Winter Olympics: Contrasting fortunes for GB’s men and women as team curling round-robins begin

Mouat showed no ill effects from missing out on a medal in the mixed team competition as he led his men’s rink to a 7-5 win over Italy.

Bruce Mouat, centre, bounced back from his mixed doubles disappointment (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

Eve Muirhead and Bruce Mouat experienced contrasting fortunes as the round-robin stages of the team curling competitions got under way in Beijing on Thursday.

Muirhead missed a potentially match-winning draw with the final stone of the extra end as her women’s team went down to a narrow 6-5 defeat to Switzerland.

But Mouat showed no ill effects from missing out on a medal in the mixed team competition as he led his men’s rink to a 7-5 win over Italy

Bruce Mouat and Hammy McMillan, left, edged a 7-5 win over Italy (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

Mouat said: “Tuesday was a bit of a tough day but this is the team that I’ve played with for 95 per cent of my time in the last three years.

“This is the one I’ve always looked to and always felt that this is the one I want to win.

“It would have been nice to win the other one, but I just think that I wanted to turn it around and play well for the boys as well as myself.”

Eve Muirhead missed a crucial shot in an opening defeat to Switzerland (Andrew Milligan/PA) (AP)

Muirhead, who won a bronze medal with a different team in Sochi has come into this competition somewhat under the radar after being forced to fight through a qualifying competition.

And she refused to be too downhearted about the loss, saying of her crucial shot: “They are never easy to judge.

“Unfortunately it didn’t come off. If I ever had a shot like that again, I’m confident I would make it.”

Muirhead believes her inexperienced squad has the right mentality to move into contention for one of the top four play-off slots and with it a shot at a potential second Olympic medal.

They are never easy to judge. Unfortunately it didn't come off. I ever had a shot like that again, I'm confident I would make it.

Eve Muirhead

“There’s a lot of hunger here,” added Muirhead. “A fourth Olympic Games is something that you dream of coming to.

“I’m very glad that I’ve got the opportunity to be here with four girls at their first Olympic Games.

“I’m proud of them, how much they’ve come along and fought and they deserve their spot in the team.”

Muirhead’s campaign was set to continue later on Thursday with their second group match against Sweden.