They’ve Done It Again

The rollercoaster ride that is Ukrainian curling continued at Dumfries, Scotland with the 2023 edition of the European “C” Championship.

Ukraine’s men’s team skipped by Eduard Nikolov won first title, walloping Liechtenstein’s Lukas Matt 10-2 for gold in the championship final.

The Ukrainians, displaced from their country after Russia launched its war, shocked the curling world with a surprise silver medal at the C championship a year ago. Following a variety of training trips to different nations—including the United States—the men’s team failed to stay in the mix at the European B Championships, and were relegated back to the C division, where the women’s team had remained.

After a brief trip home earlier this year, both squads relocated to Scotland in March and trained at Stirling’s National Curling Academy, a key factor in Scotland/UK’s recent podium success.

“Despite the situation at their home, all players have progressed to the next level,” said Ukraine coach Erkki Lill. “They are all disciplined, and eager to work towards new goals.”

The men’s team now returns to the European B Championships in the fall, at a host site still to be named.

There were 10 teams in women’s action, and Ukraine’s Anastasiia Kotova put up a strong fight, finishing with a 5-4 won/loss record to just miss the playoffs.

The Ukraine men’s team had gone 6-1 in the eight-team men’s round robin, just behind Poland’s spotless 7-0 mark. Slovenia finished third at 5-2, while Liechtenstein squeezed into the top four at 4-3.

Ukraine edged Slovenia 6-4 in the semifinal, while Liechtenstein upset Poland’s Konrad Stych 5-4.

The Poles took the bronze medal with an 8-4 victory over Slovenia’s Gaber Bor Zelinka.

“Of course, it would not be possible without help from outside, and the support of the Ukrainian Federation, the Sports Committee,” Lill added.

Such outside help came in the form of the World Curling Federation, which has housed two members of the Ukraine Curling Federation since the war broke out, plus Scotland’s Perth & Kinross Council with local member of parliament Pete Wishart.

Two new recruits joined the Ukraine men’s team in time for the Championship—and when we say new, we mean new.

Example: Vladyslav Koval.

“(Koval) played many sports before,” said Lill. “But his main sport is skiing, which he’s played for 14 years.”

Koval, who threw lead stones and was in the house for skip stones, made a lightning quick adjustment to the intricacies of the Roaring Game.

“I only got to work with him on the ice for three weeks (before the Europeans),” said Lill. “He is a really talented young man.”

The four women’s playoff qualifiers were Poland (7-2) followed by Slovakia, Portugal and Ireland (all 6-3).

In the semifinals, Poland made quick work of Ireland 6-0 while Portugal suffered a stunning 10-7 loss to Poland.

Portugal led 7-1 after five ends of their eight-end match, but dropped a four-ender, a steal of two and then a steal of three in the final end.

Poland’s Aneta Lipinska then stole a 7-6 victory over Slovakia’s Daniela Matulova for the gold. Ireland’s Alison Fyfe defeated Portugal’s April Gale Seixeiro 9-6 for bronze.