Mixed Doubles Day 4 - What the players have to say
St Paul, USA
April 20, 2011
Brady Clark, Team USA - Photo: World Curling Federation/Leslie Ingram-Brown
Amaury Pernette, Team France on their 6-5 extra end win over USA: “That was a difficult game, especially right at the end. We had to deal with a lot of pressure there. We are not used to dealing with that amount of pressure because we are not used to playing these kinds of championships. I wanted to put a guard up with my last stone, my line was good but I threw it too hard. Then the US missed their shot and we stole a win.”
Sonja Peichl, Team Austria after winning their first game of the championship 8-7 against Latvia: “It’s good to get a win, it’s a good feeling. We were very nervous there because it was a very tight situation for us.” [Latvia missed their last shot which could have made three points and tied up the game and forced an extra end].
Thomas Peichl, Team Austria about Mixed Doubles: “I think it’s a good game for spectators to watch, because there are many stones in the house and there’s always something going on. In traditional curling there can be many blank ends. I think mixed doubles is interesting to watch.”
Bridget Becker, Team New Zealand after their first win of the championship 7-3 against Australia: “I think we were just determined to win a game and we are relaxed now. We are out of the championship now and we thought we might as well just enjoy the rest of the tournament – and look what happens!”
Petra Pitonakova and Frantisek Pitonak, Team Slovakia on winning their game against Canada 8-7 stealing a point in an extra end: “Before the championship we were really looking forward to this game. Because usually in a European Championship we only get to play European Teams. For us, this was our once in a lifetime chance to play Canada and we won!”
Robert Campbell, Team Canada on missing his last shot in the game against Slovakia: “We weren’t positive on the ice on whether it was going to run straight or curl up at the end. I just got a hair tight on it. We were just trying to hit half rock and pick the one off the button that was shot rock. It’s just been a struggle for me to throw around the centreline. I threw a really bad shot with my last one on the first end. Getting wide is not a problem. I’ve been try to back Rebecca Jean up and I’ve just not been doing a very good job of it right now.”
Alexey Tselousov, Team Russia after their 10-3 win over Italy: “Our goal was to make it to the semi finals, that is what we came here to achieve. Mixed Doubles is very interesting because there are a lot of stones in the game. Usually when you have three or more stones loose in the game with a normal men’s team, you take out and clear the house. Today Alina played very well, she has only been playing for three years.”
Kim Forge, Team Australia after beating Hungary 7-6: “I did a Peter Becker! [Skip of the New Zealand senior men’s team] - a draw to the four foot for the win! against a really tough team. We played well today. We got some breaks and we haven’t had any breaks this week. It’s a huge relief. They are a really good team. It’s anybody’s dream to draw to the four foot for the win. I am lucky I had the chance because my partner made an excellent double. I am still shaking from the fact I made the shot – it’s the first time this week I have played first and last stones. We switched it round today – I am not sure I could deal with the pressure if I had to play those kind of shots every time!”
