Mouat and Dodds finish strongly for second GB curling win
ByRichard WintonBBC Sport in Cortina
- Published4 minutes ago
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Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds built on their opening Winter Olympics mixed doubles curling win as a stunning four-point haul in the penultimate end secured victory over Estonia in Cortina.
The Team GB duo – who beat Norway in their opener on Wednesday – were kept honest by the Estonian debutants, but their class ultimately told in the latter stages to force an early end to the contest and a 10-5 triumph.
"We've played them a lot and knew we'd have to step up our performance from last night and we did that," Dodds told BBC Sport.
The GB duo will have a few hours off before facing the Czech Republic in their third round-robin game at 18:05 GMT on Thursday – live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
"We probably only got five or six hours sleep last night, so a nap is needed this afternoon," Dodds added.
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Mistakes, mango & making amends
GB started with the hammer, took two in accomplished first end, and looked like they might enjoy a comfortable start to the day in Italy.
Estonia responded by doing the same, though, after a slight Dodds error with her last stone. "Sorry, Bruce," said the 34-year-old, who was slightly errant again with her opening rock of the third end.
But Dodds, peerless against Norway, righted herself to deliver a magnificent final store and restore GB's two-point advantage.
The Estonians should have pulled level again, but a Marie Kaldvee mistake ensured they still trailed at the break. "It's been a bit of back and forth," was how 2022 Olympic gold medallist Vicky Wright described it.
Kaldvee was slack again upon the resumption and Mouat – fuelled by an interval munch of mango – delivered with GB's final stone to extend the advantage to 6-3 with three ends remaining.
Estonia – who overcame a four-point deficit in the final end against Switzerland in their opener – employed their powerplay in the sixth and moved back within one after capitalising on a rare Mouat error.
GB played their own powerplay in response and made full use of it, a furious double sweep by both Mouat and Dodds earning a decisive four points after some deliberation with the measuring stick.
That opened up a five-point chasm, which persuaded the Estonians to shake hands and concede defeat with an end to spare.
"That was better from me today. I had a few that slipped up, but I called myself a bad word, and moved on," Mouat told BBC Sport.
"We're very happy with how we're performing and excited to get GB off on the right foot."
Winter Olympics 2026
Milan-Cortina, February 6-22
06/02/26
Watch on iPlayerListen on Sounds