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The Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships return to Finland for the second consecutive year, with competition beginning on Saturday 22 November, ending on Saturday 29 November. The A-Division teams will return to the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, while the B-Division teams will play at the Pajulahti Sports Centre in Lahti, approximately two hours away.

The Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships A-Division is a qualifier for the World Championships. Among the women’s teams, the top seven placed teams from this competition will qualify for the BKT World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary, Alberta from 14–22 March 2026. Among the men’s teams, the top eight placed teams from this competition will earn their spot at the LGT World Men’s Curling Championship, in Ogden City, Utah, from 27 March – 4 April 2026.

A-Division
The women’s teams are: Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Türkiye.
The men’s teams are: Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland.

B-Division
The women’s B-Division will feature ten teams: Austria, England, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The men’s B-Division will see 16 teams compete: Belgium, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine and Wales.

This will be the 50th edition of the European Championships, once again supported by long-term sponsor Le Gruyère AOP (that's three mentions already, free advertising for them!), for the 23rd time.

No photographs so far, but usually either I find them from the the curling nations' own websites with no copyright issues as far as I can see OR from the World Curling website when I would normally credit the source. The latter credit is possibly not enough as far as legality is concerned, but I will certainly be extra cautious when posting any photographs. To me, any use of photographs is publicity for the sport and should be encouraged, but we're moving so far and so fast to the American standpoint of legal action first, common sense later, that I wonder whether or not the curling authorities want promotion of the sport. Just my opinion, not justification for any abuse of copyright.

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Scotland Men are continuing their recent run of excellent form with 3 wins out of 3 in their opening games in Lohja. Firstly they scraped past a dogged German side by 8-7 with a last end score of 2 shots, then defeated Czechia by a seemingly more routine score of 10-5, although it took another last end score, this time of 4 shots to settle any nerves. The third game was also won with a decent score of 7-4 against Austria. Tomorrow the Scots, with their tried and trusted team of Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie, Grant Hardie and Bruce Mouat, play Denmark and Switzerland.

Scotland Women got an absolute thumping from Turkiye by 0-9 after only 6 ends, then suffered a second defeat in a much better game 6-7 by Sweden. The team of Sophie Jackson, Sophie Sinclair, Jennifer Dodds and Rebecca Morrison got a deserved first victory over Denmark by 8-4 and scoring in 7 out of the 10 ends. They now play Italy and Lithuania tomorrow.

The England Men's team of Andrew Woolston, Scott Gibson, Jotham Sugden and Rob Retchless have won their opening games, demolishing Wales by 11-2 after 8 ends and a tight scoring game for the first 5 ends, then Latvia by 10-5, again after 8 ends and after a tight first 7 ends. Tomorrow they play against Ukraine.

Wales Men - Simon Pougher, Garry Coombs, Rhys Phillips and James Pougher - lost their second game by 5-9 against Slovenia after a poor start and also their third by 3-9 against Turkiye after another poor start. Tomorrow they take on Estonia.

Ireland Men have been in two really close games, firstly losing 6-7 against Spain, then beating Netherlands by 5-4. The team of Craig Whyte, James Russell, Kyle Paradis and John Wilson play Hungary tomorrow.

England Women - Naomi Robinson, Angharad Ward, Anna Fowler and Lisa Farnell - lost their first two games, against Hungary by 3-9 and Latvia by 6-8, but recovered to win 8-6 against Netherlands after an extra end. They will now play against Slovakia tomorrow.

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No computer ? so phone posting for a few days.

Scotland Men have qualified for the later stages with their seventh consecutive win and two games to go.

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And it looks like the England Men are also unbeaten in their quest with one game to play. That should be enough for qualification but I can't find any league tables to confirm that. ?

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And England have qualified. Tomorrow they play Turkiye who have also qualified, so the result is of little consequence.

Wales have only one win and have struggled all week.

Ireland are likely to miss out barring a minor miracle, but are in the top half of the table.

England Women are comfortably mid table, as are Scotland Women, but neither are considered challengers.

Still trying to find a starting handle for my desktop. Next step will be a hammer ?

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Scotland Men defeated Italy 8-5 to remain unbeaten and they now play Sweden in the Semi-final tomorrow. The Scots won the round-robin game easily but that means nothing now. Switzerland play Italy in the other Semi-final.

England Men were beaten 4-8 by Turkiye to finish second and are guaranteed a qualifying spot in tomorrow's games.

Ireland Men are still hanging on, but must beat Belgium later tonight and hope that Finland lose against Israel.

Wales Men won their final game against France to lift themselves into 6th place in their group.

Scotland Women won their last 3 games to sneak into the Semi-finals, partly because Denmark lost their final game. The Semi-finals later tonight are Switzerland v Scotland and Norway v Sweden.

England Women are still comfortably mid-table, but so are 4 others. Tomorrow afternoon's last game against Estonia is a must win game and even then that might not be enough depending on other results.

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Scotland Women continued their winning run in a controlled display against Switzerland by 8-5 to reach the Gold/Silver Game on Sunday Saturday. They will play Sweden who beat Norway 6-5.

Switzerland and Norway play in the Bronze Medal Game tomorrow.

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Unfortunately Ireland Men fell by the wayside against Belgium, losing 4-11, whereas Finland strolled to victory 9-1 over Israel. Finland play England in tomorrow's Qualifying Game with Spain playing Ukraine in the other game. Turkiye and Belgium await the winners in the Semi-finals.

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Scotland Men suffered their first defeat against Sweden this morning by 5-8, losing the last two ends. Switzerland beat Italy 8-7 in the other Semi-final to reach the Gold Medal Game against Sweden tomorrow.

Tonight saw Scotland comfortably defeat Italy 9-3 in the Bronze Medal Game to finish in the medals.

England Men lost their Qualification Game 8-10 against Finland, although they won 6 ends to 4. Spain beat Ukraine 6-5 in the other game, leaving the Semi-final draw of Turkiye v Spain and Belgium v Finland tomorrow morning. The Medal Games are played tomorrow afternoon.

England Women beat Estonia 8-5 in their final game today to qualify and now play Latvia in the Semi-finals tomorrow morning with Estonia also qualifying to play Austria in the other Semi-final. These Medal Games will also be played tomorrow afternoon.

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Scotland Women just failed in the Gold Medal Game, losing 5-7 to Sweden. Switzerland beat Norway 8-4 in the Bronze Medal Game.

England Women were beaten 6-7 by Latvia after an extra end in the Semi-finals but showed great recovery powers convincingly defeating Austria in the Bronze Medal Game by 10-3.

The Men's Gold Medal Game was won by Sweden 5-4 after an extra end against Switzerland and completed a Golden Double for the Swedes.

For the Home Nations, Scotland Women led the way winning Silver Medals, followed by England Women and Scotland Men winning Bronze Medals. Halfway through the competitions, both Women's teams really struggled, so special credit is due to them.

England Men finished 5th, Ireland Men 7th and Wales Men 10th.