Tough start for Scots in Switzerland

The severe weather made it enough of a challenge for the Scottish teams to reach the venue for this year's European Championships, which get underway in Champery, Switzerland, today.

However, their problems don't stop there, with both the men and women facing the toughest possible opposition in their opening round-robin games.

Making a return to the international circuit for the first time in eight years, Stranraer's Hammy McMillan leads his team of David Smith, Ross Paterson and Sandy Gilmour on to the ice against Norway's Thomas Ulsrud, current Olympic and world silver medallists and the in-from European team of last season.

Later today, the Scots play twice former European champion Andi Kapp of Germany in their second game.

Pitlochry's Eve Muirhead and her team of Kelly Wood, Lorna Vevers and Annie Laird open their campaign with a re-run of last season's World Championship final, against Germany's Andrea Schoepp, current world and European champion.

For their second game today, they are up against Norway.