Stunning Scottish Curling Swaps

British Curling has stamped its authority on the upheaval announced among Scottish curling athletes on the morning of June 8.

The biggest change sees Grant Hardie, the trusty third to Bruce Mouat’s men’s fours team, jumping to skip the arch-rival Ross Whyte foursome.

Whyte will continue to throw fourth stones in the new squad.

As a result Robin Brydone, Whyte’s trusty third, has moved over to take Hardie’s place on Team Mouat.

Other changes see Sophie Jackson Jenn Dodds leaving women’s fours play to focus strictly on mixed doubles. Dodds’ new MD teammate will be Orrin Carson, who won two recent bronze medals in world junior men’s play.

Dodds’ former MD partner Mouat is not listed as a mixed doubles athlete for 2026-27, while another ex-Whyte team member, Duncan McFadzean, has joined the mixed doubles program.

The news comes just days after two (early) retirements on Scotland’s women's scene.

Team Mouat made it clear, in an appreciative social media post, that Hardie made the decision to leave. Another post from Mouat’s personal account summarized a near-decade of squad partnership, which included remaining front-enders Hammy McMillan Jr. and Bobby Lammie.

“It feels like yesterday sitting in a coffee shop in Edinburgh discussing the idea of Grant Hardie and I playing in the team together,” said Mouat. “I have said it before, and will continue to say it, it was the best decision of my career to agree to team up!

“Nine years later, Olympic medals, World Champions, 12 Slam titles, European Champions and over a year ranked number 1 in the world… who would have thought all this was possible when we were having that coffee. 

“We’ll miss you but I hope you’re ready for some tough battles on the ice.”

A February BBC interview after Team Mouat’s second straight loss in the Olympic men’s fours final went viral, as Mouat and Hardie both battled to stave off tears.

The Mouat and Whyte squad rivalry peaked during the last two years of the 2023-26 quadrennial, and there’s more intrigue on the horizon.

“The start of a new four year cycle is the right time to examine our resources and look to establish the way forward and the British Curling Olympic programme has worked closely with athletes to maximize our prospects as we bid to prepare to ready ourselves for an assault on the French Alps in 2030,” said British Curling Performance Director Dave Leith.

“As well as past performances, there is an array of elements to consider, including team dynamics, along with the sharing of best practice and the changes that have been made reflect that.”