Curling - Inverness skip leads American team from Kansas City to first title at Highland Week of International Curling
Inverness curler Mike Jack and his rink of American teammates swept to victory as they claimed the Highland Week of International Curling title for the first time.
The 48-year-old, along with his team of Kristy Filippini, Nate Wood and Sarah Wruck, dominated the final as they thrashed Fochabers’ Alan Durno’s rink 10-1 in just seven ends to claim the trophy at the Inverness Ice Rink on Friday afternoon.
Jack, who works an architectural technologist, says it was the best moment of his curling career to claim the title in a competition where he was previously a committee member.
He said: “It feels brilliant as we never thought that we would get to this point at the start of the week, but we have gone on a roll.
“We would have been happy to have gone home with any sort of prize. We never expected to get this far and get to the final.”
The rest of Jack’s team is from Kansas City in the United States, where he and Sarah Wruck invited players over to take part in the tournament held annually in Inverness.
Jack said after a hard fought week, he didn’t expect the final to be as one-sided as it was.
He said: “It was a hard game, but I didn’t expect that, I thought it would be back and forth at each end. I am delighted with how everybody played and it went in our favour.”
This week was the 58th time the Highland Week of International Curling took place. A total of 38 teams from seven countries took part which included Scotland, England, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, USA and for the first time Lithuania.
Jack said the Highland Week of International Curling is a special tournament and is pleased to finally get his name on the trophy.
“I used to be on the committee and it means a lot. It is one of the premier competitions that is on the go. You turn up and meet people from all over the world, it is brilliant.
“I will definitely come back next year to defend the title.”
