1979 Royal Bank of Scotland World Women's Curling Championship
# 1979 Royal Bank of Scotland World Women's Curling Championship

The 1979 Royal Bank of Scotland World Women's Curling Championship also known as the Women's World Invitational Curling Championship or The Royal Bank Ladies World Curling Championship was the first ever women's world championship. It was held at the Perth Ice Rink in Perth, Scotland from 17 March to 23 March 1979.

Canada and the USA joined the nine teams that played in the 1978 European Curling Championships. The Championship was won by Switzerland, who beat Sweden 13-5 in the final.

The event was billed as the women's world championship, but was not sanctioned by the International Curling Federation at the time.

## Teams

| Canada | Denmark | England | France |
| - | - | - | - |
| North Shore WC, North Vancouver Skip: Lindsay Sparkes Third: Dawn Knowles Second: Robin Wilson Lead: Lorraine Anne Bowles | Hvidovre CC, Hvidovre Skip: Iben Larsen Third: Astrid Birnbaum Second: Marianne Jørgensen Lead: Helena Blach | Glendale CC, Northumberland Skip: Janette Forrest Third: Enid Logan Second: Mary Aitchison Lead: Dorothy Shell | Megève CC, Megève Fourth: Erna Gay Skip: Paulette Delachat Second: Suzanne Parodi Lead: Huguette Jullien |
| West Germany | Italy | Norway | Scotland |
| CC Schwenningen, Schwenningen Skip: Susi Kiesel Third: Gisela Lunz Second: Heidi Schapman Lead: Trudi Benzing | Cortina CC, Cortina d'Ampezzo Skip: Nella Alvera Third: Paola Zardini Second: Lidia Cavallini Lead: Loredana Da Giau | Asker CC, Oslo Skip: Ellen Githmark Third: Eli Kolstad Second: Kirsten Vaule Lead: Ingvill Githmark | Ayr CC, Ayr Skip: Beth Lindsay Third: Ann McKellar Second: Jeanette Johnston Lead: May Taylor |
| Sweden | Switzerland | United States | |
| Amatörföreningens CK, Stockholm Skip: Birgitta Törn Third: Katarina Hultling Second: Susanne Gynning-Ödling Lead: Gunilla Bergman | Basel-Albeina CC, Basel Skip: Gaby Casanova Third: Betty Bourquin Second: Linda Thommen Lead: Rosi Manger | Granidears CC, Seattle Skip: Nancy Langley Third: Dolores Wallace Second: Leslie Frosch Lead: Nancy Wallace | |

## Round-robin standings

| Country | Skip | W | L |
| - | - | - | - |
| Sweden | Birgitta Törn | 8 | 2 |
| Canada | Lindsay Sparkes | 7 | 3 |
| Switzerland | Gaby Casanova | 7 | 3 |
| Scotland | Beth Lindsay | 7 | 3 |
| France | Paulette Delachat | 7 | 3 |
| United States | Nancy Langley | 7 | 3 |
| Denmark | Iben Larsen | 4 | 6 |
| West Germany | Susi Kiesel | 4 | 6 |
| Norway | Ellen Githmark | 3 | 7 |
| Italy | Nella Alvera | 1 | 9 |
| England | Janette Forrest | 0 | 10 |

## Results

### Draw 1

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| Norway (Githmark) | 5 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 17 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 3 |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 16 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 3 |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 11 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| United States (Langley) | 6 |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 5 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 18 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 1 |

### Draw 2

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| United States (Langley) | 10 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 9 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 8 |
| Sweden (Törn) | 10 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 7 |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 8 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 9 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 6 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 13 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 8 |

### Draw 3

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| France (Delachat) | 10 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 5 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| United States (Langley) | 8 |
| England (Forrest) | 6 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| Sweden (Törn) | 8 |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 5 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 9 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 5 |
| Sheet E | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | X | 12 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | X | 2 |

### Draw 4

| Sheet A | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sweden (Törn) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | X | 9 |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 11 |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 2 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 2 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 11 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| United States (Langley) | 9 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 8 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 9 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 4 |

### Draw 5

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| England (Forrest) | 6 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 14 |
| Sheet B | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| Sweden (Törn) | 7 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 3 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 7 |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 5 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 13 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 2 |

### Draw 6

| Sheet A | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| United States (Langley) | 9 |
| France (Delachat) | 8 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 7 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 6 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 15 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 6 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| Sweden (Törn) | 10 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 6 |

### Draw 7

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| United States (Langley) | 9 |
| Sweden (Törn) | 6 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 9 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 7 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 4 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 7 |
| Sheet D | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 13 |
| England (Forrest) | 11 |

### Draw 8

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| Italy (Alvera) | 2 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 10 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 3 |
| Sweden (Törn) | 10 |
| Sheet C | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 |
| United States (Langley) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 1 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 9 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 7 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 10 |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 5 |

### Draw 9

| Sheet A | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | X | X | 12 |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | X | 2 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| United States (Langley) | 5 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 11 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 14 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 3 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| Sweden (Törn) | 11 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 3 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 6 |
| Norway (Githmark)) | 10 |

### Draw 10

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| United States (Langley) | 6 |
| Norway (Githmark)) | 2 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| France (Delachat) | 11 |
| Italy (Alvera) | 4 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 2 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 11 |
| Sheet D | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Sheet E | Final |
| Sweden (Törn) | 11 |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 4 |

### Draw 11

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| Sweden (Törn) | 9 |
| West Germany (Kiesel) | 11 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| United States (Langley) | 4 |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 6 |
| Sheet C | Final |
| Italy (Alvera) | 3 |
| Norway (Githmark) | 11 |
| Sheet D | Final |
| Denmark (Larsen) | 5 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 10 |
| Sheet E | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| England (Forrest) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | X | 13 |

## Tiebreakers

| Sheet A | Final |
| - | - |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 6 |
| United States (Langley) | 4 |
| Sheet B | Final |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 8 |
| France (Delachat) | 5 |

## Playoffs

| Semi-final | Semi-final | Semi-final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sweden | 7 | | | |
| 4 | Scotland | 5 | | | |
| 4 | Scotland | 5 | 1 | Sweden | 5 |
| | | | 3 | Switzerland | 13 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 6 | 3 | Switzerland | 13 |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | | | |

### Semifinals

| Sheet B | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sweden (Törn) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 7 |
| Scotland (Lindsay) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 |
| Sheet B | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Canada (Sparkes) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | X | 6 |

### Final

| Sheet B | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sweden (Törn) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | X | 5 |
| Switzerland (Casanova) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | X | X | 13 |

* 1979 Royal Bank of Scotland World Women's Curling Championship winner
* Switzerland 1st title
