1200 Women - Switzerland v Germany (EUROSPORT 2)
Mon 20 Nov 0800-1100 Men - Germany v Scotland (EUROSPORT 1)

The above times are Central European Time so you can add or subtract as you think fit.