Thomas Muirhead believes that going their separate ways for a year has been the making of Scotland’s rookie European Championship rink.
Team Smith – Muirhead, Kyle and Cameron Smith and Kyle Waddell – had progressed through the junior ranks together, winning many titles along the way.
The foursome broke up for a season, but after getting back together this year the results have been impressive.
The young team saw off rinks led by Olympic silver medallist David Murdoch and World Championship silver medallist Tom Brewster to make it to the Euros, which start in Denmark today.
And they backed that up with a win in the Edinburgh International a couple of weeks ago.
“We’ve had a really good season,” said Eve Muirhead’s younger brother.
“We didn’t curl together last year but before that we had been playing for four or five years.
“We’ve been to three World Junior Championships and two World University Games. So we have had experience at major championships, but not at men’s level.
“Me and Kyle Smith have curled together since about the age of 12. We used to come into Perth and practice at any opportunity.
“We have been brought up together and that has really helped the team.
“Last year it maybe did us some good to play apart to learn new things and come back together. I think it freshened things up and has made a big difference.”
Eve will be skipping the women’s team, and has years of international experience to pass on.
Thomas said: “It’s not often you have an older sibling who has been there and experienced so much. It’s good to be able to get some tips.
“Usually the Scottish teams going to the Europeans don’t know each other that well.”
And Thomas also has his big brother Glenn in Scandanavia with him as the team’s reserve.
The pair are enjoying being back on the same side after playing facing each other in the Euro play-downs final.
Thomas said: “We played together last year so it was a wee bit funny having to play against him.
“There wasn’t a huge amount of satisfaction but it was great to win. It’s not always nice to be playing against your brother.
“He’s coming out and will be there to step in if one of us has any issues or injury.”
Team Smith haven’t set themselves a medal target for the week.
Thomas explained: “We’ve had to play at a high level to get here so if we can carry that quality of curling onto the European Championships then, hopefully, we shouldn’t be too far away.
“We’re not setting out any goals as such. But we have played almost every team that is going to be there this season – and we have done well.
“But this is a new experience for us. As long as we can control what we can control and play the best we can, then we’ll see where it takes us.
“We’re all part-time curlers and some of us are still studying. But we are very dedicated and put in as much practice as possible.
“We get a bit of funding which helps with transport, paying for equipment and practice ice. And we have access to physio and doctors which is a big help.
“We’ll just need to see how we get on. At the moment it’s great to come out on top of Scotland. The number one goal is to qualify Scotland for the World Championships and then see where it takes us.”