More from Forfar

The James Carswell team won the Forfar U17 competition earlier today, and they are also the U17 Slam winners - deservedly so, having previously won at Perth and Greenacres. Three events, three wins. Top show.

But I'm sure the boys won't mind me giving a special mention to the team they beat in today's final at Forfar. That's them above, L-R, Rachel Hannen, Rachael Halliday, Lauren McIntyre and Alison Fyfe. Their performance yesterday got them a bye to the semifinal, where they came from behind to count three in the last end against the Gregor Cannon team, and in so doing they scuppered the chances of Team Cannon winning the Slam. Spare a thought for Gregor Cannon, Bobby Lammie, Connor Ballantyne and Christopher Henry - they would be absolutely gutted. So near.

The girls would start the final as the underdogs, and indeed when James and his team got their noses in front 3-0 after two ends some wondered if the eight-end final would be a one-sided affair. Rachel, Rachael, Lauren and Alison had other ideas!

They had an incentive. If they beat the boys in the final, they would overtake the Katie Murray team on points, they would be best girls' team in the Slam, and they would be going to the World Curling Federation junior summer camp. Second place at Forfar would not be good enough.

The girls took one at the third, then stole twos at the next two ends, to lead 5-3 after five. They then dropped a big four, before taking a single in the seventh.

Even the hard working front end could do nothing in the eighth as they needed to steal.

It wasn't to be, and Rachel and her team were the runners-up on the day.

Top curler is Rachel Hannen. The genes are strong, as those who know her mother Izzie and grandmother Isobel (Torrance)! Off to Innsbruck in a couple of weeks to the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Take nothing away from the Carswell team. Here Peter and George work on Ben's stone.

Would you believe that James still has another year in the U17s if he choses to play next season!

"Steady, George, the bus will be along on this sheet at any moment!"

Well done to James, George, Ben and Peter. Good job.

And on other sheets, Andrew Neilson and Lesley Young contested the low road final.

Team Neilson won this one. Duncan Menzies presented the prizes to John Ballantyne, Andrew Neilson, Graeme Allan and Mark Guthrie.

And here are the Slam girls winners. L-R: Katie Murray, Sophie Jackson, Gayle Allan, Amy Bryce and Kirsty Morton, who played at Perth and Lockerbie but retired injured having come second in a fight with a bull. True!

Katie and her team watched semis and final today with everything crossed hoping their points total would see them through as the best girls' team, and indeed it did, just. You know, the Under-17 Slam has been a success on many levels, and seeing the many girls' teams playing against the boys, and getting stronger because of it, gives me a lot of satisfaction. It can only get even better thanks to the Royal Club's Talent Programme, and the new U-14 Slam.

Photos © Skip Cottage

Winners at Forfar

Congratulations to James Carswell, George McConnell, Ben Bremner and Peter Dagen who won the Forfar Under-17 event today, and in so doing secured the U17 Slam title. The Carswell team beat Rachel Hannen, Rachael Halliday, Lauren McIntyre and Alison Fyfe in the final which was only decided in the last end. It could not have been any more exciting. A special mention to the girls, who are going to be my 'Team of the Two Days after Boxing Day'.

Had they won, Team Hannen would have taken the Girls' Slam. They didn't, so that title will go to Katie Murray, Sophie Jackson, Gayle Allan and Kirsty Morton with Amy Bryce, alternate, whose record on points over three events just pipped Rachel and her team. So close! The Slam prizes are to be presented later in the season.

All the scores are here.

More story and more pics later - not sure how much later, it may even be tomorrow.

Above: Duncan Menzies, who will skip Team GB in the curling event at the Winter Youth Olympic Games next month, presents the replica solid silver, immensely valuable, Forfar U17 trophy, to L-R James, George, Ben and Peter. Photo © Skip Cottage.

Forfar Under-17s Semifinals

We're at Forfar Indoor Sports today for the playoff stages of the Forfar Under-17s, and to find out the outcome of the U17 Slam. All the results are here.

That's Rachel Hannen above, definitely a nomination for the 'Player of the Competition' so far. Her team got the bye to the semis, and faced the Gregor Cannon team this morning.

That's Bobbie Lammie in the head, Christopher Henry and Connor Ballantyne are the sweepers, and skip Gregor Cannon has been encouraging them on the draw. The Cannon team had already played in three U-17 events, and hoped to improve on their average with the James Carswell team hot on their heels for the big prize.

But first Team Cannon had to get past their semifinal opposition, the Hannen side.

Lauren McIntyre (2nd) and Alison Fyfe (lead) are the sweepers on their skip's stone in this pic. Rachael Halliday is in the head.

And here is Rachael, explaining to her skip Rachel, what a small margin there is between winning and losing! (Other captions are available!)

"What are you saying, big man?" "It's rude to point."

So, what happened? Gregor was two up at the last, missed his last stone, allowing Rachel to draw for three, and the win!

Meanwhile, Bruce Mouat's side was up against James Carswell's team in the other semi. High standard game, this one!

James encoourages his front end of Peter Dagen and Ben Bremner as he draws against four Mouat stones. Third George McConnell joins the sweeping.

Calum Greenwood delivers. Angus Dowell and Thomas Halder are the sweepers.

The Mouat team in action again. Despite all their efforts, they came second this morning!

So, this afternoon's final will be between Hannen and Carswell.

There's a low road, too. Lesley Young (above), Louise Joiner, Hailey Duff and Beth Dandie came through their semifinal this morning ......

...... against Gregor Bousie, Callum McFarlane, David Kettles and Drew Thomson.

This is the other low road semi. Don't you often wonder what skip and third say to each other? Gavin Barr and Fraser Ewen discuss options. Their front end is George Sinclair and Hamish Logan. The Murrayfield team came up second this morning.

Gavin was against Andrew Neilson, with John Ballantyne, Graeme Allan and Mark Guthrie. Here are the skips in the house.

And here are Andrew and third John. You can decide the caption!

Team Neilson will meet Team Young in the low road semi this afternoon.

Photos © Skip Cottage.