Strathaven woman Aileen Neilson has qualified for Scotland’s team at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

Dec 9 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

AILEEN Neilson admits the buzz of pulling on a Scotland jersey will keep her focused on next year’s World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Prague.

The 39-year-old Strathaven woman is part of a five-strong Scots team, which also includes Gregor Ewan, Tom Killin, Angie Malone and Michael McKenzie, who are heading for the Czech Republic from February 22 until March 1.

Bent Primary School teacher Aileen said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been named as one of the five to go to Prague.

“I hope to be on the ice as much as possible in preparation for the event.

“I work full-time and it’s all about taking time off to attend training camps and things like that, but I hope to get as much time on the ice as possible.

“Knowing that I’ll be pulling on that Scotland jersey with my name on it is just the pinnacle of any sportsperson’s career and I’m really looking forward to the championships and the chance to represent my country.”

Aileen enjoyed the experience of taking part in the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, and hopes the World Championships can help her qualify for the 2014 event in Sochi, Russia.

She said: “I was at the Paralympic Games in Vancouver and the more experience you can get the better, really, and it was good to get that under my belt.

“With what it is, the World Championships is the event to be at and one of the best aspects of it is that you can accumulate points, so there is more chance of getting to the next Paralympics, which is what our focus is going to be for the next four years.”

National Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association coach Tom Pendreigh is delighted with his squad.

He said: “This is an excellent opportunity for these athletes to show that the strength-in-depth of elite level athletes in Scotland is expanding.

“These players are part of a group of new players from around the country who are showing real potential to compete with the best and we look forward to the challenges of the Worlds in February.” Judy Mackenzie, chair of the SWCA, said: “This is the beginning of a new Paralympic cycle and these selections give a clear message to every player that if you work hard and meet the criteria you have every chance of climbing the performance pathway and representing your country.”