Curling in Kent again!

For the third year running RSC Belgium participated in the RSC Kent Curling tournament in the UK. This is becoming established as an annual event in our calender and takes place at Fenton's curling rink near Tunbridge Wells in Kent; this year on Saturday 30 November. For 2019 Kent section reserved all three lanes at the curling rink for the whole day as the event has become so popular.

The Kent section have been organising a curling event for a few years now and the main protagonist, Dave Alker (pictured left below), has seen the event grow and grow in recent years. This year saw a significant innovation with teams in each two-hour session playing against each other in a Round-Robin type tournament, which worked really well.

This year's RSC team included of section secretary Tim Reynolds, committee member Jane Downing, Helen Lee (Mrs Secretary), Antony Lee Reynolds (Secretary's son) and two locally recruited 'ringers' (friends of the Secretary) Sally Wellsteed and Richard Hucker. Sad to say , despite a good start the Belgium team's performance tailed off somewhat!

Winter sport

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 participants will return again!

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

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 RSC members, guests and partners. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Dave and the Kent section are already preparing for the 2020 event with the venue provisionally booked for Saturday 28 November.