Perth curler Holly Wilkie-Milne is heading to the World Junior Championships.
The 18-year-old plays with Team Henderson and they recently received confirmation of their place at the event.
The Russian Curling Federation “were required to be replaced” and that opened up a spot for the Jönköping showpiece.
Wilkie-Milne, a former Perth Academy student, is now hard in training ahead of the trip to Sweden from May 15 to 22.
On getting the World Juniors nod, she said: “It was obviously quite a shock. After the cancellation of the World Junior B’s in Finland we thought we were not going to be able to play in Sweden.
“We all worked really hard to accept that and move on from the huge disappointment.
“So we were all absolutely thrilled to hear that we qualified for the empty spot in the Worlds.
“There is nothing like the environment and standard of curling that comes with a World Championships – the experience this will give us all will stand us in good stead for our future curling careers.”
Team Henderson, also consisting of skip Fay Henderson, Katie McMillan and Lisa Davie, have enjoyed a terrific season.
“Everyone will be playing at the top of their game,” Wilkie-Milne said of the competition that awaits in Sweden.
“Competing against the best in the world in the junior circuit will be amazing and a fantastic challenge for us as a team.
“We have played some of the other junior women’s teams through the European Junior Curling Tour events, and we know just how high the standards are and how hard we will have to work to have a successful week.
“We have had a great season so far, both in Scotland at the national championships and abroad in various events.
“And I think we have only been getting stronger and building momentum as we go.
“We will definitely be going out to Sweden looking to continue that success and end our season on a high.
“I think that being super focused despite the new and exciting environment of a World Championships – and working together seamlessly as a team as we have been all season – will be key to a strong performance.”
Plenty of on and off-ice training will be taking place between now and pulling on the Scotland colours.
Wilkie-Milne said: “We will be upping the on-ice training and hopefully getting a few bounce games against other teams in the programme.
“Keeping up the good work at gym sessions is also essential to make sure we are prepared to perform our best.
“We will have to work really hard in the run up to this event, regroup after the surprise and get back into the grind of training.
“We will also have to be very conscious of Covid. None of us have forgotten the cancellation of the B’s due to Covid and the devastating situation for Team Morrison out in Canada at the Women’s World Championships.”
