27/03/2026
Curling, played by ageless champions.
Being a fiercely competitive sportsman at over 80 years old—after multiple heart surgeries—is not just remarkable, it’s deeply inspiring. This series explores a group of former international champion curlers competing in a season-finale over-50s tournament, where age feels almost irrelevant in the face of their intensity and skill.
I was immediately struck by the athletes’ warmth and camaraderie, and even more so by their extraordinary ability at this stage of their lives. It’s hard to think of another sport where competition remains this fierce, this precise, and this meaningful within this demographic.
As a Scot, there is something especially powerful about photographing a sport so closely woven into my country’s cultural identity. Curling was born on frozen ponds during harsh winter months, often in the quiet of rural landscapes. Even today, every stone used in the sport is crafted from granite sourced exclusively from Ailsa Craig—an uninhabited island whose unique geology produces stone resilient enough to withstand the repeated impacts of the game without chipping.
While photographing well-known athletes can be a privilege, what truly shapes my work is a love of sport itself rather than admiration of individuals. I’m drawn to the quieter, often overlooked moments—the gestures, the focus, the shared understanding—that connect us through competition.
This particular shoot felt especially refreshing. It was entirely free of ego or arrogance—qualities that can sometimes overshadow modern sport. Instead, what I found was purity: a group of athletes driven not by status, but by passion, respect, and an enduring love for the game.
