World curling champions throw weight behind calls to safeguard future of Dewars Centre

The world curling champions have thrown their weight behind continuing calls to safeguard the future of a well-known local sporting venue.

Team Mouat - made up of Scottish quartet Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan - tasted success at the Dewars Centre in Perth just last week.

They lifted a fourth successive Mercure Perth Masters title to begin 2024 on the front foot and are no strangers to success at the Fair City facility.

Fears were raised last year that Dewars, alongside Perth Leisure Pool, could be under threat of closure due to soaring costs.

Then Perth and Kinross councillors recently voted to approve recommendations which will explore the possibility of merging Perth’s three main leisure facilities onto one site.

Dewars Centre has carved the curling careers of national, European, World and Olympic champions for decades alongside providing the platform for endless recreational curlers to enjoy the game with great history in the region.

No fewer than five Scottish men’s teams are currently ranked among the top 21 in the world, all of whom will be familiar with the high-quality ice offered at Dewars.

Many revel in the opportunities to travel to hotbeds such as Canada and Switzerland to compete, but leading players understand the importance of being able to learn the game, practice and compete in quality conditions at home.

“Perth is one of the key places for curling in Scotland,” said Team Mouat’s vice skip Grant Hardie.

“It has hosted a number of Scottish Championships over the years so fingers crossed from all of us that we find a way to keep this venue going.

“There are so many top Canadian and top European teams that have competed at this event [Mercure Perth Masters] over the years and