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The Dewars Centre, Perth, Scotland is hosting the B Division Championships for both Men and Women from 18 to 25 November. Two teams are promoted to the A Division and two are relegated to the C Division.

The 10 Women's teams are Austria, Belgium, England, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. England should be good enough to comfortably stay in the B Division and might, just might, win a medal.
England are represented by regulars Anna Fowler (Skip), Hetty Garnier (Third), Angharad Ward (Second), Naomi Robinson (Lead) and Lisa Farnell (Alternate).

The 16 Men's teams are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine and Wales. The three Home Nations should be able to stay in this Division and I'd say that Ireland would be more likely to reach the later stages.
England's team are Rob Retchless (Skip), Jotham Sugden (Third), Scott Gibson (Second), Jonathan Havercroft (Lead) and Felix Price (Alternate).
Ireland have their usual team of John Wilson (Skip), Kyle Paradis (Third), James Russell (Second), Craig Whyte (Lead) and Eoin McCrossan (Alternate).
Wales' team is James Pougher (Skip), Rhys Phillips (Third), Garry Coombs (Second), Simon Pougher and Martin Lloyd (Alternate).

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A couple of photographs for your perusal tonight.


IRELAND


WALES

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Followed by another couple of photographs


ENGLAND WOMEN

The English Women kick-off their Championships tomorrow at 09.00 against Austria followed by Lithuania at 19.30. On Sunday they take on Latvia at 14.00.


ENGLAND MEN

The three Home Nations Men's teams all play in Group B.

England start their tournament against Slovakia at 14.00 tomorrow, followed by Ireland at 09.00 on Sunday.

Ireland have their opening game tomorrow against Spain at 14.00, then (surprise, surprise in a Liverpool accent) play England at 09.00 on Sunday.

Wales have a later start tomorrow, at 19.30 against Austria, and play Ukaine at 19.00 on Sunday.

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On Saturday England Women beat Austria 7-5, but lost to Lithuania later by 6-7, a decent result considering they were 1-7 down after 6 ends. They recovered well today to defeat Latvia 6-4. Tomorrow England play leaders Poland at 08.00, then Hungary at 16.00.

In the Mens' competition, Saturday's results showed a win for England over Slovakia by 8-4, but losses for Ireland to Spain by 6-9 and Wales by 6-8 against Austria.

In today's game, England, with a strong second-half display, beat Ireland by 9-8. Wales are about to play Ukraine in the final session for today.

Tomorrow England will play Spain at 12.00 and then at 20.00 another local derby against Wales. Ireland take on Slovakia at 12.00 and Austria at 20.00. Wales are due to play Liechtenstein at 12.00 and finally England at 20.00.

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England Women were brushed aside 3-9 by Poland in the morning, then 4-9 by Hungary with all the damage being done in the 9th end, losing 4 shots. They are now mid-table with just 2 wins, but are only 2 wins behind the leaders.

Wales Men suffered a chastening defeat by Ukraine last night by 6-15, after being only 6-7 down with 2 ends to play. And they went from the ridiculous last night to the sublime and back again in today's games. Firstly they beat Liechenstein by 13-3 after 8 ends, only to lose to England by 2-11 after 7 ends, losing 5 shots in the 6th end in the process. This leaves them well behind with only 1 win.

Earlier the English team beat Spain 10-3, also after 7 ends, with those 2 results putting them top of Group B on 4 wins and giving them a great chance to qualify.

At the same time, a misfiring Ireland lost 4-6 against Slovakia followed by another loss against Austria after an extra end by 7-9. They are still winless and with virtually no chance of qualifying, although it is mathematically possible.

Tomorrow's Games
England Women - v Finland at 09.00
England Men - v Ukraine at 14.00
Ireland Men - v Liechenstein at 14.00
Wales Men - v Slovakia at 14.00

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England Women gained an important win against Finland by 10-4 today to keep themselves in the hunt for a Semi-final place. They are only mid-table, but more importantly only 1 win behind the 4 teams above them, some of whom have a chance to slip up against each other.

They now play the bottom 3 teams - Slovenia at 08.00 tomorrow, Slovakia at 20.00 tomorrow and Belgium at 14.00 on Thursday.

England Men strolled through their game against Ukraine today, winning 10-2, to guarantee Qualification for the later stages on 5 wins from 5. They play Austria tomorrow at 16.00, then Liechtenstein at 09.00 on Thursday.

Ireland finally woke up with a convincing 10-3 win over Liechtenstein to record their first success. Their remaining games are against Wales at 16.00 tomorrow and Ukraine at 14.00 on Thursday.

Likewise Wales recorded another win, this time against Slovakia 8-2. As already indicated, they play Ireland at 16.00 tomorrow and finish off against Spain at 09.00 on Thursday.

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WOMEN
England eventually cruised through 10-3 against Slovenia this morning after a slow start. They were tied at 3-3 after 5 ends, but turned on the after-burners to pull away. Tonight England had a comfortable 11-3 win over Slovakia to move on to 5 wins, just behind Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania on 6 wins and Poland on 7 wins.  They have a good chance to finish on 6 wins after tomorrow's games, and as Latvia and Lithuania play each other in the final game, one of them will stay on 6 wins. England are the probable outsiders, but still have a chance of qualifying, depending on other results.

MEN
It was just as well England had already qualified because they were royally thumped after 8 ends 11-3 by Austria, who leapfrogged them into 1st place. England were outgunned for most of the game, only scoring 3 single shots.

Wales and Ireland had a ding-dong battle, with the Welsh just hanging on to win by 7-6. They have now gathered 3 wins, the same as Slovakia and Ukraine, behind Spain on 4 wins. Wales are in with a credible chance of qualifying in their final game against Spain, but they must win to overtake Spain in the table.

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WOMEN
England just missed out on Qualification after their win over Belgium by 10-7. Unfortunately for them the wrong team won in the Latvia v Lithuania game, meaning both qualified at England's expense. However they did finish in 5th place, an excellent result for them.

The Semi-finals at 10.00 will be Poland v Lithuania and Latvia v Hungary, with the Medal Games on Saturday.

MEN
England comfortably defeated Liechtenstein 11-1 after 6 ends to finish top of the Group on 6 wins, ahead of Austria and Spain on 5 wins.

Ireland beat Ukraine 8-4 to finish their week with only their 2nd win and ended up in a poor 7th place. This means that they have to play in a Relegation Play-off tomorrow to decide whether or not they stay in the B Division.

Wales did slightly better in finishing 6th, but were disappointed to lose 7-10 to Spain in a winner-take-all game. Considering the game was level at 6-6 with 3 ends to go, it could really have gone either way.

England and Latvia go directly into the Semi-finals at 18.00 tomorrow. The Qualification Games at 10.00 between Belgium and Austria (winners to play Latvia) and France and Spain (winners to play England). The Medal Games will be on Saturday.

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WOMEN
Lithuania outgunned Poland in their Semi-final in the middle of the game to eventually win comfortably by 10-6 after 9 ends. In the other Semi-final, Hungary squeezed past Latvia by 5-4.

The Bronze Medal Game is between Poland and Latvia at 10.00 tomorrow, with the Gold Medal Game between Lithuania and Hungary at 14.00 tomorrow.

MEN
Ireland lost their relegation game against Estonia by 4-8 after 9 ends, never being in front during the game. Fortunately, they get a second bite at the cherry, with a game against Portugal at 18.00 tonight, who beat Liechtenstein by 10-8. No third chances, so they'd better get it right this time.

England will play France in the Semi-final at 18.00 tonight, after the French beat Spain 9-4 this morning. After a cagey 1st half, Austria came alive to beat Belgium 9-3. Their Semi-final will be against Latvia, also at 18.00 tonight.

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MEN
England continued their great form tonight, beating France by 7-3. The scores were tied 2-2 after 6 ends, but Rob Retchless (obviously no alcohol for him!) and Co stretched out in the final ends to win comfortably. In the other game, Austria scored 3 shots in the final end to beat Latvia 6-4.

BRONZE/ZILCH GAME - France v Latvia at 10.00 tomorrow
GOLD/SILVER GAME - England v Austria at 14.00 tomorrow

Ireland survived the second relegation game, beating Portugal 10-5. In a complete reversal of their previous form, the Irish took total control from the start, leading 7-0 after 4 ends and easily contained Portugal for the rest of the game to retain their place in the B Division.