McCreadie targets World Wheelchair Curling Championships

VETERAN Michael McCreadie is convinced an impressive performance at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships will confirm his seventh Paralympic appearance in Vancouver next year.

MEDAL MAN: Former wheelchair basketball player Michael McCreadie won curling silver at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin (Getty Images)

The 62-year-old leads an all-Scottish Great Britain side to the World Championships, also in Vancouver, bidding to improve on last year's seventh-place finish.

He will be assisted by Jim Sellar, Tom Killin, Rosemary Lenton and Aileen Neilson as Team GB look to claim their third title in six years.

And McCreadie, who was a member of the British wheelchair basketball set-up at five Paralympics before making his curling debut in 2006, where GB took silver, is certain a good performance next week can pave the way for another Paralympic medal.

"I have been around the block a few times but it is great to be going to another World Championships with Scotland," he said.

"The Paralympic are fast approaching and with the event being in the same venue hopefully we can come to the fore and carry on the relative success we have had in the competition.

"We have a fantastic record as a country and have been performing well since 2002 and as long as we learn from our previous trials and defeats we should be able to move on.

"I have had the experience of going to a Paralympics and that always helps when the squad is quite new as it was last year.

"Having been to Vancouver twice before I know a bit about the place - the first World Championships were there and the fact that we are playing at the Olympic venue will hopefully be an advantage.

"Winning silver in 2006 was a fantastic experience and one I would love to repeat. I would be chuffed to bits about that - it would be a great way for me to hang up my boots."

---

RELATED: BPA chief urges support as Vancouver beckons

---

 

Great Britain kick-off their campaign against hosts Canada on Saturday, with the top nine nations joining the hosts at Vancouver 2010.

The Brits will be eager to avenge their 2006 Paralympic final defeat to Canada in Turin, and McCreadie is adamant Team GB must produce the goods this time around, having disappointed last year.

"Our result last year wasn't exceptional at all and this is the year where we really need to get a podium finish," he added.

"We have no given right to be the best and countries are improving all the time so we have to adapt and change with the times."