Grassmarket

Europa Cup live from Levi, on YT.

Anyway...let's hope that this is the last time this year we see a brownfield competition!

Just reminded elsewhere: top 6 in the Worlds this year is an automatic first-tranche Olympic Qual, so that is the target.

Think it is mentally difficult for the two teams with the Olympic place guaranteed and the pressure off, whereas everyone else is absolutely playing at 110%. I'm sure things will be better once they get to Milan.

Bronze for the curling lassies! Things looking good for the Olympic Q, they look like a stable, settled team at last.

play their best, but only get 1, so get bronze 6-4!

Oh dear, once again a 50% shot from Constantini when she needed 100%. blank the end & go into the 10th with the Hammer of Thor.

Very quick end & get 2 back to 6=3, but have the hammer in ninth....

Do not know what the donne were thinking there, but they left an easy double take-out for 3 & 6-1 after eight.

Looking good for the lassies - 3-1 up, 7th end & the hammer. And a great triumph for the BBC - have been showing our games all week & now they miss the medal match.

Phew, Men will play.for Gold, Women will play.for Bronze. Vital to keep World Rankings high at this stage in the Olympic cycle. Women have been.a bit.inconsistent but looks like they are finding a balance.

Tense men's semi but 10 8 after 11. made a 3 in the 10th!

Wow, incredible result against https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/articles/c2e7ynke18vo

Skeleton Tour moves on to Yanqing this weekend. Asian Cup races tomorrow, then the World Cup on Saturday, and then possibly more Asian Cup next weekend before everyone moves over to Altenberg for the start of the full Skeleton / Bobsleigh tour again.

So v for Women's Gold v for Bronze

Where to Watch guide. Discovery plus in most of Europe https://www.ucitrackchampionsleague.com/watch-the-races

First important meet of the Winter this weekend - the Liverpool Cross Country Challenge including the trials for the European CC Champs in Ankara next month. Timetable here https://www.entryhub.co.uk/british-athletics-cross-challenge-liverpool-2024 It's all on YouTube

Start list and results here. https://www.skiforbundet.no/arrangement/2024-2025/beitosprinten2024/start_og_resultatlister/

Round 1 of the Track Champions League from on Saturday. Just to remind you, this is the Diamond League of cycling, 5 Rounds between now & Christmas, individual competitions for invited men & women, 2 Sprint & 2 endurance races per meet. https://www.ucitrackchampionsleague.com/

British Sports Journalist Awards. Man of the Year goes to Alex Yee, Woman of the Year to Keely Hodgkinson. Alex Yee and Keely Hodgkinson among SJA British Sports Awards 2024 winners - Sports Journalists' Association

Alistair Brownlee, double Olympic Triathlon gold medallist. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c4g7y7ly266o

Will look out for start lists etc nearer the time.

And the races from Bruksvallarna Identical programme, but in Sweden I think the Women get top billing. Friday - Classic Sprint Saturday - 10Km Classic Time Trial Sunday - 10km Freestyle Time Trial Here's the link, but it looks like it needs more than just your basic VPN. Längdskidor: Bruksvallarna | SVT Play How to connect from abroad. Använd SVT Play utomlands | SVT Kontakt

Big weekend of pre-Season/team selection races coming up, just like last week for biathlon. first - from Beitostolen. Friday - Classic Sprint Saturday - 10Km Classic Time Trial - featuring the return of la Johaug. Sunday - 10km Freestyle Time Trial Think this will be your best link outside Norway for Cross Country Langrenn - NRK TV Also featuring ski jumping and Nordic Combined for both women & men

On the Ski Classics Tour they are doing that every weekend for about three months!