THE Sochi effect has slid into Greenock as wannabe curlers queue up to hit the ice.

The success of Team GB at last month’s Winter Olympics is inspiring Inverclyde residents to try out the rapidly-growing sport.

They have flocked to ‘try curling’ sessions held at the Waterfront Leisure Complex.

Organiser and talented curler Cameron Clark, 23, of Gourock, said: “Since the Winter Olympics there’s been a really good response.

“A lot more people are talking about it, and many want to try something new, so Sochi has definitely had a big impact.” The Tele went along to take part in one of several introductory sessions held last week.

Cameron, who is keen for others to get involved, says curling is much more than just a sport.

He said: “It’s very much a social activity — there’s a great camaraderie between clubs and you are always chatting to the opposition.

“If your opponent plays a good shot you applaud it.

“When you come off, the winner always treats the losers to a drink.” Cameron, a part-time lifeguard at the Waterfront, took up the sport aged just seven and now plays for both Gourock Curling Club and Reform Curling Club.

He heads to Aberdeen on Friday to play in the Scottish Mixed Championships.

Fiona Miller, 35, of Tower Drive in Gourock, was one of the people trying curling for the first time at one of the introductory sessions.

She proved to have a knack for it, winning a ‘hot shot’ competition by getting closest to the target, or ‘house’.

She said: “The session was really good and informative.

“I’ve always wanted to try it and it was what I expected — plus I got the best shot!” Helen Gillespie, 46, of Balmoral Place in Gourock, also enjoyed her time on the ice.

She said: “I thought it was really good fun but it’s a lot harder than it looks to find your balance.

“I like a lot of sport but this is quite different.” Our reporter Matt Meade also tried his hand at the sport during the event — and soon brushed up his skills.

Matt said: “I thought I would be gliding across the ice like poetry in motion.

“But the reality was more undignified when I stepped onto the rink and resembled a newborn Bambi.

“Our group of curling newbees were guided through the basics of the sport by qualified coach Sara McCaig, 21.

“It included curling delivery and sweeping.

“One of our group performed exceptionally well for his first time — and put it down to years of sliding on his knees at school discos!” Tutor Sara, of Greenock’s Eldon Street, was generous in her opinion of how Matt and his group performed.

“The skills were amazing — and no one fell properly!

“It would be good to get a new influx of people, which our curling schools programme is helping with.

“Curling is social and different from a lot of other sports and there’s a bar here too — the hot chocolate is amazing!”