The four Provinces played the Area Bonspiel on the 12th January with 24 teams competing over two sessions at 5:30pm and 8:30pm in the main ice arena at the Peak in Stirling.
At the start of each session there was a reminder of Covid19 restictions for curling and in the most part they were followed despite the excitement.
Session 1 had Balfron v Bonnybridge, Abercorn v Dunblane, Buccaneers v Grangemouth,Blair Drummond v Buchlyvie, Bchan v Kilsyth, Keir v Linlithgow.
Balfron got off to a flier, then got overtaken only to win the last two ends to win 6 v 4. Abercorn were always in control after a 4 in the second end to win 10 v 4. Buccaneers gave Grangemouth a hard time winning 5 out of 7 ends to win 7 v 2. Blair Drummond got off to a flier and didn't look back to win 7 v 4. Kilsyth played a very measured game to stifle Buchan winning 14 v 3, the biggest score of the session. Keir didn't have their big guns out and struggled to live with Livingstone. losing 5 v 11.
This left West Lothian and Forth and Endrick Provinces both with 4 points and everything to play for in the second session.
Session 2 had Falkirk v Airthrey Castle, Uphall v Kippen, Borestone & Stirling v Strathendrick, Doune v Livingston, Sauchie & Bannockburn v Oatridge, Drymen v Bridge of Allan.
Falkirk never let Airthrey into it running out 11 v 2 winners. Right next door, a similar story with Uphall, Kippen just managed to score a single to avoid the nil points, losing 1 v 8. Strathendrick always seemd to be crowding Borestone out with several yellow stone in the house every end, winning 10 v 4..Doune v Livingston proved to be a real contest, with winning shots measured in millimeters, draws through narrow ports and really hard sweeping to get shots over the line It went to the final stone for Doune to clinch it 6 v 5. Next sheet Sauchie & Bannockburn skip was having an off night and after giving away a 4 never recovered to lose 4 v 7. Drymen were meanwhile racking up a big score against Bridge of Allan winning the first three ends eventually finishing 15 v 4 winners and the best score of the second session.
With West Lothian and Forth & Endrich both having won another 2 games each meant they were still level on 8 points. The organisers had to resort to counting ends won to decide the winner overall and it turned out to be West Lothian with 25 ends against 22 for Forth & Endrick. The best club score for West Lothian was Uphall and their 8 v 1 win and so they win the trophy overall.
Well done to WEST LOTHIAN and UPHALL C.C.
Thanks to veryone who took part to make it a great curling event.
