Over the last few years we’ve all known that the day would come far too soon when Doddie Weir would pass away.
You could sense that everybody who was in Murrayfield for the Scotland v New Zealand match feared it would be the last time game he watched in his beloved stadium.
But I’m so glad that he got to feel the love from the people of his country one final time.
It was such a special, emotional few minutes that none of us who were there will ever forget.
Whatever they do to recognise him at Murrayfield and beyond, he’ll absolutely deserve.
For Doddie’s family to know that his legacy will be finding a cure for MND, one of the most horrible illnesses out there, will hopefully be an incredible comfort for his life being cut short far too young.
I can only see the cause getting bigger and bigger in his name and memory.
Doddie is one of these people who you never forget meeting for the first time.
In my case it was about 10 years ago at Steve Cram’s golf day.
We’d only just shaken hands and seconds later he was getting me into a Scotland v England scrum!
That was before his MND diagnosis.
A hero on and off the pitch, A true gent, a true legend.
RIP Doddie 💔 Thoughts with your familyMND is one of the cruelest diseases there is 😥 pic.twitter.com/f1T4viaC1b
— Eve Muirhead OBE (@evemuirhead) November 26, 2022
I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at the Pride of Scotland Awards just a few months ago.
He was still the big friendly gentleman he had always been and great company for the night.
I’m currently the captain for the North and Midlands ‘Doddie Aid’ team where people sign up to stay active for six weeks from January 1 and put in miles for whatever they’re doing, whether it’s riding a bike, running or just walking the dog.
All of us involved will be so proud to keep fundraising for Doddie and such a worthwhile campaign.
Introducing captain of Team North & Mids @evemuirhead 🧊👑
She might be queen of the ice, but she'll certainly light a fire under her district 🔥
Click here to download the app and sign up 👇https://t.co/fF2X91GNJf pic.twitter.com/4t7tc9wUhe
— Doddie Aid (@DoddieGump) November 18, 2022
The official rankings might not yet show it but Scotland have the best men’s curling team in the world at this moment, as far as I’m concerned.
Bruce Mouat produced two of the most impresive shots you could ever wish to see to clinch a third European gold medal last weekend.
Yes, the legendary Niklas Edin is injured for Sweden just now and yes, it’s year one in a four-year Olympic cycle that brings with it a lot of experimentation and surprise results.
“I don’t think I’ve ever made two better shots in the 10th end to win a Championship," Scotland skip @BruceMouat on his🏴team's successful European Champs title defence🏆.
▶️https://t.co/k2tuAtxZQ4#ECC2022 #curling #3from3 pic.twitter.com/g06aGzZlkZ— British Curling (@BritishCurling) November 26, 2022
But the guys are in a great place.
They’ve been together for a few years and are such a confident and strong unit.
Another shot at Olympic gold won’t come around for a while but clinching their first World title is the next box to be ticked.
It will take a very good team playing at their best to stop them doing that in April.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first week as a commentator for Eurosport, alongside Richard Vaughan and Dave Smith.
It gave me a totally different perspective on an event I’d participated in so many times.
Congratulations to Rebecca Morrison’s team for winning bronze in Sweden.
Huge congratulations, Denmark 🇩🇰, on winning the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2022 women's competition!
Awesome week! #ECC2022 #Curling pic.twitter.com/oSjOAMyOnd
— World Curling (@worldcurling) November 26, 2022
Team Hasselborg had an uncharacteristically poor tournament in not even making the semi-finals (that’s unheard of) and Switzerland’s Alina Patz made errors that you really wouldn’t expect either.
But Denmark totally deserved the gold and the same is true for Scotland and their bronze.
I can remember what it feels like to win your first medal at that level and it should give the girls the hunger for more.
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