Event Preview: National Men’s and Women’s Championships

The ECA National Men’s and Women’s Championships are being held from the 23rd to the 26th of February at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.

Five men’s teams and two women’s teams will go up against one another for their respective national titles and the right to represent England at the Le Gruyere AOP European Curling Championships in November 2023.

In the men’s field, the five teams will play a single round-robin, with the top three teams advancing to a championship round. The results of both rounds will determine the top two teams playing in the final. However, if one team goes undefeated through both rounds, thus having beaten the next best team twice already, a final will not be played. This happened last year when Andrew Woolston and his rink beat Owen Rees and Jotham Sugden in the championship round to win the title outright.

Reigning champions Team Woolston are back to defend their title – won last year with alternate Tom Jaeggi stepping up following Andrew Reed taking ill. They were also the team that went out to Ostersund in November to represent England at the Europeans, and they’ll be fighting to go again.

Whilst Woolston won’t have to contend with Team Sugden this year, two of the former junior rink have teamed up with Rob Retchless and Jonathan Havercroft. Retchless and his team have been playing various events around Europe to give the competition a good run for their money this year. And with David “Rambo” Ramsay on the coaches’ bench they’re not to be counted out.

Another big name is gone this year, with Stuart Brand stepping back and Fraser Clark taking the reigns of that team. They’re joined by Fraser’s brother Cameron – an ice tech and coach with a wealth of experience. The team will be looking to draw upon their collective experiences over the past few seasons to make a splash

Rick Hills with his team from Preston made a good show of it last year, but will no doubt be keen to better their result and make the championship round. They’re going to have pull out all the stops against some tough competition, but Rick and his teammates never shy from a challenge.

Rounding out the event are Owen Rees’ team from South of England C. C. who, last year, pulled out an impressive performance to make the championship round, ultimately finishing in third. It was Team Rees’ best result and, with all the experience they’ve gained over the years, they’ll be wanting to better it still.

The men’s teams are:

Team Clark: Fraser Clark (S), Cameron Clark, Martin Gregory, Daniel Arrandale
Team Retchless: Rob Retchless (S), Jonathan Havercroft, Jotham Sugden, Harry Pinnell (Coach – David Ramsay)
Team Woolston: Andrew Woolston (S), Andrew Reed, Scott Gibson, James Whittle (Coach – Kenneth Horton)
Team Hills: Richard Hills (S), Ruariadh Whyte, Matthew Bailey, Peter Walton, Mick Fletcher (A)
Team Rees: Owen Rees (S), Jamie White, Stephen Lee, Ben Everly

On the women’s side of things, it’s a straight fight between two top teams. Lisa Farnell and her team of Jess Skelton and Vikki Brannigan (with their fourth still awaiting confirmation) are looking to hold on to their spot as Team England for the next European Championships and, if they play as they did in Ostersund, they’re in with a fighting chance.

They’re up against tough competition, though. Anna Fowler’s rink were Team England out in Lillehammer for the 2021 European Championships and put in quite the performance, making the play-offs and ultimately finishing in fourth place. They’re back to regain their title.

The two women’s teams will play in a best-of-five format over three days. Be prepared from some exciting curling!

The women’s teams are:

Team Farnell: Lisa Farnell (S), Jess Skelton, Vikki Brannigan, Kitty Conlin
Team Fowler: Anna Fowler, Hetty Garnier, Angharad Ward, Naomi Robinson