Hardie clinches fifth gold as Scots win European Championship

Grant Hardie claimed a record-equalling fifth European Curling Championship gold after Scotland edged out Italy 6-5 in the final in the Czech Republic.

Hardie - who previously won the event four times as part of Team Mouat - led his new rink to glory in Ostrava, beating an Italy side who had inflicted their only defeat of the competiton in the group stage.

In a tense contest, the two countries traded scores for the first seven ends - with a steal of two in the fourth crucial - before the Scots snatched the decisive score in the eighth to frank their pre-tournament favourites tag.

"I'm buzzing," said Hardie. "That was the aim this week and to put a performance like we did in the final makes it even better.

"It's been everything we were hoping it would be. Every game we improved and it's really satisfying to put on a performance like that in the final."

Hardie now has seven medals from seven attempts at this event and moves level with Mike Hay and his own uncle, Hammy McMillan Sr, as Scots with five golds.

It was a disappointing day for the Scotland women's rink, though, as failed in their bid to land bronze.

Fay Henderson's rink lost out to Latvia, who claimed their first-ever major medal in a thrilling 8-6 victory.

The contest was level at a point apiece after the opening two ends before the Latvians surged into a four-point advantage.

The Scots reduced the deficit, winning by three in the fourth, but a four-point lead was restored by Latvia over the fifth and sixth ends.

Despite a 2-0 success in the seventh - and final - end, Scotland were not able to stage a comeback.