THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — It didn’t take Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes long to realize her final shot was off the mark.
It took even less time for Scotland’s Eve Muirhead to begin celebrating her third consecutive women’s title Sunday at the world junior curling championships.
Lawes buried her face in her hands and burst into tears while Muirhead leaped for joy when the Canadian skip was wide on a last-shot takeout in the 10th end. The miss allowed Scotland to steal a point for an 8-6 victory.
The silver medal was no consolation for Lawes, who sobbed and lost her battle to remain composed while speaking to the media after the game.
"I don’t know what to say," said the 20-year-old university of Manitoba student. "It (winning) meant a lot to me.
"It’s too soon to talk about it."
The Scottish team of Muirhead, third Anna Sloan, second Vicki Adams and lead Sarah MacIntyre hugged in celebration.
"That was an excellent game," said Muirhead, 18. "We played well from the start. I’m very pleased to win three in a row."
Later on Sunday Brett Gallant of Charlottetown faced Rasmus Stjerne of Denmark in the men’s gold medal game.
Lawes faced two difficult choices with her last shot. With a Scottish stone buried almost on the button behind several guards, she had the option of attempting a raise takeout.
Instead, Lawes decided to try a come-around tap. The goal was to move Muirhead’s rock enough for Canada to score two and win the game. A single would have forced the match into an extra end, but given Scotland the hammer.
Lawes’ shot was heavy and wide. The Canadian rink of third Jenna Loder, second Laryssa Grenkow and lead Breanne Meakin could only watch as the rock sailed through the house.
"Both shots were makeable," said Canadian coach Rob Meakin. "At the end of the day Kaitlyn had to be happy with what she was throwing.
"It wasn’t an easy shot. It wasn’t our day."
Switzerland defeated Russia 5-4 to win the bronze medal.
Lawes, a bronze medallist at last year’s championships, was given a chance to win when Muirhead’s attempt to blank the ninth end failed.
The Scottish skip wanted to take out a Canadian stone and roll out of the house, but her rock stayed, forcing her to take a point. That made it 7-6 Scotland but gave the hammer back to Canada.
The two skips were a contrast. Muirhead stood at least a foot taller than Lawes. The Scot was mostly stoic during the game while Lawes could become very animated.
Muirhead admitted beating Canada at home made the gold even better.
"It’s always good to beat the home nation," she smiled. "It’s always difficult.
"They have a bigger crowd and more noise to put up with, but that’s fine."
Muirhead, who is also a scratch golfer, skipped Scotland at last year’s championship. She was a third on Sara Reid’s rink that won the title in 2007.
She will leave Vancouver and travel to Gangneung, Korea, where she will skip Scotland at the women’s world curling championship.
Muirhead could be in back in Vancouver for next winter’s Olympic Games. She is one of six players being considered for Scotland’s Olympic team.
The women’s final was a tight match. The teams exchanged points like boxers counter punching and the game was tied 6-6 after eight ends.
Meakin was proud over how the Canadians played.
"They are champions," he said. "Just to battle through our country to get here and put themselves in a position to win today.
"The way it is for us, it’s gold or you’re very disappointed."
.Lawes advanced to the final after beating Martina Baumann of Switzerland 9-3 in eight ends in Saturday’s semifinal. She needed a last-rock draw to edge Russia’s Margarita Fomina 4-3 in Friday night’s 3-versus-4 Page playoff game.
Muirhead beat Switzerland 7-4 in Friday’s 1-versus-2 playoff game to advance directly to the final.
The last Canadian woman to win the world junior title was Saskatoon’s Marliese Miller in 2003.
A small crowd, mostly friends and family of the curlers, watched the action in the 2,000-seat Vancouver Olympic Centre. A loud Canadian contingent cheered and stomped for each Canadian shot.
The championships are being held in the same building that will host curling during the 2010 Winter Games. The world juniors are the first able-bodied competition at the venue.
Canada’s Jim Armstrong of Richmond, B.C., won the world wheelchair curling championships held in the building earlier this month.