Russia became the first country to defend the women’s European Curling Championship in more than a decade ©WCF

Russia became the first country to defend the women’s European Curling Championships title in more than a decade as they beat Sweden 6-4 in dramatic fashion to retain their crown at the intu Braehead Arena in Scotland.

The Swedish men's team, however, were able to finish at the summit of the podium as they edged Norway 6-5 in what proved to be a nail-biting finale.

The newly-formed Russian rink, skipped by Victoria Moiseeva, secured the gold medal largely thanks to an ill-timed error from Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg, who miscued a last-stone draw attempt to hand her opponents two points in the final end.

Hasselborg had earlier begun the final brightly as she scored two in the opening end but her team were not able to capitalise on the early advantage.

It proved to be a tight contest throughout as neither side gave too much away, although Sweden did manage to edge 4-3 ahead in the eighth end to give them a superb change of seeing out a famous win.

Russia hit back, however, drawing level in the penultimate end before Hasselborg’s mistake gifted them a second consecutive European crown 6-4.

They are the first nation to achieve the feat since their opponents in this year’s final won the tournament on six straight occasions between 2000 and 2005.

"I thought she [Anna Hasselborg, Sweden skip] was going to make it [her last stone draw] and we had done what we could so she wouldn’t make it," Moiseeva said.

Sweden were forced to settle for silver following a mistake from their skip in the final end ©WCF
Sweden were forced to settle for silver following a mistake from their skip in the final end ©WCF

"I didn’t think it would be that way, but it happened.

"It’s so great to win the gold at our first European Championship.

"We qualified from fourth place and now we’re here - it’s great.

"My team were so good and they were supporting me so good."

Hasselborg admitted her frustration after the gold medal contest as her side were forced to settle for the silver medal.

"I still can’t believe that we actually lost," she said.

"I had played the exact same shot earlier and we had the same ice – I have no idea how that last rock ran.

"I have no words.

"It was there all along and the curl didn’t come - I have no idea why.

"I’m proud of my team but sad about the silver medal."

The triumph over Norway for the Swedish men earned the team their third straight European title.

As has often been the case in previous years, they owed a lot to skip Niklas Edin, whose inch-perfect draw in the final end saw them earn the gold medal-winning point.

"It's hard to compare this with previous wins," Edin, an Olympic bronze medallist, said. 

"All of them have been special in their own way but winning three in a row, it’s definitely up there. 

"All three of them have been really sweet."