Winter Olympics: Team Mouth eyes third Games – but without Grant Hardy

Hardy walked away with two Olympic silvers, two world championships and a couple of European crowns, as well as a record 12 Grand Slam titles. And with memories and bonds that will last a lifetime.

A number of emotional chats with teammates Mouat, Bobby Lammy and cousin Hammy McMillan revealed the announcement, with the latter warning he was already turning to their families to ask for their support in the new era.

Macmillan’s uncle – Hardy’s father – was his first port of call. The claim was met with derision – Lammy insists it’s never too early for jibes – and there was no fallout.

Indeed, the quartet will be together at the Pride of Scotland Awards later on Monday, with Hardy, McMillan and Lammy heading off on a weekend golf holiday before the cousins ​​head off on a last-minute trip to the World Cup.

“Most curling teams last about four years, but we’ve lasted nine,” McMillan said. “And it’s been a brilliant nine years, even if it’s a sad ending.”

But were there any tears like Cortina’s podium?

“It’s a touchy subject, because I’m still getting a slagging for it, but there were a few tears, yes,” Hardy admitted.

“We’ve had so many successes together and so many great memories, so it’s hard to walk away from it.

“The easy thing would have been to say, ‘You know, let’s keep working, we’ll be back there in four years and get a proper medal’. But I didn’t want the next four years to be entirely about that one moment, that one medal.”