Pairs 2017/2018

Frank Ross / Katherine Golding - Athelstaneford -
High Road Winners

Dave Munro / Colin Baird - Haddington -
Low Road Winners

On keen and swinging ice, the 1st round of the Province Pairs developed into 4 very closely contested  games. The games were played over 4 ends and after the 3rd end was completed 2 games were tied on 2-2 (Yester v Aberlady and East Linton v Dirleton) whilst on the other sheets Haddington held a slim 2-1 advantage over Doocot and Athelstaneford were leading Markle by the same score. However at the end of the next end Yester, Dirleton, Athelstaneford and Doocot (after a draw shot challenge) had successfully made it through to the high road. In the high road semi finals Yester managed to outscore Dirleton and Athelstaneford accounted for Doocot whereas in the low road Haddington edged out Markle while East Linton saw off the Aberlady challenge.

Both finals proved very interesting spectacles for those upstairs watching. 

 

The low road final took place first and East Linton, skipped by Paul Neison with Emma Hood leading, took a single point at the 1st end but Haddington took the following 2 ends scoring 3 then 2 to lead 5-1 going down the 4th and last end. Although East Linton managed to score 2, the victory and the Doo'cot Trophy was won by Haddington pair Dave Munro (skip) and Colin Baird by a final result of 5-3.

 

The high road final between Yester pairing of Sandy Stewart (skip) with his faither Balfour leading and Athelstaneford team of Frank Ross (skip) and Katherine Golding proved to be a really intense event. Frank and Katherine were worthy winners last year and weren’t going to lose their grip of the trophy this year without a fight. With single shots shared over ends 1 and 3, along with a blanked 2nd end, everything came down to the crucial 4th end with Athelstaneford having last stone advantage. After the leads stones were played there were about 5 stones crowding the 4 foot circle and the counter lying shot was one of Katherine’s Athelstaneford stones. Try as he might, Yester skip Sandy just couldn’t get past well placed guards and with the same stone still in place after Yester’s last being played, the teams shook hands with Athelstaneford reclaiming the trophy for the 4th year in succession. Excellent curling and fun made for a very enjoyable pairs competition and many congratulations to both winning teams, especially Frank Ross and Katherine Golding for doing Athelstaneford proud once again.

Everyone else should be congratulated on their performances too, particularly Yester who couldn’t have done much more to wrest the trophy away from Frank and Katherine but it just wasn’t to be on this occasion.

 

Report: - D Munro