PyeongChang 2018: Agony for curlers as snowboarders prepare to return

The fine margins between success and failure that make sport so fascinating were evident once again at the wheelchair curling.

Aileen Neilson’s team looked to be on course for a crucial victory over South Korea when they were leading 4-2 with three ends remaining.

But the hosts battled back and won the last end by just centimetres to secure a 5-4 victory that left the British team’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals hanging in the balance.

They needed Slovakia to beat Norway and that looked likely early on as Slovakia moved in to a 6-3 lead, but the Scandinavians fought back and took the match to an extra end which was decided by just a few millimetres.

That result meant Neilson’s team had no way of finishing in the top four and they lost their final match 9-3 to table topping China. That result meant they finished in seventh place in the round robin competition.

Neilson said: “It’s really disappointing, we’ve worked so hard and had such great support from everyone back home so it’ll take us a while to get over it but it’s a learning experience.

“It’s never winners and losers for us, it’s winners and learners so we will learn from this and grow.

“Our history is very much a roller coaster and we strung together some games at the start of the competition but you have to do that all the way through. That’s what we will be working on.

“It’s been a great experience to be a part of this team and to be in the village with the other athletes so we wish them well with any other events that are still to go and medals to win.”

Day six: Great Britain 4-5 South Korea, Great Britain 3-9 China

Elsewhere Para alpine skiers Menna Fitzpatrick and Jennifer Kehoe were presented with the silver medals they won in the visually impaired Giant Slalom at their medal ceremony on Thursday. The duo were the first British females skiers ever to ever win a Giant Slalom medal at a Paralympic Games.

Fitzpatrick, who has won two silver and one bronze medals at PyeongChang 2018, said: “The atmosphere at the village has been amazing . We haven’t had a chance to celebrate yet because we have the slalom on Sunday and we have nothing to lose so we are going to go for it!”

ParalympicsGB’s trio of Para snowboarders are back in action in the banked slalom tomorrow all looking to sign off in style at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre.

Ben Moore and Owen Pick both won medals in their respective events at the world championships in Canada in 2017 and will be looking to challenge for a podium finish on the most prestigious stage of all.

Moore said: “It’s awesome being here. We’re all racers and we all come here for one reason.

“I look forward to the banked slalom now so fingers crossed. I always manage to pull something out of the bag for that so hopefully I can do it again.”

James Barnes-Miller, who made history when he became the first British athlete to compete in Para snowboard earlier in the week, has recovered from a training run fall and will be fit to race.

Day seven preview: 10:30 (01:30 UK time) Men’s banked slalom – Ben Moore, James Barnes-Miller, Owen Pick.

Para Nordic skier Scott Meenagh will continue his awe-inspiring race schedule when he competes in his fifth race of the games on Friday.

The 28-year-old, who is at his first Paralympic Games after transitioning from Para rowing, will race in the Men’s 15km biathlon.

Day seven preview: 10.20 (01.20 UK Time) Scott Meenagh, Men’s sitting 15km Biathlon