Andrew Reed and Kirsty Balfour retained their respective titles at the English Curling Championships held at Fentons’ Rink in Kent between 30th January and 3rd February.

Balfour held off a strong challenge from a local team skipped by Suzie Law to take the 5 game rubber by 3 games to 1.

Results:

Balfour 10, Law 2

Balfour 9, Law 4

Law 12, Balfour 8

Balfour 9, Law 6

Winning team: Kirsty Balfour, Caroline Reed, Claire Grimwood, Sarah McVey

The men’s Championships needed a play-off to decide the winner. Going into the last round of games both Reed and Phil Atherton were on 1 defeat, Reed having seen off the challenge of Michael Opel the previous day. A victory for both teams would mean a playoff, but a defeat for both teams would mean that Opel’s record of 5 wins and 2 defeats would entitle him to a part in the play-off also.

Half way through the last session things seemed to be on Atherton’s side - leading Sam Fowler narrowly he was in a better position than Reed who had seen his opponent Bruce Bowyer blank the first 4 ends and then score a total of 5 in ends 5 and 6.

However, Reed had been in similar positions, though maybe not quite so dire, throughout the competition and he fought back to be lying all square before Bowyer’s last stone. There was a choice between a draw to the 8 foot or a strike on the wing. The latter was chosen but the shooter rolled out and Reed breathed again as Atherton had completed a close victory over Fowler by 6-4 and now had to sit and wait for the drama of the extra end to unfold.

A super tap up by Reed with his last stone left Bowyer facing a raised tap back but his stone ran wide and Reed had the win he needed to go into a play-off.

The play-off was really all about Reed as he built up a 7-1 lead and although Atherton fought back to 7-5, he was unable to get any closer and Reed eventually won by 9-5.

Winning team: Andrew Reed, James Dixon, Tom Jaeggi, Andrew Dixon