Thursday 1 February 2018

Curling in Kent

Who knows where England's only curling rink is? We do - it is near Tunbridge Wells in Kent! And on 2 December 2017 a representative team from RSC Belgium went "Curling in Kent" with members of the RSC Kent local section at their annual curling event.

The venue was Fenton's curling rink near Tunbridge Wells in Kent and the RSC team (pictured below) consisted of section chairman Tim Reynolds, recent ex-section secretary Becki Scott (now a resident of Kent), Helen Lee (Mrs Chairman) and two locally recruited 'ringers' (friends of the chairman) Sally Wellsteed and Richard Hucker.

The venue was cunningly concealed deep in the Kentish countryside but was eventually tracked down just in time for a hot lunch of lasagna followed by two hours of curling.


Curling has been an Olympic Winter sport since 1988 and is one of the few events everyone can try. It is fair to say that curling is a game that is easy to play, but may take several lifetimes to master... however it was great fun and RSC Belgium aims to return in 2018.

The game is suitable for young and old, and can be played as a social or competitive sport. As England's only dedicated ice curling rink, Fenton’s offers a unique opportunity for people to give curling a go or just meet up for some fun. And there was very little sliping over thanks to the special 'sticky' shoes supplied by the venue.


Warm welcome
The Kent section have been organising a curling event for a few years now and the main protagonist, Dave Alker (pictured left, below), clearly saw the 2017 edition as a great opportunity to practice for the 2018 winter Olympics in South Korea.


This years' participants were a mixture of ‘regulars’ i.e. those who had embarrassed themselves on the rink in previous years, and newcomers. The participants ranged from 18 to 80 and included members, guests and partners as well as RSC staff member Stephanie Comte from the Networks team in Cambridge (pictured above with Tim Reynolds) and, of course, our Belgian contingent. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Dave and the Kent section are working for the 2018 event that will take place on 8 December 2018 at Fenton's. See you there?

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