Ireland were the top team at the 4 Nations weekend at Hamilton Ice Rink as England lost their grip on the Connie Miller Trophy (v Scottish ladies) and the Turnbull Trophy (v Ireland), but at least managed to retain the Kay Trophy (v Wales). Their attempt to regain the Tom Ballantyne Trophy (v Scottish men) was also unsuccessful.

ENGLISH RESULTS

Connie Miller Trophy v Scottish Ladies   LOST 24-27

Joan Dixon     5       S Miller      8

Gynnice Lauder     10     Christine Stewart     5

Kirsty Balfour     6     Marion Craig     4

Glynnice Lauder     3     Gail Munro     10

Tom Ballantyne Trophy v Scottish Men     LOST 55-60

Gordon Lyon     2     Jimmy Waddell     14

Phil Atherton     11     Alec Torrance     4

James Dixon     11     Gifford Rickard     5

Michael Sutherland     6     Matt Murdoch     5

Gordon Lyon     5     Sandy Christie     10

Michael Sutherland     6     George Grandison     8

Phil Barton     6     John Blackwood     10

John Brown     8     Gifford Rickard     4

The Kay Trophy v Wales     WON 27-22

James Dixon     10     Graham Drury     4

Phil Barton     5     Chris Wells     5

Gordon Lyon     5     Chris Wells     6

Glynnice Lauder     7     Lesley Carol     7

The Turnbull Trophy v Ireland     LOST 27-35

Phil Atherton     5     Bill Gray     11

Sarah McVey     4     John Jo Kenny     10

Michael Sutherland     7     Tony Tierney     10

Kirsty Balfour     11     Fiona Turnbull     4

With a dramatic last stone draw to the button which clinched his game against Phil Atherton, and at the same time avoided the occurence of a 4-way tie at the top of the table, Andrew Reed took his third ECA National title at Fenton’s Rink in Kent. In a weekend of high drama, the top 4 teams took points off each other until, with just the last game to finish, only one team no longer had an interest in the competition.

It had been predicted as the most open competition in years and so it proved. At the end of the first of two round robins, Reed, Phil Atherton and defending champions Michael Opel had 3-1 records, with 2005 champion Bruce Bowyer on 1-3 and John Brown on 0-4. The second round robin saw a resurgence of form from Bowyer who won all 4 games, while Atherton was only able to gain one win. Through it all, however, Reed and his team steered a steady course with only one defeat in each round robin.

Winners - Andrew Reed, James Dixon, Andrew Dixon and Neil Murray.

In the Ladies Championships, a reshuffled Championship defending team of Kirsty Balfour (skipping this year for the first time), Joan Reed, Claire Grimwood and Caroline Reed (replacing Lorna Rettig) won three straight games to retain the title.

Men’s Results

Michael Opel 8 v Andrew Reed 14

Bruce Bowyer 8 v John Brown 5

Opel 7 v Bowyer 6 (after extra end)

Reed 4 v Phil Atherton 7

Atherton 5 v Opel 6 (after extra end)

Reed 10 v Brown 5

Opel 8 v Brown 6

Bowyer 5 v Atherton 8

Brown 4 v Atherton 9

Reed 8 v Bowyer 2

Opel 5 v Bowyer 6

Reed 10 v Brown 7

Opel 10 v Atherton 9 (a2ee)

Reed 2 v Bowyer 9

Opel 6 v Reed 9

Brown 4 v Atherton 6

Opel 8 v Brown 4

Bowyer 9 v Atherton 6

Reed  6  v Atherton  5

Bowyer  9 v  Brown  1

FINAL POSITIONS

Reed   6  -  2

Bowyer   5  -  3

Opel  5  -  3

Atherton  4  -  4 

Brown  0  -  8

Women’s Results

Kirsty Balfour 10 Lana Watson 5

Kirsty Balfour 8 Lana Watson 5

Kirsty Balfour 8 Lana Watson 5