By Urs Lehmann

The schedule of play for this year’s Le Gruyère European Championships in Karlstad can be found here.  Team Schöpp will open the competition against Russia.  With only 3 bonspiels left before Karlstad, the team is working hard to prepare as the event is important towards qualifying Germany for the Worlds in Riga in March, and further allowing Germany to gain points towards qualification for the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.  The last three events have been with mixed results, but they are good to learn from going forward to make our team stronger and more focused to be successful when it really matters!!!  Thanks for all your support so far & fingers crossed for the next few weeks  …don’t forget to also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamSchoepp

After playing the German Mixed Nationals in July in Füssen, Team Schöpp finished 2nd in behind Team Baumann.  However, Team Baumann was unable to attend the Europeans in Erzurum (TUR), so Rainer, Andrea, Imogen, and Florian will now represent Germany starting on Sunday.  For results and news, visit the official host site.

We have qualified for the Le Gruyère European Curling Championships in Karlstad (SWE) this December after finishing 1st in the National Olympic Qualification Standings for the 2011/12 season.  The points are accumulated through the best 2 CCT events, German championships, and the Europeans/Worlds.  Here were the standings after the 2011/12 season:

• Team Schöpp = 23 pts
• Team Driendl = 11 pts
• Team Bastian = 4 pts
• Team Jacoby = 4 pts

This year’s Ford World Women’s Curling Championship is taking place in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and has already proven to be an interesting event! Unfortunately, Andrea suffered an injury prior to the event (comminuted fracture of the head of the tibia), and did not make the trip to Lethbridge.  However, she had a successful surgery last Tuesday, and is on the road to recovery.  She looks to be back on the ice in the fall for the 2012/13 season!  Nonetheless, the team was able to secure a wonderful substitute in former Team Schöpp member, Mélanie Robillard!  The team is thankful for her coming to Lethbridge on short notice!  With that in mind, the team is on the right track now to try their best with no expectations in light of the injury to Andrea.

Team Line-Up

• Stella Heiss – Lead
• Corinna Scholz – Second
• Mélanie Robillard – Third Stones/Skip
• Imogen Oona Lehmann – Fourth Stones/Vice-Skip

Team Schöpp successfully defended their German National title in Garmisch-Partenkirchen with 6 wins and no defeats, and now qualify to represent Germany in the 2012 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Team Schöpp (SCR/CCF) 6-0
2. Team Driendl (CCF/ECO) 4-2
3. Team Jacoby (ECO/CCS) 2-4
4. Team Bastian (ECO/BHGCC/CCF) 0-6

The 2011 Le Gruyère European Curling Championships get underway today at the massive Megasport Arena in Moscow!  Team Schöpp opens play against Latvia (12.30) and then Switzerland (20.30).  The goal of the event is to first finish at least 7th place to qualify Germany for the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship in Lethbridge (CAN) in March, and then to make the playoffs.  Messages of support for the team can be left by commenting on this post.

Schedule of Play (All Times Local – GMT + 4)

Sa. 03.12. (12.30) – LAT
Sa. 03.12. (20.30) – SUI (EuroSport 23.30 CET; ES Player 17.30 CET)
So. 04.12. (12.00) – RUS
So. 04.12. (20.00) – ITA (EuroSport 23.00 CET; ES Player 17.00 CET)
Mo. 05.12. (12.00) – SCO (EuroSport & ES Player 09.00 CET)
Mo. 05.12. (20.00) – SWE (EuroSport 18.30 CET; ES Player 17.00 CET)
Di. 06.12. (16.00) – NOR
Mi. 07.12. (08.00) – CZE
Mi. 07.12. (16.00) – DEN

Links & Information

• Host Website
• News Website
• TV & Web Coverage Schedule
• Draw Schedule
• Live Scores/Statistics
• Team Facebook Page

Team Schöpp claimed the 20. International ZO Women’s Curling Tournament in Wetzikon (CH) with an undefeated 7-0 record after a 4:3 stolen victory over Mirjam Ott of Davos.  After the team scored 2 in the 5th end, there were blank ends in the 6th and 7th before Ott’s final draw of the 8th end slipped too far.  For Andrea, the victory made her the most successful skip in this event having won it 6 times in its 20 year history.  This event was a much needed boost for the team heading into next week’s European Championships in Moscow.

After a long and hard weekend in Oberstdorf for the European Qualification, the team was able to prevail in a tie-breaker over Team Driendl, and qualify for the Le Gruyère European Championships in Moscow in December!  At the end of the four-team double round-robin, Team Schöpp and Team Driendl were tied for the top on 5 wins and 1 loss which forced the tie-breaking game.  With the score tied in the 10th end, Andrea played a double peel with her first shot, and then made the hit for the win to claim the ticket to Moscow.  There are two bonspiels in Bern and Wetzikon and the Bavarian Championships left in preparation for Moscow.  The team goal is first and foremost to qualify Germany for the Ford Women’s World Championship in Lethbridge, and to make the playoffs.  Keep checking us here and on Facebook for more news leading up to Moscow

Hello everyone!  It’s July, and the summer is going by very quickly  However, we are busy preparing for what will be a difficult 2011-12 season.  We are enjoying the summer bonspiels, and training hard on the ice and in the gym to get fit and ready for what lies ahead this season.  The team is very excited for the competitive season to begin, and our first major goal will be to qualify for the Europeans in Moscow in December.  We know that it will be tough to qualify for Moscow, and if we do make it, it will be an even greater challenge to qualify Germany for the Worlds in Canada!  In spite of this challenge, we are ready to take it on, and are putting in the hard work to make these goals a reality  We hope that everyone is enjoying their summer so far!  Keep visiting our homepage and Facebook page (Facebook.com/TeamSchoepp) to keep up to date through the season.  All the best from Garmisch, Andrea

The Capital One World Women’s Curling Championship presented by Mount Titlis Rotair begins today in Esbjerg (DK) as Team Schöpp opens play against the host Danish squad skipped by Lene Nielsen.  Messages of support for the team can be left by commenting on this post.

Schedule of Play

Fr. 18.03. (19.30) – DEN
Sa. 19.03. (14.00) – SUI (EuroSport Player)
So. 20.03. (19.00) – CHN
Mo. 21.03. (14.00) – SCO (EuroSport Live 15.00; ES Player)
Mo. 21.03. (19.00) – USA
Di. 22.03. (09.00) – NOR (EuroSport Player)
Di. 22.03. (14.00) – SWE (EuroSport Live 15.00; ES Player)
Mi. 23.03. (09.00) – RUS
Mi. 23.03. (19.00) – CZE
Do. 24.03. (14.00) – CAN (EuroSport Live 15.00; ES Player; TSN Canada)
Do. 24.03. (19.00) – KOR

Links & Information

• WWCC 2011 Host Website
• TV & Web Coverage Schedule
• Draw Schedule
• Live Scores/Statistics