Four Dumfries and Galloway lads Claim Scottish Curling Title. Playing at U14 age group this season Orrin Carson, Logan Carson, Archie Hyslop & Charlie Gibb became the National U14 Champions.
They have competed in 4 events across Scotland where they gain points on where they finish in the tournaments.
The boys supported by Team Coach Ryan Carson travelled to Braehead, Perth, Aberdeen & Lockerbie. After the first 3 events the boys were tied at the top of the leader board with Stranraer’s Team Munro on 45 points.
This meant that the first to blink would lose out on the title and the pressure was on Team Carson as they had been drawn against the home favourites Team McCormack for the Lockerbie event in the first round. Team Carson showed great maturity and composure dealing with the first game nerves, playing against the home favourites and also knowing that if they lost that first game the title would slip away.
With the game tied going into the final end the tension could be cut with a knife. Attempting a tap up with his first shot Orrin was just a little too heavy and wide allowing Team McCormack to get a good shot in the house. This left Orrin the same shot again to score the all-important point to win the game and showing composure beyond his age calmly tapped up for the shot to win. Meanwhile Munro had already won their game and were also watching the action unfold along with the rest of the players and parents.
With a little down time and a chat with their coach Team Carson were refocused, refuelled and went on to win their section and qualify to the semi-finals. Team Munro were matching them move for move and it was going to the wire.
Munro came up against another Dumfries team in the semi-final while Team Carson played against Maguire from Forfar.
Team Carson were full of confidence and comfortably won their game meaning that 1 more win would get them the U14 Title. Team Munro had other ideas and were in a close game with Team Anderson. With the Scores tied after normal time the game went to an extra end with Munro having the last shot advantage. Team Anderson got their shots in to the House and just kept asking the extra question and was finally rewarded with a steal of 1.
This set up an All Dumfries Final with Team Anderson v Team Carson. This also meant that team Carson had enough points to win the U14 Title. Team Carson were slow out the blocks in the final after the gruelling pressure they had been under all day and Team Anderson were quick to pounce scoring a 3 in the first. Team Carson then started the fight back looking to finish with a victory. In the last end Team Carson had managed to get 4 shots lying in good positions and were looking like winning but Team Anderson Skip Bailey who had been playing outstanding all day played the shot of the day to raise one of his own stones straight back into the house and jam it onto the shot stone and lie for shot. A great final and both teams played there part in a fantastic event.
Congratulations to Team Carson who were very consistent throughout the whole season and deserved winners of the U14 National Title
Graham Sloan Curling Development Officer said “I was keeping in touch with the parents throughout the day and you could sense that the event was going to produce something special. We had 6 teams taking part at Lockerbie and they all performed fantastically. This was a great event win for Team Anderson and just shows what our juniors can do when they put their minds to it. Team Carson has really come on a lot this season and are very consistent for still only being 12years old. They work hard as a team and really get on well together especially when their backs are to the wall. They have a real drive and fire within them to succeed and they channel that well into their performances for such young lads. Ryan has also given the team that extra dimension and shown them that being organised and prepared can have big rewards.”
